Ether 1 All

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This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Ether. The relationship of Chapter 1a to the rest of Ether is discussed at Ether.

Story. Chapter 1a gives the genealogy of Ether.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapter 1a include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:2: The 24 gold plates. Moroni says here that he takes his account from the twenty and four plates found by the people of Limhi (see Mosiah 21:25-27). We know from Mosiah 28:17 that had already translated this record once. Moroni makes no indication of that pre-existing translation here. This verse suggests Moroni goes back to the source making the Book of Ether Moroni's translation of Ether's record. (Or, to be more precise, the Book of Ether is Joseph Smith's translation into English of Moroni's translation into his own language.)

For more on the 24 plates, see Mosiah 8:9, Mosiah 21:27, Mosiah 28:11, Alma 37:21, and Ether 15:33.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:1: Why does Moroni decide to "give an account" of the Jaredites?

• Ether 1:1: Why does he refer to them as "ancient inhabitants"?

• Ether 1:1: In what sense can we say that these ancient inhabitants "were destroyed by the hand of the Lord" when they clearly killed themselves through warfare?

• Ether 1:1: What does Moroni mean by "this north country"? North in relation to what?

• Ether 1:1: "This" north country suggests that Moroni is in that northern land--is this the land of Bountiful, or farther north? Cumorah?

• Ether 1:1: The Nephite center of influence seems to have moved several times--from the Land of Nephi, to Zarahemla, to Bountiful, and perhaps now even farther north. What does this tell us about the nature of Nephite society?

• Ether 1:2: How does Moroni get his "account from the twenty and four plates"?

• Ether 1:2: What does this imply about how these ancient records had been kept since the time of Limhi?

• Ether 1:2: Why is this record "called the Book of Ether"?

• Ether 1:3: What might we be missing from the Book of Ether? How valuable would it be to have another ancient account of the creation, Adam, and the material found in our Book of Genesis?

• Ether 1:4: Whoso findeth them. What does this mean? Is this a prediction or prophecy? Should we be looking for these plates? Where are they? How valuable would it be to have the original record? Does this imply that these records are potentially available to us and the rest of the world to find and translate?

• Ether 1:5: How much of the 24 plates contained the parts that we don't have?

• Ether 1:7-32: If Moroni was already editing the Book of Ether, why give this extended genealogy? Wouldn't it have been enough to say that Ether was a descendant of Jared? Why give us all the actual names?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

Home > The Book of Mormon > Ether > Chapter 1a / Verses 1:1-32
Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Ether. The relationship of Chapter 1a to the rest of Ether is discussed at Ether.

Story. Chapter 1a gives the genealogy of Ether.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapter 1a include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:2: The 24 gold plates. Moroni says here that he takes his account from the twenty and four plates found by the people of Limhi (see Mosiah 21:25-27). We know from Mosiah 28:17 that had already translated this record once. Moroni makes no indication of that pre-existing translation here. This verse suggests Moroni goes back to the source making the Book of Ether Moroni's translation of Ether's record. (Or, to be more precise, the Book of Ether is Joseph Smith's translation into English of Moroni's translation into his own language.)

For more on the 24 plates, see Mosiah 8:9, Mosiah 21:27, Mosiah 28:11, Alma 37:21, and Ether 15:33.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:1: Why does Moroni decide to "give an account" of the Jaredites?

• Ether 1:1: Why does he refer to them as "ancient inhabitants"?

• Ether 1:1: In what sense can we say that these ancient inhabitants "were destroyed by the hand of the Lord" when they clearly killed themselves through warfare?

• Ether 1:1: What does Moroni mean by "this north country"? North in relation to what?

• Ether 1:1: "This" north country suggests that Moroni is in that northern land--is this the land of Bountiful, or farther north? Cumorah?

• Ether 1:1: The Nephite center of influence seems to have moved several times--from the Land of Nephi, to Zarahemla, to Bountiful, and perhaps now even farther north. What does this tell us about the nature of Nephite society?

• Ether 1:2: How does Moroni get his "account from the twenty and four plates"?

• Ether 1:2: What does this imply about how these ancient records had been kept since the time of Limhi?

• Ether 1:2: Why is this record "called the Book of Ether"?

• Ether 1:3: What might we be missing from the Book of Ether? How valuable would it be to have another ancient account of the creation, Adam, and the material found in our Book of Genesis?

• Ether 1:4: Whoso findeth them. What does this mean? Is this a prediction or prophecy? Should we be looking for these plates? Where are they? How valuable would it be to have the original record? Does this imply that these records are potentially available to us and the rest of the world to find and translate?

• Ether 1:5: How much of the 24 plates contained the parts that we don't have?

• Ether 1:7-32: If Moroni was already editing the Book of Ether, why give this extended genealogy? Wouldn't it have been enough to say that Ether was a descendant of Jared? Why give us all the actual names?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

Home > The Book of Mormon > Ether > Chapter 1a / Verses 1:1-32
Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Ether. The relationship of Chapter 1a to the rest of Ether is discussed at Ether.

