The word "fathers" appears 182 times in the Book of Mormon, usually meaning "ancestors." For example: On the title page, we read that one of the purposes of the book is "to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers."Lehi was delighted to find... Continue Reading →
“Thank and Praise the Lord” – Ether 6:9
While the Jaredites sat in enclosed barges for nearly a year, with all the food and animals they could carry, and with furious storms battering them, sometimes sinking them deep in the water, what did they do? How did they spend their time? Here is Moroni's description: And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the... Continue Reading →
“The Country Was Divided” – Ether 7:20
After arriving in the promised land, the first generation of Jaredites needed to make some foundational decisions about their new civilization. One of those was their form of government. The people wanted to choose a king. Their spiritual leader, the brother of Jared, opposed this idea. "Surely this thing leadeth into captivity," he warned (Ether... Continue Reading →
“There Came Prophets”
A recurring theme in the Book of Ether is the arrival of unnamed prophets, warning the people of difficult days ahead and urging them to repent. These prophets were consistently rejected by the people but were sometimes protected by righteous kings. Here are some examples: During the reign of Shule, the fourth king, "there came... Continue Reading →
The Jaredite Generations
Thirty generations in fifteen chapters: in the Book of Ether, Moroni provides a sweeping history of the rise and fall of a civilization. At first glance, the book appears to be the story of the Jaredite people from the perspective of their kings. But upon closer consideration, it becomes clear that the narrative follows a... Continue Reading →
Why Are We Blessed When We Are Reviled?
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lists a number of unlikely scenarios in which we should consider ourselves fortunate. One of those goes like this: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and... Continue Reading →
Captivity – Ether 7:4-5
4 And when Corihor was thirty and two years old he rebelled against his father, and went over and dwelt in the land of Nehor; and he begat sons and daughters, and they became exceedingly fair; wherefore Corihor drew away many people after him. 5 And when he had gathered together an army he came... Continue Reading →
How Great Things the Lord Had Done – Ether 6:30, Ether 7:27
30 And it came to pass that Orihah did walk humbly before the Lord, and did remember how great things the Lord had done for his father, and also taught his people how great things the Lord had done for their fathers. (Ether 6:30) 27 And there were no more wars in the days of Shule; and... Continue Reading →
He Remembered the Great Things the Lord Had Done – Ether 6:30, 7:27
30 And it came to pass that Orihah did walk humbly before the Lord, and did remember how great things the Lord had done for his father, and also taught his people how great things the Lord had done for their fathers.(Ether 6:30)27 And there were no more wars in the days of Shule; and... Continue Reading →
Ether 7:27 He Remembered the Great Things That The Lord Had Done
27 And there were no more wars in the days of Shule; and he remembered the great things that the Lord had done for his fathers in bringing them across the great deep into the promised land; wherefore he did execute judgment in righteousness all his days.(Ether 7:27)We make wiser decisions when we are grateful,... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 