Ether 2:6-10

Jared’s party continued traveling in the wilderness. They built barges and used them to travel across water. All through this, they were guided by the Lord.

“[Hugh Nibley] reminds us that there are virtually no domestic scenes in the book of Ether. Rather, ‘as in all true epics, every scene … takes place either on the battlefield (as in chapters 13 to 15), in the court (as in the tales of intrigue in chapters 7 to 12), or in the wilderness, where hunting and hiding play almost as conspicuous a part as fighting (Ether 2:6–7; 3:3; 14:4, 7; 10:21).’”[1]

The Lord did not want them to stop “beyond the sea in the wilderness” (Ether 2:7). He desired they gravel until they reach the land of promise, a “choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people” (Ether 2:7).

The Lord told the brother of Jared, those who are brought to this promised land must serve Him. “For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof” (Ether 13:2).

“In the Bible, Israel obtained a land of promise. ‘And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein’ (Joshua 21:43). That land was a land of promise because of the oath and covenant the Lord made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Deuteronomy 1:8; 34:1–4; 1 Chronicles 16:5–18; Psalm 105:6–11). Hence it has been called a ‘land of promise’ (Hebrews 11:9). Similarly, Moroni tells us that the land of the Jaredites was a ‘land of promise’ because of what the Lord had “sworn” unto the brother of Jared (Ether 2:8).”[2]

Those who don’t serve Him will feel the fullness of His wrath.

“Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the land…

“And it came to pass that the prophets of the Lord did threaten the people of Nephi, according to the word of God, that if they did not keep the commandments, but should fall into transgression, they should be destroyed from off the face of the land” (Jarom 1:3, 10).

“For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed” (Alma 37:28).

“And thus the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land should possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for upon such, saith the Lord: I will pour out the fulness of my wrath” (Ether 9:20).

The land to where the Jaredites were being led (the Americas) has been decreed as a land of promise. Those who possess this land must serve God or face His wrath. “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalms 7:11).

“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

“A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick” (Isaiah 65:2-3).

“And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning.

“My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God should come out in the fulness of his wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever” (2 Nephi 1:16-17).

The only way to avoid this is to serve God and keep His commandments.

“The Lord gives to the brother of Jared what he calls his thoughts on this subject of the promised land, and of course the thoughts are the same as those that you find in the Book of Mormon with Israel and with the Nephites. We have it here in Ether, and it’s the usual thing. This is the land of promise, “and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity” (Ether 2:9). You’ll notice it’s when the cup is full. He uses both expressions here, fulness and ripeness. He says the same thing in verse 8, and then again in verse 10, it ‘shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.’”[3]

“In both the Book of Mormon and modern-day scripture, the language of the scriptural promises concerning the land is open-ended. It refers to ‘whoso should possess the land’ (Ether 2:8), ‘whatsoever nation’ (Ether 2:9, 12), ‘he that doth possess it’ (Ether 2:10), ‘all men . . . who dwell upon the face thereof’ (Ether 13:2), ‘whosoever should believe in this gospel in this land’ (D&C 10:50), ‘all of whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue, or people they may be’ (D&C 10:51). The covenant conditions under which blessings may be inherited are explained, while the identification of who may inherit them is left unspecified in terms of both identification and time. Whoever they are, whenever they come, whatever their origins, the Book of Mormon makes clear that ‘this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring’ (2 Nephi 1:7).”[4]

Those who possess this land have two choices. The first is to serve God. The second is to turn away from God and be swept off the land.

“Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish” (2 Nephi 28:16).

“Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.

“And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance” (Jarom 1:11-12).

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[1] “Words words words”: Hugh Nibley on the Book of Mormon, Marilyn Arnold, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 19/2 (2010): 11.

[2] Losing the Remnant: The New Exclusivist “Movement” and the Book of Mormon, Matthew Roper, FARMS Review 22/2 (2010): 89.

