Well it's wonderful to be here and I hope you'll indulge me for a minute as I make a couple of personal comments. Most of my missionaries who came here to school after their missions have now gone on in their career. However there are two younger siblings of two of my missionaries here today. Odbayar Badamjav and Arti Vandhana Nair. And for a moment, I'd like to show a slide if I might. Two weeks ago my wife and I had the opportunity to be witness at one of our missionaries, Brother Badamjav's older brother, Odgrel, to his sweet heart Masa. This is a picture of his family from Mongolia and some of their friends standing in the front of the Bountiful temple. This picture is hot off the press as of last night and I wanted him [Odbayar Badamjav] to see it since he was not able to attend the temple with him at that time. When I was there in the temple I was reminded forcefully of how the Lord is building His worldwide church, one family at a time, as they are sealed in the temple, and as they go to take up the cause of Zion wherever they may go in the world. I look forward to seeing both of these younger siblings of my missionaries after the talk today.
Now I would like to tell you my favorite story from the Book of Mormon. First, let me set the context. The golden plates that were translated by Joseph Smith into the Book of Mormon were completed and buried for the first time when Moroni finished the record of his father, Mormon. In Mormon Chapter 8, he says: "I, Moroni do finish the record of my father and have but few things to write." Being hunted by the Lamanites and being utterly alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of his people, he prepares to "hide up the records in the earth." He laments, having no more room to write on the plates or additional ore to make the plates. Completing his father's record, he bids us farewell and speaks to us "as though he were speaking from the dead."
Sometime later, perhaps many years later, Moroni returns, unearths the plates, and adds two additional books. The first is his own Book of Moroni, which is filled with instructions to the restored Church in our day, as well as profound teachings for future generations. The second book he adds to the plates is the Book of Ether, containing an account of the Jaredite nation that preceded his own people in the Americas by perhaps 1500 years or more. Why did Moroni choose the Book of Ether from among all the other histories and records of ancient America? Why was this book so special?
At the beginning of each dispensation or restoration of the gospel, there is a "founding vision." This vision gives the new or renewed branch of Israel purpose, direction, and most importantly their own direct witness of the Father's plan and the Savior's atonement. The founding vision of the Nephite nation is Lehi's and Nephi's vision of the Tree of Life. The founding vision of our dispensation occurred when the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. The founding vision of the Jaredite nation, which is contained in the Book of Ether, was the appearance of Jesus Christ or Jehovah to the Brother of Jared. That vision is central to one of the greatest stories of all time.
I love the story of the Brother of Jared because it is the story of a great man, with great faith, who loves the Lord but also feels paralyzing fear when faced with an overwhelming challenge. It is the story of how the Lord leads him through that fear until he exercises greater faith than any prior mortal. His experiences teach us the process the Lord uses in our lives to overcome our fears and help us act with faith.
I would suggest another reason this story should be of interest to some in this audience. When Lehi's family arrived in the Americas, they probably numbered less than 100 individuals. Although there was to be a great final war that would destroy the Jaredites as a nation, numerous descendants of that people remained in the Americas and undoubtedly intermarried with the people of Lehi. Therefore, I believe it is likely that those of you in this audience who are descendants of Lehi are also descendants of the Brother of Jared. To some degree, then, the promises made to him in the Book of Ether are your spiritual birthright as well.
The writings of the Brother of Jared were on the 24 plates found by the people of Limhi and included a visionary description of the earth from beginning to end, as well as a history of God's dealings with Adam and his family down through the period of the great flood until the time a "great tower" was being built to reach heaven. Jared knew that the Lord intended to confound the languages of the people building the tower and asked his brother, who "was a large and mighty man, and a man highly favored of the Lord," to plead with the Lord that their two families' language would not be confounded. Subsequently, he also pled with the Lord for similar compassion upon their friends and their families.
In response to those prayers, the Brother of Jared is told that the Lord intends to raise up the greatest nation of its time from these families upon a promised land where the Lord will lead them.
