Never Has Man Believed in Me as thou Hast

Never Has Man Believed in Me As Thou Hast
Ether 1-6


At the conclusion of the last great battle between the Nephites and Lamanites at Cumorrah, all the Nephites were destroyed save but 24 souls, among them Mormon and his son Moroni. These 24 Nephites escaped to the land southward but were eventually hunted down and killed by the Lamanites. As was the custom, Mormon handed the plates down to Moroni. Moroni finished his father’s record, then, as directed by his father, included the Book of Ether, a record of the Jaredite people, discovered by the people of Limhi ( 24 plates engraved on pure gold) when unsuccessfully searching for Zarahemla, translated by the prophet Mosiah, and included with the other records that Mormon had access to when abridging the history of the Nephites. Mormon noted, when abridging the book of Mosiah, that the Jaredite history would be included later in his record for “ all people should know the things which are written in this account.” ( Mosiah 28:18).

Moroni found, as had Mosiah, that the Jaredite plates contained a history that extended from the creation of Adam to the time of Ether, the last Jaredite prophet. He chose to begin his abridgement with the formation of the Jaredite colony at the time of the Tower of Babel, knowing, that a record of the earlier period would already be available in the Bible at the time when the Book of Mormon would come forth.

Moroni’s abridgment of Ether’s record devotes a third of its total space to the first generation of Jaredite history- the time of Jared and his brother and the successful establishment of their colony in the New World. This is what we will be covering today.

The book of Ether covers about 1500 years of Jaredite history. It is “intended to serve as a second witness of yet another society whose experience parallels that of the Nephites. Both groups were brought to the same promised land by the hand of the Lord. Both were commanded to keep records. Both prospered when righteous, were cursed when wicked, and were destroyed when they were beyond repentance. Both rejected the prophets, and discovered when it was everlastingly too late that those prophets’ predictions of destruction were literally being fulfilled..More important, the experiences of both civilizations bear testimony to the reality of Jesus Christ.” ( DCBM 4:259)

The account begins at the Time of the Tower of Babel, which is traditionally believed to be in Mesopotamia ( modern-day Iraq). Two great leaders are prominent at the beginning of the account- Jared and his brother, who is called in Moroni’s record: the brother of Jared. There is no suggestion in Moroni’s abridgment why he is known by this name. Perhaps his name was not recorded in Ether’s 24 plates, or perhaps that is what he was actually called. However, thanks to modern day revelation, we know the brother of Jared’s true name. ( Studies In the Scripture 8:247)

While residing in Kirtland Elder Reynolds Cahoon had a son born to him. One day when President Joseph Smith was passing his door, he called the Prophet in and asked him to bless and name the baby. Joseph did so and gave the boy the name of Mahonri Moriancumer. When he had finished the blessing he laid the child on the bed, and turning to Elder Cahoon he said, ‘The name I have given your son is the name of the brother of Jared; the Lord has just shown [or revealed] it to me.’ Elder William F. Cahoon … heard the Prophet make this statement to his father; and this was the first time the name of the brother of Jared was known in the Church in this dispensation” (George Reynolds, “The Jaredites,” Juvenile Instructor, 1 May 1892, 282).
After the great flood, the people migrated from the east to the land of Shinar . “ Being still all ‘of one language and of one speech’ they resolved to build themselves there ‘a city, and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven’, for the twofold purpose of making themselves “ a name” and lest they ‘be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’ (Edersheim, Bible History, Old Testament p 43) Essentially, this was their way of rebelling. It was the descendants of Noah’s divine role to re-people the earth. By building this great city, to stay unified, they set out to frustrate this plan. The vary nature of the city and tower was to defy God. By gathering all material forces into one common center would have led to universal despotism and to universal idolatry. The name “Babel” literally means God’s gate. This is a temple that
they are building to try to get to heaven without going through the proper channels.);

Thus, the Lord saw fit to arrest this grand attempt at man’s rebellion and confounded their language which accomplished His great purpose of scattering the people. Most scholars agree that this confounding of the language was a gradual process. It was at this time that Jared went to his brother with a request:

Ether 1
34 And the abrother of Jared being a large and mighty man, and a man highly favored of the Lord, Jared, his brother, said unto him: Cry unto the Lord, that he will not confound us that we may not bunderstand our words.
35 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon Jared; therefore he did not confound the alanguage of Jared; and Jared and his brother were not confounded.
36 Then Jared said unto his brother: Cry again unto the Lord, and it may be that he will turn away his anger from them who are our afriends, that he confound not their language.
37 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon their friends and their families also, that they were not confounded