[3] Lecture 111: Ether 2-8, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 4, Ether 2–8, The Boats of the Jaredites, Maxwell Institute website.

[4] Nephi's Neighbors: Book of Mormon Peoples and Pre-Columbian Populations, Matthew Roper, Maxwell Institute website.

Ether 2:1-5

Chapter 2

The Jaredites prepare for their journey to a promised land—It is a choice land whereon men must serve Christ or be swept off—The Lord talks to the brother of Jared for three hours—The Jaredites build barges—The Lord asks the brother of Jared to propose how the barges will be lighted.

The group who would become the Jaredites followed the command of the Lord and went to the valley in the north, as directed. The valley was called Nimrod.

“And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

“He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord” (Genesis 10:8-9).

They also brought their flocks with them. As they traveled, they caught fowls and prepared a vessel. In the vessel, they carried fish with them.

We learn the Jaredites are beekeepers. Moroni informs us, in the Jaredite language, bees are called “deseret.” They brought swarms of bees.

This is similar to the preparations Lehi’s party took.

“And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters” (1 Nephi 17:5).

“And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us…” (1 Nephi 18:6).

“Ether 2:3 states that the word deseret means ‘honey bee,’ and Hugh Nibley documents the importance of bee cultivation in ancient societies. Nibley’s book Abraham in Egypt contains a whole chapter on the word deseret (ed. Gary Gillum, 2nd ed. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 2000], 608–31). The Egyptian word d_r refers to the Red Crown of the Red Land of Lower Egypt and may be a sacred taboo term for royal bee symbols that represent deities (632–34).”[1]

In addition, they took an assortment of seeds with them.  Once again, this is similar to the preparations Lehi’s party took.

“And it came to pass that we did gather together whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given unto us; and we did take seed of every kind that we might carry into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 16:11).

When they arrived at Nimrod, the Lord came down and talked to the brother of Jared. Jared did not see the Lord as he came down in a cloud.

During the Exodus, the Lord appeared in a cloud. “And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto [Moses], and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease” (Numbers 11:25).

In a revelation given to Joseph Smith, the Lord told him He would appear in a cloud.

“For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory.

“And it shall be a great day at the time of my coming, for all nations shall tremble.

“But before that great day shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood; and the stars shall refuse their shining, and some shall fall, and great destructions await the wicked” (D&C 34:7-9).

When John the Baptist appeared and ordained Joseph and Oliver, it is recorded he came down in a cloud.

“We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us…” (Joseph Smith-History 1:68).

They were commanded to go into the wilderness. They went to a place “where there never had been man before” (Ether 2:5).  As they travelled they were guided by the Lord in his cloud.

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night” (Exodus 13:21).

The Lord will always direct us when we turn to Him in faith. “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:5).

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth [GR reproaches, censures] not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball” (1 Nephi 16:30).

“When our source describes a particular region as “that quarter where there never had man been” (Ether 2:5), the implication is that men had certainly been in other quarters. Moreover, Jared’s people were reluctant to leave their homes, and when they were finally “driven out of the land,” they took with them flocks, herds, and seeds of every kind, together with the knowledge and skills (they even took books with them) necessary to establish a great civilization—all these things being the necessary products of a long-established and widespread economy. Civilization meets us full-blown, nay, decadent, in the pages of Ether.”[2]

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[1] What’s in a Word?, Cynthia L. Hallen, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 10/2 (2001): 65.

[2] Lehi in the Desert; The World of the Jaredites; There Were Jaredites –  A Twilight World, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute website.

Ether 1:6-43

Moroni explains the record he was abridging was written by Ether. “And Ether was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore Ether came forth in the days of Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him” (Ether 12:2).

Verses 7-32 gives us Ether’s genealogy down through Jared, “[w]hich Jared came forth with his brother and their families … from the great tower.” (Ether 1:33). This is the first mention of Jared’s brother, who will be an important part of the record of the early Jaredites.

