Day 38 - Ether 9-14

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Discussion

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Ether 9:3 passed by the hill of Shim, and came over by the place where the Nephites were destroyed

This passage is significant because it places the geography of the Jaredites in the same land that the Nephites inhabited during the ministry of Mormon. This was the land in which Mormon was raised and also fought his last battles. The hill Shim, in particular, was the hill from which he obtained the many records of the Nephites (Mormon 1:3; 2:17).

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Ether 9:19 they also had horses

“If Joseph Smith had been writing the Book of Mormon instead of translating it from ancient records, he would have been very foolish to have included references to horses on the American continent in Book of Mormon times. (1 Nephi 18:25; Enos 21.) In 1830, nearly all the historians and scholars were convinced there had been no horses on the American continent before the coming of Columbus. After the Book of Mormon was published, however, archaeological discoveries were made that clearly indicate that horses were in the Americas before Columbus arrived. In the asphalt deposits of Rancho LaBrea in southern California, numerous fossil remains of horses have been found that antedate Book of Mormon times. Although these discoveries do not absolutely prove horses were in the Americas in the time period covered by the Book of Mormon (about 2600 B.C. to A.D. 421), they do prove horses were there before the coming of Columbus.

“Some scientists have now accepted the possibility that horses and men lived concurrently in the Americas before the coming of Columbus. Franklin S. Harris, Jr., quotes the zoologist Ivan T. Sanderson as saying: ‘There is a body of evidence both from the mainland of Central America and even from rock drawings in Haiti itself tending to show that the horse may have been known to man in the Americas before the coming of the Spaniards.’ (The Book of Mormon Message and Evidences [salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1953], pp. 88-89.)” (Daniel Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p.117)

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Ether 9:30-31 The relationship between drought and plagues of serpents

Those who have studied the plagues brought upon Egypt through Moses have noted some obvious relationships between the different kinds of plagues. First the waters were turned to blood, driving the frogs onto dry land. Later lice were followed by flies, etc (Ex 6:20-8:24). Similarly, there is a relationship between the great dearth spoken of and the plague of serpents which followed. One author explained it this phenomenon:

“During my lengthy residence in Israel (1971-79), I had opportunity to visit the Musa Alami Farm near Jericho. The farm had been constructed after Israel's 1948 War of Independence to settle displaced Palestinian refugees…Much of the farm was in disrepair during our visit because of the 1967 Six-Day War. Orange groves had died from lack of water, and most of the fields lay fallow. During the war, all but two of the pumps bringing underground water to the surface had been destroyed, making it impossible to maintain the farm at its previous level…Of particular interest to me was the effect on local wildlife. When crops were no longer being grown near the river, the mice moved westward to find grains in the few fields still under cultivation. They were, naturally, followed by serpents. From time to time, residents of the farm found vipers in and around their houses. This, they assured us, had never happened before the war.

“My thoughts turned to the story in Ether 9:30-3, where we read that the Jaredites were plagued by ‘poisonous serpents’ during a time of ‘great dearth’ when ‘there was no rain upon the face of the earth.’…A similar tale is told of the Israelites during the period of the exodus from Egypt. Soon after arriving in the wilderness, where there was ‘no bread, neither . . . water,’ they encountered poisonous serpents ‘and much people of Israel died.’ In this case, however, the serpents were not destroyed; instead, the Lord provided a miraculous means for the healing of those who had been bitten (Numbers 21:5-9; see also Deuteronomy 8:15; 2 Kings 18:4; John 3:14-5; 1 Corinthians 10:9; 1 Nephi 17:41; 2 Nephi 25:20).” (John A. Tvedtnes, FARMS: Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, vol. 6, no. 1, Fall-1997, “Drought & Serpents”)

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Ether 10:2 Shez…did build up a righteous kingdom; for he did remember what the Lord had done

Neal A. Maxwell

“[There is an] urgency of our coming to know God and His scheme of things, and of also developing within ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren a sense of history, including what God has done for Israel. Such reminders of the past-and millennia of memories from the scriptures-will help us amid present challenges.

