Ether 6-11

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LESSON #1 TOWARDS THE PROMISED LAND (ETHER 6)

OBJECT

An Atlas, or a Map

ICEBREAKER

Then for an icebreaker, I would hold up the map and ask:

What is the best road trip or journey you’ve ever taken? And then let them share their answer to that question with the class or with a partner. One of my most memorable road trips happened when I was a young teenager and our family decided to drive across the United States, stopping at all the various Church History sites and then, once in the East, we also visited a number of sites associated with early American History in Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. That was a very foundational experience for me. It grew my testimony and deepened my respect and love for my country. It was a perspective changing journey.

The scriptures have a number of “journey stories” portrayed in them where you have a group of people covering a long distance traveling from one place to another.  Can you name any of these journeys?

Well, you have Noah and his family in the ark. That was a journey.

The children of Israel being led by Moses out of Egypt and through the wilderness is another one.

Paul’s missionary journeys in the Book of Acts.

In the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History we have the journey of Zion’s Camp, and the pioneers’ crossing of the American West to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.

In the Book of Mormon this year, we read about Lehi and his family traveling to the new world.

And, here in the Book of Ether, the journey of the Jaredites to the promised land.

Whenever we encounter a journey in the scriptures, we’re being invited to draw comparisons between their journey and our own personal journey of mortality. And that’s what we’re going to do here today. With the Jaredites, we can compare their crossing of the ocean to the promised land to our crossing of the ocean of life to hopefully, exaltation in God’s presence. Our promised land is the Celestial Kingdom. We touched on this idea a little bit last week when we spoke about God making our vessels “tight like unto a dish” and preparing us for the mountain waves and storms of life. This week, we’re going to continue on that theme since Ether chapter 6 actually describes the crossing of the ocean.

SEARCH-HANDOUT (STUDY GUIDE)

And what I would want my students to do is read the entire description of their journey with that principle in mind.  What does it teach us about life? What truths can we garner from their experience? One way to approach that study is with the following study guide handout that I’ve put together. It invites them to read Ether 6:1-12 and answer various textual and “Likening the Scriptures” type questions. I’ve tried to create a good balance between search questions that focus on the text and questions that will help them to apply the scriptures. I would give them about 10-15 minutes of personal study time to go through the guide, to prepare themselves to discuss their answers and the truths they’ve found as a class. And I’ll go ahead and walk you through these questions now.

1.     Which of the following statements is NOT true about the shining stones the Lord touched with his finger?

A.   The stones gave light continuously to the people.

B.    When the people forgot to pray, the light of the stones would dim.

C.    Because of the stones, the Jaredites did not have to cross the ocean in darkness.

D.   Each barge had TWO stones placed in them.

Well the answer to that question would be B. There’s no description of the light ever going dim on their journey. All of the other things are described, specifically in verses 2, 3, and 10. They did have continuous light, they didn’t have to cross in darkness, and there was one stone placed in each end of all the barges.

2.     In the scriptures, light is often a symbol for truth and heavenly guidance. What are some of the “glowing stones” God has given us for our journey? Name as many as you can.

This is more of a “likening the scriptures” type question. God did not let the Jaredites travel in darkness and he does the same for us. What are some of God’s sources of light on our journey? Our glowing stones? The scriptures describe a myriad of these sources. The prophets provide light. Remember Nephi and Lehi in prison, and the 12 Nephite apostles, how their faces shined and cut through the darkness. The scriptures provide light. David compares the scriptures to a lamp unto his feet, in Psalm 119:105. Alma taught that our souls can be “illuminated by the light of the everlasting word” (Alma 5:7) The Holy Ghost provides light. In the scriptures the Holy Ghost is frequently symbolized by fire (3 Nephi 12:1). We sing, “The Spirit of God, like a fire is burning.”  Following the righteous example of others provides us with light. Christ taught that we should. “Let our light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven (3 Nephi 12:16). Local church leaders provide us with light. Our patriarchal blessings provide us with light. And perhaps most importantly. Jesus is our light. He said, “I am the light and the life of the world” (3 Nephi 9:18) as the Nephites sat in the darkness following the great destruction.  There are so many examples of light provided us for our journey. We need not cross this "great deep" of life in darkness as long as we’re willing to turn to these sources of light.