They came from the time of the tower of Babel, when all language was confounded. Amaleki (see Omni 1:12) tells us about an event which happened during the rule of Mosiah₁. This is our first introduction to the Jaredites.

“And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah₁, there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God.

“And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.

“It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward” (Omni 1:20-22).

We learn more about the Jaredites after Mosiah₂ finished translating the 24 plates. “[B]ehold, it gave an account of the people who were destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam” (Mosiah 28:17).

The brother of Jared is described as “a large and mighty man, and a man highly favored of the Lord” (Ether 1:34). Jared asked him to ask the Lord not to confound the language of their family. He did as his brother asked. He asked the Lord to allow their language to remain the same. The Lord answered his prayers.

Next, Jared asks his brother to ask the Lord to not confound the language of their friends. The brother of Jared complied and the Lord did not confound their language.

Once again, Jared goes to his brother with a request. Will the Lord drive us out of our land? If he will, where will we go? He said they needed to be faithful so they might receive a choice land for their inheritance.

The brother of Jared prayed, asking the Lord where they are to go and was it a land of their inheritance.  The Lord answered his prayer. He was told to gather their flocks, both male and female. They were commanded to bring every type of seed they could get. They were told to gather together their families as well as the families of their friends.

They were told to go to a valley in the north. There, the Lord would meet them. They will be led “thee into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth” (Ether 2:42). “And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel” (Ether 2:5).

The Lord would bless them and the descendants of all who went with them. They would become a great nation. This will be done through the brother of Jared’s faith.

“The Lord led [the Jaredites] the American continent, with the promise that if they served Him, they would ‘be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven.’ The Nephites were also led to the same continent later. In the end both the Jaredite and the Nephite civilizations were destroyed, as they did not prove faithful.”[1]

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[1] Blessings of the Gospel Available to All, Elder Joseph W. Sitati, October 2009 General Conference.

Ether 1:3-5

The Book of Ether is an unusual book in the Book of Mormon.1 Nephi – Omni are the original record, taken from the small plates of Nephi. From Mosiah – 4 Nephi, we read Mormon’s abridgement. The Words of Mormon and the Book of Mormon are records written by Mormon. Mormon 8-9 and Moroni are records written by Moroni.

Ether is different. We know about the original 24 plates, called the Book of Ether (see Mosiah 8:5-18). The records were given to King Mosiah to translate, which he did. Moroni then took Mosiah’s translation and abridged the record. What we have in the book of Mormon is an abridgement of a translation of the original record.  It is not known if Moroni had access to the original record.

Here is a chart that shows sources behind the book of Ether.

Sources Behind the Book of Ether[1]

Speaking of the record, he informs us the first part of the record was much like our biblical record of the creation to the building of the tower of Babel, “is had among the Jews” (Ether 1:3). This fact is referred to later in the record. “Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And it came to pass that she did talk with her father, and said unto him: Whereby hath my father so much sorrow? Hath he not read the record which our fathers brought across the great deep? Behold, is there not an account concerning them of old, that they by their secret plans did obtain kingdoms and great glory” (Ether 8:9).

“And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth?

“And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

“Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

“So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the [City and they hearkened not unto the Lord, JST Genesis 11:6].

“Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound [HEB balal, “mix,” “confound” (a world play on Babel)] the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11:4. 6-9).

Earlier in the Book of Mormon record (from the small plates), we read about the finding of Corinatumr.

“And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah₁, there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God.

“And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.

“It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward” (Omni 1:20-22).

Since we already have the record from Adam to the tower of Babel, Moroni elects to leave this out of his record.  But, whomever gets the record of Ether will have that part of the record available to them. His record will tell us about the event following the tower of Babel to the destruction of the Jaredites.

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[1] Charting the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch & Gregory J. Welch, Chart 15.

Ether 1:1-2

The Book of Ether

The record of the Jaredites, taken from the twenty-four plates found by the people of Limhi in the days of King Mosiah.

