Ether 4
People in this chapter
The vision of the brother of Jared was too sacred for the world of his day. The Lord kept it from the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross, and King Mosiah kept it hidden until Christ had shown Himself to the Nephites (v. 1). Then the people fell into unbelief, and Moroni was commanded to hide it again (vv. 2-3).
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Ether 4:1-6I Have Sealed Up the Interpreters
1And the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should show himself unto his people. 2And after Christ truly had showed himself unto his people he commanded that they should be made manifest. 3And now, after that, they have all dwindled in unbelief; and there is none save it be the Lamanites, and they have rejected the gospel of Christ; therefore I am commanded that I should hide them up again in the earth.
The brother of Jared's vision was kept hidden until after Jesus was crucified and visited the Nephites. Then it was shared, but the people turned to unbelief, so Moroni was told to hide it again.
4Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared. 5Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord. 6For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.
Moroni wrote the brother of Jared's vision on his plates and sealed it, along with the interpreters. It will not come forth until people repent and become clean.
Ether 4:7-12Even as the Brother of Jared Did
7And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.
The Lord promises to reveal what the brother of Jared saw when people have faith like his and become sanctified through Christ.
8And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh. 9And at my command the heavens are opened and are shut; and at my word the earth shall shake; and at my command the inhabitants thereof shall pass away, even so as by fire. 10And he that believeth not my words believeth not my disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day.
The Lord warns those who fight against or deny His word. He says He is the one speaking, and everyone will know it at the last day.
11But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good. 12And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.
Those who believe will receive the Spirit and know these things are true. Anything that leads people to do good comes from Christ.
Ether 4:13-19Rend That Veil of Unbelief
13Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. 14Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief. 15Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.
Unbelief is like a veil that keeps people from the great things God has prepared. It is torn away when we pray to the Father in Christ's name with a broken heart.
16And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed. 17Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land.
The Lord says John's revelations will be opened to everyone, and that receiving the Book of Mormon is a sign the Father's latter-day work has begun.
18Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name. 19And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen.
The Lord ends with His gospel: repent, come to Him, believe, and be baptized. Those who stay faithful will live in the kingdom prepared for them.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- RevelationScriptures on how the Lord reveals truth, and why He withholds it from unbelief (vv. 7, 13-15).
- FaithScriptures on the faith the Lord asks for in verse 7.
- Light, Light of ChristBackground for verses 11-12: whatever persuades people to do good comes from Christ.
- PlatesThe records behind the Book of Mormon, including the sealed portion Moroni describes (vv. 4-5).
- GentilesWho the Lord is addressing when He says, Come unto me, O ye Gentiles (v. 13).
Where this echoes in Scripture
I Have Sealed Up the Interpreters
- 2 Nephi 27:7-11The book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof.
- 3 Nephi 26:9-11If it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
- Alma 12:9-10He that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word.
- Mosiah 28:11-19He translated them by the means of those two stones ... it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account.
Even as the Brother of Jared Did
- John 14:6I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- Moroni 7:16Every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ.
- Moroni 10:4-5He will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
- John 13:20He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
- D&C 84:45-46Whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Rend That Veil of Unbelief
- Matthew 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- 2 Corinthians 3:16When it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
- 1 Nephi 14:24-27The name of the apostle of the Lamb was John.
- 3 Nephi 21:7That they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant.
- Mark 16:15-16Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.