Question #3 is a “Taking it to Heart” kind of question then.

3.     Describe a time when one of those “glowing stones” gave you light (guidance or help).

That question hopefully prompts your students to think of ways the Lord has provided THEM with light.

4.     What principle of the gospel best matches this phrase found at the end of verse 4: “and set forth into the sea, commending (trusting) themselves unto the Lord their God”? 

A.    Faith

B.    Repentance

C.     Baptism

D.    Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost

E.     Enduring to the end

I suppose there’s really not a right or wrong answer to this question. You could possibly compare any of these answers to that verse. But one of them, to me, does stand out and relates best to that phrase. And it’s “A”, faith.  Now, can you imagine setting off into the unknown like that? Like the Jaredites do here? No sails, no steering mechanism. Just jumping aboard these floating barges into the open sea and putting it into God’s hands. Now that’s faith right there. “We’re just going to trust you here God.” And you know, sometimes that’s how we have to travel through life too. I don’t know about you, but I like to know the end from the beginning. When I plan a vacation or a backpacking trip, I map it out, download coordinates, decide how many miles I’m going to go each day, and calculate the time needed and the supplies to pack. But with life, that’s not really how God always works. He often gives us direction and knowledge as we go. “Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10). And sometimes we have to shove off from the shore, not knowing exactly what’s going to happen. Maybe you’re familiar with the following story from Elder Boyd K. Packer who was facing a certain dilemma after being called as a general authority. He shares the following story:

“Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.

“I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.’

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Edge of the Light,” BYU Magazine, Mar. 1991, magazine.byu.edu.

Sometimes, like Elder Packer, and the Jaredites, we’ve got to take those difficult steps into the darkness or shove off from the safety of the shore. But that’s faith. That’s commending ourselves unto the Lord. So that leads us to our next question:

5.     Can you think of a time when you “commended yourself unto the Lord”? A time when you acted upon God’s counsel without knowing what the outcome would be? What happened?

6.     Which statement is NOT true about the wind that blew on their journey?

A.    It blew them towards the promised land.

B.    It was a furious, fierce, great, terrible, and tempestuous wind.

C.     At times, the wind would cease, and the ocean would be peaceful.

D.    It created mountain waves that buried them in the water.

Well statement A is found in verse 5. And statement B and D in verses 5 and 6. But there is no description of the wind ceasing. In fact, verse 8 tells us that the wind “never did cease to blow towards the promised land”.

And the wind here is a fascinating symbol. I want my students to ponder that one. So question 7:

7.     What do you feel are some of the “furious winds” that blow in our lives?

To me, the “furious winds” are a symbol for adversity, challenges, trials, tragedies, opposition in all things.

Maybe you’ve felt that furious wind of adversity in your life. And I’m not always so sure that we assign that wind as always coming directly from God. Sometimes adversity comes because of our own decisions, or because of the decisions and agency of others, or just the natural conditions of a fallen world. Perhaps that’s what could be symbolized by the furious wind. It’s the furious wind of mortality. Have you felt that wind? I’m sure you have. But couple that thought with the word “towards”.  What does that teach us? It teaches me that our adversities and trials are the very things that move us forward. Those are the things that are going to most help us down the path to becoming like our Heavenly Father. The wind is at our back, not blowing in our faces, although we may wonder at times. Just look at early Church History for an example of this principle. Joseph and the early Saints experienced incredibly furious winds throughout the Restoration, but those very winds pushed the Church forward and made it stronger and greater. Adversity can create strength, conviction, experience, and an increased trust in God. A quick qualification here though. I know that the idea that all trials and tragedies of life are sent purposefully by God just to make us stronger and move us forward could be an offensive idea to some depending on what it is they’ve experienced. You know, people might tell them, "God allowed that to happen to you so you can be stronger”. I’m not so sure that’s always the case. Sometimes, I admit, that certain calamities, usually those that come at the hands of individuals using their agency for evil, are just that, tragic and devastating experiences. Unfair. Not intended by God. In those cases, I believe that He mourns with us, weeps with us, is there to comfort us, and in the end promises justice and healing.

