The invitation in Moroni 10:30-32 to "come unto Christ" was the theme of the joint address by Elder Merrill J. Bateman, emeritus General Authority, and his wife, Sister Marilyn Bateman, at the annual BYU Women's Conference, which also had that theme.
"Our reading of Moroni's works and that of other prophets constantly surprises us as to the relevance of what is said both with regard to the audience, the time and the circumstances," said Elder Bateman, president of the Provo Utah Temple with Sister Bateman as temple matron.
A brief review of Moroni's book in the Book of Mormon helps set the stage for his invitation to come to Christ, Elder Bateman remarked. He added: "Moroni's words suggest he is concerned about two things. First, he is thinking of the day when the book will come forward and the Church will once again need to be established. His writings, therefore, lay out the fundamentals of the Church in order to guide future leaders. Second, he is aware of the conditions that will exist in our day and is concerned about the challenges one will have in finding the path to eternal life. Consequently, he issues a plea and states plainly that all must 'come to Christ."'
Chapters 2-8 in Moroni describe key essentials, Elder Bateman pointed out, while the rest of the book includes an earlier letter from his father and concludes with his own final testimony: that there is a God who speaks to His children; that the gifts of the Spirit are important to salvation; that faith, hope and charity are essential to be saved; and, finally, that all must come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.
Sister Bateman said the invitation to come unto Christ has its roots in the Savior's Atonement.
"The Lord's great sacrifice makes possible eternal life — a life like that of the Father's, life in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom," she said. "Faith in the Father and the Son, repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost are basic to accepting the invitation. In addition to the basic principles and ordinances of the gospel, temple ordinances provide access to the atoning powers that bring eternal life."
Quoting Matthew 11:28-30, Sister Bateman asked, "How does one become yoked with Christ?"
In response, she said it is done through righteous living and through service. Then, she remarked: "A major way in which we can assist the Lord is temple work. Temple work is organized so that after receiving our own ordinances, we become saviors on Mount Zion (Obadiah 1:21). Family history and temple work not only open the door for the prisoners to come out of the prison, but refine us in the process. Temple ordinances change our perspective. They give us hope in the future. They make possible our most precious dreams."