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CHAPTER 12The prophet Ether exhorts the people to believe in God—Moroni recounts the wonders and marvels done by faith—Faith enabled the brother of Jared to see Christ—the Lord gives men weaknesses that they may be humble—The brother of Jared moved Mount Zerin by faith—Faith, hope, and charity are essential to salvation—Moroni saw Jesus face to face. |
Ether exhorts the people to faith and hope in God—Moroni exbounds upon faith the power by which wonders, marvels and miracles are performed—The exercise of faith enables men to see Christ—A purpose of men's weakness of the flesh is to the end that men might be humble, learning humility before God—Power of faith can move mountains—Moroni sees Jesus. |
Humility Lucifer in the preexistence showed forth no humility before God, thinking to make himself greater than God. Humility is one of the lessons to be learn from this mortal experience. We are accepted and forgiven before God as we do humble ourselves before him. (See verse 27) |
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1 AND it came to pass that the days of
Ether were in the days of aCoriantumr; and Coriantumr was
king over all the land.
2 And aEther was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore Ether came forth in the days of Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto the peoplea, for he could not be brestrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in himb.
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2a Ether came forth in the days of
Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto the people In all times,
God will forewarn the people that they might have the opportuntity to repent
if they wo will exercise their agency to do so. Noah prophesied unto the
people of his day, calling them unto repentance prior to that great
destruction of the universal flood. Ether affords the Jaredites such a
call to repentance.
2b he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him This likely has reference to the fact that the people could not physically retrain Ether from his preaching, so great was the power of the spirit 'in' him. It reminds one of what must have been the case of John the Beloved. They could not have power over him. All they could do in John's day is cast him out, banish him to the Isle of Patmos. All they could do to Ether was to cast him out of their society and Ether then took to living in the cavity of a rock not so much to hide himself but more to provide himself a shelter within which to live. Such is the power of the spirit in God's prophets. Abinadi could not be retrained or touched until after he had completed his work. Nephi's brother who would continue to seek Nephi's life could not gain power over him and at particular times Nephi was stregthened by the power of the spirit that they dared not ever stretch for their hand to touch him. Anther aspect is that Ether in his own action could not restrain himself from going forth and deliving the measage to the people. When a person is 'moved' by the spirit, having yielded themselves up to the spirit, the spirit can and does have power to move and motivate a person to the extent that they cannot nor do not restrain themselves from performing the work of the Lord. |
1a
Omni 1:21;
Ehter 13:20 (13-31) 2a Ether 1:6; Ehter 11:23; Ether 15:34 (33-34) b Jer. 20:9; Enos 1:26; Alma 43:1
Given that Ramah was in the vacinity of western New York, this means that the Jaredites did have in their possession the same great lands which father Adam and his children did posses prior to the destruction of the flood of Noah. It is important to have that understanding as it is this land which is the promised land which has the great covenant of God upon it, that it can only be possessed over any duration of time by the principle of righteous acceptance and worship of the God of this land which is Jesus Christ, the Great Jehovah. |
Hope Is Unto the Attainment of a Place at the Right Hand of God |
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3 For he did acry from the
bmorning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting
the people to believe in God unto repentance lest they should be
cdestroyed, saying unto them that dby
efaith all things are
fulfilleda—
4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with asurety bhope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of Goda, which chope cometh of dfaith, maketh an eanchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in fgood works, being led to gglorify God. 5 And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they asaw them not.
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3a by faith all things are
fulfilled This cannot be over emphasized. Faith precedes the
miracle. Without faith God performs no miracles. A full expose cannot be
written here, but certainly a well published treatise is had in the
Lectures of Faith set forth before the school
of the prophets in the early restored church.
