Ether 1-5

 Ether 1

The next fifteen chapters known as Ether comprise

The account and ministry of the Jaredites.

It begins with its author, Ether’s, family tree

And how his ancestor, Jared, and his family

Were around at the time of the tower of Babel,

When God confounded the language of the people.

Jared’s brother was a large and a mighty man.

He prayed and asked God to show compassion on them.

God spared them and their families and even their friends

And said he’d bless them and lead them to a choice land.

 

Ether 2

They gathered provisions, God led them in a cloud.

Step by step he would show them where to go and how.

He would lead their fam’lies to a land of promise

Where, if they would serve God, they always would be blessed.

But if the people fell into iniquity

They would be swept off; that’s His eternal decree.

This promise applies still, the people will be free—

As long as they serve the Lord—from captivity.

All of Jared’s people were led to the seashore

Where they pitched their tents and would dwell for four years more.

Jared’s brother must not have prayed much for a time.

For three hours the Lord chastised him for being blind.

When he had repented the Lord told him to go

And build eight barges in the way that He would show.

These barges were so tight that they were like a dish

But there were some problems he felt that God had missed,

“How will we have light, Lord?  How will we breathe or steer?”

God gave him a solution so that they’d have air.

When his request for a source of light was renewed

God asked him in return, “What would you have me do?”

 

Ether 3

So the prophet came up with a plan of his own.

He asked God if he would touch sixteen clear, white stones.

Jared’s brother had molten them all out of rock

What would happen next gave this prophet quite a shock.

When he saw that the Lord’s finger was like a man’s

He was shocked!  It took him some time to understand.

“It is thanks to your faith that my finger you’ve seen.”

“Show yourself to me, Lord,” was then the prophet’s plea.

He would then be the first man to see Jesus Christ.

“In me,” said the Savior, “Men have eternal life.”

Though he didn’t have a physical body yet

His spirit looked just how he would look in the flesh.

Jesus ministered to him and gave this command,

“Write about my visit but show it to no man.

“After I have come I’ll make sure that what you write

“Will be shown to all mankind in my own due time.”

 

Ether 4

When would these things come forth?  What did the Savior mean?

Jesus said when Gentiles repent and become clean.

But if they contend against and deny God’s word

They will not be shown greater things; they’ll be accursed.

“If you will believe this you’ll come to know it’s true

“You will know because I’ll send my Spirit to you.

“All that persuades men to do good is of the Lord.

“Good, after all, comes only from me: your Savior.

“Come to me,” Jesus then says to men of our time

“Rend the veil of unbelief that makes your mind blind.

“If your heart is broken and your spirit’s contrite

“You will understand what my servant John will write.

“When you get this record you’ll know the time has come

“For the Father’s work to begin for everyone.

“Repent.  Believe in me.  Be baptized in my name.

“Signs will follow you if you do and you’ll be saved.”

 

Ether 5

In this chapter Moroni says he has foreseen

That the plates would be shown by God’s power to three.

They would testify of The Book of Mormon’s truth.

Their words have been written to strengthen me and you.

  

 

© 2020 by N. Noelle Maes