Chapter 1

Moroni abridges the writings of Ether—Ether’s genealogy is set forth—The language of the Jaredites is not confounded at the Tower of Babel—The Lord promises to lead them to a choice land and make them a great nation.

When Moroni finished his father’s abridgement, his words made it clear he believed nothing more would be written. To the plates, he adds his abridgement of the 24 plates found by the people of Limhi.

“And it came to pass that he caused that the plates which contained the record of his people from the time that they left the land of Zarahemla, should be brought before Ammon, that he might read them.

“Now, as soon as Ammon had read the record, the king inquired of him to know if he could interpret languages, and Ammon told him that he could not.

“And the king said unto him: Being grieved for the afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my people should take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla, that we might appeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage.

“And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel.

“And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold.

“And behold, also, they have brought breastplates, which are large, and they are of brass and of copper, and are perfectly sound.

“And again, they have brought swords, the hilts thereof have perished, and the blades thereof were cankered with rust; and there is no one in the land that is able to interpret the language or the engravings that are on the plates” (Mosiah 8:5-11).

We know King Mosiah₂ translated the plates.

“Now after Mosiah had finished translating these records, behold, it gave an account of the people who were destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam.

“Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice.

“And this account shall be written hereafter; for behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account” (Mosiah 28:17-19).

Moroni advises us the Jaredites were destroyed by the hand of the Lord. “Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll” (Mormon 5:23).

“Having detailed the destruction of the Nephite people, Moroni begins the book of Ether by saying it deals with ‘those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord’ (Ether 1:1). The first chapter (our chapters 1–4) implicitly compares the experience of the Jaredites with that of the Nephites, shows in the account of the brother of Jared the kind of faith that brings the Jaredites to the land of promise where its inhabitants are promised freedom if they ‘will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ,’ and warns modern-day Gentiles to repent ‘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 2:12, 11).”[1]

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[1] “At the Judgment-Seat of Christ” – Larger Perspectives, Maxwell Institute website.

Mormon 9:32-37

Moroni tells us this record was written “in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian” (Mormon 9:32). Nephi told us this in the very beginning of the small plates. “Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians” (1 Nephi 1:2).

“And it came to pass that [King Benjamin] had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord.

“And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.

“For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time” (Mosiah 1:2-4).

“Here we learn that reformed Egyptian, whatever it may have been, was directly linked to the popular language spoken by the Nephites. It is likely that Moroni meant that their speech patterns had brought about alterations in their grammar and that it therefore subsequently forced changes in the more literarily useful reformed Egyptian.”[1]

“Nephi originally wrote in some form of Egyptian script; however, as the language and script were handed down from generation to generation they were ‘reformed’ or ‘altered by us, according to our manner of speech’ (Mormon 9:32). The imperfection in language derives not from the original Hebrew and Egyptian, but from the subsequent mixing of these languages with New World languages that occurred during the nearly thousand years of Nephite history.”[2]

Moroni refers to the size of the plate as the reason for writing in “reformed Egyptian.” The Hebrew language, in some form, was preserved among the Nephites according the Moroni. Had the plates been larger, they would have written in Hebrew, which would have given us a perfect record.

“And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me…

“And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates are small. But behold, my brethren, ye can go to the other plates of Nephi; for behold, upon them the records of our wars are engraven, according to the writings of the kings, or those which they caused to be written” (Jarom 1:2, 14).

Mormon breaks into the record of 3 Nephi to explain, “And I know the record which I make to be a just and a true record; nevertheless there are many things which, according to our language, we are not able to write” (3 Nephi 5:18).

34 But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.

The Lord knows what they have written. No one knows the Nephite language. Because of the lack of knowledge, the Lord has prepared a way for the record to be translated. We see he was referring to the Urim and Thumim. “Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer” (Mosiah 8:13).