“While the people were being scattered upon all the face of the earth, Jared prevailed upon his brother to once again in faith seek a blessing from the Lord. Their desire was that, if they had to leave their present homeland, they be led to a choice land of inheritance.” ( DCBM 4:264)

I.The Lord grants the requests of the brother of Jared

Ether 1
40 And it came to pass that the Lord did hear the brother of Jared, and ahad compassion upon him, and said unto him:
41 Go to and gather together thy aflocks, both male and female, of every kind; and also of the bseed of the earth of every kind; and cthy dfamilies; and also Jared thy brother and his family; and also thy efriends and their families, and the friends of Jared and their families.
42 And when thou hast done this thou shalt ago at the head of them down into the valley which is northward. And there will I meet thee, and I will go bbefore thee into a land which is cchoice above all the lands of the earth.
43 And there will I bless thee and thy seed, and raise up unto me of thy seed, and of the seed of thy brother, and they who shall go with thee, a great nation. And athere shall be none bgreater than the nation which I will raise up unto me of thy seed, upon all the face of the earth. And thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me.

Through this experience, what have you learned about the difference between praying to the Lord and Crying unto the Lord?

The Lord answers prayers because of continued faith and obedience. Crying to the Lord requires much more than just asking. It requires faith, pondering and a life of righteousness, as exemplified by the brother of Jared.

Pres. Spencer W. Kimball
“Great decisions must be made by most of us. The Lord has provided a way for these answers. If the question is which school, what occupation, where to live, whom to marry, or such other vital questions, you should do all that is possible to solve it. Too often, like Oliver Cowdery, we want our answers without effort.. There must be works with faith. How futile it would be to ask the Lord to give us knowledge, but the Lord will help us to acquire knowledge, to study constructively, to think clearly, and to retain things we have learned.. Do you get answers to your prayers? If not, perhaps you did not pay the price. Do you offer a few trite words and worn-out phrases, or do you talk intimately to the Lord? Do you pray occasionally when you should be praying regularly, often, constantly? Should we ever fail to get an answer to our prayers, we must look into our lives for a reason.” (Prayer, New Era, March 1978, pp16-17)

II. The Jaredites begin their journey to the promised land

The Lord promised to lead Jared’s people to a promised land, choice above all other lands. This promise was conditional, however, just as it was to Lehi’s family and just as it is to us today.

Ether 2
8 And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should aserve him, the true and only God, or they should be bswept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them.
9 And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be aswept off when the fulness of his bwrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are cripened in iniquity.
10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be aswept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the bfulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are cswept off.
11 And this cometh unto you, O ye aGentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the bwrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.
12 Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be afree from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but bserve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.

Freedom from bondage and captivity is assured by the Lord, but only on principles of righteousness. The entire Book of Mormon , as an account of the jaredites, Mulekites, and Nephites , stands as a living testimony of the truthfulness of these conditional promises and prophecies.

Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith
“ These passages of scripture from the Book of Mormon are true; this nation is not exeimpt, and the people, if they continue to pursue the course of evil and ungodliness that they are now treading, shall eventually be punished. If they continue to disregard the warning voice of the Lord, deny their Redeemer, turn from his gospel unto fables and false theories, and rebel against all that he has through his servants in this day declred fro the salvation of man; and if they increase in the practice of iniquity, I want to say to you, that if they do these things, the judgments of the Lord will come upon this land, and this nation will not be saved; we will not be spared from war, from famine, from pestilence and finally from destruction, as a nation.

“Therefore, I call upon the people, not only Latter-Day Saints but to all throughout the whole land, to repent of their sins and to accept the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer and the God of this land. Turn from your evil ways, repent fo your sins and receive the fullness of the gospel through the waters of baptism and obedience, that the judgments which sall be poured out upon the ungodly may pass you by. “ ( Doctrines of Salvation 3:321-22)

After the many preparations were made, this colony set out on it’s journey covering much land and some water before reaching the great sea which divideth the lands. Here, they pitched their tents, named the place Moriancumer and dwelt in tents by the seashore for the space of four years.

At the end of the four years, the Lord spoke with the brother of Jared and chastened him for the space of three hours. Why?

14 And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and atalked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and bchastened him because he remembered not to ccall upon the name of the Lord

Considering what we know about Mahonri, it seems pretty unlikely that a man of his spiritual stature would suddenly stop praying, so, what do you think this verse could mean?

