The Jaredites had traveled in barges to this point. The
brother of Jared was commanded to have his brethren build more barrages
according to the Lord’s instructions. We
know when the Lord commands us to do something, He will provide a way for us to
fulfill His command (see 1 Nephi 3:7). “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the
Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:6).
When Laman and Lemuel mocked Nephi when he began building a
ship, he reminded them he had been commanded of the Lord to build the ship.
“And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying:
Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I
may carry thy people across these waters.
“And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all
things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this
water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be
done…
“And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought
so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct
me, that I should build a ship” (2 Nephi 17:8, 50-51).
The barges were small and light. This implies they would
float on the seas as they travelled as they were likened to a bird on water.
They were watertight. They were shaped like a dish with a cover on the top of
the dish. The ends were peaked and it was the length of a tree.
After the barges were built, the brother of Jared prayed to
the Lord, telling Him he had finished making the barges as he was directed. He
then told the Lord they had no light. He also told Him they had nothing which
they could use to steer as well as no way to allow air into the barge.
He was told to make a hole in the top of the barge as well
as the bottom. When they need to refresh the air, they would unstop the hole
and receive air. Should water enter the barge, they could plug up the hole.
The brother of Jared followed the Lord’s directions.
He next asked to the Lord about light for the vessels.
Without light, they would have to travel in the darkness.
The Lord asked him what he would have Him do. They couldn’t
have windows as they would be “dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire
with you” (Ether 2:23). They will be like a whale in the sea. Waves will crash
over them, but the Lord will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
The Lord promises He will prepare them to face these things.
If He didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to travel across the sea.
The Lord then asked the brother of Jared what he wanted Him
to do as they travel across the sea. He had helped him, but He expected him to
come up with solutions to his problems.
“As I look back at the trials I have faced, it is clear that
they have resulted in my growth, understanding, and empathy … The Lord’s
guidance and instruction are essential. He helped the faithful brother of Jared
by solving one of his two challenges when He told him how to get fresh air into
the barges that had been faithfully built (see Ether 2:20). But, pointedly, the
Lord not only left temporarily unsolved the challenge of how to provide light,
but He then made it clear that He, the Lord, would allow the buffetings and
trials that necessitated its solving. He it would be who would send forth the
winds, the rains, and the floods (see Ether 2:23–24).”[1]
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