Ether 4

Ether 4:1

1 And the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should show himself unto his people.

Ether 4:2

2 And after Christ truly had showed himself unto his people he commanded that they should be made manifest.

These two verses are essentially a repetition of the information from Ether 3:21. In that verse, this instruction is given by the Lord in the context of the meeting with the brother of Jared. Now we have a repetition of the information in a new context, which is Moroni’s description of the event rather than his repetition of the words of the Savior. Textually, this repetition comes because it is now Moroni discussing the information. These verses serve as the transition from what Moroni was taking from his sources and another of Moroni’s asides. In this case, the aside is triggered by the fact that it is Moroni who is the agent fulfilling the promise that the information should come forth after Christ had appeared in the flesh.

Ether 4:3

3 And now, after that, they have all dwindled in unbelief; and there is none save it be the Lamanites, and they have rejected the gospel of Christ; therefore I am commanded that I should hide them up again in the earth.

[and now, after that]: After the Savior has “showed himself unto his people” (verse 2). Moroni takes this as a reference to the visitation of the Savior to the New World, not the Old World. This personalization of the commandment and the timing allows Moroni to reflect on what has become of his people since the Savior had appeared to them, and what has happened is that they “have all dwindled in unbelief.”

[therefore I am commanded that I should hide them up again in the earth]: The beginning point of this statement is that information from the brother of Jared was hidden up for the right time. Now, the unbelief of the people around Moroni requires that he too hide up sacred things until the right time. Moroni is seeing a parallel between his record and that of the brother of Jared. This parallel is certainly assisted by the information on the unreadability of the record without the interpreters, which interpreters Moroni by now understands that he will be hiding up for that same future purpose in connection with his father’s work.

Ether 4:4

4 Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared.

Narrative: From this point to the beginning of our chapter 6, we leave the record of Ether and Moroni discusses the future of the record that Moroni is writing. This is the same type of incursion this material made when Moroni was finishing his father’s record in Mormon 9. Although the evidence comes in the context of other records, we can tell quite a bit about Moroni from these insertions. Moroni had a very strong and clear vision of the future of the record that he was entrusting to the safekeeping of the earth. His father may have originally conceived and written it, but to Moroni is given the charge of transmitting the record. In communication with the Lord, Moroni learns of his role in both giving the record to the earth, and in bringing it out of the earth again. He has had a vision of the world into which the record will come, and very specifically of the person to whom he will give it.

Because of his revelatory experiences about the future, combined with the absolute understanding that he is alone in the world, Moroni’s interests are focused on the future. Therefore he discusses the coming forth of the work in Mormon 9 and he begins at this point to address the future rather than the task of abridging the record of Ether.

Ether 4:5

5 Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord.

Ether 4:6

6 For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.

This is Moroni’s essential task. While he is alive, he is “commanded… to write” and then hide up the record. Moroni declares that he has done that which was commanded of him. He has written, and he has sealed up the record of the brother of Jared, along with the interpreters that will be required for its interpretation.

The essential part of this particular insertion, however, comes with the information in verse 6; that “they shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent…” Moroni’s future-focus returns to the forefront of his writing, and hijacks his writing. Moroni shifts from discussing the events of the past to lecturing the people of the future. The discourse appears as the words of the Lord. Since Moroni surely did not take dictation when the Lord spoke these things to him, we are getting Moroni’s retelling of a personal experience. That experience looks to the future. Since it came from the Lord, Moroni associates his vision with the vision of the brother of Jared, and that allows the experience to become relevant as Moroni tells the story from the plates of Ether.

Ether 4:7

7 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.

[in that day]: This will be after the Gentiles repent, as noted in the previous verse. It is also during the time when the record comes forth. Therefore, this statement is directed to the time during and after the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

[then will I manifest unto them]: The Lord promises that faith will continue to be effective. Just as faith allowed the brother of Jared to see visions of the purposes of God (in addition to the person of God) so too will the saints in our day be able to receive these visions of the kingdom. Indeed, the process of the restoration of the church and the great doctrines of the kingdom that were revealed through Joseph Smith stand as a direct witness to the fulfilling of much of this promise. Even though Joseph Smith fulfilled it, we should not consider it completed. The promise is that faith will continue to be effective in communicating with God. Even though great things have been revealed, the promise is that the Lord stands ready to yet reveal more that we shall need, in the day that we shall need it. It is predicated upon our faith, like unto the brother of Jared.