8.     Describe a time when one of these “furious winds” moved you closer to your promised land ( A time when you felt one of the things you wrote in the last question helped you to progress and develop as a person).

I’m sure that we could probably all think of some challenge or trial that, in hindsight, strengthened us, gave us experience, or worked for our good in some way.

9.     Which of the following things did the people do while on their journey?

A.   They cried unto the Lord (prayed).

B.    They sang.

C.    They praised.

D.   They thanked.

E.    All of the above

The answer is of course E. All of the above. These are all great things that we can do on our journey of mortality that can help us to find joy in the experience and endure to the end. We can call out to God in prayer for help when we find ourselves “encompassed about by many waters”.  We can praise our Heavenly Father and thank Him for the opportunity to experience life, even with all its ugly and uncomfortable parts. Gratitude is a key element to making our journey more than just a “endure to the bitter end, slog through” difficulty. I think it’s possible to learn to be grateful for the journey itself. I love this quote from Jenkin Lloyd Jones and shared by President Gordon B. Hinckley. He said:

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just ordinary people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. . . .Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” (Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley, BYU Speeches, September 25, 1973) And don’t you love that. It’s a comforting thought in an unusual way. Even though it sounds strange, sometimes the best thing we can do is to lower our expectations while at the same time increasing our level of gratitude. “Love what is” has become a guiding principle in my life and has helped me travel through it less discouraged, and I feel, much happier. One of my favorite conference talks of all time which illustrates this realistic yet grateful way of traveling through life was Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin’s final talk that he ever gave in General Conference in October of 2008. It’s entitled, “Come What may, and Love It”. I highly recommend it and will provide a link to it above and in the video description below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WLkzGxCZPE

Question 10, then, encourages your students to think how those things have played a role in their lives.

10.  Have any of those things helped you on your journey of mortality? If so, describe how.

11.  As the Jaredites travelled, what did the Lord do for them? Mark all that apply.

A.    He didn’t allow the water to get into their barges and sink them

B.    He protected them from sea creatures

C.     He offered them many “tender mercies” on their journey

D.    He had birds bring food to them

E.     He allowed them to be buried under the water by the waves

And the answer to this question is all of them except D. A is found in verse 7. B in verse 10. C in verse 12, and E also in verse 7. But as far as I know, birds did not bring them food. The next question builds on this and asks:

12.  Have you ever felt like God did any of the things you marked above for you?

Last week we talked about God’s tendency to prepare us for the storms of our lives rather than calm them. He’s made us waterproof, inasmuch as we are willing to follow his instructions and cry unto him for help.  Also, the monsters and the whales of life are real, and they do their darnedest to break and mar us. But those that trust in God will continue to be driven forth, in continual light to their promised destination. It’s nice to know, though, that not only do we have a God who is interested in strengthening us, challenging us, and driving us forward by the power of his furious winds, but he is also a God of “tender mercies”. I love that phrase. It’s so loving, so personal, and so sweet. I’m sure, that as we look back at our journey over the “great deep” of mortality, that we will see the hand of the Lord in all of our circumstances. Good and bad, difficult and easy, discouraging and joyful. And we will recognize the multitude of his tender mercies over us. It’s not all about the furious winds of challenge and difficulty and testing. Life is not just meant to be doom and gloom. He also offers tender mercies. The beautiful moments in life. The joys, the forgiveness, the beauty, the love, the light. I hope that we can relate to those things as well. Life is full of both. Despite the waves and the monsters that we are bound to encounter in our lives, I believe that God will provide us many, many tender mercies throughout our lives.

VIDEO

If you wished to take some time to focus on that beautiful phrase a little bit more. There is a short video produced by the Church based on talk given by Elder Bednar in General Conference of April 2005 that was entirely focused on that one phrase. It’s entitled, consequently,  “The Tender Mercies of the Lord”

As they watch, encourage your students to write down on their sheet as many different examples of “tender mercies” as possible that are mentioned by Elder Bednar.