Story. Chapter 1a gives the genealogy of Ether.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapter 1a include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:2: The 24 gold plates. Moroni says here that he takes his account from the twenty and four plates found by the people of Limhi (see Mosiah 21:25-27). We know from Mosiah 28:17 that had already translated this record once. Moroni makes no indication of that pre-existing translation here. This verse suggests Moroni goes back to the source making the Book of Ether Moroni's translation of Ether's record. (Or, to be more precise, the Book of Ether is Joseph Smith's translation into English of Moroni's translation into his own language.)

For more on the 24 plates, see Mosiah 8:9, Mosiah 21:27, Mosiah 28:11, Alma 37:21, and Ether 15:33.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:1: Why does Moroni decide to "give an account" of the Jaredites?

• Ether 1:1: Why does he refer to them as "ancient inhabitants"?

• Ether 1:1: In what sense can we say that these ancient inhabitants "were destroyed by the hand of the Lord" when they clearly killed themselves through warfare?

• Ether 1:1: What does Moroni mean by "this north country"? North in relation to what?

• Ether 1:1: "This" north country suggests that Moroni is in that northern land--is this the land of Bountiful, or farther north? Cumorah?

• Ether 1:1: The Nephite center of influence seems to have moved several times--from the Land of Nephi, to Zarahemla, to Bountiful, and perhaps now even farther north. What does this tell us about the nature of Nephite society?

• Ether 1:2: How does Moroni get his "account from the twenty and four plates"?

• Ether 1:2: What does this imply about how these ancient records had been kept since the time of Limhi?

• Ether 1:2: Why is this record "called the Book of Ether"?

• Ether 1:3: What might we be missing from the Book of Ether? How valuable would it be to have another ancient account of the creation, Adam, and the material found in our Book of Genesis?

• Ether 1:4: Whoso findeth them. What does this mean? Is this a prediction or prophecy? Should we be looking for these plates? Where are they? How valuable would it be to have the original record? Does this imply that these records are potentially available to us and the rest of the world to find and translate?

• Ether 1:5: How much of the 24 plates contained the parts that we don't have?

• Ether 1:7-32: If Moroni was already editing the Book of Ether, why give this extended genealogy? Wouldn't it have been enough to say that Ether was a descendant of Jared? Why give us all the actual names?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

Home > The Book of Mormon > Ether > Chapter 1a / Verses 1:1-32
Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Ether. The relationship of Chapter 1a to the rest of Ether is discussed at Ether.

Story. Chapter 1a gives the genealogy of Ether.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapter 1a include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:2: The 24 gold plates. Moroni says here that he takes his account from the twenty and four plates found by the people of Limhi (see Mosiah 21:25-27). We know from Mosiah 28:17 that had already translated this record once. Moroni makes no indication of that pre-existing translation here. This verse suggests Moroni goes back to the source making the Book of Ether Moroni's translation of Ether's record. (Or, to be more precise, the Book of Ether is Joseph Smith's translation into English of Moroni's translation into his own language.)

For more on the 24 plates, see Mosiah 8:9, Mosiah 21:27, Mosiah 28:11, Alma 37:21, and Ether 15:33.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:1: Why does Moroni decide to "give an account" of the Jaredites?

• Ether 1:1: Why does he refer to them as "ancient inhabitants"?

• Ether 1:1: In what sense can we say that these ancient inhabitants "were destroyed by the hand of the Lord" when they clearly killed themselves through warfare?

• Ether 1:1: What does Moroni mean by "this north country"? North in relation to what?

• Ether 1:1: "This" north country suggests that Moroni is in that northern land--is this the land of Bountiful, or farther north? Cumorah?

• Ether 1:1: The Nephite center of influence seems to have moved several times--from the Land of Nephi, to Zarahemla, to Bountiful, and perhaps now even farther north. What does this tell us about the nature of Nephite society?

• Ether 1:2: How does Moroni get his "account from the twenty and four plates"?

• Ether 1:2: What does this imply about how these ancient records had been kept since the time of Limhi?

• Ether 1:2: Why is this record "called the Book of Ether"?

• Ether 1:3: What might we be missing from the Book of Ether? How valuable would it be to have another ancient account of the creation, Adam, and the material found in our Book of Genesis?

• Ether 1:4: Whoso findeth them. What does this mean? Is this a prediction or prophecy? Should we be looking for these plates? Where are they? How valuable would it be to have the original record? Does this imply that these records are potentially available to us and the rest of the world to find and translate?

• Ether 1:5: How much of the 24 plates contained the parts that we don't have?

• Ether 1:7-32: If Moroni was already editing the Book of Ether, why give this extended genealogy? Wouldn't it have been enough to say that Ether was a descendant of Jared? Why give us all the actual names?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

Home > The Book of Mormon > Ether > Chapter 1a / Verses 1:1-32
Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Ether. The relationship of Chapter 1a to the rest of Ether is discussed at Ether.

Story. Chapter 1a gives the genealogy of Ether.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapter 1a include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:2: The 24 gold plates. Moroni says here that he takes his account from the twenty and four plates found by the people of Limhi (see Mosiah 21:25-27). We know from Mosiah 28:17 that had already translated this record once. Moroni makes no indication of that pre-existing translation here. This verse suggests Moroni goes back to the source making the Book of Ether Moroni's translation of Ether's record. (Or, to be more precise, the Book of Ether is Joseph Smith's translation into English of Moroni's translation into his own language.)