“And behold, these two stones will I give unto thee, and ye shall seal them up also with the things which ye shall write…

“And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that he should seal up the two stones which he had received, and show them not, until the Lord should show them unto the children of men” (Ether 3:23, 28).

“Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the miraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea” (D&C 17:1).

“We know that Egyptian glyphs were occasionally used in ancient Palestine to write the sounds of Hebrew words. Initially, at least, Nephi began his record by writing in this ‘language of my father’ (1 Nephi 1:2), apparently using glyphic signs to represent the Hebrew tongue; yet by the end of the record Moroni said, ‘none other people knoweth our language’ (Mormon 9:34). That may mean that the system of writing they used for their sacred and historical records could convey more than one spoken language.”[3]

The records are written for the Lamanites, so “that we may rid our garments of the blood of our brethren” (Mormon 9:35). “After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the Lord God shall have camped against them round about, and shall have laid siege against them with a mount, and raised forts against them; and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten” (2 Nephi 26:15).

The Nephites, Moroni reminds us, hoped to bring the gospel truths to the Lamanites. This has been subject of numerous people who dwelt in the land of their inheritance.

“And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word.

“And behold, their prayers were also in behalf of him that the Lord should suffer to bring these things forth.

“And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead” (Mormon 8:24-26).

Moroni, believing he had completed the Nephite record, closed the record with these words: “And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith; and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen” (Mormon 9:37).

And here ends the Nephite record, or so Moroni believed.

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[1] The Hebrew Text of Alma 7:11, Thomas A. Wayment, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] Unanswered Mormon Scholars, Matthew Roper, Maxwell Institute website.

[3] Mormon's Sources, John L. Sorenson, Maxwell Institute website.

Mormon 9:30-31

Once again, Moroni likens to his words to speaking from the dead. He does this because he knows the day will come when we will receive his words. We will have no excuse for not knowing them.

“And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead” (Mormon 8:26).

“And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust” (Moroni 10:27).

“Mormon and Moroni were writing for a future time. They had to be. Mormon did most of his writing during the long lull before what he knew would be an exterminating battle, and Moroni’s writings are those of the lone wanderer destined to bury his precious work in the earth. From title page to parting words, father and son make clear that what they are inspired to include is first to the latter-day Lamanites and then to latter-day Gentiles and Jews. They speak as though ‘from the dead’ to an audience living many generations hence (Mormon 9:30). In prophetic collapsed time, Moroni speaks to this audience ‘as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing’ (Mormon 8:35).”[1]

Critics of the Book of Mormon, who have obviously never read or learned anything about the Book of Mormon, say we claim the Book of Mormon is “perfect.” This is based on Joseph Smith’s statement, “I told the brethren, that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth…”[2]

Nowhere does Joseph Smith (nor does anyone else) claim the Book of Mormon is perfect. Why would they. In the preface of the Book of Mormon, we read, “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”[3]

In the Book of Mormon we read scriptures like these. “And if there be faults they be the faults of a man. But behold, we know no fault; nevertheless God knoweth all things; therefore, he that condemneth, let him be aware lest he shall be in danger of hell fire” (Mormon 8:17).

“And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them” (Ether 12:23).

“Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him” (Mormon 9:31).

Moroni tells us to be grateful the Lord made their imperfections. Knowing this, we have the opportunity to avoid the mistakes they made.

“We can … study the scriptures to see how others faced their problems, sometimes failing and sometimes succeeding, and we can benefit from the lessons they learned (Mormon 9:31). We can ‘liken the scriptures unto ourselves,’ drawing perspectives from the texts, taking them to the Lord as guidelines and seeking confirmation from him (D&C 9).”[4]

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[1] Feasting on the Word of Christ, “To Come Forth in Due Time” – Introduction, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] “The Most Correct Book,” Robert Millett, BYU Religious Studies Center.

[3] Title page of the Book of Mormon.

[4] Mosiah: The Complex Symbolism and Symbolic Complex of Kingship in the Book of Mormon, Gordon C. Thomasson, Maxwell Institute website.

