Ether (Book of Mormon prophet)

Not to be confused with Ethem (disambiguation).
Ether
Ether Finishing His Record, by William Morris (1888, cropped)
Personal
Parent
  • Coriantor (father)
EraReign of Coriantumr
Notable work(s)The 24 Jaredite plates

According to the Book of Mormon, Ether (/ˈiːθər/)[1] is a Jaredite prophet, one of the last surviving Jaredites, and primary author of the Book of Ether.

Narration

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People in the Book of Mormon
Lehi (far right, bearded) bestowing a blessing on his family. At least 21 different figures are visible (inclusive of infants and children). There is a mix of men, women, and children. A man in blue appears to be writing, perhaps transcribing what Lehi is saying. One infant is nursing. Several men have beards. All but the children wear hats or scarf-like head coverings. The fashion and style is reminiscent of nineteenth-century Christian art of Old Testament scenes. There is a vibrancy of color, with clothing in blues, greens, whites, and reds. The family gather in something like a circle, on a green, grassy field. There are tents visible in the background. This is cropped from a full version of the scene.
Lehi Blessing His Posterity, C. C. A. Christensen (1890)
Prophets and priests
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Judges
Military leaders
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Others
The Deseret Stone used in the construction of the Washington Monument. The stone was donated by the territory in 1853 to represent the provisional state. The Word Deseret is from the Book of Ether.

Ether's account, which Mormon abridged into the Book of Ether, is found in the twenty four plates discovered by the people of Limhi in the Book of Mosiah.[2]

Ether's grandfather Moron had been king of the Jaredites. Moron was overthrown and "dwelt in captivity all the remainder of his days".[3] Ether's father, Coriantor, was born while his father was captive and Coriantor "dwelt in captivity all his days".[4] Ether "was a prophet of the Lord"[5] and "lived in the days of Coriantumr; and Coriantumr was king over all the land".[6] He sees and prophecies many things but the people reject his teachings because they refuse to believe what they have not seen for themselves. Because of their rejection, Ether retreats to hide in a cave and record what happens to his people. He is sent by the Lord to prophecy to King Coriantumr that he and his family can be saved if they will repent, but is again rejected.[7] At the end of his record, Ether reflects on whether he will be translated to heaven or die like a normal man.[8]

Praise

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Monte J. Brough said the following about him: "Ether, as my personal mentor of some years, has helped me understand how hope, which 'cometh of faith, maketh an anchor' to my soul. It is this hope for a better world that is the foundation of the great plan of happiness. This profound hope...is part of the process of bringing stability into our lives."[9]: 193 

"In facing tragedy, it is instructional to observe those who have complete and total faith in the reality of the mansions of our Father. This faith does result in a testimony of Jesus Christ and the process of the Atonement. 'Man must hope, or he cannot receive' the blessing of the great plan of happiness, which provides peace and understanding for mortal mankind. It is this 'more excellent hope' that allows us to accept whatever trial or test comes to us. As each of us faces personal tragedy, we can have a much better acceptance of the final results because of the prophet Ether's example."[9]: 194–5 

Teachings

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Polygamy

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According to Daniel H. Ludlow, it is not clear, however, whether or not the Jaredites were commanded by the Lord to practice polygamy. The following evidences have been cited which might indicate that they did practice polygamy:[10]

  • Many of the men had large numbers of sons and daughters. For example, the brother of Jared had 22 sons and daughters (Ether 6:20) and Orihah had 31 sons and daughters (Ether 7:2).
  • Riplakish had "many wives and concubines" (Ether 10:5). He was condemned by the Lord for his wickedness, but it is not clear whether or not this condemnation was because of his "many wives."
  • In Ether 14:2 it states that "every man kept the hilt of his sword in his right hand, in the defence of his property and his own life and of his wives and children." This verse seems to indicate that the people practiced polygamy, but whether or not it was sanctioned by the Lord is not made clear in the record.