4a whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God It is Ether's preaching which speaks on 'faith', 'hope', and 'charity'. Moroni will elaborate upon it, but here is stated exactly what that 'great hope' is, it is for immortality and eternal life in a better world without sin and even a place at the right hand of God wherein man my even become as God. President James E. Faust teaches that this is our 'Greatest Hope', that through the atonement we may be redeemed from this fallen estate to return to God (Ensign, November, 2001, p.18). Without such 'hope' there is no great moving motivation to act. It gives reason and purpose for man to perform righteously after the commandments of God in order to achieve this great hope. |
3a
D&C 112:5 b Jer. 26:5 c Ether 11:12 (12, 20-22) d Heb. 11:7 (1-40) e 1 Cor. 13:13 (1-13); Moro. 7:1; Moro. 8:14; Moro. 10:20 (20-23) 4a Heb. 7:22 b Alma 7:16; Alma 22:16; Moro. 7:3; D&C 25:10; D&C 138:14 c Heb. 11:1; Moro. 7:40 d Luke 7:50 e Heb. 6:19 f 1 Cor. 15:58; 1 Tim. 2:10 g John 11:4 (1-4); 3 Ne. 12:16 5a Heb. 11:3; Alma 30:15; Hel. 16:20
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Moroni Preaches the More Excellent Way of Faith, Hope and CharityNow in striving for the kingdom of God, one can become entirely enveloped in all the laws, commandments, performances and particulars which lead unto salvation. Or one may take the 'high road' or the more generalized but just as effective 'more excellent way'. That way simply states that through faith on Christ and with a hope unto becoming even As God Is, through the love of Christ, through the love of God, one may reach unto exaltation. Not that the laws and commandments will go away but in that if one does love God, they will keep his commandments which he has given them. Thus the Lord states, if ye love me ye will keep my commandments. Love is the greatest of motivators. Where as fear and reward have there place, it is only through love that the greatest of prizes is obtained. This is a good rule of consideration for parents. Like God, parents have the tools of motivation through fear, motivation through reward and motivation through love. While fear and reward may be used in the short run, it is always the motivation of love which endures and lasts in the family unit. So it is in heaven. |
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6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I
would show unto the world that afaith is things which are
bhoped for and cnot seen; wherefore,
dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no
dwitness until after the etrial of your
faitha.
7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself anot unto the world. 8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
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6a ye receive no witenes until after the
trial of your faith Faith does precede the miracle. And showing
forth faith is more than just a statement of 'I believe', it is coming with
all one's heart, might, mind and strength, in real intent accompanied by
supporting action of that professed faith.
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6a
Heb. 11:1 b Rom. 8:25 (24-25) c Alma 32:21 d Lev. 9:6 (6, 23); 2 Ne. 1:15; TG Sign Seekers e 3 Ne. 26:11; TG Test, Try, Prove 7a Acts 10:41
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9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the
gift, if ye will but have faith.
10 Behold it was by faith that they of old were acalled after the holy order of God. 11 Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the agift of his Son hath God prepared a more bexcellent waya; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
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11a a more excellent way The Law of Moses was but a means to an end, it was but the 'law' by which the Israelites where to be pointed to Christ, having not extented an actiquate faith in righteousness to obtain the higher way the more excellent way at the time of Moses. If fact their level of exhibited faith was that they had built for themselves a golded calf to worship. When Christ fulfilled the 'law', the means of bring man to Christ, the more excellent gospel was given. We have only a vage shell of what that fulness of gospel was. Such 'new' ordiances of the 'more excellent way' have been obscured through the apostasy. We have only fragments of evidence that there were indeed higher oridances and performances given in the higher gospel of Jesus Christ. One of these is the ordiance of baptism of the dead, which has slipped through the editing of the scriptures for us to have a slight understanding that there were such advanced oridances given in conjunction with the more excellent way, the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. |
10a
Alma 13:4 (3-4);
TG
Authority 11a TG God, Gifts of b 1 Cor. 12:31
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12 For if there be no afaith among the
children of men God can do no bmiracle among
thema;
wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
13 Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the aprison to tumble to the earth. 14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the achange upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the bHoly Ghost. 15 Behold, it was the faith of aAmmon and his brethren which bwrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
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12a if there be no faith among the
children of men God can do no miracle among them Faith preceeds
the miracle.