After making preparations, this small group of families departs from the land of the great tower. They travel for the space of many years, and, repeatedly, the Lord appears, although hidden in a cloud, to the Brother of Jared to give directions for their journey.
Now let's read together Ether Chapter 2, Verses 13 and 14:
"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 Moriancumer; and they dwelt in tents, and dwelt in tents upon the seashore for the space of four years.
"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 talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord."
We are told almost nothing about what the Lord says in those three hours, but we do know that the Brother of Jared quickly repents and goes to work with his brethren to build barges according to the instructions of the Lord and similar to ones they had constructed earlier to cross inland seas. The interesting question to me is, "What stopped this spiritually powerful leader from praying for four years? Why was he sitting on the seashore living in a tent when he knew the Lord wanted them to cross the ocean and reach the Promised Land?
The scriptures which follow give us some hints. Later in this chapter, the Lord describes the "mountain waves which would dash or break upon them." He described furious winds that would toss them upon the waves of the sea and great and terrible tempests and floods. The Brother of Jared also refers to the ocean as the "raging deep." This does not sound like the ocean you and I know, but something radically different. The mountain waves were not like those you experience on this windward coast of Oahu, even in the worst of storms. One LDS scholar, Hugh Nibley, has researched and written about ancient legends of a period after the great flood with great winds and when none were safe upon the sea. Some have speculated concerning the cause of such great turbulence among the natural elements.
For example, following the great flood we are told in the Bible that the earth was divided. Scientists also have a theory called "plate tectonics" that suggests that there was once a single ancient continent they call Pangaea that was broken apart and became the continents as we know them. According to this theory, the continents moved very slowly over a very long period into their current locations. What if, however, the continents moved much more rapidly in the period after the flood? Can you imagine the effect on the oceans if the continents of North and South American were plowing the sea before them toward Asia after they were broken away from Europe and Africa? Can you image the fear of the people of Jared if they saw waves that were not 20 feet high, but 50 or 100 or 200 feet high pounding the coastline? Can you imagine how the Brother of Jared's heart would have sunk and even how his great faith would have waivered as he looked upon an ocean that he feared no man would cross? Did he fear that he or his people had done something wrong and God had abandoned them? Had they come so far and for so many years to now be thwarted in their journey to the Promised Land? We don't know for sure what the mountain waves looked like or the natural phenomenon that created them, but we do know that for four years, the Brother of Jared, a great prophet, could not bring himself to pray and sat on the seashore in his tent.
After his three hour personal priesthood interview with the Lord, the Brother of Jared and his brethren built 8 unusual ships or barges. They are the length of a tree, light upon the water like a fowl or bird, and completely water tight.
Look at the description in Ether 2:17,
"And they were built after a manner that they were exceedingly tight, 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."
Where the Brother of Jared learned to build these unusual ships, we are not told for certain, but the Book of Ether specifically compares the water tightness of the Jaredite vessels to Noah's ark. Remember that Jared and his friends were coming from the Middle East where the ark had landed at the end of the great flood. It was perhaps hundreds of years later that the people commenced building the great tower, possibly to avoid drowning in another flood. Is it possible that the Brother of Jared had been to the mountain to see the remains of the ark? Certainly the history of the ark and the style of its construction would have been known to him. Like the ark described in Genesis, the Jaredite barges had a top that was water tight, a bottom that was water tight, and sides that were water tight. The vessels were peaked at both ends. Imagine the shape of a duck with its head at one end and its tail at the other resting lightly upon the water. We are told in Genesis that the ark had a door on its side that was three stories tall, but which sealed water tight when all were aboard. It appears the Jaredite vessels were very much like the ark but smaller in size.
As the Brother of Jared and his friends build their ships, it must have become increasingly clear that there were some challenges or problems that they still didn't understand. It is important that the Brother of Jared finishes the barges before he approaches the Lord to ask for guidance with respect to these new issues. After presenting his finished vessels to the Lord, in Ether chapter 2 verse 19 he states three problems: First, in them there is no light; second, whither shall we steer, or in other words, how will we steer if we are sealed inside? And third, "in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish."
