Ether 5

Ether 5:1

1 And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God.

This short chapter consists entirely of an address from Moroni to Joseph Smith. Moroni had similarly addressed Joseph Smith in Mormon 8:16. Clearly Moroni had a vision of the man who would be the instrument of bringing forth the Book of Mormon, and so he writes to that man as though they were able to have a face to face conversation.

[according to my memory]: This is a fascinating phrase, for it opens the possibility that the entirety of the book of Ether is reproduced from memory rather than from consulting a text. With this explanation, the inconsistencies in the king-list descriptions of “son of” verses “descendant of” with the later text may be more easily understood as artifacts of Moroni’s memory, which would not have had as precise a need to recollect the precise king-lists and chronologies.

[I have told you the things which I have sealed up]: The reference is to Ether 4:5 where the Lord has commanded Moroni to write Jared’s vision, but to seal it up. Moroni declares that he has done so, and that it is apparently on the plates before Joseph. Nevertheless, Moroni tells Joseph Smith to “touch them not in order that ye may translate.” These things that were sealed were to remain sealed, and Joseph Smith was not to try to read them. The reason that Joseph had to be instructed not to read them is that the “unsealing” required the translators, and Joseph had the translators.

The Sealed Portion of the Plates: It is well-known that a portion of the plates of the Book of Mormon were sealed. It is quite popular to assume that they were physically sealed so that they might not be penetrated. Most artists depictions of the plates show such a physical seal around several of the plates. There is absolutely no internal indication that there was such a physical sealing. Indeed, the internal evidence points to the fact that the entire text is “sealed,” as Moroni explicitly states in the Title Page: “Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord.”

When Moroni specifically mentions a portion that is to remain sealed, he must tell Joseph not to translate it, for it was apparently available just as any other page. This spiritual sealing rather than a physical sealing can help us understand why there was such a wide divergence of opinion about the sealed portion among the early brethren:

“Moroni wrote his account of the vision of the brother of Jared on the plates of Mormon, but he was commanded by the Lord to "seal up" this account. (Ether 4:4-5.) Joseph Smith was commanded not to translate this sealed portion. It is not absolutely clear what portion of the plates of Mormon was sealed. Joseph Smith simply said: "The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed." (History of the Church, 4:537.) George Q. Cannon said that "about one-third" was sealed (Young Peoples' History of Joseph Smith, p. 25), whereas Orson Pratt maintained that the sealed portion comprised "about two-thirds" of the plates. (Journal of Discourses, 3:347.) Neither of these two brethren indicate where they obtained their information.” (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976], 320.)

So we have Joseph Smith simply stating that a portion was sealed, and then we have other respected brethren giving the rather wide range of one-third to two-thirds. The conception of any amount of physically sealed plates has led to some interesting questions:

“In the testimonies of the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses there is no mention that any part was sealed. The … table illustrates that the Prophet Joseph Smith, President Cannon, and Elder Pratt each said the volume was six inches in thickness. They mentioned also that a part was sealed. Brother Whitmer made no mention of the thickness of the volume, nor did he mention a sealed part, whereas Martin Harris gave the thickness of the volume to be four inches (considerably less than that given by the others) but did not mention any sealed portion. Thus, whenever a sealed portion was mentioned, the volume was consistently spoken of as being six inches. If the entire volume (sealed and unsealed) equaled six inches, and if one-third of it was sealed, then the unsealed part would equal the four inches spoken of by Martin Harris. This may account for the different descriptions. The fact that Brothers Harris and Whitmer were eyewitnesses and had handled the plates might suggest that they were describing only the unsealed portion that the Prophet had translated.

Is it possible that the unsealed portion was sometimes detached from the sealed portion during the time Joseph Smith was translating? Such a procedure would make for ease in handling, since the plates were relatively heavy and would be cumbersome. While working with the translation and moving the plates, it would be a convenience to handle only the part to be translated. Since neither Brother Harris nor Brother Whitmer mentioned anything about a sealed portion, it may be that they were describing only the plates that were used in the translation of the Book of Mormon and which did not include the sealed portion.

That the Three Witnesses may have viewed only the unsealed portion of the plates is suggested by a number of factors: first, by their individual expressions already quoted; second, from the report that an angel came and showed them the plates and "turned over the leaves one by one," which would not be the case with the sealed plates; and third, from a voice that spoke to the witnesses at the time saying: "These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear.” (Robert J. Matthews, Selected Writings of Robert J. Matthews: Gospel Scholars Series [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1999], 339.)

This fascinating requirement for a removable sealed portion is hypothesized out of two types of “evidence.” The first is the assumption that the sealing had to be physical, and the second is that Martin Harris’ indication of four inches must be accurate and therefore distinguished from the six inches in the other accounts. Both of these are very shaky premises. Again we must note that there is absolutely no indication that the sealing is physical. Secondly, visual estimates of thickness are notoriously poor, and a range from four to six inches can just as easily indicate a difference in visual estimation or in measured memory.

More telling, however, is that there is no mention of a physical sealing when the witness saw the plates. Indeed, no witness to the physical plates ever indicated a physically sealed portion. This concept of a physical barrier around part of the plates appears to have worked its way into the folk consciousness of the LDS tradition, and is now firmly rooted there. However, it should be uprooted. Moroni tells us that the sealing is spiritual, and one that could be broken through the use of the interpreters.

Ether 5:2

2 And behold, ye may be privileged that ye may show the plates unto those who shall assist to bring forth this work;

Moroni has been telling Joseph Smith that he is handling very sacred objects, and there are parts of the record that is even forbidden to him. However, he will be permitted to show the plates to others. Moroni’s future vision certainly included the need for the witnesses to the work, and he provides that information here.

Ether 5:3

3 And unto three shall they be shown by the power of God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are true.

Ether 5:4

4 And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record—and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day.

Why three witnesses? Why not one? Why not two?

The reference to witnesses comes from Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 17:6

6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

The witnesses in Deuteronomy are for a very serious accusation. The witnesses stand between an accused and death, and such a serious accusation required more than a single witness to establish the guilt and impose such a final penalty. In the case of the coming forth of God’s work, the law of witnesses is again appropriate. However, while two is the minimum, three is better, as it implies an even wider establishment of truth. Thus Moroni mentions three so that the law of witnesses will have full measure. The three come from the scriptural passage, and are the “full set” of witnesses, the most sure witness of an important action.

Of course there are later to be eight more called. Does this violate Moroni’s indication that three would be called? It is certainly more than the three, but Moroni is fulfilling a scriptural expectation, and doing so by having the largest scripturally mentioned number. Therefore we see Moroni willing to have witnesses to the fullest extent possible, in at least this scriptural context. In the actual context, clearly permission was given for more, and that only amplifies Moroni’s intent to provide sufficient witness.

Ether 5:5

5 And if it so be that they repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus, they shall be received into the kingdom of God.

Those who are witnesses to the work have a special blessing in being selected for this task. However, they are still under the same requirements as all others of the Father’s children. They must “repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus.” If they meet this condition, as must all who would enter the kingdom of God, then they too may enter.

Ether 5:6

6 And now, if I have no authority for these things, judge ye; for ye shall know that I have authority when ye shall see me, and we shall stand before God at the last day. Amen.

Moroni has made promises to Joseph Smith, and is doing so on behalf of God. His authority to speak for God is therefore a legitimate question. While Moroni cannot prove his authority, he does declare it.

Textual: This ends the second chapter in the 1830 edition of Ether.