Ether 14 To Be Carnal Minded is Death

The final chapters of Ether are so full of blood and carnage that it is impossible to comprehend.  Suffice it to say that without the Spirit of God, people become so self-centered that they can’t help but kill each other off.  The warnings for our day are there:  Love each other; seek for peace; be unselfish; care for the poor and needy; repent and come unto Christ.

Ether 13 The New Jerusalem

Moroni continues the sad tale of the Jaredite demise.  The people refused to hear the words of the prophet, Ether.  Ether prophesied to them of a coming day when a “New Jerusalem” will be built upon the American continent.  As I read this prophesy, I pictured in my mind a great city here in America, near the new Kansas City Temple.  The Savior was there and the royal court of the faithful saints who have kept their covenants.  The Stone family was in attendance as full participants.

Ether 12 Weak Things Made Strong

President Monson announced two new temples:  Cedar City, Utah, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  (April 2013)  Ether was a prophet in ancient America; the last of his people.  The Jaredites were to become extinct through their wickedness and pride.  Yet, the prophet Ether left these words to us, received from the mouth of the Lord:  “…ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”  “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness, I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” Later in this chapter, Moroni, says this about his meeting in person with the Savior:  “And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things.”  Imagine meeting with Jesus—something we all will do—and imagine him talking to us in “plain humility.”  Meanwhile, as we anticipate that meeting, we can humble ourselves and listen with all our hearts to his servants on this earth.  Then, we can act in accordance with his will.

Ether 11 The Words of the Living Prophets

It is General Conference weekend (April 2013).  The words of the living prophets will be spoken and broadcast to the world.  Believers will hear and let the words go down deep into their souls.  I will be among the believers.  The Jaredites rejected their prophets; they killed their prophets.   This behavior led to their people killing each other until the entire nation was swept off the land.  If we act in accordance with the words of the prophets, we will be blessed upon the land.   

 

Ether 10 It's All in a Name

Mahonri Moriancumr (the brother of Jared), Jacom, Gilgah, Mahah, Orihah, Shule, Heth, Akish, Emer, Nimrah, Coriantum, Coriantor, Com, Shez, Riplakish, Morianton, Kim, Kish, Lib, Hearthom, Shiblom, Ethem, Ether, Moron, Shared, Ahah and Shiz are all names found in the Book of Ether.  When the Book of Mormon was published, few if any of these names had ever appeared in any known literature.  Since 1830, to my knowledge, all of these names have been found in writings dating to 2000 B.C.  The Book of Mormon is full of antiquity.  It’s very old and very true!  Hurray for “Deseret!”

Ether 9 Elephants, Cureloms, Cumoms, OH MY!

War after war reduces the population to 30 souls!  The Lord will not proper the people in wickedness.  Nevertheless, there was a very righteous king. His name was Emer.  He was privileged to see the Savior when he was an old man.  Moroni calls Jesus, who visited Emer, the “Son of Righteousness.”  I like that title.  Another interesting fact shared in this chapter is the list of animals:  cattle, oxen, cows, sheep, swine, goats, horses, asses, elephants, cureloms and cumoms.  We don’t know what cureloms or cumoms were but they are included with the working beasts rather than the ones used for food.  Another interesting thing the Lord did to cause the people to humble themselves was to send poisonous serpents among them. Many were bitten and perished.  He also sent a drought.  Finally, the people began to humble themselves.

Ether 8 Secret Combinations (Yuck)

Secret combinations to murder and get gain begin again because of the wicked hearts of a few who want power no matter the cost.  Moroni comments saying, “I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness [Christ] and be saved."