Moroni 6

(My highlights in orange, my thoughts in blue 12/2020 red type 11/20 orange 8/21 Brown 2022 -23.)

Repentant persons are baptized and fellowshipped—Church members who repent are forgiven—Meetings are conducted by the power of the Holy Ghost. About A.D. 401–21.

  1 And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth ^afruit meet that they were ^bworthy of it. What did that look like? For sure you can’t “say” one thing and then “do” another....
  2 Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a ^abroken ^bheart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins. If a broken heart and contrite spirit were required fruits for baptism and true repentance, then it seems it would be the same required fruit to partake of the sacrament each week. I think we are taught that is what we bring to the altar (sacrament table) instead of a sacrificial lamb. “Broken” heart means humble and “Contrite” heart means honest and sincere (I think) I feel like I need to do better at preparing to take the Sacrament by spending some time, repenting. Now... truly, I should be repenting immediately after I sin and not wait until Saturday night. But I should inventory my heart and my life on Saturday and see if anything is left undone, so I can approach the Sacrament with a truly broken heart and contrite spirit.
  3 And none were received unto baptism save they ^atook upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. This gives reference to the the Doctrine of Christ, that ends with "enduring to the end". When we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, we dedicate our lives to participating in the work of saving souls - the first one being our own, then like Enos, our family, then everyone else - enemies included. It takes determination to serve Christ all the days of our lives! This taking the name of Christ does not seem to be forward looking but present tense. They "took" upon them His name.
  4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and ^acleansed Purified by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the ^bchurch of Christ; and their ^cnames were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, This is what we do at church and with ministering It sounds like they received the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost at their water baptism. Maybe not...it just says "after"...could be some time after, but it doesn't sound that way. Why does it not seem like that is something we could record happening today. Is it because so many of us are baptized at 8 and are not needing to be cleansed/purified yet? 
to keep them in the right way, this is the purpose of church and ministering This part has been completely lost on us today. It is so offensive for people to try to “keep others in the right way”. But it should be a communal spirit of “you help me stay on the path and I’ll help you”. But today everyone feels so “judged” that they don’t want anyone to tell them they are not in the right way. 
to keep them continually ^dwatchful unto prayer, What are we watching for? Prayer is key to everything! Today, I tried to influence the 2 girls I am tending to choose the right by saying a prayer outloud in front of them instead of correcting them. It worked most profoundly for the 8 year old:) “watching” seems to be a bit lost on us too. Any “watching” for secret combinations has failed even though they are blatantly taking over our world! And when you “see these things” it will turn you to your knees for Christ is the only solution to the evils around us. 
^erelying alone upon the merits of Christ, What do I rely on? This says I am to rely 'alone' upon Christ. What are the "merits" of Christ? Maybe this means His perfection and power alone to save?
who was the author and the finisher of their faith.He finishes our faith when we come into his presence - second comforter at which point we have knowledge
5 And the ^achurch did meet together ^boft, to ^cfast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls. I love this. It's important to meet regularly. Important to fast. Important to pray. Important to speak with each other about the welfare of our souls. Gives new meaning to the greeting "how 'ya doing"? I would love this deeper conversation! Right now, with all that is going on in the church and the world with the "pandemic" it feels like the welfare of our souls is more and more at stake, but we don't talk about it at all because it has to do with questioning the "advice" of our prophet and it "feels" apostate to not follow him and to question. Both sides feel like the welfare of the soul is at stake but we don't know how to discuss without contention for some reason...
  6 And they did ^ameet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in ^bremembrance of the Lord Jesus. It is not enough to worship God. We must do it together and partake of the sacrament by those authorized to administer it to us. We do it every 7 days to witness that we have remembered Jesus the other six. Because I don't want to wear a mask to church, I didn't attend with others "in person" for a year and partook of the sacrament at home. It was too hard to go and feel like I'd be a distraction and a stumbling block for others (like a deacon passing the sacrament with wild green hair...) and to be honest, they would be a stumbling block for me as I would have a hard time not focusing on my sadness as to where we are as a church that no one questions, with faith, what is going on.
  7 And they were strict to observe that there should be ^ano iniquity among them; and whoso was found to commit iniquity, and ^bthree witnesses of the church did condemn them before the ^celders, and if they repented not, and ^dconfessed not, their names were ^eblotted out, and they were not ^fnumbered among the people of Christ. This sounds like it isn't just daily sins that were brought to the attention of the elders, but the kind that would warrant excommunication. The kind that is rebellious or false and could take others with them. (Although the footnote says, no lying, hardness, backbiting, or evil speaking. That sounds like the more common sins, not worthy of x. Maybe Moroni is saying we should be more willing to be watchful of one another and more strict to observe that we all stay in the path of righteousness....) Not gonna fly in our day. Too much political correctness about not judging others....
 8 But ^aas oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real ^bintent, they were ^cforgiven. This is key to a Zion society. We will not be perfect, but we should sorrow when we give in to temptation and repent quickly. Because we all do it, we should forgive quickly too.
 9 And their meetings were ^aconducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the ^bpower of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done. Even though the holders of the priesthood conduct meetings, they should remember they hold the keys to all spiritual blessings. Everything is to be done by the Spirit and for the spiritual blessings of others. It is never about organizational procedures (though necessary to bring order), or customs, or power, or authority. Everything is done to preach, correct, pray, supplicate (ask of others?), or sing. And again...the "Key" is that it is done by the power of the Holy Ghost. Without that we are just "another church"...