#45 – “Never Has Man Believed in Me As Thou Hast”, Ether 1–6
#46 – “By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled”, Ether 7–15
Selecting Stones: The Brother of Jared (Nathan Florence, 2002)
Today we study elements from two lessons covering the Book of Ether. Although things are complicated by the fact that Mosiah (which one?) withheld the Book of Ether from his people (Ether 4:1), it is plausible to think of the book as being like a Book of Mormon for the people of the Book of Mormon. Why would the children of Lehi need such a book? Does each dispensation have its own Book of Mormon? What does seeing that the Book of Mormon people had the Jaredite record teach us? Does it make the story of their fall any more poignant?
The book of Ether is a fifteen-chapter abridgment of the twenty-four plates found by the people of Limhi in the days of King Mosiah. It gives an outline history of a people who were led to this continent from the Tower of Babel and became a great nation. These people, called Jaredites, had a national history of possibly sixteen centuries or more. The Tower of Babel record is the factual basis of the book of Ether. The Lord did not confound the Jaredite language, but guided his people and made of them a great nation. Ether, the last great prophet and historian of this people, gives his own genealogy, covering twenty-nine generations or more back to Jared, who lived at the time of the Tower of Babel episode.
(FARMS, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol.4, Number 2, p.123)
Summary
- Ether 1. The Lord grants the requests of the brother of Jared and promises to lead the Jaredites to a promised land.
- Ether 2. The Jaredites begin their journey to the promised land.
- Ether 3. The brother of Jared sees Jesus Christ.
- Ether 4. Moroni seals up the writings of the brother of Jared until the Gentiles repent and exercise faith.
- Ether 6:1–12. The Jaredites travel to the promised land, and when they arrive they praise the Lord for His tender mercies over them.
- Ether 12:1–22. Moroni explains the importance of faith and gives examples of the power of faith.
- Ether 12:23–41. The Lord teaches Moroni that He gives us weakness that we may be humble. Moroni commends us to “seek this Jesus, of whom the prophets and apostles have written.”
- Ether 13:1–12. Moroni records Ether’s prophecies concerning the promised land.
- Ether 13:13–15:34. Moroni records Ether’s account of the destruction of the Jaredite civilization.
Here are this week’s lesson handouts: Book of Mormon Lesson 45, Book of Mormon Lesson 46.
pax vobiscum
Filed under: Gospel Doctrine Tagged: | Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gospel Doctrine, LDS, Mormon, Religion
