Moroni 3

Chapter Overview

What happens in Moroni 3

Moroni describes how the Nephite disciples ordained priests and teachers by the laying on of hands and by the power of the Holy Ghost, all done in the name of Jesus Christ.

Scripture

The ordination of priests and teachers

Study note

Moroni records the manner of ordaining priests and teachers in the early Nephite church. After praying to the Father in Christ's name, the disciples laid their hands upon the candidate and pronounced an ordination to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ. They ordained according to the gifts and callings of God, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

1 The manner which the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers—

2 After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, they laid their hands upon them, and said:

3 In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest (or if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher) to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.

4 And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them.

Key Themes

Themes in Moroni 3

Ordination through the laying on of handsThe role of prayer in sacred ordinancesThe calling to preach repentance and remission of sinsMinistry as a gift from God, not a human appointment

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Moroni 3:1-4 1 Timothy 4:14

The laying on of hands for ordination parallels Paul's instruction to Timothy to not neglect the gift given him through prophecy with the laying on of hands, confirming this as the consistent pattern for ministerial calling.

Apply This Today

Living Moroni 3

The simplicity and reverence of the Nephite ordination pattern reminds us that ministry is a sacred calling from God, not merely a human position. Those called to serve are set apart by prayer, the laying on of hands, and the power of the Holy Ghost. This pattern invites us to approach any call to serve with humility and dependence on God's power.

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