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12a
Luke 16:30 (27-31);
Alma 32:18 (17-18); Moro. 7:37 b Ps. 78:41; Matt. 13:58; Morm. 9:20 13a Alma 14:27 (26-29) 14a Hel. 5:50-52 b Hel. 5:45; 3 Ne. 9:20 15a Alma 17:29-39 b IE as told in Alma chapters 17-26
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16 Yea, and even all they who wrought amiracles
wrought them by bfaith, even those who were before
Christa and also those who were
after.
17 And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should anot taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith. 18 And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.
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16a even those who were before Christ Even those before the advent of Jesus Christ did work by the principle of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A mistaken concept is that one could not exercise faith in Christ before the time and life of Christ. Those of the Book of Mormon knew and understood much about Jesus Christ and his mission which he would perform when he came. And they did exercise faith in him, though he was still yet to come. All that is accomplished in the name of God has been done and accomplished by such exercise of faith in the Lord whether before or after his mortal ministry. |
16a
TG
Miracle b Heb. 11:7-40 17a 3 Ne. 28:7; 4 Ne. 1:37 (14-37); Morm. 8:10-12)
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19 And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even
abefore Christ came, who could not be kept from within the
bveil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they
had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
20 And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his afinger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith. 21 And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the apromise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faitha, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the bveil.
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21a becaue of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith Now what was that promise? 'Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you,' (Ether 3:13) Now as blessing are predicated upon step by step performance, there was a previous step to obtaining this sure promise and it was the coming to such a knowledge of God by one's exercise of faith and performance marked by the beginning statement 'because thou knowest these things'. Thus we are returned against to doing all that we can do that we might come to know Christ and 'these things' which are further referenced in the progression of what leads man to God. |
19a
2 Ne. 11:4;
Jacob 4:5;
Jarom 1:11; Alma 25:16 (15-16) b Ether 3:6; TG Veil, Vail 20a Ether 3:4 21a Ether 3:26 (25-26) b Ether 3:20; D&C 67:10-13
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22 And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the
apromise that these things should come unto their brethren
through the Gentiles; therefore the Lord hath commanded me, yea, even Jesus
Christ.
23 And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will amock at these things, because of our bweakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us cmighty 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; 24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the aawkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in bwriting like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he cwrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them. 25 Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we acannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our bweakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall cmock at our words.
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22a
Enos 1:13 23a Ether 12:36 b 1 Cor. 2:3 (1-5); 1 Ne. 19:6; Morm. 8:17 (13-17); Morm. 9:31, 33 c 2 Ne. 33:1; 24a Jacob 4:1 b TG Language c Ether 4:1 25a 3 Ne. 5:18; b Ether 12:37 c 1 Cor. 2:14
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26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying:
aFools bmock, but they shall mourn; and
my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of
your weakness;
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their aweaknessa. I bgive unto men weakness that they may be humbleb; and my cgrace is sufficient for all men that dhumble themselves before mec; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make aweak things become strong unto them. 28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness and I will show unto them that afaith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all brighteousness.
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27a their weakness All men of
this fall carnal second estate have an inherent weakness which is the
weakness of the pasions and appetites of the flesh of this natural man. This
is Nephi's and Paul's 'great weakness', even Paul's thorn in the flesh, and
it is what makes all of us but 'wretched men of the flesh' before God. Until
we have this mortal weakness of human corruption taken from us, we are all
subject unto it. And it is why that even after all we
can do, it will take the grace of Christ to redeem us. But this we all need
to know and understand that Christ's grace is suficient for us. He does
have that power to redeem us. There are some requirements for us to humble
ourselves before him, accept him as our Savior and to strive to live accoring
to his gospel, but after all is said and done, it is only by and through his
grace that we are saved.
