Ether 7

Verses 1-27: Rebellion, Captivity, Repentance and Prosperity

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

When we're on track, we prosper. When we're out of line, He hedges up our opposing path to guide us back to Him.

Lesson for me?

*Stay with Christ. As Grandma Mortensen wrote, "obedience brings blessings, strict obedience brings miracles". 

The constitution is an inspired plan of government to prevent this kind of captivity and strife. 

Ether 6

Verses 1-12: The Journey

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

I ADORE METAPHOR! The description of our earth experience is so vivid. We are all journeying to the promised land (the salvation of our heavenly home). Perhaps our bodies are the barges, which house the Holy Spirit, the stones, which convey to us the light of Christ, having been touched by His finger.

Christ's enabling power is the "furious wind" which "did never cease to blow towards the promised land".

Entering the barge, which enters the water, also somehow symbolizes our baptismal covenants- the surrender of any inclination to act against Christ- literally conveying ourselves into His care and going wherever He leads us.  Since His intention is to bless us with an eternity of joy, I'd say it's a fair prospect.

Lesson for me?

*Imagine that you have gathered all the provisions for life's journey, and that Christ is carrying you. You have every assurance that you'll make it safely to heaven if you just TRUST HIM. Do what He says. Give Him and others the best of you.  Sacrifice your impulse to compete, to rebel, to hurt others in any way,  or to complain. Just take the ride.

Verses 13-21: A New Society: Records and Legacies

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

It teaches me that a people who are aligned with Him, and work hard, tend to prosper, as He desires them to.

Lesson for me?

*Remember that He desires your success both spiritually and temporally, and go forth and "till the earth". Also keep records.

Verses 22-30: A King Leadeth into Captivity

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

Same lesson as the previous section, with the added note of caution that it's important to arrange government so that all power is not in the hands of opposers of Christ.  He wants to save us, and He inspired the brother of Jared with the thought that a more measured approach to government would be necessary. As yet, though, their king is aligned with the Heavenly King and the people prosper.

Lesson for me?

*Be grateful for freedom of worship, and work to protect it.

Ether 5

Ether 5

Verses 1-6: In the Mouth of Three

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

That He is wiser than me, and has a wise plan about how the restoration has come forth and will proceed.

What reason does this give me to be grateful? What a comfort to know that I’m not on my own when it comes to making decisions. I always have input available from Someone wiser. 

Lesson for me?

*Accept Christ's offering of which these plates testify. Repent. Come unto Him and keep reaching higher.

Ether 4

Verses 1-7: Write Them and Seal Them

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

Faith is a prerequisite of knowledge. Miracles can provide comfort, encouragement and spiritual education at the right moment, if one already believes, but can't form the foundation of a testimony. Christ is careful about the way knowledge of His doings is disbursed, in order to provide His children the greatest advantage.

Lesson for me?

*Be sure to keep writing about your own precious experiences with Christ, and share them with your children at the right moments.

Currently, information is out of control. But you can try to be more aware of the sources from which your children are receiving it.  What are they being taught, and from whom?

Verses 8-10: A Warning

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

Here He reminds us of His great power, and that He can and will stop the progress of those who fight against Him and His gospel, for their own good. He also bears witness of the power He's invested in His servants on earth.

Lesson for me?

*To rebel and deny is to stop your progress and learning.

Verses 11-12: It Persuadeth to do Good 

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

Part of His power and grace is that anything associated with Him is a force for, and an invitation to do, good.  This is a vital aspect of how aligning with Him saves us: it begins to transform us into a holy being who belongs in His presence.

Lesson for me?

*Take care that what you're experiencing and partaking of is influencing you for good.

Verses 13-19: Believe and Repent

What does this teach me about the saving mission  of Jesus Christ?

He has so many blessings on reserve for us! So much knowledge that is only helpful to a heart that believes, and is therefore waiting to be opened to us- waiting for us to "call upon the Father in (His) name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (verse 15)", so that we are prepared to employ the great power and knowledge responsibly. This is all part of His saving mission.

