Ether 2

 (All of my own thoughts are in blue 2020 red type 7/20 orange 8/21 brown 2022 -23) 

CHAPTER 2

The Jaredites prepare for their journey to a promised land—It is a choice land whereon men must serve Christ or be swept off—Sounds like this could apply to our day. We have been prepared for the journey through the tribulations (or have we...) and the promised land is the New Jerusalem.. If we do not serve Christ we will be swept off. The Lord talks to the brother of Jared for three hours—The Jaredites build barges—The Lord asks the brother of Jared to propose how the barges will be lighted.

  1 And it came to pass that Jared and his brother, and their families, and also the ^afriends of Jared and his brother and their families, went down into the valley which was northward, (and the name of the valley was ^bNimrod, being called after the mighty hunter) with their ^cflocks which they had gathered together, male and female, of every kind. Sounds a lot like Noah. Surely there were animals and seeds in the promised land. But animals would not be domesticated and seeds had to be located and gathered. So this would enable them to “hit the ground running” when they got there. The logistics of sanitation has always been a mystery to me on these long sea voyages...
  2 And they did also lay snares and catch ^afowls of the air; and they did also prepare a vessel, in which they did carry with them the fish of the waters. Did the Lord teach them about aquaponics so they they could grow live food on the barges?
  3 And they did also carry with them deseret, which, by interpretation, is a honey bee; and thus they did carry with them ^aswarms of bees, I hope they were docile bees... and all manner of that which was upon the face of the land, ^bseeds of every kind.
  4 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 ^acloud, and the brother of Jared saw him not. There is some quite literal physics about not being able to behold the personage of God while in the flesh. But knowing the brother of Jared does see Him eventually, I wonder how this visitation prepared him for that one. Did it increase his desire to want to see him because he couldn’t see the Lord for so long but knew He was there?
  5 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should ^ago forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a ^bcloud, and gave ^cdirections whither they should travel. How hard was it to travel with all these animals and fishes and bees? So not only did He talk with him, but the Lord stayed with them as they traveled. Lehi got the Liahona and these people got the Lord. What determines which method the Lord chooses to guide people? Was their discussion as to why He had to stay in a cloud?
  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. This was before the final crossing. Guess they had lots of experience. Did they build new barges every time they crossed a new body of water?
  7 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 ^aland of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had ^bpreserved for a righteous people. This is one of the messages that missionaries in North America should be carrying to those people. It wouldn’t go over too well right now with the cultural injunction that hates anything that sounds like “exceptionism”. But you are claiming the land is choice (which really isn’t a challenged fact...) not the people. However...the Lord does say no one comes here that isn’t led here, which kind of alludes to a little elitism.  It’s not really saying the people led here are righteous, just that the land is for those that are righteous. And it doesn’t mean once you are here you are righteous, but that you must be righteous or you won’t get to stay. This is a type for the requirements for living with God. 
  8 And he had sworn in his wrath why did he say this "in his wrath"? Was He angry at the time He said it? Or does it mean something else? unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be ^bswept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them. This is our classic warning. Member or not... everyone in America should be aware of this warning/covenant.
  9 And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be ^aswept off when the fulness of his ^bwrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ^cripened in iniquity. Ripened in iniquity is pretty awful. Lots of bad things have to happen to be considered "ripe".  Notice the whole nation needs to serve God. It’s not enough for just a few, although we know the wicked can be spared for a time because of the righteous.
 10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be ^aswept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the ^bfulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are ^cswept off. Just in case you missed the last hundred times he said this... Our abortion practices, gay marriage laws, materialism, broken families, pornography, corruption in government, human trafficking and drug and alcohol problems are making us pretty “ripe” for destruction!
 11 And this cometh unto you, O ye ^aGentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the ^bwrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done. Just in case you didn't think he was talking to YOU...
 12 Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be ^afree from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but ^bserve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written. Here is the positive promise... The ultimate campaign promise by the president of the United States should be that he promises we won’t even need a military if we will all serve God! Or if we do have one and go to war, we will always win. This language also supports that the promised land is the USA.