(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2010-03-05-the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord?lang=eng)

Our final question then is:

13.  How long did it take the Jaredites to get to the promised land?

A.    5 weeks

B.    8 months

C.     Almost an entire year

D.    Ten years

The answer is found in verse 11 where we learn it took them 344 days. So the answer is C, almost an entire year. And when you think about it. That’s a long time to be on the ocean. This was no short journey. I love a cruise as much as the next guy, but would you want to be on one for a year? And THIS wasn’t a pleasure cruise. They were in barges, with animals, and people, in cramped quarters, with storms, and waves, and only a few holes in the roof for light and air. But just imagine what it must felt like for those people when it all came to an end. Eventually, they felt the bottom of their barges bump into terra firma. The hatches came open, and with wide open and wondering eyes, they beheld the beautiful, lush, bountiful, promised land. They made it! Verse 12 says it all.

12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies

over them.

THE TAKEAWAY

I don’t believe there’s really a need to have a separate section highlighting Truths, Taking it to Hearts, or I Will Go and Dos because the handout basically guides them through each of these facets. But I would conclude with hope and testimony. I hope that we can put our trust in the all-knowing, all wise hands of the Lord, who DOES know the end from the beginning even when we do not. There will come a day for all of us when the hardships of our journey will come to a glorious end. It’s nice to know that there is an end to all suffering, and adversity, and pain. One of my favorite verses of all scripture, Revelation 21:4

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Whatever trial, whatever hardship, whatever mountain waves, whatever whales, whatever lifelong test we've faced, will one day come to an end. One day, our “tight like unto a dish” boats will also bump into the seashores of God’s kingdom, and we will open the hatches to the beautiful light and lushness of his reward to the faithful. But until that day, stay afloat, travel in the light, find joy and thanks in the journey, savoring the tender mercies, and trusting in the winds of God’s wisdom moving us ever closer to that glorious day.

LESSON #2 SUFFER THEM THAT THEY MAY HAVE A KING (ETHER 6-11)

ICEBREAKER

Another important principle I see in Ether chapter 6 comes from the final few verses. And I believe that what happens at the end of this chapter really sets the stage for what’s recorded in the rest of the entire book of Ether. But first, as an icebreaker, a little story. I don’t know about you, but I love the outdoors and visiting our National Parks. We’re spoiled here in Utah and have 5 different National Parks we can visit. I remember visiting Bryce Canyon one time and my little son noticed a sign that said, “Don’t feed the squirrels”.  And he asked why. What would you say to him? Because it’s a good question right? It seems like such a nice thing to do. They’re hungry. They’re really cute and all that cuteness deserves some kind of reward, right? They obviously want it and enjoy it. It makes it easier on them. Running around trying to gather up enough acorns to last through the long cold winter has got to be hard on those little guys. So why not do it? Why not give them what they want? What would you say?

Well the conventional wisdom is that if squirrels become dependent on people food, they will eventually lose their natural instinct to gather and forage for themselves. I mean, as long as people are there to give them food, they should be ok. But what happens when winter comes, when the crowds dissipate, and the easy supply disappears. In the long run, they may die.  I took a number of backpacking trips in my youth through Glacier National Park, which is bear country. Grizzly bear country. And a common phrase that you’ll hear in bear country is “A fed bear, is a dead bear”. When you feed bears, they begin to associate people with easy sources of food, and they may begin to approach campgrounds and communities more often.  And the more contact that bears have with people, the more potential for problems, attacks, and the necessity to dispatch of the bear for public safety.

So there we have two examples of situations where giving something what they want in the short-term may later end up hurting them badly in the long.

Well, after the Jaredites landed on the shores of the promised land, they began to multiply and build up their society. And they were righteous and good people. Then, picking up the story in verse 19:

19 And the brother of Jared began to be old, and saw that he must soon go down to the grave; wherefore he said unto Jared: Let us gather together our people that we may number them, that we may know of them that they will desire of us before we go down to our graves.

So, basically they say, let’s have a family council and ask if there is anything we can do for our people before we die. And perhaps they expected a request for a parting blessing or some fatherly counsel. They certainly weren’t prepared for the response.

SEARCH

So two questions here. What did the people ask for? And How did Jared and his brother feel about their request? Find the answers in Ether 6:22-23

What did they ask for? The people request that they appoint a king for them.