For more on the 24 plates, see Mosiah 8:9, Mosiah 21:27, Mosiah 28:11, Alma 37:21, and Ether 15:33.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:1: Why does Moroni decide to "give an account" of the Jaredites?

• Ether 1:1: Why does he refer to them as "ancient inhabitants"?

• Ether 1:1: In what sense can we say that these ancient inhabitants "were destroyed by the hand of the Lord" when they clearly killed themselves through warfare?

• Ether 1:1: What does Moroni mean by "this north country"? North in relation to what?

• Ether 1:1: "This" north country suggests that Moroni is in that northern land--is this the land of Bountiful, or farther north? Cumorah?

• Ether 1:1: The Nephite center of influence seems to have moved several times--from the Land of Nephi, to Zarahemla, to Bountiful, and perhaps now even farther north. What does this tell us about the nature of Nephite society?

• Ether 1:2: How does Moroni get his "account from the twenty and four plates"?

• Ether 1:2: What does this imply about how these ancient records had been kept since the time of Limhi?

• Ether 1:2: Why is this record "called the Book of Ether"?

• Ether 1:3: What might we be missing from the Book of Ether? How valuable would it be to have another ancient account of the creation, Adam, and the material found in our Book of Genesis?

• Ether 1:4: Whoso findeth them. What does this mean? Is this a prediction or prophecy? Should we be looking for these plates? Where are they? How valuable would it be to have the original record? Does this imply that these records are potentially available to us and the rest of the world to find and translate?

• Ether 1:5: How much of the 24 plates contained the parts that we don't have?

• Ether 1:7-32: If Moroni was already editing the Book of Ether, why give this extended genealogy? Wouldn't it have been enough to say that Ether was a descendant of Jared? Why give us all the actual names?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

Home > The Book of Mormon > Ether > Chapter 1a / Verses 1:1-32
Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Ether. The relationship of Chapter 1a to the rest of Ether is discussed at Ether.

Story. Chapter 1a gives the genealogy of Ether.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapter 1a include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:2: The 24 gold plates. Moroni says here that he takes his account from the twenty and four plates found by the people of Limhi (see Mosiah 21:25-27). We know from Mosiah 28:17 that had already translated this record once. Moroni makes no indication of that pre-existing translation here. This verse suggests Moroni goes back to the source making the Book of Ether Moroni's translation of Ether's record. (Or, to be more precise, the Book of Ether is Joseph Smith's translation into English of Moroni's translation into his own language.)

For more on the 24 plates, see Mosiah 8:9, Mosiah 21:27, Mosiah 28:11, Alma 37:21, and Ether 15:33.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Ether 1:1: Why does Moroni decide to "give an account" of the Jaredites?

• Ether 1:1: Why does he refer to them as "ancient inhabitants"?

• Ether 1:1: In what sense can we say that these ancient inhabitants "were destroyed by the hand of the Lord" when they clearly killed themselves through warfare?

• Ether 1:1: What does Moroni mean by "this north country"? North in relation to what?

• Ether 1:1: "This" north country suggests that Moroni is in that northern land--is this the land of Bountiful, or farther north? Cumorah?

• Ether 1:1: The Nephite center of influence seems to have moved several times--from the Land of Nephi, to Zarahemla, to Bountiful, and perhaps now even farther north. What does this tell us about the nature of Nephite society?

• Ether 1:2: How does Moroni get his "account from the twenty and four plates"?

• Ether 1:2: What does this imply about how these ancient records had been kept since the time of Limhi?

• Ether 1:2: Why is this record "called the Book of Ether"?

• Ether 1:3: What might we be missing from the Book of Ether? How valuable would it be to have another ancient account of the creation, Adam, and the material found in our Book of Genesis?

• Ether 1:4: Whoso findeth them. What does this mean? Is this a prediction or prophecy? Should we be looking for these plates? Where are they? How valuable would it be to have the original record? Does this imply that these records are potentially available to us and the rest of the world to find and translate?

• Ether 1:5: How much of the 24 plates contained the parts that we don't have?

• Ether 1:7-32: If Moroni was already editing the Book of Ether, why give this extended genealogy? Wouldn't it have been enough to say that Ether was a descendant of Jared? Why give us all the actual names?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

Previous page: Ether                      Next page: Chapters 1b-6

Home > The Book of Mormon > Ether > Chapters 1b-6 > Chapter 1b-2 / Verses 1:33-2:25
Previous page: Chapters 1b-6                      Next page: Chapter 3-5

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Chapters 1b-6. The relationship of Chapter 1b-2 to the rest of Chapters 1b-6 is discussed at Chapters 1b-6.

