Seminary
Ether 4–5: “Unfolding unto Them All of My Revelations”

“Ether 4–5: ‘Unfolding unto Them All of My Revelations,’” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)

“Ether 4–5,” Book of Mormon Student Manual

Ether 4–5

“Unfolding unto Them All of My Revelations”

the gold plates

Do you feel ready to learn more from the Lord? If not, what can you do? The Lord commanded Moroni to seal up the recorded vision of the brother of Jared and explained that these writings will be revealed when people have faith as the brother of Jared did. This lesson is intended to help you understand what you can do to gain further revelation.

When we are ready

Think of an object that is especially valuable to you or your family.

  • Though you may love to share this object with others, why might you be very careful about allowing a small child to handle it?

  • What would a child need to learn or do before you would trust him or her with the object?

Similarly, the Lord loves to reveal truths to us, but He waits until we are ready to receive them (see Alma 12:9–11).

The sealed portion of the Book of Mormon

An example of the Lord waiting to reveal truth until we are ready is the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith was commanded not to open or translate that portion (see Ether 5:1). It contains a record of the vision given to the brother of Jared.

To help you learn about the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, use the scriptures listed in parentheses to answer the following true or false questions.

  1. The Savior showed Himself to the brother of Jared and ministered to him (Ether 3:20).

  2. The Lord showed the brother of Jared all the inhabitants of the earth, past and future, not withholding anything from him (Ether 3:25; 4:4).

  3. The Lord commanded the brother of Jared to record what he learned and to seal up the record. It was in a language the Lord had confounded and could not be read without divine interpreters (Ether 3:21–22, 24, 27; 4:1).

  4. The Lord gave the brother of Jared three stones that could be used to translate the record (Ether 3:23–24, 28).

  5. No one has read the brother of Jared’s record (Ether 4:2–5).

The correct answers are included at the end of the lesson.

Gaining further revelation

Through Moroni, the Lord revealed what we must do to come unto Him, receive revelation, and prepare ourselves to receive the further revelation contained in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon.

Carefully read Ether 4:5–15, looking for ways to complete the following truth. The phrase “these things” in verses 8 and 11 refers to the Book of Mormon. A veil, as in the example given in verse 15, is a curtain or piece of cloth that is used to cover or hide something.

  • The Lord will bless us with further revelation as we …

The following phrases could be ways that you completed the above truth. Consider marking them in your scriptures or writing them in your study journal:

  • “repent … and become clean before the Lord” (Ether 4:6)

  • “exercise faith” (Ether 4:7)

  • “[believe] these things” (referring to what the Lord has already revealed, especially the Book of Mormon) (Ether 4:8, 11)

  • “come unto [the Savior]” (Ether 4:13–15)

  • pray “with a broken heart and contrite spirit” (Ether 4:15)

If it would help you to better understand any of these phrases, look up key words in the Guide to the Scriptures, the Topical Guide, or the Gospel Library App. For example, it may be helpful to look up “broken heart” in the Guide to the Scriptures.

icon, record

  1. To help you understand and feel the importance of these actions, do at least one of the following:

    1. Think of a scriptural or modern-day example of someone doing one or more of these actions. Write how these actions led to help and revelation from the Lord.

    2. Think of a time when doing one or more of these actions led to an answer or guidance from the Lord in your life. (One example could be pondering what you have learned from and believe through your study so far in the Book of Mormon and how it has led to revelation in your life.)

  1. Answer the following questions:

    • Why do you think the Lord would bless us with more revelation as we live the way He described in verses 5–15?

    • Why might failing to become the kind of people described by the Lord make us unprepared for further revelation?

    • What does this teach you about the Lord and the kind of people He wants us to become?

The Lord will reveal the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon in His “own due time” (2 Nephi 27:21) when we exercise the same faith as the brother of Jared (see Ether 4:7). Similarly, there may be further revelation the Lord is waiting to give you. To conclude this lesson, do the following:

  • Review the description in these verses of those who exercise faith and are sanctified, ponder in what ways you are like them and in what ways you may need to improve.

  • Ponder and pray to know what the Lord would have you do to receive further revelation from Him. Write in your study journal your thoughts and feelings.

Answers to the true or false quiz: The first three answers are true, while the last two are false.