How did Jared and his brother feel about that request? This was grievous unto them. They were greatly concerned by this desire. The brother of Jared says, “Surely this thing leadeth into captivity”.

With his prophetic insight, the brother of Jared knew the dangers of monarchy. We studied this idea back in Mosiah 29 if you can recall. Mosiah observed there that righteous kings are an excellent form of government, but that the system has one fatal flaw. There is no guarantee that your kings will remain righteous, or that a new king will always follow in the righteous footsteps of his predecessor. He observed:

Mosiah 29:16-17

16 Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you.

17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!

The brother of Jared understood that dynamic and he warns the people of it. However, Jared then acquiesces to the demands of the people and says, “Suffer them that they may have a king”. Now maybe there’s more to the story than is recorded here. It looks like he gives in pretty quickly. But, to give him the benefit of the doubt, I imagine that the pressure and the insistence of the people became intense and demanding. Why else would Jared set aside the wisdom of his inspired brother?

These kinds of situations are among the most difficult for those in positions of leadership. When the desires of the people you lead run contrary to what you know, with your experience and wisdom, is advisable for them in the long run.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

With that introduction, let’s see if we can’t “Liken the Scriptures” unto ourselves here. Five discussion questions to consider.

•       As a leader/parent, have YOU ever felt the pressure to give in to an unwise desire?

•       Why are those decisions hard?

•       Why is giving in a problem?

•       How could not giving in be a problem?

•       What should we do in those situations?

Let’s tackle each of these question in turn.

•       Our first question: As a leader/parent, have YOU ever felt the pressure to give in to an unwise desire?

Do you understand this conflict? Can you relate? Have you ever felt that pressure before as a parent, or in a church calling, or in any position of leadership in your workplace or community? Perhaps a child requests unfiltered internet access on their phone, or permission to go to a questionable party or movie. Maybe a ward member asks if they can do something contrary to church policy. Perhaps somebody pleads with their bishop to overlook their unworthiness and still allow them to enter the temple. An employee might put pressure on a manager to disregard a practice of theirs that is of doubtful legality.

Why are those decisions hard?

Those decisions are hard because quite often we want to make people happy. Right? It feels good to please people and hear them speak positively about us. Most leaders don’t like to be viewed as authoritarian or strict. Or at the very least it’s more simple and less contentious to just give in, isn’t it? It’s easier to give our children what they want than to fight with them or make them upset with us. It’s easier to overlook policies and give those you lead their way than to hold them accountable to established standards.  In those cases, the adversary can even turn our compassion for others into a detriment. A parent may choose the immediate simplicity of children’s approval rather than bring stress to the relationship in the interest of long-term happiness.

In those situations, why is giving in a problem? Why not give them what they want?

Well let’s take a look at what happened with the Jaredites. All of the Brother of Jared’s sons refuse to take the kingship as well as almost all the sons of Jared himself. Perhaps they really respected the grievances and warnings of their fathers. But eventually one, Orihah accepts and becomes king. And how does that go? Ether 6:30

30 And it came to pass that Orihah did walk humbly before the Lord, and did remember how great things the Lord had done for his father, and also taught his people how great things the Lord had done for their fathers.

And 7:1

1 And it came to pass that Orihah did execute judgment upon the land in righteousness all his days, whose days were exceedingly many.

Then the kingship passes on to his son Kib who also seems to rule in righteousness. And what do you think the people might have said about that circumstance.  See! What was the brother of Jared so worried about? Things are fine. And oftentimes, in the short term, they are. However, when do things start to go south? It starts with Kib’s son, Corihor. Ether 7:4-5

4 And when Corihor was thirty and two years old he rebelled against his father, and went over and dwelt in the land of Nehor; and he begat sons and daughters, and they became exceedingly fair; wherefore Corihor drew away many people after him.

5 And when he had gathered together an army he came up unto the land of Moron where the king dwelt, and took him captive, which brought to pass the saying of the brother of Jared that they would be brought into captivity.