Cycle of Righteousness

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Ether 9:15–35 shows a pattern repeated many times in the Book of Mormon:[11]

  1. During the righteous reigns of Emer and Coriantum the people prospered exceedingly (v. 15-25)
  2. Under the reign of Heth, the people began to join together in secret combinations, and they turned to wickedness (v. 26-27)
  3. The Lord sent prophets to warn the people of their terrible circumstances (v. 28)
  4. The people of Heth rejected the prophets (v. 29)
  5. The judgments of God fell upon the people (v. 30-33)
  6. The people humbled themselves and repented and the Lord blessed them again with prosperity (v. 34-35)

The Jaredites were able to be wealthy and remain righteous for more than 100 years (see v. 15-25).[11]

Secret Combinations

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In Ether 8:18–22 we learn four important things concerning secret combinations:[11]

  1. Secret combinations are wicked and forbidden of the Lord (v. 18-19)
  2. Secret combinations are "had among all people" (v. 20)
  3. Secret combinations "caused the destruction" of both the Jaredite and Nephite nations (v. 21)
  4. Whatever nation upholds secret combinations "shall be destroyed" (v. 22)

New Jerusalem

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In Ether 13:1–12 we learn about a New Jerusalem:[12]

  1. It will be "the holy sanctuary of the Lord" (Ether 13:3)
  2. It will be built on the American continent for the remnant of the seed of Joseph (v. 4–6)
  3. It will be a holy city like the Jerusalem built unto the Lord (v. 8–9)
  4. It will stand until the earth is celestialized (v. 8)
  5. It will be a city for the pure and righteous (v. 10)

Comparison with Moroni

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The last prophet called of God to warn the Jaredite nation and to witness against them was Ether, the son of Coriantor.[12] H. Donl Peterson notes that Moroni could have empathized with Ether, since both were prophets of God sent to preach to a people who were "past feeling" and who "did reject all the words of the prophets" (Ether 11:23). Both men were the last of their once great civilizations, and both were called upon to record their final struggles and then were charged to be responsible for preserving the precious records of their fallen people.[13]

Lineage

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See also: Lineage of Ether
Moron(unnamed)
Coriantor(unnamed)
Ether

See also

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References

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  1. ^ churchofjesuschrist.org: "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide" (retrieved 2012-02-25), IPA-ified from «ē´ther»
  2. ^ Fenton, Elizabeth; Hickman, Jared, eds. (2019). Americanist Approaches to the Book of Mormon. Oxford University Press. p. 33-34. ISBN 978-0-19-022192-8. Wikidata Q123497267.
  3. ^ Ether 11:18
  4. ^ Ether 11:23
  5. ^ Ether 12:2
  6. ^ Ether 12:1
  7. ^ Thomas, John Christopher (2016). A Pentecostal Reads the Book of Mormon: A Literary and Theological Introduction. CPT Press. p. 177-178. ISBN 978-1-935931-55-3. Wikidata Q123196681.
  8. ^ Hardy, Grant, ed. (2023). The Annotated Book of Mormon. Oxford University Press. p. 715. ISBN 978-0-19-008220-8. OL 46783409M. Wikidata Q122259222.
  9. ^ a b Brough, Monte J. (1995). "The Prophet Ether: man of the more excellent hope". Heroes From the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0884949966. LCCN 95079967. OCLC 33921262.
  10. ^ Ludlow, Daniel H. (1976), A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, p. 327, ISBN 0877476101, LCCN 76027139, OCLC 2524485
  11. ^ a b c LDS Church (2009). "Chapter 51: Ether 6–10". Book of Mormon Student Manual: Religion 121-122 (PDF). Institutes of Religion, Church Educational System, LDS Church. OCLC 469723743.
  12. ^ a b LDS Church (2009). "Chapter 52: Ether 11-15". Book of Mormon Student Manual: Religion 121-122 (PDF). Institutes of Religion, Church Educational System, LDS Church. OCLC 469723743.
  13. ^ Peterson, H. Donl (2007) [1983]. Moroni: Ancient Prophet Modern Messenger. Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort Inc (CFI). p. 47. ISBN 9781599551418. LCCN 2007052168. OCLC 185056590.

Further reading

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Ether
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