“For instance, one religious and political leader, Shez, had the difficult assignment of beginning ‘to build up again a broken people’ (Ether 10:1). To begin with, Shez remembered ‘the destruction of his fathers’ and also ‘remembered what the Lord had done in bringing Jared and his brother across the deep.’ This sense of spiritual history helped him as he began to ‘build up a righteous kingdom’ of people who, once again, learned to ‘walk in the ways of the Lord’ (Ether 10:2).

“This ‘memory’ or sense of history should reach back not just a few decades but to the very beginning-even way back to the stated purposes of the Lord with regard to this whole mortal experience…scriptures give us a framework for better understanding mortality amid ‘all occasions.’

“Equipped with such a framework, along with a sense of history, we find that a great many things become clearer.

“This sense of spiritual history will thus truly help Church members to stay the course, to hold out faithful, and to endure well (see D&C 6:13; D&C 121:8). And surely some such guide and stay is crucial to us for it will take both testimony and spiritual sophistication to ride out some of the challenges of our time and to avoid being diverted or discouraged.” (We Will Prove Them Herewith, pp. 2-4)

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Ether 11:12 many prophets…did prophesy that the Lord would utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth

Marion G. Romney

“The Lord sent many prophets to the Jaredites, who ‘…prophesied of the destruction of that great people except they should repent…’ (Ether 11:1.)

“As the end approached, Ether, ‘…did cry from the morning even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance lest they should be destroyed,…’ (Ibid., 12:3.)

“The prophets were rejected and the Jaredite nation perished.

“…We today are at the crossroads of another cycle in the universal pattern, a cycle fraught with everlasting consequences. Whether it shall close in the light or in the shadow is for us to determine. The ominous signs are upon us, and the issues are crystal clear.

“Our whole world is in confusion. The wisdom of our wise men has proved inadequate to stay the rising crisis. With the means to unleash universal destruction in the hands of evil men, fear and apprehension ride with every breeze. In the past, situations similar to ours have generally terminated in destruction. It would seem that the judgments of God are about to be once more poured out upon the nations.

“The world situation being as it is, I feel impelled to emphasize the fact that, as already pointed out with respect to similar situations in the past, the Lord saw this one coming, and, in harmony with his universal pattern, sounded the warning and prescribed the means of escape. For although the pattern is universal so that the lesson may be clearly drawn from history, the Lord always warns the people of a new dispensation through prophets raised up unto them in their own day.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1958, p. 128)

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Ether 12:2-3 Ether…could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him

Monte J. Brough

“One sleepless night, while serving as a mission president, I was greatly concerned about the condition of the mission. There was a need to provide some inspiration and motivation for the missionaries, but I was at a loss as to what or how I might provide it. Again my thoughts were turned to the prophet Ether because of his example of diligence and inspiration during his missionary experience. I love learning and studying about Ether because his life demonstrates qualities which I personally desire for myself, such as his supreme ability to concentrate during his service as a missionary: (quotes Ether 12:2; 13:2, 4.)

“That night I was impressed that a study of the life of Ether might provide the inspiration which was needed for our mission. Every missionary in the Church would do well to emulate this great prophet who understood the rigors of missionary work and performed at such a high level. Ether ‘could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him. For he did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun.’ (Ether 12:2–3.)

“As a mission president, I found that this example of hard work and diligent effort was among the finest available. We challenged every missionary to learn to be an ‘Ether’ because the Spirit of the Lord could make it possible for each of them to ‘not be restrained.’ Many of our missionaries did gain this level of spirituality which ‘could not be restrained,’ and thus were blessed with faith and results which had not been previously enjoyed. This, of course, resulted in a higher level of work even from early morning until late in the evening.” (Heroes From the Book of Mormon, pp. 190-91)

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Ether 12:5 they did not believe, because they saw them not

Like sign seekers of subsequent generations, the Jaredites put the cart before the horse, expecting to receive a witness before they had exhibited faith. But how can it be called faith if it comes after the witness? Faith is powerful, as Moroni is about to explain, only when it is demonstrated before the witness is given.