Now please focus with me on the three ways the Lord works with the Brother of Jared to approach these challenges. Each one is solved differently, and in each solution, the roles of the Brother of Jared and the Lord are different. Most importantly, these three examples show us ways that the Lord works with us in solving the challenges and problems of our lives.
It is interesting that the Lord did not help the Brother of Jared find the answers in the same order that he asked the questions. His third question about air to breathe is the first one answered. I don't know what the Brother of Jared's profession was but it does not appear that he was a graduate in the thermodynamics of air flow. In any event, in Ether 2, verse 20, the Lord simply gives the Brother of Jared the right answer: Put a hole in the top, a hole in the bottom, and use plugs to stop one or both holes when water is coming in.
You've heard this description before. There has been some interesting speculation over the years about how this air system worked, from boats that flipped over with one plug being used to always close the bottom hole, to the concept of an ancient compressor system. Let me suggest a much simpler answer. If you look back at verse 17, the last thing referred to that was tight like a dish was the door of the vessel. If this door was positioned like the ark's, it was on a vertical or near-vertical side of the ship. (This is not like the "V-hulled" ships of modern times.) In calmer seas, both the bottom and top of the door would be out of the water and open holes at the bottom and top of the door would create a natural drafting system to draw fresh air into the vessel. If the seas were rougher, the bottom hole would need to be plugged to keep water out of the vessel even though the top hole could remain open for some air exchange. When the vessels were buried in the depths of the sea, both holes would need to be plugged. In any event, the peaked ends of the ship would have immediately righted the vessel, even if it were temporarily flipped over, so a hole in the bottom of the vessel would be of no value. I would suggest that the holes were in the top and bottom of the door to create a natural ventilation system. But back to the method or problem solving. How does this apply to us? Some questions in our lives the Lord will just answer, if we have done what we are supposed to (like building the boats) and then we ask for His help.
The first of the three questions the Brother of Jared asks the Lord was about light for the vessels. The Lord deals with this problem quite differently and uses it to prepare the Brother of Jared for one of the greatest spiritual experiences recorded in all scripture. In verse 22, having gained faith by fixing the breathing issue, the Brother of Jared re-approaches the Lord and asks again, "Oh Lord wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?"
How many of you have asked a teacher a question and had him or her respond back with another question? Great teachers often lead us to answers by asking questions. And so the Lord responds in verse 23 of chapter 2, "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" Now he has the Brother of Jared thinking. Then the Lord starts to help the Brother of Jared better define both his question and his choices in verses 23, 24, and 25. The Lord says you can't have windows because the waves will break them. You can't have fire (probably because it would consume the air). You need a solution that provides light, even when you are swallowed up in the depths of the sea. These observations by the Lord certainly narrowed the possible solutions. And then the interview with the Lord ends.
Now it's the Brother of Jared's chance to problem solve and he selects a possible solution. In chapter 3, verse 1, he goes to a high mountain and there moltens or refines out of rock 16 small stones. In their refined state, they were white, clear, and transparent like crystal.
We are often led to believe that the Brother of Jared thought up the concept of the shining stones on his own. This, however, may not have been the case at all. In some ancient legends, the ark of Noah was lit by a large shining stone. If so, it is likely the Brother of Jared would have known about this possible solution or he would have discovered it in his research. But whether he knew it already, discovered it from history, or just imagined it on his own, the Brother of Jared proceeds a long way to prepare this solution before he re-approaches the Lord. After finally forging the 16 small "crystalline" stones, in verses 2 through 4 of Chapter 3, he pleads with the Lord to forgive him of his weaknesses, he expresses his great faith in the Lord's power, and asks, "Touch these stones, Oh Lord, with thy finger and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness that we may have light while we shall cross the sea." It is important to consider that the Brother of Jared appears fully committed to cross the sea in the vessels, even if the Lord does not touch the stones and provide the light they so desperately need. He is willing to go forth in darkness if that is what it takes to be obedient. In response to his plea, in verse 6 the Lord stretches forth His hand and touches the stones one by one with His finger, and the veil is taken off the eyes of the Brother of Jared; he sees that the Lord's finger and sees that it looks like flesh and blood, and he is struck with fear and falls to the earth.
