Ether 2

The Lord in the cloud

And it came to pass that when they had come down into the valley of Nimrod the Lord came down and talked with the brother of Jared; and he was in a cloud, and the brother of Jared saw him not. Ether 2:4–5

The premortal Christ comes down hidden in a cloud and leads the people personally. Israel was later led by a pillar of cloud in the same way. The veil of the cloud is removed in Ether 3, when the brother of Jared sees Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Exodus 13:21 — 'the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way.'
• interpreted by Ether 3:14 — The Lord in the cloud is Jesus Christ, later seen by the brother of Jared.

The true and only God of the land

And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people. Ether 2:7–10

Moroni says the people of this land must serve 'him, the true and only God.' Verse 12 names that God: Jesus Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Ether 2:12 — 'the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.'

The God of the land, who is Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ — 'Jehovah saves', the Anointed One

Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written. Ether 2:12

This is a key verse. Moroni says outright that the God of the Americas, the Lord who led the Jaredites and made the covenant about this land, is Jesus Christ. Freedom in this land depends on serving Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 2 Nephi 1:7 — Lehi: those brought to this land who serve Him shall never be brought down into captivity.
• the same title in Ether 3:14 — The same Lord declares Himself: 'I am Jesus Christ.'

The Lord chastens the brother of Jared

And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord. Ether 2:14

The premortal Christ comes to the brother of Jared again in a cloud and talks with him for three hours. He corrects him for not praying. Being corrected by the Lord is a sign that He loves him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Ether 3:14 — The Lord who chastens him is Jesus Christ.
• alludes to Hebrews 12:6 — 'whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.'

The Lord forgives

And the brother of Jared repented of the evil which he had done, and did call upon the name of the Lord for his brethren who were with him. And the Lord said unto him: I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And these are my thoughts upon the land which I shall give you for your inheritance; for it shall be a land choice above all other lands. Ether 2:15

As soon as the brother of Jared repents, the Lord forgives him and his brethren. The premortal Savior shows mercy, and He also warns them to stay faithful.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Genesis 6:3 — The LORD before the Flood: 'My spirit shall not always strive with man.'
• alludes to John 8:11 — Jesus to the woman taken in adultery: 'go, and sin no more.'

The Lord directs the barges

And the Lord said: Go to work and build, after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built. And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren, and built barges after the manner which they had built, according to the instructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they were light upon the water, even like unto the lightness of a fowl upon the water. Ether 2:16–22

The premortal Christ gives step-by-step instructions for the barges and answers the problem of air directly. The brother of Jared brings each problem to Him in prayer.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Ether 3:14 — The Lord giving these instructions is Jesus Christ.

The Lord who commands the winds and floods

And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire. Ether 2:23–25

The Lord says the winds and floods come out of His own mouth, and He promises to bring them up again out of the depths. On the problem of light, He asks the brother of Jared what he wants done. The light is answered in Ether 3, when the brother of Jared sees the finger of the Lord and then the Lord Himself.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Ether 3:14 — The Lord who promises to bring them through the deep is Jesus Christ.
• alludes to Mark 4:39-41 — Jesus rebukes the wind and the sea; 'even the wind and the sea obey him.'