Ether 1

“Cry unto the Lord”

How does your communication with the Lord change when you face challenges? When wicked people attempted to build a tower to reach heaven, the Lord confounded their language so that they couldn’t understand one another (see Genesis 11:1–9). The brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, pleading that He would spare his family and friends this confusion (see Ether 1:34–37). The Lord responded to his earnest prayers with compassion and mercy. This lesson is intended to inspire you to pray more sincerely and consistently.

Teaching basic concepts. Students may frequently hear about basic concepts in the gospel of Jesus Christ (such as prayer). Helping students see how these basic concepts can bless their lives can help them stay engaged in lessons where these basic concepts are taught.

Student preparation: Invite students to read Ether 1:34–37 and to mark the phrase “cry unto the Lord.” Ask them to come prepared to share what this phrase means to them and how it might be different than the ways we sometimes pray.

Possible Learning Activities

Sincere and consistent actions

Consider displaying or writing on the board the following fill-in-the-blank statements. Invite students to get into pairs or small groups and share how they might fill in the blanks.

Think of an action that is good to do, such as studying, exercising, or serving others. Use that action in the following statements, and complete the phrases in an appropriate way.

• If someone (action) occasionally, then .

• If someone (action) sincerely and consistently for a long time, then .

• How might you complete these same two statements using the action of prayer?

  Consider writing students’ answers to the following question on the board.

• What are some reasons we may not always be as sincere or consistent in our prayers as we wish?

Invite students to ponder their answers to the questions in the following paragraph. Do not invite them to share their answers.

Take a moment to ponder your own prayers. What helps you be sincere and consistent? What may prevent you from being sincere and consistent? Why may you want to improve?

As you study this lesson, look for truths that may help you with your prayers.

The book of Ether

At this point in the Book of Mormon, Moroni included the book of Ether. This contains the story of the Jaredites. It was translated from the 24 gold plates found by people sent by Limhi (see Mosiah 8:7–11; Ether 1:1–2). This book begins with the account of the brother of Jared and his prayers to the Lord. Look at the following timeline (dates are approximated) to see when he lived in comparison to other people you have studied in the Book of Mormon this year:

Consider displaying the following timeline to help students understand when the Jaredites lived. Understanding this context of the scriptures can help students gain more insights as they study.

Read Ether 1:33 to see what was happening as the story of the Jaredites began.

• What do you know about the “great tower” and “the Lord [confounding] the language of the people” (Ether 1:33)?

Listen to students’ answers and summarize the following story or watch the following video if useful.

If this story is unfamiliar to you, consider watching the video “The Tower of Babel” (0:58), found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read Genesis 11:1–9 (see also the second paragraph of the title page to the Book of Mormon).

The Tower of Babel

• What might it have felt like to live during this time?

Crying unto God in faith

At times, the scriptures contain repeated phrases to give those phrases more emphasis or importance. Looking for these repeated phrases can help us better understand what the inspired author was trying to teach.

Read Ether 1:34–37 to see how Jared and his brother sought to solve their problems. Consider marking the repeated phrases that show how the brother of Jared prayed and how the Lord answered.

• What did you learn from the phrases you marked?

Listen carefully as students respond. Write any true principles they share on the board.

One principle we learn from this account is that as we cry unto God in faith, He will have compassion on us.

Invite students to recall their preparation for class. After students have written their thoughts about the following prompts, consider placing them in pairs and inviting them to share their answers.

Write down how you would explain this principle to someone. Include the following points in your explanation:

• What you think it means to cry unto the Lord in faith and how this might be different from how we sometimes pray

• What the Lord’s responses to the brother of Jared teach you about Him

• Some ways the Lord might answer our prayers with compassion

To see a modern example of the Lord responding in compassion to sincere and consistent prayer, watch “Answers to Prayer” from time code 2:17 to 4:32, found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Answers to Prayer

It is important to realize that we do not know how long it took for the brother of Jared to receive his answers. Elder Brook P. Hales of the Seventy shared the following:

The Father is aware of us, knows our needs, and will help us perfectly. Sometimes that help is given in the very moment or at least soon after we ask for divine help. Sometimes our most earnest and worthy desires are not answered in the way we hope, but we find that God has greater blessings in store. And sometimes our righteous desires are not granted in this life. (Brook P. Hales, “Answers to Prayer,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 12)

• Why do you think these teachings are important for us to remember?