Story. Chapter 1b-2, the opening portion of the Jardites' journey to America, consists of seven major sections:

• Verses 1:34-43: Questions and answers about scattering and traveling to a land of promise.
• Verses 2:1-3: Gathering food supplies for the journey.
• Verses 2:4-7: Lord leads Jaredites toward promised land.
• Verses 2:8-12: We can behold: America as a choice land.
• Verses 2:13-15: Lord chastises for three hours because no progress for four years.
• Verses 2:16-17: Building boats for the water journey.
• Verses 2:18-25: Questions and answers about light and air while traveling in boats.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapters 1b-2 include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• The question of contrast is interesting and provides plenty to think about on its own. In addition, thinking about the expanded episode of the brother of Jared (highly favored → reprimanded → allowed to see the Lord) should yield more questions and insights. MJ

Ether 1:33-2:7

• Ether 1:34. In verse 34 Jared goes to his brother to have him petition the Lord not to have their language confounded. It seems that Jared turns to his brother because Jared believes that if his brother prays, they are more likely to have their petition granted. Within the scriptures the phrase "favored of the Lord" is consistently used in the context of righteousness. The suggestion is that Jared believes his brother's petition will be answered because his brother has been righteous, maybe more righteous than he has been.

• Ether 1:36-40. Note that Jared demonstrates much faith in his brother. Jared believes and trusts his brother, knowing that he has special contact with God. This may be an example of the gift described in D&C 46:14: "To others it is given to believe on their words...".

• Ether 2:1-5. The development of this plot (the Brother of Jared building ships with the help of the Lord) is a series of petitionary prayers finally answered by divine self-revelation. The Brother of Jared seems to be concerned with building a more-or-less comfortable vessel. The answer he gets is a more-or-less comfortable vessel, and to see the finger of the Lord, and ultimately to have the veil removed.

Ether 2:8-12

• The relationship of verses 2:8-12 to the rest of the book, especially the secret combinations speech in Verses 8:20-26 and the New Jerusalem speech in Chapter 13a, is discussed at Ether.

• A land of inheritance here on the earth can be symbolic of eternal inheritance we seek in heaven. The broad concept behind the instructions in this speech about inheriting a choice land of inheritance can also be applied to that promised land of heaven.

• Ether 2:8: Sworn in his wrath. This phrase (or "sware in his wrath" or "swore in his wrath," with reference to God doing the swearing) also occurs in Ps 95:11 (likely the "original" text); Heb 3:11; Heb 4:3; Ether 1:33; D&C 63:33. In Mosiah 19:4, Gideon "swore in his wrath that he would slay the king." Similarly, in Ether 15:28, Shiz "swore in his wrath that he would slay Coriantumr."

• Ether 2:8: Swept. The verb "sweep" is seldom used in the KJV Old Testament, and a different verb is used each time it is used. Judg 5:21 uses the verb garaph; Isa 28:17 uses the verb ya`ah; Prov 28:3 and Jer 46:15 use the verb cachaph. Isa 14:23 uses the imagery of sweeping the wicked away with the broom of destruction (using the verb tuw`) ("besom" means "broom" See Strong's Hebrew Lexicon here and here).

• Ether 2:8: Fulness of his wrath. This phrase (or "the fulness of the wrath of God") occurs, besides here in verses 8 and 9, in 1 Ne 17:35; 1 Ne 22:17; 2 Ne 1:17; Ether 9:20; Ether 14:25. It does not occur in the Bible, though Rev 15:7 seems to be referring to the same thing. The phrase seems to suggest complete destruction of wicked people—"by fire" in 1 Ne 22:17, and "forever" in 2 Ne 1:17, and "everlasting destruction" in Ether 14:25.

• Ether 2:9: Ripened in iniquity. Here Moroni, as narrator, tells us that God sweeps the wicked off from the face of the earth, in the fulness of his wrath, when they become ripe in iniquity. The term "ripe in iniquity" is defined, and the principle behind destroying those who are ripe, are explored in the discussion of Hel 13:14.

Ether 2b / Verses 2:13-25

• Question and answer pattern. The Brother of Jared asks two questions about the boats. Those questions are answered in reverse order, with the first answer being simple and the second answer much longer and more complicated. This pattern also often occurs in First Nephi (CITE).

• Ether 2:16-22. The Lord commands the Brother of Jared to build barges "after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built," probably giving reference to the barges that are mentioned earlier in chapter 3. The Jaredites had already built barges and used them to cross waters while they were traveling in the wilderness. However, the second time the Jaredites built barges, the Brother of Jared had to inquire of the Lord as to what they should do have light and air in them. Why? Perhaps the first ones were only used for crossing small distances. Or perhaps they were similar to the second ones, but still slightly different (i.e. more like a boat).

• Ether 2:21-25. It is possible that the Lord wanted the Brother of Jared to study the scriptures in more detail or provide his own solution to a problem. See footnote at Genesis 6:16 [1], where some Hebrew scholars believe that a stone was placed in the ark, similar to stones in the Brother of Jared's vessels. The Lord often gives us answers to questions that have not previously been revealed, but if something has been revealed, he expects us to search for the answer or make our own suggestions.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Highly Favored of the Lord. Given the context it seems that the phrase "highly favored of the Lord" refers to someone that the Lord blesses. This is consistent with the way the phrase is used in the rest of the scriptures. Within the scriptures this exact phrase is only used in the Book of Mormon, though related phrases are found in the Bible. For example, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is "highly favoured," presumably of the Lord (Luke 1:28) and the same angel tells Daniel that he is "greatly beloved," which could also be translated "highly favored" (Daniel 9:23). The phrase is consistently related to righteousness: when people are righteous the Lord favors them; when they are not righteous they are not favored. For examples, see the scripture search results for the phrase "favored of the Lord."

