Day 4

The message that is reinforced for me is that the book deposited contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. But in this account of Moroni's visit it adds, "as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants." That ties back to the description of the crowning event of the Book of Mormon, that being the Savior's visit to its ancient inhabitants. As a missionary I remember when I gained an understanding of the importance of the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ, an additional witness of his life and resurrection and the gospel in its fulness, it is something I will never forget. 

I read up on the lives of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon to understand what happened, why they left the body of the Saints. These men were the first to help Joseph and aide in the translation of the Book of Mormon from those ancient plates, all before the church was established, something they never denied as true and real. After leaving the saints, most of them started their own churches, some that lasted up until the 1960's. They didn't have the authority of course, and only had the restored Gospel of Salvation, no additional ordinances. My personal opinion of the matter, not having been there, was that they all thought, or expected to have prominent positions in the church because of the work they had aided in. I would think that because of the disagreements in leadership they couldn't hold to the faith. It somewhat reminds me of the parable of the sower, the seed that feel among the different soils. If anything it should be a warning to us, a warning that following the leaders the Savior has called to move his work forward, imperfect as they may be, is required of us to remain faithful to our covenants. Those early brethren, again it is my opinion only, couldn't bring themselves to do it. Several did return, several remained faithful until their death. But it is a quiet reminder to follow the prophet and be faithful.