Mormon 6

23,000. That's the number representing the last of the Nephite men, women, and children. It's the number representing how many people were killed on hill Cumorah 1438 years before Joseph Smith found the record of these once great Nephite people. After this battle, only 24 survived with Mormon, along with a few who escaped into the south countries and a few who had deserted over to the Lamanites (15). "Their flesh, and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth, being left by the hands of those who slew them to molder upon the land, and to crumble and to return to their mother earth" (15).

Every time I reach this point in the scriptures, I just cry. They were pretty much massacred. What's even worse was that it could have been avoided, if only they had not rejected God. God gives us commandments so that we may be safe, prosperous, and one day return to Him. He loves us and wants us to succeed in mortality. So he gives us commandments to follow. But the Nephite people reject Him.


Mormon cries in anguish:

"O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! 

"Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss. 

"O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen! 

"But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return. 

"And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed with your fathers who have gone before you. 

"O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth with you according to his justice and mercy" (17-22).

Remember the Nephites. Remember the lessons the Book of Mormon has taught. Remember the Lord, thy God, in all thy doings. Remember to pray always. Remember to have charity. Remember to search the scriptures. Remember to be obedient.

Keep the commandments. Keep your covenants. Endure to the end.