Ether 7 Listen to the Prophets

As Jared and his brother feared, having kings rule the people of God was not a good idea.  Soon there were divisions and strife.  Shule, a righteous king, managed to unite the kingdom over the issue of whether or not to allow the prophets to preach freely among the people.  He enacted a law to let the prophets go wherever they wanted and preach without interference.  “And by this cause the people were brought unto repentance.”  We await the words of our beloved Prophet and Apostles of Jesus Christ.  They will be speaking in Conference in two weeks (April 2013).  May we be changed by their words.  The Spirit will whisper to us what we need to do to bring our lives into harmony with the will of the Lord.

Ether 6 The Trip to the Promised Land

The barges, with the pilgrims bound for the Promised Land, depart, depending upon the Lord to provide the propulsion.  There is no mention of sails.  The winds blew fiercely the barges were pushed along in the current, sometimes under the water and sometimes on top.  They were as tight at Noah’s ark had been.  The stones the Lord had touched provided light.  Two stones were placed in each vessel.  They never stopped giving light. (I wonder what they did with those precious stones!)  They arrived safely and started tilling the ground.  They prospered, walking humbly before the Lord.  There is a foreboding:  The people desire (and Jared and his brother give in) a king.  Jared and his famous brother pass away. 

Ether 5 Three Witnesses

Moroni is the steward of the Book of Mormon and the Plates.  He is authorized to show them to others and to withhold them.  He was authorized to show them to Joseph Smith.  He was very strict with Joseph about who could see the plates.  There were three authorized witnesses:  Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris. These witnesses saw the plates and heard the voice of God declaring they were holy.  These three witnesses are spoken of in this chapter.  I found it interesting to note that there are three members of the Godhead.  All witness the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Three Witnesses.

Ether 4 The Sealed Portion

Moroni wrote down the words of the Brother of Jared who saw all things.  He sealed them and we have not yet received them.  Joseph Smith saw them and handled them but was not allowed to open them or translate them.  We call them the “sealed portion” of the plates.  According to Moroni, “I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the Brother of Jared.”  Moroni also included the Urim and Thumim when he hid up the record in the Hill Cummorah.  Some day we will be privileged to read the things written on these plates.  The rest of Mormon’s and Moroni’s abridgement and writings are available to us in the Book of Mormon.  And “…he that believeth these things…will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record.  For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good.”  “Come unto me” Jesus pleads.  “And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world.”

Ether 3 Touching the Stones

Chapter 2 concluded with the Lord asking the Brother of Jared what he wanted him to do to provide light in the vessels.  In this chapter, we see that the Brother of Jared came up with a plan.  He took rocks and heated them until they were molten into glass.  He took sixteen of these molten stones (2 for each vessel) and presented them before the Lord saying, “…touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.”  This event is often referred to as one of the ways prayer works.  The Lord is willing to bless us, but he wants us to come up with the plan, and then ask him to help us to carry it forward.  We need to provide the Lord with an answer and then see if that answer is acceptable to him.  For example, Jean and I both decided that we wanted to get married but we didn’t know if we should get a civil marriage or be married in the temple.  After meeting with both sets of parents and with our stake president, we decided to have a civil wedding.  We presented the plan to the Lord and he approved.  Our marriage was sweet and spiritual.  Two months later, at the anniversary of Jean’s baptism, we went through the Salt Lake Temple and received our sealing ordinance. 

Our three sons are all facing employment decisions.  They don’t know where they will be working in the future.  Each will need to do all they can and then present solutions to the Lord.  The Lord will then open the doors for them according to their faith.  Effectual doors will open.

 

Referring to the Lord touching the stones, I believe the Lord is touching each of the Stone children and grandchildren.  He is filling them with light to help them sail their seas.  We hope and pray for their success and we have faith in Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father that they will be delivered to their promised lands.

 

Ether 2 The Lord Leads the Jaredites Along

My dad once told me that when he read in one of Hugh Nibley’s books about the ancient nature of the word “deseret.”  He said that with that one word he was convinced in his heart and head that the Book of Mormon is true.  I am grateful that Dad had his testimony deepened and anchored by his simple word.  I think it is sweet that he called my mom by her middle name, “Bee.”  Bee and deseret go together in a love story involving truth and love and my dad. 

The Lord led Jared’s group through land and water passages by directing them how to build barges and showing the Brother of Jared directions.  The Lord appeared to Jared in a cloud keeping their conversations confidential.  They came to a sea shore but not to the promised land.  They stayed there for four years.  The Lord appeared to the Brother of Jared.  He talked to him and he also chastised him for failure to “call upon the name of the Lord.”  I believe this was not a negative experience for the Brother of Jared.  I don’t think the Lord was chewing him out for three hours.  That is not his nature.  I think he would have kindly but firmly given a course correction and then for the remaining almost three hours taught him sacred things.  The Brother of Jared’s faith was cemented in Christ from this time forward.  His faith was unshakable and unprecedented.   

The Lord gives him complete instructions on his Noah-like mission to build small arks (barges).  Holes were to be cut in the top and bottom suggesting that some kind of cylinder went through the middle of the barges allowing for air to come in and waste to be flushed out.  But the barges lacked a light source for those times with the seas were rough and the top hole had to remain sealed.  Mahonri Moriancumr’s (Brother of Jared) faith was to face a new test.