Bruce R. McConkie

“There is no provision in the law of faith that miracles will create faith. Signs follow; they do not precede. It is true that someone who has seen a sign may thereafter do the things which will enable him to gain faith, but it is not the miracle as such which begets the faith; it is obedience to that law upon which its receipt is predicated.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:632)

Spencer W. Kimball

“In faith we plant the seed, and soon we see the miracle of the blossoming. Men have often misunderstood and have reversed the process. They would have the harvest before the planting, the reward before the service, the miracle before the faith. Even the most demanding labor unions would hardly ask the wages before the labor. But many of us would have the vigor without the observance of the health laws, prosperity through the opened windows of heaven without the payment of our tithes. We would have the close communion with our Father without fasting and praying; we would have rain in due season and peace in the land without observing the Sabbath and keeping the other commandments of the Lord. We would pluck the rose before planting the roots; we would harvest the grain before its planting and cultivating.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1952, p. 47)

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Ether 13:2 the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof

Hugh Nibley

“This is the ‘choice land above all other lands’ since the Flood, reserved for the New Jerusalem and the ‘remnant of the house of Joseph . . . like unto the Jerusalem of old’ (Ether 13:2, 6-8). But God placed the promise upon it ‘in his wrath’ (Jacob 1:7; Alma 12:35; Ether 1:33; 2:8; 15:28). Why that, of all things? Because his patience was at an end when men had defiled all the other lands in the glorious and beautiful world he had given them. He would set apart a place where he would stand for no nonsense; there men would be given such freedom as nowhere else, and could enjoy such prosperity as nowhere else.

“But in return for this liberty, certain ground rules have to be observed. Perfect liberty means that you can go as far as you want…But when the inhabitants abuse that freedom until they ‘are ripened in iniquity,’ their presence will be no longer tolerated…God was angry when he laid down these conditions: ‘These are my thoughts upon the land which I shall give you for your inheritance; for it shall be a land choice above all other lands.’ And these are the thoughts: ‘My Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord’ (Ether 2:15). This promise is conveyed to us for our special benefit: ‘And this cometh to you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done’ (Ether 2:11). It is Moroni's prophetic warning to stop doing what we are doing. Fullness and ripeness: when the cup is full, it can no longer be diluted; when the fruit is ripe, it can only rot—there is no point to continuing the game. But up to that point all is permitted.” (The Prophetic Book of Mormon, p. 505)

[Seanette]

Current on posting notes. Need to work on New Testament footnote markings this weekend to prepare for that challenge.

Ether 8 – Strife and contention for the throne continue through generations. The daughter of Jared II seduces Akish into assassinating the king so that her father can rule. Akish forms an oath-bound secret combination to carry out the assassination, using oaths handed down from Cain. Moroni warns that secret combinations are of the devil and lead to the destruction of nations.

Ether 9 – The kingdom passes from one ruler to another by intrigue, murder, and occasionally by descent and legitimate succession. Emer rules in righteousness, and sees the Son of Righteousness. His son Corianton succeeds him and emulates him. Wickedness begins to spread again. Prophets come crying repentance, and are cast out and killed. Drought, famine, and poisonous serpents cause the people to humble themselves and repent. The famine and drought end (it takes a bit longer to get rid of the serpents, but it does happen).

Ether 10 – Some kings are righteous, some are wicked. When righteousness prevails, the Lord blesses and prospers the people. A group of robbers that appear similar to the Gadianton band arise during the reign of Com.

Ether 11 – Prophets predict the destruction of the people unless they repent. The people seek to destroy the prophets, who flee to Com for protection. During the reign of Com’s son Shiblon, his brother causes the prophets to be put to death, and a great calamity comes to the land. The people begin to repent and, as they do, obtain God’s mercy. More rulers come and go, with prophets arising at least twice to cry repentance. Each time, they are rejected and the people harden their hearts against them.

Ether 12 – Coriantumr is now king. Ether comes forth to prophesy and urge the people to believe in God and repent. Moroni speaks of wonders and marvels done by faith, such as the brother of Jared both seeing Christ and moving a mountain. The Lord gives us weaknesses that we may be humble and turn to Him for strength. Faith, hope, and charity are necessary to salvation. Moroni declares that he has seen Christ face-to-face.