Listen carefully to the discussion that now occurs between the Lord and the Brother of Jared and how the Lord instructs brings him along. In verse 7, the Lord instructs the Brother of Jared to "Arise," or standup before him, and asks, "Why hast thou fallen?" Well certainly the Lord knew why the Brother of Jared has fallen to the earth. The Brother of Jared answers that he did not know the Lord had flesh and blood and he was frightened that the Lord might smite him. In verse 9, the Lord then teaches him that his faith is allowing him to see that the Lord will take upon himself flesh and blood when he comes to earth. And then the Lord prepares and strengthens the Brother of Jared by commending him for his great faith. In verse 9, the interview continues. The Lord asks, "Sawest thou more than this?" And now with courage, knowing that he is accepted of the Lord and can stand in His presence, the Brother of Jared replies, "Nay Lord, show thyself unto me."
Listen carefully to the Lord's response. Before revealing Himself to the Brother of Jared, in verse 11, the Lord asks a most important question: "Believest thou the words which I shall speak?" The Lord does not ask him to believe what he is about to see when the Lord appears. He asks him whether he will believe the words the Lord will speak. And after the Brother of Jared affirms that he will and does believe what he is about to hear, the Lord shows himself and speaks the following words describing His mission as the Savior and Redeemer. The Lord says,
"I am He who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have light and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name. And they shall become my sons and my daughters."
Look how far the Lord has brought the Brother of Jared. A short time ago, he is sitting in fear on the seashore, and, now with the Lord's step-by-step teaching and mentoring, he is full of faith sufficient to do whatever hard thing the Lord would ask. Recognizing his extraordinary progress and great faith, the Lord says to him, "Because thou knowest these things, ye are redeemed from the fall and brought back into my presence."
Although we often end the story here, the Book of Ether continues in Chapter 6 with the story of the Jaredites crossing the raging deep. And here is the answer to the third question that the Brother of Jared asks, "How shall we steer?" The answer required the faith of the Brother of Jared and his people, but was not within their control; the solution could only be provided by the Lord. We are told that they set forth with faith and they were tossed upon the waves of the sea and many times they were buried in the depths of the sea because of the mountain waves and the great and terrible tempests and storms. But as described in chapter 6, the Lord did cause that "a furious wind" of His own making did blow upon the face of the waters toward the Promised Land continually. And in verses 11 and 12, we are told that the people of Jared were driven forth before the wind for 344 days upon the water (just 21 days short of a year). And with faith they continued their journey until they did set their feet upon the shores of the Promised Land. And they bowed themselves down and humbled themselves before the Lord and shed tears of joy because of the Lord's tender mercies over them.
I love the story of the Brother of Jared because it has meaning to me at many levels. I know he is a real person and his story is true; it actually happened the way it is told and it gives me courage to know how much the Lord loved him and how much He loves us. The story especially rings true to me after many years of experience. I have observed and felt the hand of the Lord in my life. I know there have been times when the Lord has simply answered my prayers and told me how to do something or help me solve a problem, as he did with the Brother of Jared when he needed a solution for how they would breathe in their boats.
I have also taken problems to the Lord that have required much study and research, and great effort, patience and diligence, on my part, before the Lord has lifted me beyond my human capacity and in the end helped me solve the challenges I was facing, as he did with the Brother of Jared's 16 small stones. Most profoundly, throughout my life, as I have tried to be faithful, I have felt the Lord's wind at my back constantly pushing me forward to the promised land which is symbolic of returning home to our Father in Heaven.