27c I given unto men weakness that they may be humble It considering the various purposes of this fallen second estate there are the readily common statements such as 'to gain a body', 'to gain experience' and 'to be tested'. To this list here is a commonly missed purpose. Man is placed in this 'fallen' second estate where he is subjected to the weakness of the flesh. The weakness is here stated that the purpose of men being given it is that men might be humble, that is that man is to learn humility before God, for it is only by the grace of God and our coming unto him in humility, subjecting our will to his, that man may be save. And if man so humbles himself before God, taking upon himself the name of Christ and submitting his own will unto the will of God, then Christ's grace is sufficient to redeem them. 27c my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me This was what the Lord stated unto the Apostle Paul, the his grace was sufficient. Thus men are not left alone in their weakness, though neither are them removed from it while in the corruption of this mortal estate. We have weaknesses that we may rely upon the arm of God, they bring us to him that through him we even in our weakness are made strong. O, wretched men that we are, if we but turn unto God through Christ, so may we be made whole in him for his grace is sufficient over all our weakness; He having made that divine and infinite atonement whereby he may claim us his. |
26a
Prov. 14:9;
Prov. 20:3 b Gal. 6:7; D&C 124:71; TG Mocking; TG Offense; 27a Jacob 4:7 b Ex. 4:11; 1 Cor. 1:27 (26-31) c TG Grace d D&C 1:28; TG Humility; TG Teachable e Deut. 11:8; Joel. 3:10; Luke 9:48 (46-48); Luke 18:14 (10-14); 2 Cor. 12:9 (7-10); Heb. 11:34; 1 Ne. 14:1 27a Alma 7:24 b TG God, Standard of Righteousness
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29 And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was
acomforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done,
for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their
faith;
30 For the brother of Jared said unto the mountain Zerin, aRemove—and it was removed. And if he had not had faith it would not have moved; wherefore thou workest after men have faith. 31 For thus didst thou manifest thyself unto thy disciples; for aafter they had bfaith, and did speak in thy name, thou didst show thyself unto them in great power.
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29a
TG
Comfort 30a Matt. 17:20; Jacob 4:6; Hel. 10:9; TG God, Power of 31a 3 Ne. 26:17-21 b 1 Cor. 13:13 (1-13); Moro. 7:44 (33-48)
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32 And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a
house for man, yea, even among the amansions of thy Father,
in which man might have a more excellent bhope; wherefore
man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place
which thou hast prepared.
33 And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast aloved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. 34 And now I know that this alove which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.
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32a
John 14:2;
Enos 1:27;
D&C 72:4;
D&C 98:18 b TG Hope 33a John 3:16-18 34a Moro. 7:47; TG Love
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35 Wherefore, I know by this thing which thou hast said, that if the
Gentiles have not acharity, because of our weakness, that
thou wilt prove them, and btake away their
ctalent, yea, even that which they have received, and give
unto them who shall have more abundantly.
36 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles agrace, that they might have charity. 37 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made aclean. And because thou hast seen thy bweakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.
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35a
1 Cor. 13:2 (1-2) b Matt. 25:28 (14-30) c TG Talents 36a Ether 12:23; TG Grace 37a Job 15:14; Job 25:4; D&C 38:42; D&C 88:74-75; D&C 135:5 (4-5); TG Cleanliness; TG Purification; b Ether 12:25-27
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38 And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also
unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the
ajudgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my
bgarments are not spotted with your blood.
39 And then shall ye know that I have aseen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me bface to face, and that he told me in cplain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things; 40 And only a few have I written, because of my weakness in writing. 41 And now, I would commend you to aseek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth brecord of them, may be and abide in you forevera. Amen.
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41a may be and abide in you forever The spirit of man resides within this tabernacle of clay. The senses of the body sense that which is temporal and physical in nature. But the things of God, the things of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are of a spiritual nature and are thus felt and experienced by the spirit which resides within man. They are beyond the five senses of the temporal body not being of that body. They are of and from God, and that spirit which is in man is that which does receive and experience them. And thus it is of such which does abide in us. And they abide forever for the spirit is that which is unto eternal existance and which does and will give that temporal body of clay and dust of the earth its eternal existance in combination with the spirit to the making of the combined soul of the eternal man of God. |
38a
TG
Jesus Christ, Judge b Acts 20:26; Jacob 1:19 39a TG Jesus Christ, Appearances, Postmortal b Gen. 32:30; Ex. 33:11; Num. 12:8 c 2 Ne. 32:7; Alma 13:23 41a Ezra 8:22-23; Ps. 27:8; Amos 5:6; Alma 37:47; D&C 88:63; D&C 101:38 b 3 Ne. 11:32, 36
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