And from there on, almost the rest of the entire book of Ether, we see the brother of Jared’s prophecy and concern tragically confirmed. I usually don’t spend a lot of time on the history of these chapters, but I do like to read the chapter headings to help my students see the long-term results of this decision. We have the benefit of hindsight here, that they did not have. I used to wonder why Moroni spent so much time recounting the rise and fall of all the kings of the Jaredite nation. I’ll admit that some of the historical chapters in Ether are a little tedious without a ton of spiritual application. But maybe it was to emphasize this principle. To illustrate the disastrous results of giving in. Just take a look at some of the phrases in the chapter headings.

Ether 8

There is strife and contention over the kingdom—Akish forms an oath-bound secret combination to slay the king.

Ether 9

The kingdom passes from one to another by descent and intrigue and murder.

Ether 10

One king succeeds another—some of the kings are righteous; others are wicked

Ether 11

Wars, dissensions, and wickedness dominate Jaredite life

And then we’ll see by the end of the book of Ether that the rival kingdoms and political intrigue and contention will result in the complete obliteration of the entire society. The Jaredite nation implodes and destroys itself.

The brother of Jared was right. Surely this thing doth lead to captivity. Captivity to rival kings, captivity to Satan, captivity to death. In the short-term, things looked great, in the long, that one decision could be considered the catalyst to complete chaos and captivity. That one small decision had generational consequences.

I’ll give you a personal example of this dynamic. The first year I started teaching seminary, I wanted the kids to like me. That was a major concern. And things started out fine, but slowly they began to unravel. So, when they started to put pressure on me to disregard having a seating chart so they could sit by their friends, I gave in. When they started putting pressure on me to play more games and watch more movies. I gave in. When they started pushing back on my standards for reverence and speaking in turn, I didn’t confront them. What was the result? About halfway through the year, my classes were a mess. Not much learning was taking place, there was little respect, and the purposes of seminary that I had been hired to uphold were not being fulfilled. Now, at that point, I was almost forced to become confrontational and rigid and demanding in order to try to put my classroom back in order. Which kind of worked, but many of the students resented me for it and the positive and purposeful atmosphere that I wanted to have, was gone. I learned quickly that that approach just doesn’t work. Giving them what they wanted in the short term, led to major problems in the long run. So the next year, I changed. I learned to say no with a smile on my face. I learned to teach my students why I had the standards I did. I learned to tactfully, but unapologetically enforce my expectations for the class. What was the result? Maybe I made a few students unhappy in the short term, but overall, the majority of my students ended up respecting me and the seminary program and walked away from my classes, I believe, with a more meaningful experience.

But now let’s consider the flipside. These situations are never just black and white. As with most principles of the gospel, there’s a balance to be struck. How could not giving in be a problem? What if those you lead insist on having it their way? When does you holding your ground actually make things worse. When they are determined to rebel against you. And it is possible that this was the situation that Jared was in. We may not have all the details. I hate to call his leadership into question or fault him too much without knowing the full story. There is the principle of agency to be considered here. An outright refusal to give in could more likely precipitate a rebellion in those we lead. And then we lose that way too. I do believe that there are some instances where giving a hard “no” may not the best course of action either. It’s a really tough position to be in.

So, our last question then, considering what happened to the Jaredites, what should a leader do in these circumstances?

In some cases, they need to have courage. They need to have resolve. True leadership knows when to say no. And they need to learn HOW to say no, sweetfully, tactfully, and persuasively. In Doctrine and Covenants 121 where the Lord teaches Joseph Smith the principles of righteousness, or the principles of effective and appropriate priesthood leadership. Guess what the very first principle is? It’s persuasion.

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

A leader or parent needs to have the courage to say no, but to do their utmost to persuade those they lead to understand why. It’s not a “my way or the highway” kind of approach. They explain, they convince, they use all their powers of rhetoric and conviction to help those they lead understand their decision. Also seen in that verse, the resolve of true leadership is tempered by gentleness, and meekness, and love. If we’re only leading by courage and strength we run the risk of engendering bitterness and rebellion in those we lead. I believe that the qualities of strength and love, coupled, makes the best leaders.

I love this quote from President Joseph F. Smith.