I also love this story because it tells me that I don't have to see or know everything to be saved or to be right with the Lord. That He only requires that I believe and act upon His words as He has spoken, and that is enough to keep me on the path home.
I remember clearly reading this story as a young bishop many years ago and for the first time feeling the inspiration about the great mountain waves the Brother of Jared saw that sank him to his knees in fear. I was frightened also. I was learning that there are some things in life that look just too hard even for the best of us. There are times of fear and uncertainty, when you feel that you are just no match for what lies ahead. It was at that time that I learned that the story of the Brother of Jared was about me, and is about all of us, as we seek to make our way by faith through this life.
So how does this story apply in your life? First, this time in Laie is a time of preparation for each of you. Do not sit on the seashore (at least not too often or too long). Throw yourself into you education. Learn how the Church works and how to provide greater service. Take Elder Ballard's challenge to use the internet to spread the gospel in your native language. Learn Family History. Take time to repeatedly experience the ordinances of the temple, and learn to administer those ordinances if you have the opportunity. Day-to-day here, refine your raw ore into a "clear, white, transparent" receptacle, and let the Lord fill you with light. Behold you will become His light bearers to the world, filled with His knowledge, power, and spirit, and Zion will be wherever you go. I believe this story applies to you in another way as well. As a mission president in California, my wife and I had the opportunity to serve with young men and young women from throughout the world. We had missionaries from many lands, including Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Russia, Mongolia, Japan, Korea, and Cambodia, just to mention a few. At one going home transfer of 11 missionaries, we had descendants of Dan, Benjamin, Judah, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Issachar, as declared in their patriarchal blessings.
I am largely a descendant of the early converts, leaders, and pioneers of this dispensation. I know their stories and the great things that they accomplished against great odds. Many of you here are also primarily of European decent. You have great and important missions to perform. But as my wife and I served with missionaries from these distant lands, we felt we were among the modern pioneers and the future leaders of the Lord's kingdom as it spreads across the earth.
A number of years ago we held a reunion here in Laie with 15 of our missionaries, who were mostly from Asia and the Pacific. We had felt the power and destiny of these young missionaries as we served with them, but at that reunion, I came to understand how this unique place was helping them become an even more powerful influence for good.
Most of our missionaries from Asia, and some from Polynesia, were the first converts in their families. They came to us from groups of Latter-day Saints that were so small they weren't called wards, but branches, and I used to joke with them that they should have been called "twigs". The role each of you will have in bringing the Church and the fullness of the gospel to your own people and in your own language you must find for yourself. But whatever that role is and however you choose to serve, I know there will be days when it will all just look too hard and fear will fill your heart. You will feel the temptation to sit on the seashore in your tent even as the Lord is calling you to face the mountain waves on your way to the Promised Land. Remember then this story of the Brother of Jared and that the promises of the Lord are sure. He promises you that just as he gave the Jaredites air to breath, he will provide sufficient of the world's goods for you and your family to fulfill your designated missions. He promises you that like the Jaredites, you will not take your journey in darkness. Each of you has felt the light of Christ in your life, you have felt the power of the Holy Spirit guide you, and the Lord promises you that there is greater light ahead.
Finally, the Lord promises you that regardless of the mountain waves of the raging deep, regardless of the great and terrible tempests, and regardless of paralyzing fear you may feel, His power will always overshadow you and His strong and constant wind will be at your back to bring you to your Promised Land, and eventually home to your Father in Heaven.
So in conclusion, this was the invitation of the Lord to the Brother of Jared, anciently; and it is His invitation to you. Whatever your challenges and concerns, regardless of the mistakes you have made in the past, and in the face of your fears, get off the seashore and into the mountain waves. Chose now to move forward with faith, and the Lord will light your way and bring you safely home through all the tempests and storms of mortality. I bear witness that God lives, that Jesus Christ, His son, is our Savior, that this is His Church, and of the power of the Lord to bring us home, I bear witness, as he did the people of Jared. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.