Seminary
Ether 2: “Directed Continually by the Hand of the Lord”

“Ether 2: ‘Directed Continually by the Hand of the Lord,’” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)

“Ether 2,” Book of Mormon Student Manual

Ether 2

“Directed Continually by the Hand of the Lord”

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the Savior’s guiding hand

Have you ever faced a difficult decision or problem and you were confused about what to do? As the brother of Jared and his people built barges to cross the ocean, they encountered several significant problems. The brother of Jared acted with faith in the Lord and sought His guidance in each challenge. This lesson can help you know how to seek the Lord’s help in solving your problems.

Problems and decisions

Imagine someone on social media made a list of what he or she thought were the top three most common problems and stresses youth face today. This person listed the following:

  • Pressure to do well in school

  • Getting along with friends

  • Planning for the future

  • Do you agree with this person’s choices? Why or why not?

  • What other problems or stresses might you include on the list? Why?

Take a moment to ponder the following questions:

  • What are your greatest stresses and problems?

  • Do you seek the Lord’s help with them? How?

  • How confident are you that with the Lord’s help you can overcome your stresses and problems?

Choose one of the problems or decisions you thought of that you would like the Lord’s help with. As you study, seek for truths that can guide you to receive help from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with the problem or decision you chose.

Preparing for the Lord’s help

The Jaredites followed the Lord’s direction and built barges to “cross many waters” (Ether 2:6) until they arrived at the shores of the “great sea” (Ether 2:13). The Lord then commanded them to again build barges “after the manner of the barges which [they had] hitherto built” (Ether 2:16) to cross the “great sea” to the promised land. The brother of Jared encountered several serious challenges as he sought to follow the Lord’s instructions for such a long journey.

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icon, record

  1. Create a chart like the following one in your study journal. Read Ether 2:16–25; 3:1, 4, 6 and fill in the answers you find. Notice the different ways the Lord responded to the brother of Jared.

What did the brother of Jared and his people do?

What questions or concerns did the brother of Jared have?

How did the Lord respond to his questions?

  • How might these verses apply to our lives?

One principle we can learn is that as we call upon Heavenly Father in prayer and do our part to solve our problems, we can receive the Lord’s help.

  • What are different ways the Lord responds to the brother of Jared’s questions? (See Ether 2:19–23.)

According to President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973), the Lord’s question in Ether 2:23, “What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?,” was similar to saying the following:

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President Harold B. Lee

“What would you suggest that we should do in order to have light?” …

… It was as though the Lord were saying to him, “Look, I gave you a mind to think with, and I gave you agency to use it. Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you’ve done all you can, I’ll step in to help you.” …

… If you want the blessing, don’t just kneel down and pray about it. Prepare yourselves in every conceivable way you can in order to make yourselves worthy to receive the blessing you seek. (Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places [1974], 243–44)

  • Why might the Lord in some situations give specific direction while at other times He wants us to propose a solution and seek His help to solve our problems?

  • Why might the Lord want our thoughts and efforts along with our prayers?

  • How might the ways the Lord answers our questions and concerns help us grow?

  1. Complete the following:

    To help you ponder how this principle may apply to us in our day, do one of the following activities:

    1. Write about how the Lord responded to you or someone you know with specific instructions to solve a problem or how He wanted you to propose a solution and seek His blessing. Record what you learned from the experience.

    2. Select what you think is one of the most common problems or stresses for youth today. Think of what someone could do to overcome this problem and how he or she might seek the Lord’s help.

Personal application

Consider the problem or decision you chose at the beginning of the lesson. Add the following to your chart:

What have I done or could I do to solve or overcome my problem?

What questions or concerns do I have that I could take to the Lord?

In what ways might the Lord help or answer me?

Seek Heavenly Father’s help through the Holy Ghost to know what you should do. Remember what you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that gives you confidence to seek Their help.