Perhaps he had not fully followed and carried out the councils of the Lord he had already received.
Perhaps his prayers had become more casual or routine
Perhaps they had tarried by the seashore too long.

There is danger in pausing too long in one place when we need to be moving onward, forward and upward.

Robert D. Hales
So often we are tentative and don’t move forward with conviction. We feel our way along, as if we were afraid in the dark. It is so much better to turn on the light of faith and move ahead with energy and commitment.

If our course is wrong, we will quickly recognize it and make the necessary adjustments. But if we pursue a course tentatively and indecisively, it is difficult to know whether it is right or wrong in time to correct it.

The Lord said, “I would thou wert cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15).

We should decide now to make our decisions prayerfully and then move forward with faith, energy, and determination.
(Robert D. Hales, “Ten Axioms to Guide Your Life,” Liahona, Feb 2007, 34–39)


Ether 2
16 And the Lord said: Go to work and build, after the manner of abarges which ye have hitherto built. And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren, and built barges after the manner which they had built, according to the binstructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they were light upon the water, even like unto the lightness of a fowl upon the water.
17 And they were built after a manner that they were exceedingly atight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish.

After the barges were built, what kind of problems were anticipated by Mahonri?

Air to breathe, light to see by

The Lord gave Mahonri specific instructions about how to solve the breathing issue. What was His response to the light issue?

23 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have awindows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire

What does the Lord expect of us in solving our problems?

Harold B. Lee:
“Then the Lord went away and left him alone. It was as though the Lord were saying to him, ‘Look, I gave you a mind to think with, and I gave you agency to use it. Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you've done all you can, I'll step in to help you.’ This is the principle in action. If you want the blessing, don't just kneel down and pray about it. Prepare yourselves in every conceivable way you can in order to make yourselves worthy to receive the blessing you seek. …When we are situated that we cannot get anything to help ourselves, then we may call upon the Lord and His servants who can do all. But it is our duty to do what we can within our own power. That is a tremendous principle. In order to teach young people how to approach the Lord and how to prepare to receive what the Lord has promised for those who are faithful, we must teach them these fundamental steps. After Moroni had read this great experience of the brother of Jared, he added: ‘. . . wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.’ (Ether 12:6.)” (Stand Ye in Holy Places, p. 243-5)

III. The brother of Jared sees Jesus Christ

Mahonri’s solution was a great one, yet, it still required divine intervention. Mahonri went up into the mountain and moltened 16 small stones, that were transparent. He carried them to the top of the mountain and again beseeched the Lord

Ether 3
4And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all apower, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy bfinger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have clight while we shall cross the sea.
5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which alooks small unto the understanding of men.
6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the aLord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his bfinger. And the cveil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared dfell down before the Lord, for he was struck with efear.

Mahonri was shocked that the Lord’s finger appeared to be tangible and physical. However, the Lord would not actually take on his mortal body for another 2000 years. This experience verifies the principle that a man’s spirit is in the likeness of his physical person.

Ether 3
9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me aflesh and blood; and never has man come before me with bsuch exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?
10 And he answered: Nay; Lord, ashow thyself unto me.
11 And the Lord said unto him: aBelievest thou the words which I shall speak?
12 And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and acanst not lie.
13 And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord ashowed himself unto him, and said: bBecause thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my cpresence; therefore I dshow myself unto you.
14 Behold, I am he who was aprepared from the foundation of the world to bredeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the cFather and the Son. In me shall all mankind have dlife, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my esons and my daughters.
15 And never have I ashowed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man bbelieved in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own cimage? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image

This is a statement I have always had a very difficult time understanding. Hadn’t the Lord appeared to and spoken with Adam, Seth, Enoch, and Noah ? What are your thoughts on these verses?

perhaps the Lord’s appearance to earlier prophets had not been with that same fullness.
perhaps the Lord had never HAD to show himself unto man before. Mahonri’s faith was so great, he could not be kept from within the veil- the Lord could not withhold anything from him. Christ was saying to the brother of Jared, ‘Never have I showed myself unto man in this manner, without my volition, driven solely by the faith of the beholder.’ As a rule, prophets are invited into the presence of the Lord, are bidden to enter his presence by him and only with his sanction. The brother of Jared, on the other hand, seems to have thrust himself through the veil, not as an unwelcome guest but perhaps technically as an uninvited one.
perhaps Mahonri was the first to see the Lord Jesus’ physical body as he would be during his mortal ministry
perhaps Mahonri was the first to whom Jehovah manifested himself as Jesus Christ, the Son. Before this, he made himself known by speaking in the language and person of the Father, by divine investiture of authority.
maybe the Lord is referring only to the Jaredite dispensation

IV. Moroni seals up the writings of the brother of Jared

Mahonri’s faith was then supplanted by a perfect knowledge. He had seen the Lord and because of his faith, was shown all things from the beginning of the world.

