Ether 9-11

Ether 9-11 Study Guide – to be discussed April 16
Day 1: Read Ether 9:1-15
1. How did the Lord spare the life of King Omer?



2. What might King Jared have anticipated regarding his new son-in-law?



3. On what were the hearts of the people of Akish set? How did this corrupt their society?



Day 2: Read Ether 9:16-35
4. What curse did the Lord begin to take from off the land? How was it related to the “promise” of the land of promise?



5. List blessings associated with those who “execute judgment in righteousness” all their days.



6. When did the people begin to repent? List what they had endured without humbling up to that time.


BONUS: Review Ether 9:15-25. About how many years of peace did the Jaredites have during this time?

Day 3: Read Ether 10:1-8; Mosiah 11:1-8
7. What two things did Shez Sr. “remember,” or keep in mind, that helped him remain righteous? What do we need to remember?



8. What was the motivation for Shez Jr.’s murder?



9. Compare Ether 10:5-8 with Mosiah 11:1-8. List similarities between Riplakish and Noah.



Day 4: Read Ether 10:9-18; Ether 1:6-33; D&C 42:23
10. How did Morianton “do justice unto the people, but not unto himself” (v.11)? See also D&C 42:23.



11. List the kings mentioned in Ether 10:13-15. How did each come to power?



12. Review Ether 1:6-33. From whom were all the kings descended? What prophet came from their lineage?


Day 5: Read Ether 10:19-34
13. List advances in civilization during the reign of Lib.



14. How many generations of kings served in captivity? Why do you think they were not executed?




15. What evil returned during the reign of Com?



Day 6: Read Ether 11:1-11
16. Why do you think the people rejected the prophets?




17. Who ordered the martyrdom of the prophets? Why?




18. Why didn’t the people hearken to the voice of the Lord? What was the result?




Day 7: Read Ether 11:12-23
19. What message did the prophets deliver in the days of Ethem? How was their message received?




20. How many of the kings between Shiblon and Coriantor reigned in wickedness?




21. How was the prophecy recorded in Ether 11:21 fulfilled?

Ether 6-8

Ether 6-8 Study Guide – to be discussed April 2
Day 1: Read Ether 6:1-9; 1 Nephi 18:9
1. List modern-day parallels to the brother of Jared’s shining stones. In other words, what has the Lord touched in your life that gives you light?



2. What did the Jaredites do AFTER they had made physical preparations for their journey?



3. Read 1 Nephi 18:9. Compare this description of Lehi’s family singing with the Jaredite singing recorded in Ether 6:8-9. How were the two choirs different? To which choir would you rather belong?



Day 2: Read Ether 6:10-20
4. How many days were the Jaredites and their flocks “on the water”?


5. Given the numbers of travelers recorded and implied in Ether 6:14-16, try to estimate how many people shared the eight barges.



6. According to Ether 6:17, what and how were the people taught as they settled the new land?



Day 3: Read Ether 6:21-30; 1 Samuel 8:6-19
7. What did the people desire from Jared and his brother? Why was this “grievous”? See also 1 Samuel 8:6-19.



8. How did Jared suggest the first king be chosen?



9. Why do you think so many refused kingship?



BONUS: Review Ether 1:6 and 32. From whom was Ether descended?


Day 4: Read Ether 7:1-13
10. Review Ether 6:23. How many generations of kings passed away before the warning of Jared’s brother was fulfilled?




11. List characteristics and attributes of Corihor.


12. In what two ways was Shule mighty?



BONUS: Calculate the potential Jaredite population at this point in their history if there were 13 couples in the first generation and they averaged 10 children each.


Day 5: Read Ether 7:14-27
13. How did the Jaredites become a divided people?



14. Why did the Lord send prophets among the people? What was their message?



15. How did Shule orchestrate peace?



Day 6: Read Ether 8:1-18; Helaman 6:26-30
16. By what methods did Jared lead away half the kingdom?



17. What was Jared’s daughter’s plan for returning her father to the throne? According to Helaman 6:26-30, who is the author of this kind of plan?



18. By whom and by what did Akish require his kindred and friends to swear their allegiance?



Day 7: Read Ether 8:19-26; Revelation 20:1-3
19. Ether 8:19-26 contains Moroni’s counsel and commentary. Among whom did Moroni say secret combinations are had? To what do they lead? How did he know this?



20. What do you think Moroni meant when he warned us not to let secret combinations “get above” us (v.23)?



21. When will Satan no longer have power over the hearts of the children of men? See also Revelation 20:1-3, with chapter heading.

Ether 3-5

To view a video clip on prayer, with quotes from David A. Bednar, click here.
Day 1: Read Ether 3:1-5; Review Ether 2:19, 23
1. Review Ether 2:19, 23. What two options for lighting the barges had the Lord rejected? What physical and mental preparations had the brother of Jared completed before he came before the Lord in prayer?



2. List elements or steps in the brother of Jared’s petition before the Lord.



3. In what did the brother of Jared have faith?



Day 2: Read Ether 3:6-12; Ezekiel 1:28; Revelation 1:16-17
4. How did the Lord answer the Brother of Jared’s prayer? If his prayer was answered according to his expectations, why was he “struck with fear”? See also Ezekiel 1:28 and Revelation 1:16-17.



5. Give examples of how the brother of Jared asked, sought, and knocked as he approached the Lord in prayer.



6. What characteristic of God did Jared’s brother know absolutely? How did this increase his faith?



Day 3: Read Ether 3:13-20; D&C 67:10-13; Alma 32:21, 34
7. Why was the brother of Jared allowed back into the presence of the Lord? Use D&C 67:10-13 to list specific attributes we need in order to be able to “abide in the presence of God.”