Lesson for me?

*Learn more about the Book of Revelations, and its symbolism, and watch for the signs. Above all, keep the faith.

Ether 3

Ether 3

Verses 1-5: The Brother of Jared's Prayer

What does this teach me about the atonement?

This section is very instructive regarding our role in inviting the atonement's power into our lives.  The Savior's saving mission is inseparable from and made possible by His atoning sacrifice.  Let's list the principles we can learn about approaching the Lord to invite His help from the Brother of Jared's prayer.

1. From verse 1: Go into a "high mountain". In other words, make a special effort to pray to Him when/where you can be closest and most in tune with Him.
2. From verse 1: Present your purest offering. Just as the Brother of Jared presented stones that he had made which were white and clear as transparent glass, we should be transparent with the Lord in our honest inventory of our progress and confess and repent to Him of anything we find wanting. Then our souls can be as pure as the sixteen stones, and our offering worthy of Him.
3. From verse 2: acknowledge your weakness, yet have faith in His help. Remember always your dependent position, but take courage in His promises, and His oft repeated desires to hear and answer your prayers.
4. From verse 3: acknowledge the Lord's blessings. Never fail to notice the good things in your life, which He provides.
5. From verse 3: In addressing specific problems, come prepared.  Meaning, study it out and have your best ideas/solutions ready to present, just as the Brother of Jared presented the definitive results of his efforts.
6. From verse 4: Ask for what you need- whether it's a confirmation of an answer you've been considering or a particular favor. Asking for specific things increases both our confidence before the Lord, and our faith in His grace, as we see the things we've specifically asked for come to fruition.
7. From verse 5: Remember that great power is in the small and simple things.

Lesson for me?

*Refer to above in handling difficult challenges. As we bring these actual and metaphorical offerings to the Lord, we will see His actual and metaphorical "finger," or influence, in our lives.

Verses 6-20: The Lord Appears

What does this teach me about the atonement?

This reminds me that the Lord undertook the atonement with a mortal body of flesh and blood.  This was an essential aspect of His ability not only to overcome the sins of the flesh, but to help us believe in His infinite compassion for our bodily discomforts.  

This is such a singular event.  The Brother of Jared has such faith that He can see the Lord. 

Why is it that choosing to believe in the unseen leads to seeing it? The faith described here also encompasses a degree of trust, and also love. To experience this kind of miraculous faith affirmation, you must not only believe in the Savior, but believe in His love enough to trust Him and love Him in return.  This relates to the eternal truth that the Savior smooths the way of those who are headed in the right direction. I am in tears as I write this. He is so full of love for us.  What would be the consequence of the Savior showing His spirit body to one who is full of destructive patterns and self-deceit? By my estimation, only searing pain, condemnation and increase of hatred of self and others.  I can't possibly fully understand or know for sure, but I believe that if the truth looks you full in the face, but your inner development is not in step with it, you may not experience it as truth.  You may feel alienated and repelled.  I imagine the glaring light would leave the sinner either crumpled with crippling discouragement or clamoring to justify himself, resulting in further self-deceit. This is why the Savior "stands at the door and knocks" instead of barging in on us.  The Brother of Jared already knew and loved the Savior so well, that for Him, the earthly barrier that cloaks the things of eternity, as a matter of course, dissolved. 

The Savior's act of lighting the stones with His finger is another metaphor for His grace in our lives.  Grace cannot be separated from the atonement. The Savior atoned to save us, and grace is part of the saving.  

Lesson for me today?

*He loves you. He patterned you after Him. Choose to believe.

Additional Note on Verse 13:

What are "these things" and how did knowing them redeem the Brother of Jared from the fall?

Are "these things," the knowledge resulting from seeing the Savior's body? Possibly

It might additionally be the fact that God doesn't lie, and that the Savior will take upon Him flesh and blood, and that only faith could have allowed him to witness Him. These are all mentioned.