  If students would benefit from studying more about how God answers prayers, consider doing the supplemental activity titled “Answers to prayers” at this point in the lesson.

If their answers are not too personal, consider inviting students to share some ways the Lord has shown compassion for them as they have prayed to Him. You could add your own experiences as well.

Consistency in prayer

Read Ether 1:38–43; 2:5, 13–15, looking for further insights about prayer and the Lord’s answers.

Invite students to share what they learned. If useful, ask some of the following questions:

• What phrases in Ether 1:43 and 2:14 show how the Lord feels about our consistency in prayer? Why do you think He wants us to pray to Him consistently?

• The brother of Jared had a time when he was less consistent in his prayers (see Ether 2:14). What are some reasons we may be less consistent in our prayers today?

Improving prayer

Imagine you are on a youth panel discussion about how to help the youth improve their prayers.

Consider inviting several students to the front of the room for a panel discussion. Students could come up with their own questions for the panel or use the questions below.

• What is something you have done or could do to make your prayers more meaningful or sincere?

• What have you done that helps you pray consistently? What are other things you could do?

• How might thinking about your relationship with Heavenly Father influence the consistency and sincerity of your prayers? (See Bible Dictionary, “Prayer.”)

Seek the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and ponder any changes you feel you need to make in your prayers. Make a specific goal and commit to following through on any impressions you receive.

Commentary and Background Information

What was the brother of Jared’s name?

Elder George Reynolds (1842–1909) of the Seventy related that in Kirtland, the Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) was giving a name and blessing to the son of Elder Reynolds Cahoon and gave him the name of Mahonri Moriancumer. After the blessing, the Prophet indicated that this was the name of the brother of Jared. (See Book of Mormon Student Manual Rel. 121–122 [2009], 362.)

How are we blessed by sincere and consistent prayers?

Watch “Prayers of Faith” from time code 6:57 to 8:40 to see President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency offer some suggestions.

Prayers of Faith

Elder Peter M. Johnson of the Seventy explained:

Pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus Christ every day, every day, every day. It is through prayer that we can feel the love of God and show our love for Him. Through prayer we express gratitude and ask for the strength and the courage to submit our will to God’s and be guided and directed in all things. (Peter M. Johnson, “Power to Overcome the Adversary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 111)

Supplemental Learning Activities

An alternate beginning

Consider showing questions in different languages and asking students what they understand. Alternatively, invite students who speak a language the rest of the class may not understand to ask the class questions. Ask students to share how they would feel if they lived somewhere they could not understand what others were saying. As they study Ether 1, invite students to consider how this situation is like what the brother of Jared faced and what they can learn from his solution.

Alternate principle: If we pray regularly to God with faith, we can receive blessings beyond those we request

If students would benefit from studying a different truth in this lesson, invite them to look for the above principle as they study Ether 1:35–43. Ask them to create a chart like the one below to fill out as they study:

What the brother of Jared asked for	What the Lord provided

Ask them to share what they learned about Heavenly Father from this example. They could also share examples from their lives, the lives of others, and other scripture accounts where the Lord has given blessings above those requested.

Answers to prayers

Students may have questions about why God doesn’t seem to answer their prayers as clearly as He did the brother of Jared’s. You may want to present a scenario to students that is something like the following:

After studying the account of the brother of Jared in seminary, you overhear one of your classmates say, “God doesn’t really answer my prayers, at least not like that.”

Have students spend some time searching divinely appointed sources that could help someone who feels this way. Invite students to share what they find with the class.