 13 And now I proceed with my record; for behold, it came to pass that the Lord did bring Jared and his brethren forth even to that great sea which divideth the lands. And as they came to the sea they pitched their tents; and they called the name of the place ^aMoriancumer; after the brother of Jared? Or maybe that was the family name...and they dwelt in ^btents, and dwelt in tents why did he say this twice? upon the seashore for the space of four years. waiting for further          instruction? That’s a long time to maintain all those provisions... We often don't want to maintain our provisions while we wait for the "time of need"...
 14 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 ^atalked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and ^bchastened him because he remembered not to ^ccall upon the name of the Lord. Some people interpret this to say he chastened him for 3 hours, but it doesn't say that....just that the conversation was 3 hours and some of that (maybe all) was chastening. We can't definitively say... I think the great thing is that the Lord came to the brother of Jared even though he hadn't called upon him. And that He came to him even though he had sinned. We don’t have to be perfect to communicate with the Lord.
 15 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. Maybe this was his real sin. Maybe he did pray, but just stopped praying for his brethren. And the Lord said unto him: I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; and maybe this lack of praying for his brethren was part of why they slipped in to sin. The Lord forgives the others too, even though they had not repented. Maybe the Davidic covenant is at play here and the brother of Jared answers for the people's sins. but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my ^aSpirit will not always ^bstrive with man; we have yet to experience the depravity of man when the spirit ceases to strive with a person completely. Someone said that the primitive brain only asks 3 questions: "Can I have sex with it; Can I eat it; Can it eat me." When we read in history of people/nations that got to this point we can see the truth of that statement. wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. no spirit to guide you And these are my ^cthoughts upon the land which I shall give you for your inheritance; for it shall be a land ^dchoice above all other lands.
 16 And the Lord said: Go to work and build, after the manner of ^abarges which ye have hitherto built. Now I can see the wisdom of having previously built barges before a year long voyage. You would be able to trust your barges would work and have the faith to enter them again. You have experienced the Lord leading you each time you crossed the waters and can trust He'll do it again. 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 ^binstructions 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. So they would mostly float...?
 17 And they were built after a manner that they were exceedingly ^atight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish. I’m getting claustrophobic just reading about his tiny boat they were in so long!
 18 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me.
 19 And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish. Why were these not problems in the boats previously made?
 20 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood. Seems a given that they would throw their “waste” out these holes as well...
 21 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did so, according as the Lord had commanded. He didn’t question or wait because the Lord hadn’t answered all his questions (about light and steering) but went to work on what he had given him.
 22 And he cried again unto the Lord saying: O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness? What about steering?
 23 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 ^awindows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire. Apparently they had windows made of glass way back then? 
 24 For behold, ye shall be as a ^awhale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the ^bwinds have gone forth ^cout of my mouth, and also the ^drains and the floods have I sent forth. For our day...BIG trials will dash upon us but God will bring us out from under them. Don't forget the winds of adversity and trials all are allowed by God to push us to the promised land.  This reminds me of a song I just heard on the radio yesterday about when God says “no” so we can grow...

 25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea? The first problem the Lord solved for him...no air...put holes in. No steering isn't directly answered but alluded to by the Lord saying all the waves and winds come from Him to push them where they need to go. The light question is not answered by the Lord but He puts it back on the brother of Jared. Does that mean there were options? Was he testing his ability to think back on how Noah did it?  The other thing taught here is that whether we can anticipate some of our future challenges or not, God “prepares us against these things”, knowing we cannot cross these “great deep” challenges save He “prepares you”. Some of the challenges we get to decide how we want to prepare for them. Temporal preps are a good example of this choice. I would even say that in temporal preps, God guides us to the choices we make. We should ever give Him the glory and say, "He prepared me against these things" for He is the one who commanded we do it.