• Ether 1:33: This verse mentions the scattering of the people after they had been confounded at the tower. Why is it that whenever the Lord is upset with His people he scatters them? Is there a specific reason? What effect is this supposed to have on the scattered people?
• Islam has a similar story about God assigning people of the world different languages, but there the purpose for doing so is as a blessing, a demonstration of God's mercy. Is that an interpretation that we can learn from? If so, how?

• Ether 1:34: The brother of Jared is a central figure in the first chapters of Ether. He was, presumably, the spiritual leader and described as "a man highly favored of the Lord" (vs. 34). Why is he known to us, through The Book of Mormon, primarily in relation to his brother?

• Ether 1:34: Why is the actual name of the Brother of Jared not given in the scriptures?

• Ether 1:36: Why does Jared always ask his brother to seek guidance from the Lord, rather than seeking it himself?

• Ether 2:7: How is the promised land a "Land of Promise"? What is the promise (covenant) of the land?

• Ether 2:10: What is the purpose of the repetition used in this and the preceding verses (i.e., "swept off"; "fulness of iniquity" or "fulness of his wrath")? Is there an overarching structure to these verses that this repetition is helping to construct? Is the repetition for emphasis?

• Ether 2:14: Ether tells us that the Lord chastened the Brother of Jared for 3 hours "because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord." This occurs just 14 verses after we read of the great blessings the Lord gave the Brother of Jared for diligently calling on the Lord (see chapter 1:43). What are we to make of the contrast between these two events so closely juxtaposed in Ether's account?

• Ether 2:14: When we are told that the Brother of Jared hadn't been calling upon the name of the Lord, does this indicate that he had stopped praying altogether, or is there another way to interpret the scriptural phrase, "call upon the name of the Lord?"

• Ether 2:25: The Lord asks the brother of Jared what he wants him to do in order to give them light on the way to the promised land. Why would the Lord ask Jared what to do and have him figure it out on his own?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Deseret in verse 2:3 - See Kevin Barney's article here for discussion of the origins of the word deseret and its meaning of "bee." Barney summarizes the Webb-Nibley theory (deseret means "to be red" in Egyptian but is a reference to the king of Lower Egypt; the Egyptian word for bee is also believed to be a reference to the king of Lower Egypt, hence the connection), then mentions some reservations about this theory, and then proposes a new Semitic theory (dbrh = bee; there is good evidence for evolution of the final consonant from h to t and the b may be related to dbsh which means honey). On ancient Near Eastern apiculture, see Ronan James Head at BCC Papers.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

Previous page: Chapters 1b-6                      Next page: Chapter 3-5

Home > The Book of Mormon > Ether > Chapters 1b-6 > Chapter 1b-2 / Verses 1:33-2:25
Previous page: Chapters 1b-6                      Next page: Chapter 3-5

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Chapters 1b-6. The relationship of Chapter 1b-2 to the rest of Chapters 1b-6 is discussed at Chapters 1b-6.

Story. Chapter 1b-2, the opening portion of the Jardites' journey to America, consists of seven major sections:

• Verses 1:34-43: Questions and answers about scattering and traveling to a land of promise.
• Verses 2:1-3: Gathering food supplies for the journey.
• Verses 2:4-7: Lord leads Jaredites toward promised land.
• Verses 2:8-12: We can behold: America as a choice land.
• Verses 2:13-15: Lord chastises for three hours because no progress for four years.
• Verses 2:16-17: Building boats for the water journey.
• Verses 2:18-25: Questions and answers about light and air while traveling in boats.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapters 1b-2 include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• The question of contrast is interesting and provides plenty to think about on its own. In addition, thinking about the expanded episode of the brother of Jared (highly favored → reprimanded → allowed to see the Lord) should yield more questions and insights. MJ

Ether 1:33-2:7

• Ether 1:34. In verse 34 Jared goes to his brother to have him petition the Lord not to have their language confounded. It seems that Jared turns to his brother because Jared believes that if his brother prays, they are more likely to have their petition granted. Within the scriptures the phrase "favored of the Lord" is consistently used in the context of righteousness. The suggestion is that Jared believes his brother's petition will be answered because his brother has been righteous, maybe more righteous than he has been.

• Ether 1:36-40. Note that Jared demonstrates much faith in his brother. Jared believes and trusts his brother, knowing that he has special contact with God. This may be an example of the gift described in D&C 46:14: "To others it is given to believe on their words...".

• Ether 2:1-5. The development of this plot (the Brother of Jared building ships with the help of the Lord) is a series of petitionary prayers finally answered by divine self-revelation. The Brother of Jared seems to be concerned with building a more-or-less comfortable vessel. The answer he gets is a more-or-less comfortable vessel, and to see the finger of the Lord, and ultimately to have the veil removed.

