Ether 3

Jehovah

O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires. Ether 3:2–5

The brother of Jared prays to 'the Lord', the God who led his people. A few verses later that same Lord declares, 'I am Jesus Christ', so this prayer is addressed to the premortal Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Ether 3:14 — The Lord who hears this prayer identifies Himself as Jesus Christ.

Premortal Christ

And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear. Ether 3:6–8

The veil is lifted and the brother of Jared sees the finger of the premortal Lord, shaped like a human finger. It shows that Christ's spirit body has the form a mortal body would later have.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Ether 3:19 — Moroni retells it: 'he saw the finger of Jesus'.
• the same event in Ether 12:20-21 — Moroni recalls that the brother of Jared could not be kept from within the veil.

Birth of Christ (taking flesh)

And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this? Ether 3:9

The Lord Himself foretells that He will be born into a mortal body of flesh and blood. What the brother of Jared saw was a preview of the Incarnation.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfilled by John 1:14 — 'The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.'
• the same event in Mosiah 3:5 — King Benjamin foretells the Lord Omnipotent dwelling in a tabernacle of clay.

Premortal Christ

And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me. Ether 3:10–13

The Lord shows His full self to the brother of Jared and says he is redeemed from the Fall and brought back into His presence. Being redeemed means coming back into Christ's presence.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Ether 12:21 — 'Christ showed himself unto our father' because of his faith.
• the same event in D&C 17:1 — The brother of Jared 'talked with the Lord face to face' upon the mount.

Redeemer

Redeemer — the One who buys back and frees His people

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. Ether 3:14

Christ says He was chosen and prepared before the world was made to redeem His people. The plan of salvation always had a Savior at its center.

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

• the same title in 1 Peter 1:19-20 — Christ as the Lamb 'foreordained before the foundation of the world'.
• the same title in Moses 4:2 — The Beloved Son, chosen from the beginning.

Jesus Christ

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. Ether 3:14

The premortal Lord names Himself plainly. The God who led the Jaredites is Jesus Christ, long before His birth.

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

• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:10 — The risen Lord announces to the Nephites, 'I am Jesus Christ'.
• the same title in D&C 110:1-4 — Jehovah appearing in the Kirtland Temple as the one who was slain.

The Father and the Son

Father — Creator and the Father of those born again through Him; Son — the Son of God in the flesh

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. Ether 3:14

Christ is the Son of Heavenly Father, and He is also called 'Father' because He created the world and because those who follow Him are spiritually born as His children. He is not saying He and Heavenly Father are the same person.

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

• interpreted by Mosiah 15:2-4 — Abinadi explains how Christ is called both the Father and the Son.
• the same title in Ether 4:12 — 'I am the Father, I am the light.'

Sons and daughters of Christ

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. Ether 3:14

Eternal life comes through Christ, and those who believe on His name become His spiritual sons and daughters. This is why He is called Father in the previous sentence.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Mosiah 5:7 — 'Ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters.'
• the same title in John 1:12 — Those who believe on His name receive power to become the sons of God.

Creation by Christ

And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Ether 3:15

Christ calls Himself the one who created man, and says people are made in His image. He made the earth under the Father's direction.

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

• alludes to Genesis 1:27 — Man created in the image of God.
• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ, 'the Creator of all things from the beginning'.

Premortal Christ

Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh. Ether 3:16

Christ shows His spirit body and promises He will come to His people in a physical body looking just like it. That promise came true at His birth and at His visit to the Nephites.

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

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 11:8-10 — The resurrected Christ appears to His people in the flesh.
• interpreted by Ether 3:17 — Moroni says it was the same body He showed the Nephites.

Jesus

Jesus — Jehovah saves

And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites. Ether 3:17–18

Moroni names the one who appeared: Jesus. His spirit body looked like the resurrected body the Nephites later saw, and He came so the brother of Jared would know that Jesus is God.

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

• alludes to 3 Nephi 11:8-15 — Christ showing Himself and ministering to the Nephites.

Jesus

Jesus — Jehovah saves

And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting. Ether 3:19–20

Faith grew into sure knowledge, and the brother of Jared saw Jesus within the veil. Moroni names Jesus twice so no reader can miss who 'the Lord' is.

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

• the same event in Ether 12:19-21 — Those whose faith was so strong they could not be kept from within the veil.

Christ's mortal ministry

And it came to pass that the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt not suffer these things which ye have seen and heard to go forth unto the world, until the time cometh that I shall glorify my name in the flesh; wherefore, ye shall treasure up the things which ye have seen and heard, and show it to no man. Ether 3:21

The Lord foretells a time when He will glorify His name in a mortal body. The vision stays sealed until Christ has come in the flesh.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Ether 4:1 — Moroni says the record was held back until after He was lifted up upon the cross.
• fulfilled by John 17:4-5 — Jesus says He has glorified the Father on the earth and asks to be glorified.

Premortal Christ

And behold, when ye shall come unto me, ye shall write them and shall seal them up, that no one can interpret them; for ye shall write them in a language that they cannot be read. Ether 3:22–24

Jesus Christ gives the brother of Jared the interpreters and promises He will reveal the sealed record in His own time. Christ is the one who later brings forth the Book of Mormon.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in D&C 17:1 — The Urim and Thummim given to the brother of Jared when he talked with the Lord face to face.

Faith in Christ

And when the Lord had said these words, he showed unto the brother of Jared all the inhabitants of the earth which had been, and also all that would be; and he withheld them not from his sight, even unto the ends of the earth. Ether 3:25–26

Because the brother of Jared believed in the Lord, Christ showed him everyone who had lived and ever would live. Faith in Christ opens the heavens.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Ether 4:7 — Christ promises the same revelations to those who exercise faith in Him as the brother of Jared did.