Mormon 9:28-29

Moroni counsels us to use wisdom during our probation here on the Earth.  “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless [GR guileless] as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

Jacob clearly summarizes the importance of wisdom. “O be wise; what can I say more” (Jacob 6:12).

This life is the only chance we have to prove our willingness to obey and live the Lord’s commandments. “And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God” (Alma 42:4).

“Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever” (1 Nephi 10:21).

We are to cast off our uncleanliness. We must avoid allowing our lusts to consume us.

“They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths

“The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

“For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.” (Psalms 79:30-32).

“But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

“So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels” (Psalms 81:11-12).

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).

Ask, with faith, that you will be able to resist Satan’s temptations and serve the only true and living God. “And behold, [my father, Alma,] preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved” (Alma 5:13).

When we fulfill the ordinaces of baptism and partaking of the sacrament, we are to do so worthily.

There are qualifications and requirements for baptism. To be worthy of baptism, we must…

·        “Humble [ourselves] before God.

·        “Desire to be baptized.

·        “Come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits.

·        “Repent of all [our] sins.

·        “Be willing to take upon [us] the name of Christ.

·        “Have a determination to serve Christ to the end.

·        “Manifest by [our] works that [we] have received the Spirit of Christ unto a remission of their sins.”

After being found worth, we are interviewed by the proper authority.  Here are the questions we are asked.

Baptismal Interview Questions

“1. Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?

“2. Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that [current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?

“3. What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?

“4. Have you ever committed a serious crime? If so, are you now on probation or parole? Have you ever participated in an abortion? a homosexual relationship?

“5. You have been taught that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards. What do you understand of the following standards? Are you willing to obey them?

“a. The law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.

“b. The law of tithing.

“c. The Word of Wisdom.

“d. The Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.

“6. When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life. Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?”[1]

This is what Moroni meant when he told us be worthy of baptism.  Scriptures tell us of requirements for baptism.  “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

“And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:4-5).

“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus” (Acts 19:4).

“Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments” (2 Nephi 31:7).

Even more important is the command to partake of the sacrament only when we are worthy. Taking the sacrament when we are unworthy is a serious offense before God. Christ taught this to the Nephites. 

“For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him.

“Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

“But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered.

“Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them” (3 Nephi 18:29-32).

Paul wrote, warning the Corinthians about being worthy when they partook of the sacrament.

“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty [GR offend against] of the body and blood of the Lord.

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

“We bind ourselves through the covenant made in partaking of the sacrament. Through partaking of the bread, we remember the body of Christ and his providing the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 11:24; compare 3 Nephi 18:6—7). Through partaking of the water, we remember the blood of Gethsemane or the Atonement (1 Corinthians 11:27; compare 3 Nephi 18:10—11). To partake of the sacrament requires one to be worthy. Therefore, one must reflect or examine himself before partaking (1 Corinthians 11:27—28). To partake unworthily will cause one to stumble and bring about sickness, either physical or mental, and, Paul said, may even bring death [sleep] (1 Corinthians 11:29—30). Such is the order revealed to the Corinthians by Paul and verified in the Book of Mormon as a second witness (3 Nephi 18:28—32; Mormon 9:29). The sacrament is thus a stepping-stone or a stumbling block.”[2]

In all we do, as servants of the Lord, we must be worthy to serve Him. “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

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[1] How Do I Prepare People for Baptism and Confirmation, lds.org.

[2] The Stumbling Blocks of First Corinthians, Monte S. Nyman, Reprinted by permission from The New Testament and the Latter-day Saints (Orem, Utah: Randall Book Company, 1987), 249—62, Maxwell Institute website.

Mormon 9:26-27

Moroni raises a question. Who can stand against the works of the Lord. “And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor” (2 Nephi 26:20).

“And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.

“And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;

“Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.

“O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell” (2 Nephi 28:4-6, 15).

Who will deny his sayings?