Ether 2:8-12

• The relationship of verses 2:8-12 to the rest of the book, especially the secret combinations speech in Verses 8:20-26 and the New Jerusalem speech in Chapter 13a, is discussed at Ether.

• A land of inheritance here on the earth can be symbolic of eternal inheritance we seek in heaven. The broad concept behind the instructions in this speech about inheriting a choice land of inheritance can also be applied to that promised land of heaven.

• Ether 2:8: Sworn in his wrath. This phrase (or "sware in his wrath" or "swore in his wrath," with reference to God doing the swearing) also occurs in Ps 95:11 (likely the "original" text); Heb 3:11; Heb 4:3; Ether 1:33; D&C 63:33. In Mosiah 19:4, Gideon "swore in his wrath that he would slay the king." Similarly, in Ether 15:28, Shiz "swore in his wrath that he would slay Coriantumr."

• Ether 2:8: Swept. The verb "sweep" is seldom used in the KJV Old Testament, and a different verb is used each time it is used. Judg 5:21 uses the verb garaph; Isa 28:17 uses the verb ya`ah; Prov 28:3 and Jer 46:15 use the verb cachaph. Isa 14:23 uses the imagery of sweeping the wicked away with the broom of destruction (using the verb tuw`) ("besom" means "broom" See Strong's Hebrew Lexicon here and here).

• Ether 2:8: Fulness of his wrath. This phrase (or "the fulness of the wrath of God") occurs, besides here in verses 8 and 9, in 1 Ne 17:35; 1 Ne 22:17; 2 Ne 1:17; Ether 9:20; Ether 14:25. It does not occur in the Bible, though Rev 15:7 seems to be referring to the same thing. The phrase seems to suggest complete destruction of wicked people—"by fire" in 1 Ne 22:17, and "forever" in 2 Ne 1:17, and "everlasting destruction" in Ether 14:25.

• Ether 2:9: Ripened in iniquity. Here Moroni, as narrator, tells us that God sweeps the wicked off from the face of the earth, in the fulness of his wrath, when they become ripe in iniquity. The term "ripe in iniquity" is defined, and the principle behind destroying those who are ripe, are explored in the discussion of Hel 13:14.

Ether 2b / Verses 2:13-25

• Question and answer pattern. The Brother of Jared asks two questions about the boats. Those questions are answered in reverse order, with the first answer being simple and the second answer much longer and more complicated. This pattern also often occurs in First Nephi (CITE).

• Ether 2:16-22. The Lord commands the Brother of Jared to build barges "after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built," probably giving reference to the barges that are mentioned earlier in chapter 3. The Jaredites had already built barges and used them to cross waters while they were traveling in the wilderness. However, the second time the Jaredites built barges, the Brother of Jared had to inquire of the Lord as to what they should do have light and air in them. Why? Perhaps the first ones were only used for crossing small distances. Or perhaps they were similar to the second ones, but still slightly different (i.e. more like a boat).

• Ether 2:21-25. It is possible that the Lord wanted the Brother of Jared to study the scriptures in more detail or provide his own solution to a problem. See footnote at Genesis 6:16 [2], where some Hebrew scholars believe that a stone was placed in the ark, similar to stones in the Brother of Jared's vessels. The Lord often gives us answers to questions that have not previously been revealed, but if something has been revealed, he expects us to search for the answer or make our own suggestions.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Highly Favored of the Lord. Given the context it seems that the phrase "highly favored of the Lord" refers to someone that the Lord blesses. This is consistent with the way the phrase is used in the rest of the scriptures. Within the scriptures this exact phrase is only used in the Book of Mormon, though related phrases are found in the Bible. For example, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is "highly favoured," presumably of the Lord (Luke 1:28) and the same angel tells Daniel that he is "greatly beloved," which could also be translated "highly favored" (Daniel 9:23). The phrase is consistently related to righteousness: when people are righteous the Lord favors them; when they are not righteous they are not favored. For examples, see the scripture search results for the phrase "favored of the Lord."

• Ether 1:33: This verse mentions the scattering of the people after they had been confounded at the tower. Why is it that whenever the Lord is upset with His people he scatters them? Is there a specific reason? What effect is this supposed to have on the scattered people?
• Islam has a similar story about God assigning people of the world different languages, but there the purpose for doing so is as a blessing, a demonstration of God's mercy. Is that an interpretation that we can learn from? If so, how?

• Ether 1:34: The brother of Jared is a central figure in the first chapters of Ether. He was, presumably, the spiritual leader and described as "a man highly favored of the Lord" (vs. 34). Why is he known to us, through The Book of Mormon, primarily in relation to his brother?

• Ether 1:34: Why is the actual name of the Brother of Jared not given in the scriptures?

• Ether 1:36: Why does Jared always ask his brother to seek guidance from the Lord, rather than seeking it himself?

• Ether 2:7: How is the promised land a "Land of Promise"? What is the promise (covenant) of the land?

• Ether 2:10: What is the purpose of the repetition used in this and the preceding verses (i.e., "swept off"; "fulness of iniquity" or "fulness of his wrath")? Is there an overarching structure to these verses that this repetition is helping to construct? Is the repetition for emphasis?