"God forbid that there should be any of us so unwisely indulgent, so thoughtless and so shallow in our affection for our children that we dare not check them in a wayward course, in wrong-doing and in their foolish love for the things of the world more than for the things of righteousness, for fear of offending them.” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 286)

A story from the Old Testament, similar to this one, illustrates, I think, the other important principle to consider. What we do when we see those we lead insist on having it here way. The prophet Samuel was in this same situation in 1 Samuel 8. The children of Israel made the same request as the Jaredites. They say, “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations”.  The Lord’s response to this rebellion?

1 Samuel 8:9. He says, hearken unto their voice; howbeit, protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.  And in that, I see a few steps here we can follow if we ever find ourselves in this situation.

1. Respect their agency


2. Protest solemnly against their desire. Make it clear to them how opposed you are to their intentions.


3. Carefully explain the likely consequences of their decision. Samuel later does this and warns them that kings tax, and take, and exploit.


4. But then there is a fourth step. Samuel and the Lord don’t abandon the people. Rather, they do their utmost to carry on helping and guiding them. Samuel sticks with the people, he tries to call a humble and righteous king for them, and he continues to act as their prophet.


But, as predicted, like the Jaredites, the kings of Israel become a major problem for the people throughout the rest of their history, all the way until the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities.

So if those you lead insist on having it their way, at least here, we have an inspired pattern we can follow to help in those situations as well. But hopefully, they won’t take it to that point, and they will honor and respect our leadership.

TRUTH

There are times when leaders must be strong and courageous enough to resist the unwise desires of those they lead.

There are times when leaders must respect the agency of those they lead, but do all they can to oppose, warn, and help those they lead to make the best of their unwise actions.

TAKING IT TO HEART

Who is somebody you admire that you feel has the courage of true leadership? How did they demonstrate it?

How is Jesus an example of true leadership?

I WILL GO AND DO

Are there any situations you are currently in where you feel these principles might apply?

What do you plan to do about it?

THE TAKEAWAY

Leadership is never easy. Parenting is never easy. We are certain to find ourselves, at some point, in an Ether 6 type scenario. When that happens, those we lead need us to be courageous. We don’t have to be tyrants, and we don’t have to rule with an iron fist. But we do need to be bold and strong. We’ve got to consider the long-term consequences as they clamor for the pleasures of the short. But here’s the flip side of that principle. For the leader, your decision may make you unpopular in the short term, it may cause some conflict and even anger, but it will most likely produce respect and gratitude in the long run. Remember not to feed the squirrels, don’t feed the bears. We must keep the greater good in mind if we wish to demonstrate true leadership. May the Lord bless us with that wisdom and courage when those situations arise. On the other side of things, when we are the ones being lead. Don’t crown a king! Trust in the courage and wisdom of your wise leaders or at least be respectful of their decisions. We can suppress the desire to rebel because they won’t give us what we want right now. In the long run, we will most likely thank them for their fortitude in not giving in to the rashness of our own delusions.

LESSON #3 PRINCIPLE MATCH

ETHER 7-11

Well, for this particular block of scripture, those two lessons are where I would decide to spend the bulk of my time and I know, that’s mainly just chapter 6. Not that there aren’t valuable principles and truths in chapters 7-11, but to me, chapter 6 contains the most applicable and unique truths in this section. Chapters 7-11 are mainly historical in nature and, as I said earlier, serve as the exclamation point to the message at the end of chapter 6.  But that’s not to say that there aren’t principles and truths to be gleaned from these chapters. I would like to provide you with a brief activity that could help you as a teacher summarize some of the principles found in these chapters. It’s a simple principle matching activity. On one side I have the verses and on the other, possible truths taught by those verses. Have your students work in small groups or as individuals to find them.

HANDOUT ANSWER KEY

1. Ether 7:25-26/9:20-22 When we heed the words of the prophets, we will prosper. E


2. Ether 8:8-9 We should use our gifts and talents for good, not selfishness and power.  B


3. Ether 8:22-23 Don’t allow secret combinations to flourish in your society or they will prove your destruction. A


4. Ether 8:26 Putting away evil and seeking to do good continually will ultimately lead to salvation. D


5. Ether 9:28-30/11:1-2/11:12-13/11:20-22 The Lord always sends prophets to warn people of the consequences of wickedness.  C


1.Ether 7:25-26 And he did execute a law throughout all the land, which gave power unto the prophets that they should go whithersoever they would; and by this cause the people were brought unto repentance.