Ether 1 The Brother of Jared

Moroni has abridged the writings of the ancient prophet Ether.  The record dates back, at its beginning, to the tower of Babel.  Therefore, this book is, chronologically, the first book of the Book of Mormon.  When I took seminary in 1968 at the junior high in Logan, this was the book we covered first.  My seminary class was my first class of the day.  Alvin Harris was my teacher.  He was a crazy old bird who told stories about being rescued from beer trucks that were always trying to kill him when he was in his car.  He was serious, but we thought he was nuts.  Anyway, Ether introduces his account with the story of Jared and his brother, “the brother of Jared.”  We don’t ever know his name based on the record but Joseph Smith revealed his true name as Mohonri Moriancumer.  This name was revealed to the prophet when he was asked to give a name and a blessing to a child of one of his neighbors in Nauvoo.  You can imagine their surprise.  The brother of Jared was asked by his brother, Jared, to pray for the family.  He hoped the Lord would not confuse their language.  Remember, this is Tower of Babel times.  The brother of Jared had hoped to keep the family and a few close friends together.  So, the Brother of Jared did pray and the Lord heard his prayer.  The Lord commanded him to gather the families together and go north taking their possessions and animals.  They were to be led to a promised land, a choice land “above all the lands of the earth.”

Mormon 9 Trust God

Moroni states with boldness: “Doubt not, but be believing…and come unto the Lord with all your heart….”  Our God is unchanging and we can count on him no matter what is going on in our world.  He is never in a bad mood; he never has indigestion; he never gets bored; he is always the same.  We can place our trust in him fully.  He will answer our prayers.  Trust him.
 

Mormon 8 Death of Mormon, Moroni Takes Over

Moroni finishes the record of his father, Mormon.  He talks of a “great and tremendous battle at Cumorah” wherein hundreds of thousands died including his father.  He becomes the final author of the Book of Mormon.  He reports having seen the three disciples whom Jesus miraculously changed so that they couldn’t die or feel any physical pain.  He speaks directly to us in the latter days: “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not.  But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.”  He has strong words for the wicked, calling them to repentance. 
  

Mormon 7 Lehi's Children in the Latter Days

Remarkably, Mormon writes to the descendants of the Lamanites in the latter days telling them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  He holds no ill will against them.  He wants them to know they are of the House of Israel and that Christ has not forgotten them.  This remarkable book is now going to the Children of Lehi in all parts of the world.  Many are recognizing the truth of Mormon’s record and are coming unto Christ and partaking of his goodness.

Mormon 6 Oh Ye Fair Ones!

“O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord!  O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!  Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen.  But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.  O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!  But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.”  Thus, Mormon, after having buried the bulk of the records, keeping the Plates of Nephi and passing them to his son, Moroni, gives his final lament regarding his people who were completely destroyed by the Lamanites except those who denied their testimonies and Moroni who escaped with the plates.

Mormon 5 The Book of Mormon Goes Viral

Mormon’s grief must have been intense as he witnessed the destruction of his people.  Yet, he saw our day and had great hope.  The Book of Mormon would come forth among the Jews and the entire world.  His book would be the sign from God that the coming of his Son was near.

Mormon 4 Great Wickedness

How bad was it?  “And there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi….”

Mormon 3 Believe Jesus

How do I find the nuggets of gold that are found in such a sad story as the one Mormon tells?  Read on: “And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all.  And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil; And also that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ….”  Mormon refused to lead his armies for a time because of their failure to humble themselves and repent.  I know that as your father and grandfather I must constantly repent and seek for the spirit or else I will not be an effective leader of our family.  As my children, you also must be humble and seek the Spirit to cleanse you and direct you each day.  Trust in the Creator not the creature (natural man).

Mormon 2 The Sorrowing of the Damned

I have been caught speeding and as a result I have been sad.  But I was not necessarily sad because I was breaking the law and saw the error of my way; I was sad because I got caught and had to pay a fine.  This is what Mormon called the “sorrowing of the damned.”  His people at one point seemed to be sorrowing because of their iniquity and on the verge of repentance.  But this was not the case.  They were sad because the Lord would not let them be happy in their iniquities.  They did not repent and as a result became weak.  The Spirit would not abide with them.

Mormon1 A Righteous Young Man

Mormon was a righteous young man.  When he was only ten years old, the record bearer, Ammaron, selected him to be the steward of the Plates of Nephi and the rest of the sacred records.  During his early years Mormon witnessed the disintegration of the Nephites and Lamanites, their wars, their wickedness and their destructive, godless lives.  The Three Nephites were taken from them.  The Gadianton Robbers infested the people like a million spirit devouring roaches.  Yet, Mormon stayed true to Christ.  He became the mighty author and editor of the record that would bear his name:  THE BOOK OF MORMON: Another Testament of Christ.

4 Nephi 1 There Were No Contentions

After Christ’s visits to America, the people became very righteous.  They lived by the words of Jesus and no longer were constrained to live the lesser Law of Moses.  They had all things in common, living the higher law.  They prospered and multiplied.  There was no contention and no more “-ites.”  “Surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.”  When we become the Children of Christ through living his commandments and keeping his covenants we become unselfish.  We serve each other and love each other.  Think if we could eliminate contention and pride in our families!  Let’s go out of our way to make this happen.  Let’s treat each other with renewed vision of who we really are.  Let’s pray for each other with increased earnestness.  Let’s smile and be grateful to our dear God, the Father of our Spirits, and his son, Jesus Christ.