General Comments on Ether The text of the book of Ether is Moroni's heavily edited and abridged version of Ether's abridged version of the history of the Jaredites. Moroni selectively glosses over large portions of Jaredite history while making lengthy parenthetical statements. This clearly indicates Moroni had a specific agenda when writing this text. Fortunately for us, we don't have to speculate what that agenda is as he informs us himself through this series of parenthetical comments made to the reader. There are a total of six major parenthesis by Moroni, where he stops the historical recounting and speaks to the reader, as follows: 1) 2:8-12 Gentiles warned by example of the Jaredites 2) 4:1-19 Gentiles and Israel called to repentance so they may obtain sealed revelation 3) 5:1-6 Three witnesses and the BofM to stand as a witness against the world 4) 8:20-26 Gentiles warned against secret combinations 5) 12:6-41 Lesson on faith for Gentiles 6) 13:1-12 Gentiles informed this land is ultimately to be inherited by Israel through Joseph All of these parenthesis are aimed at primarily Gentiles and are, for the most part, warnings. Moroni's comments make it plain his intent in abridging the book of Ether is to teach the Gentile readers a lesson. They are to take a lesson from the example of the Jaredites. The Jaredites were before the Abrahamic covenant so they had no promises from the Lord regarding the preservation of lineage or a promised land for their inheritance. In other words, they were just like the Gentiles now are. The result is when the Jaredites abandoned the Lord they were annihilated and the land promised to them was promised to another, the children of Lehi. The message to current Gentile inhabitants of this land is they are in the same position as were the ancient Jaredites. They have no covenant to protect them and the land is not theirs if they rebel against the Lord. So, their fate will be the same if they follow in the Jaredite's footsteps. The alternative is to repent and be grafted into Israel. Also note that Moroni's selective and editorialized treatment of Ether follows immediately after two chapters (cf. Mormon 8-9) of unrelenting criticism of the latter-day Gentiles. His treatment of the book of Ether is simply a continuation of the theme of the preceding book. The history of Ether's plates among the Nephites is they are found by the people of Limhi (cf. Mosiah 21:27) and delivered to the Nephites at Zarahemla (cf. Mosiah 22:14). King Mosiah subsequently translates and publishes them among the Nephites (cf. Mosiah 28:11-19). Comments on Ether 1 v1-5 Moroni informs us he is now going to abridge the record of the Jaredites, who were annihilated from off the face of this land (v. 1). He takes his record from the plates of Ether, which were delivered to Nephites (cf. Mosiah 22:14) by the splinter group of Limhi (v. 2, cp. Mosiah 21:27). The first part of Ether's record covers the Creation and Fall just as the Jewish record of Genesis does (v. 3) so Moroni doesn't bother transcribing it as the account is available elsewhere (v. 4). Moroni will start abridging the history from the tower of Babel onward (v. 5). v3 "And as I suppose that the first part of this record...is had among the Jews", Moroni omits the Creation account from Ether's record. Its too bad he did as it would have been interesting to compare and contrast the Jaredite version with the Semitic one. One would assume that since Moroni omitted it there weren't major differences. But, even the complete lack of difference between the accounts would have been interesting as it is generally assumed the Genesis Creation account is heavily influenced by Semitic culture and is reactionary to Canaanite creation stories. If the Jaredite and Semitic versions were very similar this would question that general assumption. v4 "but they are had upon the plates", it is unclear whether Moroni is referring to the Brass Plates or Ether's 24 gold plates. I would assume he is referring to the latter as he never explicitly refers to the Brass Plates, only the record of the Jews in v. 3. If this is the case, then Ether's 24 gold plates may be part of the sealed portion of the plates. However, in 4:4-6 Moroni says that he has written the entire account of the brother of Jared's vision and sealed them up. So, Ether's original plates may not be part of the sealed portion of the plates, he may have just transcribed and/or translated the content, either in part or in total, of Ether's plates onto a set of plates that fit in with the rest of the record. It seems unlikely that Moroni would bother transcribing the content of the vision as well as include the original 24 plates of Ether as that would be redundant. v6-32 Moroni indicates the original author of the record was Ether (v. 6) , who can trace his genealogy back to the original Jared (v. 7-31). The genealogy given goes from the most recent to the most ancient, and then the story Moroni subsequently gives goes from the most ancient to the most recent. The genealogy therefore sets up the history as it unwinds through the rest of the text of the book of Ether. Another