• Ether 2:14: Ether tells us that the Lord chastened the Brother of Jared for 3 hours "because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord." This occurs just 14 verses after we read of the great blessings the Lord gave the Brother of Jared for diligently calling on the Lord (see chapter 1:43). What are we to make of the contrast between these two events so closely juxtaposed in Ether's account?

• Ether 2:14: When we are told that the Brother of Jared hadn't been calling upon the name of the Lord, does this indicate that he had stopped praying altogether, or is there another way to interpret the scriptural phrase, "call upon the name of the Lord?"

• Ether 2:25: The Lord asks the brother of Jared what he wants him to do in order to give them light on the way to the promised land. Why would the Lord ask Jared what to do and have him figure it out on his own?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Deseret in verse 2:3 - See Kevin Barney's article here for discussion of the origins of the word deseret and its meaning of "bee." Barney summarizes the Webb-Nibley theory (deseret means "to be red" in Egyptian but is a reference to the king of Lower Egypt; the Egyptian word for bee is also believed to be a reference to the king of Lower Egypt, hence the connection), then mentions some reservations about this theory, and then proposes a new Semitic theory (dbrh = bee; there is good evidence for evolution of the final consonant from h to t and the b may be related to dbsh which means honey). On ancient Near Eastern apiculture, see Ronan James Head at BCC Papers.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

Previous page: Chapters 1b-6                      Next page: Chapter 3-5

Home > The Book of Mormon > Ether > Chapters 1b-6 > Chapter 1b-2 / Verses 1:33-2:25
Previous page: Chapters 1b-6                      Next page: Chapter 3-5

This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.

Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Relationship to Chapters 1b-6. The relationship of Chapter 1b-2 to the rest of Chapters 1b-6 is discussed at Chapters 1b-6.

Story. Chapter 1b-2, the opening portion of the Jardites' journey to America, consists of seven major sections:

• Verses 1:34-43: Questions and answers about scattering and traveling to a land of promise.
• Verses 2:1-3: Gathering food supplies for the journey.
• Verses 2:4-7: Lord leads Jaredites toward promised land.
• Verses 2:8-12: We can behold: America as a choice land.
• Verses 2:13-15: Lord chastises for three hours because no progress for four years.
• Verses 2:16-17: Building boats for the water journey.
• Verses 2:18-25: Questions and answers about light and air while traveling in boats.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapters 1b-2 include:

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• The question of contrast is interesting and provides plenty to think about on its own. In addition, thinking about the expanded episode of the brother of Jared (highly favored → reprimanded → allowed to see the Lord) should yield more questions and insights. MJ

Ether 1:33-2:7

• Ether 1:34. In verse 34 Jared goes to his brother to have him petition the Lord not to have their language confounded. It seems that Jared turns to his brother because Jared believes that if his brother prays, they are more likely to have their petition granted. Within the scriptures the phrase "favored of the Lord" is consistently used in the context of righteousness. The suggestion is that Jared believes his brother's petition will be answered because his brother has been righteous, maybe more righteous than he has been.

• Ether 1:36-40. Note that Jared demonstrates much faith in his brother. Jared believes and trusts his brother, knowing that he has special contact with God. This may be an example of the gift described in D&C 46:14: "To others it is given to believe on their words...".

• Ether 2:1-5. The development of this plot (the Brother of Jared building ships with the help of the Lord) is a series of petitionary prayers finally answered by divine self-revelation. The Brother of Jared seems to be concerned with building a more-or-less comfortable vessel. The answer he gets is a more-or-less comfortable vessel, and to see the finger of the Lord, and ultimately to have the veil removed.

Ether 2:8-12

• The relationship of verses 2:8-12 to the rest of the book, especially the secret combinations speech in Verses 8:20-26 and the New Jerusalem speech in Chapter 13a, is discussed at Ether.

• A land of inheritance here on the earth can be symbolic of eternal inheritance we seek in heaven. The broad concept behind the instructions in this speech about inheriting a choice land of inheritance can also be applied to that promised land of heaven.

• Ether 2:8: Sworn in his wrath. This phrase (or "sware in his wrath" or "swore in his wrath," with reference to God doing the swearing) also occurs in Ps 95:11 (likely the "original" text); Heb 3:11; Heb 4:3; Ether 1:33; D&C 63:33. In Mosiah 19:4, Gideon "swore in his wrath that he would slay the king." Similarly, in Ether 15:28, Shiz "swore in his wrath that he would slay Coriantumr."

• Ether 2:8: Swept. The verb "sweep" is seldom used in the KJV Old Testament, and a different verb is used each time it is used. Judg 5:21 uses the verb garaph; Isa 28:17 uses the verb ya`ah; Prov 28:3 and Jer 46:15 use the verb cachaph. Isa 14:23 uses the imagery of sweeping the wicked away with the broom of destruction (using the verb tuw`) ("besom" means "broom" See Strong's Hebrew Lexicon here and here).

