Ether 6

Light of the World

For it came to pass after the Lord had prepared the stones which the brother of Jared had carried up into the mount, the brother of Jared came down out of the mount, and he did put forth the stones into the vessels which were prepared, one in each end thereof; and behold, they did give light unto the vessels. Ether 6:2–3

Stones touched by the finger of Christ give light so the people never cross the deep in darkness. Many teachers see this as a picture of Christ's light carrying us through life, but the text does not call it a type.

• the same event in Ether 3:6 — The Lord touches the stones one by one with His finger.
• the same title in Ether 4:12 — Christ: 'I am the light... of the world.'

Jehovah

And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind. Ether 6:5–12

The Lord who drives the barges, lifts them from the deep, and brings them safely home is the same Lord who showed Himself as Jesus Christ on the mount. His tender mercies carried them through 344 days at sea.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• interpreted by Ether 3:14 — The Lord of the Jaredites names Himself Jesus Christ.
• alludes to 1 Nephi 1:20 — 'The tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen.'

Ark of Noah

And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters. Ether 6:7

The barges are compared to Noah's ark, a vessel of deliverance through the waters. Like the ark, they picture how the Lord carries His people safely through destruction, a soft echo of salvation in Christ.

• alludes to Genesis 7:17-18 — The ark lifted up and borne upon the waters.
• alludes to 1 Peter 3:20-21 — Peter treats the ark's saving through water as a figure of baptism.