Ether 12 - Because of the Spirit of the Lord Which Was in Him

He Could Not Be Restrained
In chapter 12 we are finally introduced to the namesake of the Book of Ether. As the author explains, "Ether was a prophet of the Lord" who came forth in the days of Coriantumr, "and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him” (Ether 12:2). I find this to be one of his most admirable and enviable qualities. Ether's closeness to God and the feelings of the Spirit were so powerful that he couldn't not share the gospel. 

When it comes to sharing the gospel, telling others about my beliefs, or inviting friends and coworkers to church activities I can feel hugely inhibited. This same fear even extends to the important but uncomfortable conversations I want to have with my closest friends, immediate family members, and my spouse. I worry a lot about what other people will think of me, how they will feel or react, or if a certain conversation or invitation is appropriate for a professional setting. I worry that our relationship might get awkward if I ask or invite more than once. I assume all of this in normal and that I am not the only one who struggles with these kinds of inhibitions, which is what makes this verse in the scriptures so intriguing to me. 

Ether had cultivate his relationship with the Spirit to the point that it became his primary motivation. It was strong enough to override all of the other fears and considerations I'm sure he experienced, too. The only way to strengthen this connection with God is to keep His commandments and ask for His assistance through prayer. If there is something good and important that I can't bring myself to do yet, I know it is because I don't yet feel enough of God's love and the power of the Spirit. 

Not only did the Spirit motivate Ether to share the gospel. We also learn about the power of belief that “whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God“ (Ether 12:4). When we live according to God's will, we can develop confidence that we will return to live with Him someday. This earnest expectation makes us confident, disciplined, generous, and humble. 

We might sometimes think that righteous living is something we do to earn God's favor or blessings. Instead, Ether teaches us that good choices are the natural product of a heart that humbly and contritely loves God. Good works are an effect, not a cause. Our good works are powerless to save us or change who we are. Only the grace and power of God can do that. To borrow a phrase I've heard used to describe garments , our good works are simply an outward expression of an inward commitment. 

Moroni’s Aside
While abridging the records of the people of the Jaredites, Moroni added his own commentary on hope and faith. Moroni taught that the source of hope stems from faith, saying: “ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith“ (Ether 12:9). It would be easy to read this verse and think that faith brings blessings, and I'm not saying we can't obtain blessings through faith, but the "gift" here refers to the "heavenly gift" mentioned in verse 8. 

The specific meaning of the "heavenly gift" is ambiguous, but after reading some interesting commentary on the subject, it seems to refer to “'the words of eternal life' delivered by the Savior to a person and perhaps even to a congregation" (askgramps.com). The commentary goes on to say that "Those who 'have tasted of the heavenly gift … were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.' (Hebrews 6:4) ... They have also 'tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come' (Hebrews 6:5)" (askgramps.com)

By Faith That It Hath Been Fulfilled
The gospel of Jesus Christ replaced the law of Moses and provided a way for mankind to be saved through faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. Moroni taught, "by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled“ (Ether 12:11). This path, or "excellent way" is made possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ. By this line of thinking, Moroni implied that the atonement of Jesus Christ was fulfilled by faith. 

This is an idea that has fascinated me for a long time. Because Christ is the literal son of God we may rightly imagine that he is fundamentally different than us. But I have an equally compelling sense that He only had access to the same resources and mechanisms that we do to understand his divine mission and communicate with our Heavenly Father. Christ prayed, fasted, and read the scriptures. He had visions and was visited by angels. I presume that he came to understand to understand  his identity and purpose through personal revelation. I can only surmise that he experienced the full effects of the veil like all of us. 

What all of this means to me is that when Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and died on the cross, He did so by faith. I honestly don't know, but my impression is that He did not have a sure knowledge of His own identity or the efficacy of what He was about to do, and the strength of His faith was not gained by some exceptional process not available to each one of us. He acted in faith. This enhances to me the magnitude and miraculousness of the sacrifice He performed on our behalf. 

Similar to Hebrew chapter 11, Moroni lists a number of Book of Mormon prophets who also performed miraculous things through faith:

• Alma and Amulek - cause the prison to tumble (Ether 12:13)
• Nephi and Lehi - wrought the change upon the Lamanites (Ether 12:14)
• Ammon and his brethren - wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites (Ether 12:15)
• Three Nephites - obtained a promise that they should not taste of death (Ether 12:17)
• Brother of Jared - beheld the finger of the Lord (Ether 12:21)

I Will Show Unto Them Their Weakness
Moroni closes his remarks by inviting all people “to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written” (Ether 12:41). He offered a promise that if people come unto Christ, Christ "will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them“ (Ether 12:27).

When I was a student at BYU I took a class on the Book of Mormon from Kevin Marett, who passed away this February after a valiant battle with cancer. I will never forget the day in class when we discussed this verse. He pointed out to us that this verse does not say that God will show unto us our "weaknesses," but our "weakness" (singular). He emphasized that the distinction is significant, and challenged us to discover why, and write an essay about what this verse meant. He taught that this verse is not saying that God points out all the things that we are not good at, but refused to dole out any more in terms of a solution or easy answer. I don't recall if he ever told us what he thought this verse meant. But his challenge sent me on a days-long journey exploring the scriptures that profoundly enhanced my understanding of the fall, Christ's atonement, and our purpose on earth.  


Application Questions

How can you increase your closeness to God and the Spirit to do the hard and important things in your life?

What have you accomplished through faith? How can you know what God would have you do in the new year?

Who challenges and inspires you to be better?


Image Credit: www.desiringgod.org