Ether 13 – Ether prophesies of the New Jerusalem to be built in their land by the seed of Joseph. He is cast out and hides in a cave. He writes the Jaredite history and foretells the destruction of his people. War rages throughout the land.

[KeithLBrown]

The Trial Of Our Faith

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1 [The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is known as the Hall of Faith chapter of the Bible]

"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all things which the Lord can comprehend." (Mosiah 4:9.) ~King Benjamin

Scripture Reference: Ether 12: 6-19

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.
8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.
10 Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God.
11 Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
13 Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.
14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
15 Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
16 Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.
17 And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith.
18 And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.
19 And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, "God Grant Us Faith," Ensign, Nov 1983, 51

The history of this Church is a history of the expression of such faith. It began with a farm boy in the year 1820 when he read that great promise set forth in the Epistle of James:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." (James 1:5-6.)

It was faith, the simple faith of a fourteen-year-old boy, that took him into the woods that spring morning. It was faith that took him to his knees in pleading for understanding. The marvelous fruit of that faith was a vision glorious and beautiful, of which this great work is but the extended shadow.

It was by faith that he kept himself worthy of the remarkable manifestations which followed in bringing to the earth the keys, the authority, the power to reestablish the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days. It was by faith that this marvelous record of ancient peoples, this testament which we call the Book of Mormon, was brought forth by the gift and power of God "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ." It was by faith that a small band of early converts, notwithstanding the very powers of hell brought against them, strengthened and sustained one another, left home and family to spread the word, moved from New York to Ohio and from Ohio to Missouri and from Missouri to Illinois in their search for peace and freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience.

It was through the eyes of faith that they saw a city beautiful when first they walked across the swamps of Commerce, Illinois. With the conviction that faith without works is dead, they drained that swampland, they platted a city, they built substantial homes and houses for worship and education and, crowning all, a magnificent temple, then the finest building in all of Illinois.

Again came persecution, with profane and murderous mobs. Their prophet was killed. Their dreams were shattered. Again it was by faith that they pulled themselves together under the pattern he had previously drawn and organized themselves for another exodus.

With tears and aching hearts they left their comfortable homes and their workshops. They looked back upon their sacred temple, and then with faith turned their eyes to the West, to the unknown and to the uncharted, and while the snows of winter fell upon them, they crossed the Mississippi that February of 1846 and plowed their muddy way over the Iowa prairie.

With faith they established Winter Quarters on the Missouri. Hundreds died as plague and dysentery and black canker cut them down. But faith sustained those who survived. They buried their loved ones there on a bluff above the river, and in the spring of 1847 they started west, moving by faith up the Elkhorn and beside the Platte toward the mountains of the West.

It was by faith that Brigham Young looked over this valley, then hot and barren, and declared, "This is the place." Again by faith, four days later, he touched his cane to the ground a few hundred feet east of where I stand and said, "Here will be the temple of our God." The magnificent and sacred house of the Lord to the east of this Tabernacle is a testimony of faith, not only of the faith of those who built it but of the faith of those who now use it in a great selfless labor of love.

Wrote Paul to the Hebrews, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1.) All of the great accomplishments of which I have spoken were once only "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." But with vision, with labor, and with confidence in the power of God working through them, they brought their faith to reality.

A few notes from a Sacrament talk that I delivered to the congregation of the Broadneck Ward, of the Annapolis Maryland Stake, on Sabbath day afternoon, 27 April 2003. The talk was entitled "The Gift and the Power of Faith".

There are many steps a person can take to develop the gift and power of faith. I will mention only six of those steps.

Number one: Faith is the ability to recognize the Lord as all-powerful and the giver of all blessings.

Number two: Faith is the ability to do what we are prompted to do, and when we are prompted to do it.

Number three: Faith is the ability to live the laws of God that control the blessings we are in need of. While we should not keep the commandments just to receive blessings, nevertheless, the blessings are there.

Number four: Faith is the ability to act "as if."

Number five: Faith is the ability to be charitable and to believe in people.

Number six: Faith is the ability to allow ourselves to be guided by the priesthood.