This is big stuff that I'm having a hard time comprehending.  The Savior actually told a mortal that by knowing certain things he was redeemed from the fall. This feels like an important thing to understand.

The Brother of Jared said, "I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie." This was a deep expression of faith and testimony, and the Savior appeared right after he said it.  All I can ascertain is that the level of faith, love, and trust he reached was enough to elevate him above the level of fallen man to a heavenly realm.

Verses 21-28: A Message from Moroni

What does this teach me about the saving mission of Jesus Christ?

 It teaches me that the Savior is mindful of each of His children in all generations of time, and has laid a specific plan for how to most effectively reach them with His message. 

Lesson for me?

*More evidence for the grand, elegant plan of the gospel, including the restoration. Remember the importance of  the Book of Mormon and be grateful for it.

Ether 2

Verses 1-12:
To a Choice Land
How does this relate to the atonement?
This whole story symbolizes the atonement! It is the story of the Lord blessing and guiding a family, through the wilderness and across rough waters (of this earthly existence) to a land choice above all others (eternal salvation). I love that the stories of the Book of Mormon are full of both literal and figurative meaning. It is also the literal outgrowth of the Savior's atoning mission to save His children: the opportunity to found and build a free nation where the gospel can proliferate.

Lesson for me today?
*Moroni is very direct, in verses 9-12, in addressing us, the modern Gentiles in this land, with his message of repentance. As I understand it, I need to make sure I'm not part of the moral deterioration of the nation. I need to be a tree that's bearing good fruit, a propitious part of the Lord's garden, not a weed, corrupting others and better discarded. I need to remember the sacrifices of Christ and everyone else who helped to build and protect this nation and make sure I'm honoring them by making a masterpiece of my life, not stagnating. Not only receiving, but giving.

Verses 13-25: Prepare the Vessels
What does this teach me about the atonement?
More symbolic teaching. I love this!
22 And he cried again unto the Lord saying: O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?
Everyone offers the equivalent prayer or cry at some time in life, and the answer is a resounding NO. Though we don't always hear it.
 25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come.

This story has such great power as both a historical narrative and a parable of the gospel plan for our lives. The barges could symbolize people's will, or agency because people constructed them and we control our will and construct a life through our choices. Oftentimes we just have to "get in the barge and ride," meaning, turn our will to the Lord. I imagine the holes to mean prayer- we have to use that regularly to open the way to our spiritual air. The stones are a symbol of our covenants because we bring them to the Lord and, through the divine agreement we make with Him, by His part, He gives us the light of His grace. We cannot spiritually survive the winds and waves of this earthly existence without the power that comes through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Lesson for me today?
*19 And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish.
This exactly describes how spiritually dependent you are on the Lord, and how vital it is that you pray frequently and keep your covenants.
Remember also verse 15, which reminds you, as pointed out in your patriarchal blessing, that you should seek to live the gospel closely and repent quickly when you make mistakes.

Ether 1

Verses 1-32: Intro & Genealogy
How does this relate to the atonement?
Moroni relates the story of the Jaredites. He recognizes the love the Lord has for them, and the value inherent in their record. Family relationships are matters of record, and a vital part of what the Savior suffered and died to preserve. Because He atoned, died and took up His body again, we can be made worthy, be resurrected and maintain these sacred relationships.

Lesson for me?
*The Savior knows you by name, and you have a story to tell as well. Keep your history, take time to help redeem the dead, and teach your children to do genealogy. They have the technological know how to do a lot of good.

Verses 33-43: A New Nation
What does this teach me about the atonement?
It reinforces my knowledge that the Savior loves us and works for the salvation of those who reach out to Him, as the Brother of Jared and his family did.

Lesson for me?
*I like that Jared expected, even in the perceived adversity of all the people being "scattered," that the Lord would turn the events into blessings. "Why wouldn't," he thinks, "the Lord lead us into the best and most beautiful land there is?" I can also expect, as the Lord has promised, that great good can come out of my trials.