Mahonri was instructed to write down what he had seen, yet was to reveal it to no man. It was to be sealed up. The Lord then gave Mahonri two stones to be sealed up along with the record, which in his own due time would magnify to the eyes of men the things that Mahonri would write.

Ether 4
1 And the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to go down out of the amount from the presence of the Lord, and bwrite the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men cuntil after that he should be lifted up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should show himself unto his people.
2 And after Christ truly had showed himself unto his people he commanded that they should be made manifest.
3 And now, after that, they have all dwindled in unbelief; and there is anone save it be the Lamanites, and they have rejected the gospel of Christ; therefore I am commanded that I should bhide them up again in the earth.
4 Behold, I have written upon these plates the avery things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were bgreater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared.

What kinds of things will we eventually get to know from the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon?

Bruce R. McConkie
“ When, during the Millennium the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon is translated, it will give an account of life in preexistence; of the creation of all things; of the Fall and the Atonement and the Second Coming; of temple ordinances in their fullness; of the ministry and mission of translated beings; of life in the spirit world, in both paradise and hell; of the kingdoms of glory to be inhabited by resurrected beings, and many such things.” ( Doctrines of the Restoration, p. 277)

What can we do today to have the same kinds of experiences as Mahonri and many other sanctified individuals?

Kenneth W. Anderson
The use of the word "unfolding" (Ether 4:7) verifies an orderly gaining of faith and gradual sanctification process. Learning to live the principles of the gospel and receive instructive revelation from the Holy Ghost does not happen all at once. It is a growing and maturing process just as it was for the brother of Jared. However, the same sanctifying and revelatory process is available to the Saints today. For "he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true" (v 11). [The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi through Moroni, from Zion to Destruction, 38]


Bruce R. McConkie
“From these revelations we learn that there are no limitations placed upon any of us. revelations are not reserved for a limited few or for those called to positions of importance in the Church. It is not position in the Church that confers spiritual gifts. It is not being a bishop, a stake
president, or an apostle that makes revelation and salvation available. These are high and holy callings which open the door to the privilege of great service among men. But it is not a call to a special office that opens the windows of revelation to a truth seeker. Rather it is personal righteousness; it is keeping the commandments; it is seeking the Lord while he may be found. God is no respecter of persons. He will give revelation to me and to you on the same terms and conditions. I can see what Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw in the vision of the degrees of glory -- and so can you. I can entertain angels and see God, I can receive an outpouring of the gifts of the Spirit -- and so can you.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1969, p. 82

V. The Jaredites travel to the promised land

In Chapter 6 verses 1-12, Moroni continues the record of the Jaredites as they journeyed to the promised land. We can liken this journey to the promised land to our journey through life

1. Just as the Lord caused the stones in the barges to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women and children, He has given us the light of Christ, the Holy Ghost, prophets, seers and revelators to guide us in the darkness of the world.
2. When the Jaredites prepared all they could for their journey, they put their full trust in the Lord that He would get them to the promised Land. We too must show this same kind of trust in the Lord. Some day we will be able to look over our lives and see that all things happened for our benefit and learning.
3. As the winds blew and the Jaredites were driven forth, they sang praises unto the Lord. We too can give praise to the Lord through word, song and by setting our hearts to righteousness.
4. When the Jaredites arrived in the promised land, they bowed themselves down, in humility and thanked the Lord for his tender mercies . By setting our hearts upon righteousness, we can be chosen to receive tender mercies from the Lord: the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

I testify to you that the Lord loves you. He is very aware of each of you and your personal circumstances. He has blessings waiting in abundance if we show forth our faith.

Jeffrey R. Holland
“The brother of Jared may not have had great belief in himself, but his belief in God was unprecedented. In that there is hope for us all. His faith was without doubt or limit..Once and for all it was declared that ordinary people with ordinary challenges could rend the veil of unbelief and enter the realms of eternity” ( Christ and the New Covenant[1997],29)