thing to note is the genealogy is that of the kings of the Jaredites, and not simply a father-son relationship. All of the names given are the kings and heirs to the kingdom. In the case of the two most recent names, Coriantor and Ether, they were heirs to the kingdom but not actually sitting rulers. The ruling line is as follows: Ether 11:23 Coriantor 11:18 Moron 11:14 Ethem 11:11 Ahah 11:10 Seth 11:9 Shiblon 11:4 Com 10:32 Coriantum 10:31 Amnigaddah 10:31 Aaron 10:31 Heth 10:31 Hearthom 10:30 Lib 10:18 Kish 10:17 Corom 10:16 Levi 10:15 Kim 10:13 Morianton 10:9 Riplakish 10:4 Shez 10:1 Heth 9:27 Com 9:25 Coriantum 9:22 Emer 9:14 Omer 8:1 Shule 7:10 Kib 7:3 Orihah 6:27 Jared 6:24 Thus, while Ether was apparently the leading prophet of the time, he was also the heir apparent. This might explain some of Coriantumr's cynicism and hostility towards Ether as he would have been seen as one of, if not the only, heir to the throne he was occupying and fighting for. Ultimately, when Ether's predictions are all fulfilled Coriantumr tries to repent (cf. 15:1-6), but by then it is too late. This suggests Coriantumr himself was not entirely beyond repentance himself and perhaps Ether's being the heir apparent could have fueled his cynicism enough to make him deaf to his preaching. v33-43 Here, Jared prompts his brother to obtain two blessings from the Lord. First, that their family and friends not be scattered as were others at that time (v. 33-37) and second that they might obtain a land for their inheritance (v. 38-43). These blessings are similar to those promised later to Abraham, namely that of family and land (cf. Gen. 12:1-3). The pivotal difference is the promises made to Abraham span generations as the Lord promises to preserve Abraham's children and restore them to their land. Unfortunately for the Jaredites, their promises are completely contingent upon their individual righteousness (cf. v. 43). v33-37 After tracing Ether's genealogy (v. 6-32), Moroni explains its relevance by informing us Jared and his family and friends were part of the scattering that took place at the tower of Babel (v. 33). However, Jared's brother is a godly man, so Jared has him appeal to the Lord that their family and friends might not be confounded as well (v. 34, 36). Jared's brother does so and the Lord has mercy on him and grants that both his family (v. 35) and friends be spared the confusion and scattering (v. 37). v34 "the brother of Jared", Ether might have failed to include the brother of Jared's name because he was in Jared's line and not the brother's line. However, when we review the text and pay attention to the interplay between Jared and his brother it is Jared calling the shots. Even though his brother is described as "a large and mighty man, and...highly favored of the Lord", it is always Jared telling his brother what to do and him doing it (cf. v. 34, v. 36, v. 38). Jared even overrides his brother's counsel (cf. 6:22-25). Even though they had no kings at that point, Jared was clearly the political-physical leader of the people even though his brother was the spiritual leader. I would therefore assume the brother of Jared goes unnamed out of deference to Jared's leadership role. The name of the brother of Jared was apparently revealed to Smith. According to Elder George Reynolds: While residing in Kirtland Elder Reynolds Cahoon had a son born to him. One day when President Joseph Smith was passing his door he called the Prophet in and asked him to bless and name the baby. Joseph did so and gave the boy the name of Mahonri Moriancumer. When he had finished the blessing he laid the child on the bed, and turning to Elder Cahoon he said, the name I have given your son is the name of the brother of Jared; the Lord has just shown [or revealed] it to me. Elder William F. Cahoon, who was standing near, heard the Prophet make this statement to his father; and this was the first time the name of the brother of Jared was known in the Church in this dispensation. ("Jaredites," Juvenile Instructor 27:282.) The place-name "Moriancumer" appears in 2:13 and has since been assumed to be named after the brother of Jared per the ancient tradition alluded to in 2:1, with the valley being called after Nimrod, and explicitly identified in Alma 8:7, also cp. 2 Ne. 5:8. v38-43 After obtaining the blessing from the Lord that their family and friends would not be scattered (v. 33-37), Jared follows up by having his brother ask the Lord if he will drive them out of Babel, and if they are faithful, perhaps take them someplace better so they can obtain land for their inheritance (v. 38). The brother does as Jared requests (v. 39) and the Lord has mercy on him (v. 39). The Lord tells Jared's brother to gather all of their family and friends and herds (v. 41) and to travel into the wilderness where the Lord will meet and guide them to some prime land (v. 40). In this prime land the Lord will bless and prosper these people so they will become a great nation, and He does this because of the brother's considerable faith and lengthy petitions (v. 43). Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.