• Ether 2:8: Fulness of his wrath. This phrase (or "the fulness of the wrath of God") occurs, besides here in verses 8 and 9, in 1 Ne 17:35; 1 Ne 22:17; 2 Ne 1:17; Ether 9:20; Ether 14:25. It does not occur in the Bible, though Rev 15:7 seems to be referring to the same thing. The phrase seems to suggest complete destruction of wicked people—"by fire" in 1 Ne 22:17, and "forever" in 2 Ne 1:17, and "everlasting destruction" in Ether 14:25.

• Ether 2:9: Ripened in iniquity. Here Moroni, as narrator, tells us that God sweeps the wicked off from the face of the earth, in the fulness of his wrath, when they become ripe in iniquity. The term "ripe in iniquity" is defined, and the principle behind destroying those who are ripe, are explored in the discussion of Hel 13:14.

Ether 2b / Verses 2:13-25

• Question and answer pattern. The Brother of Jared asks two questions about the boats. Those questions are answered in reverse order, with the first answer being simple and the second answer much longer and more complicated. This pattern also often occurs in First Nephi (CITE).

• Ether 2:16-22. The Lord commands the Brother of Jared to build barges "after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built," probably giving reference to the barges that are mentioned earlier in chapter 3. The Jaredites had already built barges and used them to cross waters while they were traveling in the wilderness. However, the second time the Jaredites built barges, the Brother of Jared had to inquire of the Lord as to what they should do have light and air in them. Why? Perhaps the first ones were only used for crossing small distances. Or perhaps they were similar to the second ones, but still slightly different (i.e. more like a boat).

• Ether 2:21-25. It is possible that the Lord wanted the Brother of Jared to study the scriptures in more detail or provide his own solution to a problem. See footnote at Genesis 6:16 [3], where some Hebrew scholars believe that a stone was placed in the ark, similar to stones in the Brother of Jared's vessels. The Lord often gives us answers to questions that have not previously been revealed, but if something has been revealed, he expects us to search for the answer or make our own suggestions.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

• Highly Favored of the Lord. Given the context it seems that the phrase "highly favored of the Lord" refers to someone that the Lord blesses. This is consistent with the way the phrase is used in the rest of the scriptures. Within the scriptures this exact phrase is only used in the Book of Mormon, though related phrases are found in the Bible. For example, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is "highly favoured," presumably of the Lord (Luke 1:28) and the same angel tells Daniel that he is "greatly beloved," which could also be translated "highly favored" (Daniel 9:23). The phrase is consistently related to righteousness: when people are righteous the Lord favors them; when they are not righteous they are not favored. For examples, see the scripture search results for the phrase "favored of the Lord."

• Ether 1:33: This verse mentions the scattering of the people after they had been confounded at the tower. Why is it that whenever the Lord is upset with His people he scatters them? Is there a specific reason? What effect is this supposed to have on the scattered people?
• Islam has a similar story about God assigning people of the world different languages, but there the purpose for doing so is as a blessing, a demonstration of God's mercy. Is that an interpretation that we can learn from? If so, how?

• Ether 1:34: The brother of Jared is a central figure in the first chapters of Ether. He was, presumably, the spiritual leader and described as "a man highly favored of the Lord" (vs. 34). Why is he known to us, through The Book of Mormon, primarily in relation to his brother?

• Ether 1:34: Why is the actual name of the Brother of Jared not given in the scriptures?

• Ether 1:36: Why does Jared always ask his brother to seek guidance from the Lord, rather than seeking it himself?

• Ether 2:7: How is the promised land a "Land of Promise"? What is the promise (covenant) of the land?

• Ether 2:10: What is the purpose of the repetition used in this and the preceding verses (i.e., "swept off"; "fulness of iniquity" or "fulness of his wrath")? Is there an overarching structure to these verses that this repetition is helping to construct? Is the repetition for emphasis?

• Ether 2:14: Ether tells us that the Lord chastened the Brother of Jared for 3 hours "because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord." This occurs just 14 verses after we read of the great blessings the Lord gave the Brother of Jared for diligently calling on the Lord (see chapter 1:43). What are we to make of the contrast between these two events so closely juxtaposed in Ether's account?

• Ether 2:14: When we are told that the Brother of Jared hadn't been calling upon the name of the Lord, does this indicate that he had stopped praying altogether, or is there another way to interpret the scriptural phrase, "call upon the name of the Lord?"

• Ether 2:25: The Lord asks the brother of Jared what he wants him to do in order to give them light on the way to the promised land. Why would the Lord ask Jared what to do and have him figure it out on his own?

Resources

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• Deseret in verse 2:3 - See Kevin Barney's article here for discussion of the origins of the word deseret and its meaning of "bee." Barney summarizes the Webb-Nibley theory (deseret means "to be red" in Egyptian but is a reference to the king of Lower Egypt; the Egyptian word for bee is also believed to be a reference to the king of Lower Egypt, hence the connection), then mentions some reservations about this theory, and then proposes a new Semitic theory (dbrh = bee; there is good evidence for evolution of the final consonant from h to t and the b may be related to dbsh which means honey). On ancient Near Eastern apiculture, see Ronan James Head at BCC Papers.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

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