Ether 4 is such a sad chapter for me. Moroni is completely alone, holding the record of Ether and his people while his own people have dwindled into unbelief. Christ commands him to hide up the records, and he does it, but I can’t help wondering what must have gone through his mind.
Moroni knew that Ether had seen the Savior — just as he had. I imagine there had to be some comfort in that. Almost a brotherhood between them, even though they lived generations apart.
So Moroni seals up the writings along with the interpreters the Lord had prepared — the Urim and Thummim — so they could be understood again someday. And Joseph Smith was the one who would open it all up. Ether 4:7 describes what he would need in order to do that:
- Faith in Jesus Christ like the brother of Jared had
- Faith strong enough to sanctify him
- Faith that opened the way for all the revelations he received
There’s also that warning about contending against what Joseph knew. I don’t think it ever gave Joseph any “peace” to know that. That’s not who he was. He didn’t want anyone to suffer. But he understood what rejecting the Lord’s word would mean for people. That must have been heavy for him.
As I read this chapter, I’m reminded of when I first started the Book of Mormon. I really did feel almost giddy. The Spirit was right there. I knew — and once I knew, I wanted to share that whenever I could. Verse 12 talks about how the truth persuades us to do good, and that good comes from Christ. That connection still reassures me that I’m on the right track.
And then verses 16–19 — those are exciting verses. When “these things” come forth (the Book of Mormon, the revelations that followed), we can know that the time has come. The work has begun. I sometimes pause after reading that and think, We are actually living in that time. No wonder President Nelson kept saying, “Do it now!”
There’s an urgency to it, but also a hopefulness. It makes me want to try a little harder and be a little better — now.
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