Who was the Angel Moroni and How Did He Help Joseph Smith?
Moroni wrote the last section of the Book of Mormon, known as the Book of Moroni. The Book of Mormon tells us that Moroni was a prophet who lived in North America in the late 4th century. Throughout his life on earth, he kept a record of the history of the two groups, Nephites and Lamanites. He is the son of Mormon, who is responsible for compiling and writing the abridgement for the Book of Mormon. Throughout his life, he served as a general for the Nephite armies. After he completed his writings, he was instructed by the Lord to bury the plates in a hill. Centuries later, these books would be found by the Prophet Joseph Smith for him to translate and share with the world.
Long after Moroni’s death, he later visited Joseph Smith in 1823 in the form of an angel. Moroni visited young Joseph in the night, years after God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in the Sacred Grove. He was sent from God to help Joseph Smith find the plates so he could translate them and organize the Mormon Church. Moroni instructed Nephi on where the plates were located. Moroni buried them in a hill called the Hill Cumorah, near Palmyra, New York. This is just a few miles away from Joseph’s home at the time. Moroni told Joseph what the Book of Mormon was also told him of its importance for the generations to come. The visit is explained in great detail in the Joseph Smith History and Pearl of Great Price. Joseph Smith’s accounts tell us that Moroni visited him over 22 times to instruct and counsel him on bringing forth the Book of Mormon. Often times, Joseph would stay up all night counseling with the Angel Moroni. Joseph translated the Book of Mormon using a tool called the Urim and Thummim, which Moroni gave him. Emma Hale Smith, his wife and Oliver Cowdry assisted him in translating the plates from Reformed Egyptian to English. In 1830, Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon. When translation was complete, Joseph returned the plates to Moroni.
When Joseph Smith told others about his visits from the Angel Moroni, many found his story implausible and mocked him. Despite the persecution, Joseph could not deny what he saw. The Angel Moroni also visited the three witnesses, Oliver Cowdry, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. He testified the truthfulness of the gospel and the importance of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to these four men. The Angel Moroni was literally a messenger of God. Without his counsel, Joseph Smith never would have known where the plates were or even that there were plates to be found. Because of his integral role in bringing forth the Book of Mormon, a statue of the Angel Moroni can be found on top of Mormon temples everywhere. His help was vital to Joseph Smith. He was a teacher, helper, and heavenly friend of Joseph Smith.