8. How did the Lord identify himself to the brother of Jared? In other words, who did he say he is?



9. Did Moroni say Jared’s brother could not be kept from seeing the Lord because of his faith or because of his knowledge? See also Alma 32:21, 34.


Day 4: Read Ether 3:21-28; Ether 4:1; 2 Nephi 27:6-11; D&C 17:1
10. Why do you think the Lord put restrictions on when and how the Jaredite record was to come forth? See also Ether 4:1; 2 Nephi 27:6-11; Mosiah 28:17-19.




11. According to D&C 17:1, what were the “two stones” given to the brother of Jared on the mount? In what ways do they also “shine” or illuminate?

12. List what the Lord caused the brother of Jared to see in vision. Have other prophets shared this vision?




Day 5: Read Ether 4:1-9; Alma 12:9-11; 3 Nephi 26:9-11
13. When was the Jaredite record made available to the descendants of Lehi? Why was Moroni commanded to hide them?



14. From Ether 4:6-7, list three specific things we need to do in order to prepare ourselves to receive the sealed portion of the plates.



15. What is the fate of those who read and reject the Book of Mormon? See also Alma 12:9-11; 3 Nephi 26:9-11.



Day 6: Read Ether 4:10-191 Nephi 14:18-28; 1 Nephi 13:37; Mosiah 2:41; D&C 6:13
16. How can we know the Book of Mormon is true?



17. Who does the Lord invite to “come unto me” in Ether 4:13-14? What is the promise if we do?



18. When will we receive the “great and marvelous things” the Lord wants us to have? What specific part(s) of the Bible will those marvelous writings help us better understand? See also 1 Nephi 14:18-28.



BONUS: Cross-reference Ether 4:19 with 1 Nephi 13:37, Mosiah 2:41 and D&C 6:13. How do we know there is a heaven?



Day 7: Read Ether 5
19. This chapter has been called a “prophetic epistle” from Moroni to Joseph Smith. What two specific instructions did Moroni give Joseph regarding the plates?



20. Why were three witnesses required?



21. How can we be received into the kingdom of God?

Ether 1-2

Ether 1-2 Study Guide – to be discussed March 19
Day 1: Read Ether 1:1-5; Omni 1:19-22; Mosiah 21:25-28; Bible Dictionary entry, “Chronology”
1. Read Omni 1:19-22 with Ether 1:2. In what relative area of the new world did the Jaredites settle?


2. Read Mosiah 21:25-28. How did Limhi’s people come to find the 24 plates of Ether?



3. Why didn’t Moroni include the Jaredite record of the creation?



BONUS: Look up “Chronology” in the Bible Dictionary. Although no date is offered for the tower of Babel, between what two events is it listed on pp. 35-36?


Day 2: Read Ether 1:6-34; Genesis 11:4-9
4. How many generations are listed in Ether’s genealogy? How many times is the word “descendant” used instead of “son” in Ether 1:6-32? IF we averaged 25 years between generations, how many years are represented?



5. Read Genesis 11:4-9, with footnote 9a. What two things did the Lord do in order to divide the people? Why do you think the Lord wanted to divide them?



6. Why do you think Jared asked his brother to petition the Lord rather than asking the Lord himself?



Day 3: Read Ether 1:35-43
7. How many times did Jared ask his brother to “cry” unto the Lord in behalf of their families and friends? List how Jared’s people were blessed as a direct result of his brother’s heartfelt prayers in Ether 1:35-41.



8. How did Jared himself exhibit great faith in the goodness of the Lord?



9. From Ether 1:42-43, list the promised blessings. What was the reason the Lord gave for blessing Jared’s people?



Day 4: Read Ether 2:1-8, Bible Dictionary entries, “Cloud,” and “Shechinah,” Genesis 10:6-9
10. How did Jared and his people show obedience?


11. How did the Lord direct and communicate with the Jaredites? Read the Bible Dictionary entries, “Cloud,” and “Shechinah.” Where else in scripture is the Lord’s presence described in a similar way?
12. What is the “promise” associated with a land of promise?



BONUS: Read Genesis 10:6-9 with footnotes. Who was Nimrod? From whom was he descended?



Day 5: Read Ether 2:9-15
13. When will the fullness of the wrath of God come upon the people in the Americas?



14. What “IF – THEN” promise did the Lord make as recorded in Ether 2:12?



15. How long was the brother of Jared chastened? Why did the Lord chasten him? Was this a sin?



Day 6: Read Ether 2:16-21
16. Review Ether 2:6. Were the Jaredites familiar with the construction and use of barges for crossing waters? Describe the barges they built.




17. What three technical problems regarding the voyage did Jared’s brother bring to the Lord in prayer?



18. Which question did the Lord answer first, and how was it answered?



Day 7: Read Ether 2:22-25; Genesis 6:16 with footnote
19. Was light necessary for the Jaredites’ safe crossing? How did the Lord “answer” this request?



BONUS: Read Genesis 6:16 with footnote 16a. Do you think the Lord planted the seed of an idea with the brother of Jared?


20. How was the question of navigation answered? What was required of the Jaredites for this to be effective?



21. If the Jaredite’s voyage is a “type” of our earthly journey, which we hope will bring us to “that far better land of promise,” (the celestial kingdom) what insights for today can you find in the brother of Jared’s questions and the Lord’s answers?