This last week we studied one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon. In fact it was while reading Alma chapter 46 as a 14 year old that I felt the Spirit of the Lord confirm the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon to me. In this chapter, we read about captain Moroni and his amazing “Title of Liberty”.
Moroni was worried about the wickedness of his people and decided to gather together all of those who were willing to keep the commandments, protect there wives and children, and stand up for their faith and for the Lord.
To do this, he did something that would seem very odd to us today, but was well understood by this people who were all descendants of Joseph, the one who was sold into Egypt by his brothers.
He tore or “rent” his coat as a covenant. He wrote on it and fastened it on a pole to make a sort of flag out of it. Most people can understand the symbolism of a flag, but to this Israelite people what Moroni did was much more significant. It had reference to the very beginning of their people. This behavior of rending your garment was used to make a sacred promise to God.
In Alma 46:23 it says
23 Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.
Rending your garment as a sign of a covenant between you and God can be found all over the bible.
One of the most significant places is in the new testament when the veil of the temple was rent in twain at Jesus’ crucifixion as a symbol of the new covenant. It also symbolizes the breaking of the heart. The book of Mormon teaches that we must come to God with a “broken heart and a contrite spirit.”. The book of Joel says:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and drepenteth him of the evil.
The most important thing to remember about the title of liberty that Moroni created, is that it was not just a flag, but it represented the faith, repentance, and covenants these people were making with God. It was an outward symbol of the inward broken heart that could only be mended by Christ.
Our day is no less dangerous than was Moroni’s day. I pray we will rend our hearts and turn to the Lord.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