26 And because the people did repent of their iniquities and idolatries the Lord did spare them, and they began to prosper again in the land. And it came to pass that Shule begat sons and daughters in his old age.

And Ether 9:20-22

20 And thus the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land should possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for upon such, saith the Lord: I will pour out the fulness of my wrath.

21 And Emer did execute judgment in righteousness all his days, and he begat many sons and daughters; and he begat Coriantum, and he anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead.

22 And after he had anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead he lived four years, and he saw peace in the land; yea, and he even saw the Son of Righteousness, and did rejoice and glory in his day; and he died in peace.

The answer here is E. When we heed the words of the prophets, we will prosper. We can see from these two examples that when the people listen to the prophets, and repent, and respect their righteous leaders, their society flourishes. The Lord blesses them. The same is true with us individually. When we heed the words of the prophets, our lives will be better.

2.Ether 8:8-9

8 Now the daughter of Jared being exceedingly expert, and seeing the sorrows of her father, thought to devise a plan whereby she could redeem the kingdom unto her father.

9 Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And it came to pass that she did talk with her father, and said unto him: Whereby hath my father so much sorrow? Hath he not read the record which our fathers brought across the great deep? Behold, is there not an account concerning them of old, that they by their secret plans did obtain kingdoms and great glory?

This is how secret combinations are introduced into Jaredite society. You have this young woman, the daughter of Jared who has been blessed. She is exceedingly expert, which means she was very intelligent. And exceedingly fair, she was very beautiful. What did she use these gifts for? If you read the rest of the chapter you’ll see that she seduces and plots and devises a secret murder and inspires the creation of a secret combination among the people. The answer here is B. We should use our gifts and talents for good, not selfishness and power. All of us have been blessed with special talents, skills, and gifts from our Heavenly Father. Hopefully we will use them for good—to bless others and inspire righteousness, and not in the way the daughter of Jared does.  In a way, the daughter of Jared is a good analogy for modern media. Modern media is exceedingly expert in its methods and ability to grab our attention and influence us. Madison Avenue, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley, have each poured billions of dollars and countless hours into researching and discussing, and plotting ways to exploit our attention and views. They also make their messages and lifestyles look exceedingly fair, desirable, seductive. And why? Same things the daughter of Jared was after. Power and material gain. And all this does is perpetuate more contention, wickedness, misery, and destruction.

3.Ether 8:22-23

22 And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.

23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.

The answer here is A. Don’t allow secret combinations to flourish in your society or they will prove your destruction. We’ve already seen the destructive power of secret combinations in the Book of Mormon. Do we have secret combinations in our society? I’m afraid so. Organized crime, terrorism, gangs, false news sources, drug trafficking, industries that promote addictive behaviors such as pornography and tobacco use. And like I mentioned in the last question, in many ways, media. Unfortunately, secret combinations are alive and well in our world. And what does that say about the direction our society is heading?

4.Ether 8:26

26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.

The answer is D. Putting away evil and seeking to do good continually will ultimately lead to salvation. So, a hopeful verse here. Even though we can’t control the evils of society around us, we can control ourselves. And if we are righteous, we will be saved.

5.Ether 9:28-30/11:1-2/11:12-13/11:20-22. This is major theme of these chapters. That’s why there are so many references to point to. The answer is C. The Lord always sends prophets to warn people of the consequences of wickedness. God will never allow for the destruction of a people without first giving them ample warning. He sends prophets over and over again to the Jaredites to try and turn them from their wickedness. This is a demonstration of his great mercy and concern for his children. It also shows the importance of having living prophets on the earth.

TAKEAWAY

Well, like I said before, I believe that the major message of these historical chapters in Ether are to show us the dangers of becoming too enamored with the desires of the natural man. Materialism, power, pride, lust, violence, rejection of prophets, these things are not good for people or nations. But too often these kinds of things are excused in the name of freedom or individuality. Sadly, they can prove an individuals, organizations, or nations undoing. These chapters are full of civil war, captivity, corruption, and destruction.