Day 65 - Mormon 9, Either 1-2

Spiritual Thought:

"The book of Ether is a fifteen-chapter abridgment of the twenty-four plates found by the people of Limhi in the days of King Mosiah. It gives an outline history of a people who were led to this continent from the Tower of Babel who became a great nation. These people, called Jaredites, had a national history of possibly sixteen centuries or more. The Tower of Babel record is the factual basis of the book of Ether. The Lord did not confound the Jaredite language, but guided his people and made them a great nation. Ether, the last great prophet and historian of this people, gives his own genealogy, covering twenty-nine generations or more back to Jared, who lived during the Tower of Babel."  (FARMS, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol.4, Number 2, p.123)

Daily Focus Scriptures to mark and ponder:
Ether 2:4 - "And it came to pass...the Lord came down and talked with the brother of Jared; and he ws in a cloud and the brother of Jard saw him not.

Ether 2:5 - "And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness...and gave directions whither they should travel.
Ether 2:6 - "And it came to pass that they did travel in the wilderness, and did build barges in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord.

Daily Questions: 

How many times in my life has the Lord told me what I needed to do?  Have there been other times when I felt left on my own?  Could it be that the Lord wanted me to use my own initiative, just like he had the Brother of Jared do?  What process do we go through to solve our own problems?  Do we ever turn to the scriptures?

For Kids/teens/adults:
Click here to watch video of the Jaredites leaving Babel
Click here to watch Brother of Jared figuring out how to get light for Barges

Food for Thought:  Three Barge Dilemma's
Problem #1-Air – Lord  told them the answer
     Lord:  (Tells him to Build holes in the top and bottom)
Problem #2- Steering - Lord’s took care  of it-
     Lord:  (Provided a great wind)
Problem #3- Light – Lord said, “What will ye that I should do?”
     Lord:  (Tells him to use his own initiative, try this one yourself )

I believe that the Brother of Jared and his family probably had scriptures telling them of what happened to Noah's people and the process they went through in building an ark.  He probably found much solace, having faith the Lord would be so kind to him.  If you look at the footnote on Ether 2:23 - it cross references you to Genesis 6:16.  Looking at the footnote for that verse it reads:  "tsohar; some rabbis believed it was a precious stone that shone in the ark."  Herein is a perfect example of how reading and searching the scriptures can help us solve our problems in life.

BOMING Picture:                                Jaredite Barges