Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 46

Introduction

After arriving in the promised land, the Jaredites began to “multiply … and wax strong in the land” (Ether 6:18). When Jared and his brother died, a king was appointed to lead the people (Ether 6:21–30). Ether 7–11 records the succession of righteous and wicked kings, the rise of secret combinations among the people, and the teachings of prophets who were called to preach repentance to the Jaredites. Ether 12 begins the account of the teachings of Ether, who was one of those prophets

Moroni explains the importance of faith

Read Ether 12:3-4

• How did Ether describe those who believe in God?
• How can faith and hope be an anchor for us?

Read Ether 12:5

• Why did the people not believe Ether?  “We can’t have faith because we can’t see it.”  An appropriate response might be, “You can’t have faith IF you see it!”
• How have you been blessed as you have exercised faith and followed counsel when you couldn’t “see” the reason for the counsel?

Prophets define faith

Prepare to answer the following questions as we read the following scriptures: Ether 12:6; Hebrews 11:1; Alma 32:21

• What is faith?  How is it different from hope or belief?
• What does it mean that we “receive no witness until after the trial of [our] faith”?

The Bible Dictionary explains:

To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone. The Lord has revealed himself and his perfect character, possessing in their fulness all the attributes of love, knowledge, justice, mercy, unchangeableness, power, and every other needful thing, so as to enable the mind of man to place confidence in him without reservation.

Read D&C 58:2-4.  How have trials and affliction strengthened your faith?

How faith is developed

The Bible Dictionary further explains:

Faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith (Rom. 10: 14-17). …

[F]aith comes by righteousness…

Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree. The effects of true faith in Jesus Christ include:

1.      an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is acceptable to the Lord (see Heb. 11: 4);

2.      a reception of the blessings of the Lord that are available to man in this life; and

3.      an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come.

What are some blessings you have received as a result of your faith?

The Lord teaches Moroni that He gives us weakness that we may be humble

What is the theme of Alma 32?  Be humble so that you can have faith.  Ether 12 also addresses the twin themes of humility and faith.

Read Ether 12:23-25.  What was Moroni worried about?  That his writings would not have the desired effect because of his personal weaknesses.  How can we share Moroni’s concern in our efforts in our lives?

How did the Lord respond to this concern?  Read verse 26.

• How can meekness bless us as we read the scriptures?  As we participate in the gospel in other ways?
• How do we develop meekness?

Discovering our weaknesses

Imagine you have the most important meeting in your life coming up, and you really want to make a good impression.  Unknown to you, you have a few personal … issues.  The onion rings you had for dinner last night are still plainly evident on your breath.  There is a big rip in the back of your pants.  And when you are nervous you have an annoying habit of saying “Don’cha know?” at the end of every sentence.

How is this meeting going to go?  Could the disaster be avoided?  Discuss briefly the JoHari Window.  Some day we will all have the most important meeting of eternity as we are brought to God to be judged of our works.  How big do you want that blind spot to be on that day?  How can we reduce its size now?

Read Ether 12:27.  I believe this is one of the greatest verses in the Book of Mormon because of its application in our lives today.

1. If we come to God, he will show us what is in our blind spots.
2. Knowing what is in our blind spot helps us be humble.
3. God will help us convert these weaknesses into a strength.  (He provides the breath mints, mends the rip, and helps us not say “Don’cha know?”)
4. I believe that this humility is important for us so that we don’t start thinking too much of ourselves when God starts helping us discover our limitless potential that right now is unknown to us – the great things in our blind spots!  What would happen if we only saw the good and not the weaknesses in ourselves?

What weaknesses do you have?  How do you feel about them?  What are you doing to overcome these weaknesses?  Have you overcome a weakness that you can appropriately share?

Read Ether 12:41.  How can we “seek Jesus” today?  Why do we need the grace of God and Jesus Christ?

Moroni teaches about the promised land

Read Ether 13:10-11.  What similarities exist between those who dwell in the old and new Jerusalems?

• “Blessed are they…”
• They have been washed in the blood of the lamb.  What does that mean?
• Receive the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant.

Jaredites are destroyed

In three cataclysmic chapters, the Jaredite nation was destroyed, exactly as Ether had prophesied.  In case we miss the patters taught throughout the Book of Mormon, the Lord provides a super-condensed summary in the 15 chapters of Ether.  God blesses his children when they are righteous, and they are punished when they are wicked.

Conclusion

The entry on Faith in the Bible Dictionary includes this important teaching.  “Faith is a principle of action and of power…by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God.”  As we use our faith, it can become and increasingly strong force for good in our lives.  God will reveal our weaknesses to us and change them into strengths.