Ether 4:8

8 And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh.

Virtually all revelation form the Lord comes as both blessing and cursing. We are blessed to have the revelations if we receive them. However, if we “contend against the word,” we will be cursed for that effort. This particular promise of the duality of blessing and cursing is punctuated by the authority of the pronouncer. We have at this point the declaration that this promise comes directly through Jesus Christ. This is not Moroni’s promise. It is the Lord’s.

Ether 4:9

9 And at my command the heavens are opened and are shut; and at my word the earth shall shake; and at my command the inhabitants thereof shall pass away, even so as by fire.

Ether 4:10

10 And he that believeth not my words believeth not my disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day.

This Lord who is speaking of his words emphasizes his deeds. The words may be written by men, but it is the Lord who can open and shut the heavens, or cause the earth to shake, who has given those words. We are to understand them as just as much a part of the will of the Lord as when the Lord controls the elements of the world.

Ether 4:11

11 But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good.

After the clarification of the cursing that will come to those who do not accept the Lord’s words, he gives the blessing that will surely come to those who do accept them. To the believer, “him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit.”

The problem of mankind facing the fact of the Book of Mormon has always been whether to accept it as the word of God or the word of man. The Lord understands that problem, and he tells us the way to know the difference. He does not say that we will know the truth of it because of the wonderful archaeological evidence that will be amassed to support it. He does not say that we will know it is true because commentaries such as this one will attempt to show how the text fits into a known place and time. He does not say that we shall know that it is true for any reason that comes from men, but rather :because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are ture; for it persuadeth men to do good.”

Ether 4:12

12 And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.

This is a restatement of the New Testament principle of the fruit of the tree.

Matthew 7:15-20

15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The problem of what to believe is always with us. We always have a choice not to believe, and frequently that choice not to believe is much easier than believing. How do we know? The only sure measure the Lord has given us is the test of the harvest: “every good tree bringeth froth good fruit” (Matthew 7:17): “whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of men.” (Ether 4:12).

Ether 4:13

13 Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.

Ether 4:14

14 Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.

The events of the last days concern two groups of people, the Gentiles and the House of Israel. The Lord addresses both directly, and invites them to come to him. If they come, believing, the power of that faith will be effective in opening to them “the greater things.”

Ether 4:15

15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.

Although the address begins to the Gentiles, the most fervent and extended address is to the House of Israel. This is completely understandable as it was to the House of Israel that Jesus went in his mortal ministry. Here the resurrected Lord pleads with those of Israel who were unable to believe. He pleads that they will shake off their unbelief and through acceptance of their true Messiah be restored in all of the covenants prepared for them.

Ether 4:16

16 And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed.

Ether 4:17

17 Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land.

[my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John]: The book of Revelation. These events are all part of the last days, and multiple signs of the ending of times will be given so that the faithful may prepare. Even more, the signs will confirm the truth of what was written.

Ether 4:18

18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.

This is ever the message of the gospel. Regardless of the admonitions about blessings and cursings, here is the gospel pure and simple. Repent and be baptized. This is the essential aspect of what the gospel means to us. Of course it is not nearly so simple as it appears. The process of true repentance requires change, and change at deep levels of our soul is difficult. The event of baptism is quite simple, and over in seconds. The covenant of the life to be lived by one who is baptized is a permanent commitment. The gospel is simple in essence, and deeply transforming to truly live.

Ether 4:19

19 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen.

The ultimate blessing is that at the end of the days, those who have faith will be “lifted up to dwell in the kingdom.”

Textual: This is the end of the first chapter of Ether in the 1830 edition. Even though the next chapter will also speak to the future, it will be Moroni, and not the Lord. Moroni recognized the finality of an “Amen” in the mouth of the Savior, and allows the Savior’s sealing statement to close this part of the earthly record.