“And when ye shall see these sayings coming forth among you, then ye need not any longer spurn at the doings of the Lord, for the sword of his justice is in his right hand; and behold, at that day, if ye shall spurn at his doings he will cause that it shall soon overtake you.

“Wo unto him that spurneth at the doings of the Lord; yea, wo unto him that shall deny the Christ and his works!

“Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost!

“Yea, and wo unto him that shall say at that day, to get gain, that there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ; for he that doeth this shall become like unto the son of perdition, for whom there was no mercy, according to the word of Christ” (3 Nephi 29:4-7).

Who will rise up against the Lord’s power? Who will despise the Lord’s work? “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded” (Proverbs 13:13).

Who will despise the children of Christ? All who despise His works will wonder and perish.

Neither despise nor wonder. Listen to the Lord’s words. Ask the Father, in Christ’s name, for whatever you stand in need. Don’t doubt. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done” (Matthew 21:21).

“[L]et 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).

“I will [GR desire] therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8).

Instead of doubt, believe and come unto the Lord. “And if it so be that they repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus, they shall be received into the kingdom of God” (Ether 5:5).

“And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God” (Moroni 10:30, 32).

Come to the Lord with all your heart. “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Joshua 22:5).

“And after that day, I, the Lord, will not hold any guilty that shall go with an open heart up to the land of Zion; for I, the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men.

“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days” (D&C 64:22, 34).

Moroni admonishes us to work out our salvation “with fear and trembling before him” (Mormon 9:27).

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation [GR generation], among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Phillipians 2:12-16).

“Both Moroni and Jacob teach that God’s might compels us to humble ourselves and take counsel from his hand (see Jacob 4:10, compare Mormon 9:27). While Jacob looked backwards at the Jews as a ‘stiffnecked people’ (Jacob 4:14), Moroni looked forward and saw the people of the latter days (see Mormon 8:35). Moroni utilizes Jacob’s words in order to urge modern-day readers to avoid the mistakes spoken of by Jacob.”[1]

“We Latter-day Saints likewise have to work out our own covenant relationship with God and what he communicates through his servants, the prophets, whom we covenant to sustain. This lifelong proposition is another garden where blood will inevitably be sweat out as we individually work out our salvation ‘with fear and trembling’ (Mormon 9:27).”[2]

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[1] Jacob’s Textual Legacy, John Hilton III, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 22/2 (2013): 60-61.

[2] Shattered Glass: The Traditions of Mormon Same-Sex Marriage Advocates Encounter Boyd K. Packer, Gregory L. Smith, Mormon Studies Review 23/1 (2011): 82.

Mormon 9:21-25

Moroni tells us the charge to the three Nephites was to preach the gospel to the world. This charge has been a part of the true gospel. Missionary work was the last recorded charge Christ gave his apostles in the Gospel of Matthew.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).

During His ministry, Christ sent the seventy to preach His gospel. “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come” (Luke 10:1).

Obedience to missionary work continued after Christ’s departure. “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead” (Acts 10:42).

The charge continues in this dispensation. “And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen” (D&C 15:6).

“Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!” (D&C 18:14-15).

“Again I say, hearken ye elders of my church, whom I have appointed: Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit” (D&C 43:15).

The believer who is baptized will be saved. Those who reject the gospel will be damned.

“And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

“And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

“Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation” (Mark 12:38-40).

“That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12).

“And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it” (2 Nephi 9:24).

Signs will follow those which believe. “But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe” (D&C 69:3). In His name, the righteous shall cast out devils, speak with new tongues, they will bless the sick and they will recover. “And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man” (D&C 45:39).

Whomever will believe in His name, with no doubt, will receive His confirmation of all His words. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalms 19:7).

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am [The plural noun used here in the Greek indicates that Jesus asked this question of the apostles and not just one of them]?

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona [IE son of Jonah]: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Mathew 16:15-17).

“And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

“Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life” (Mosiah 18:8-9).