The Book of Ether

Faith: Mormonism
Text: Book of Mormon
Volume: Ether
Author: Moroni (Abridger); Ether (Original Scribe)

Overview

The Book of Ether is an abridgment by the prophet Moroni of twenty-four gold plates found by the people of Limhi. It details the history of the Jaredites, a group led by Jared and his brother at the time of the Tower of Babel. God grants them a 'choice land' (the Americas) on the condition that they serve Him or be 'swept off.' The narrative includes theophany, where the pre-mortal Christ appears to the brother of Jared, revealing His spirit body. The text outlines cycles of righteousness and prosperity followed by wickedness, idolatry, and the rise of 'secret combinations' (oath-bound conspiracies) that eventually destabilize the government. The history concludes with a civil war of total annihilation, leaving only the prophet Ether (who records the account) and the king Coriantumr as survivors. Theologically, it emphasizes faith as a power to pierce the veil, the conditional nature of inhabiting the promised land, and the danger of secret societies.

Key Figures

  • The Brother of Jared
  • Jared
  • The Lord (Jesus Christ)
  • Moroni
  • Ether
  • Coriantumr
  • Shiz
  • Akish
  • Orihah

Doctrines Analyzed

Key theological claims identified in this text:

1

The Anthropomorphic Pre-Mortal Spirit

Assertion

Christ possessed a spirit body before His incarnation that looked identical to a physical body of flesh and blood.

Evidence from Text

Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit... and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh. (Ether 3:16)

Evangelical Comparison

Evangelical theology holds that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and that the Son took on human nature only at the Incarnation (John 1:14). Ether 3 teaches that the pre-mortal Christ already had a human form (spirit body) that was visible and tangible enough to have a 'finger' (Ether 3:6). This supports the Mormon doctrine that spirit is matter and that the human form is the eternal form of God, contrasting with the classical Trinitarian view of God as incorporeal spirit.

2

Conditional Land Tenure

Assertion

The Americas are a 'choice land' where inhabitants must serve the God of the land (Christ) or be destroyed when 'ripened in iniquity.'

Evidence from Text

And he had sworn in his wrath... that whoso should possess this land of promise... should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off... (Ether 2:8)

Evangelical Comparison

While the Old Testament outlines a land covenant for Israel (Deuteronomy 28), the New Testament expands the Kingdom of God to a spiritual reality not bound by geography (John 18:36). Ether applies a Deuteronomic-style covenant specifically to the American continent, claiming a spiritual necessity for any nation there to be Christian or face total annihilation. This creates a theology of geography absent in the New Testament.

3

Weakness as a Divine Gift

Assertion

God intentionally gives men weakness (singular) to facilitate humility.

Evidence from Text

I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me... (Ether 12:27)

Evangelical Comparison

In Evangelical theology, God created man good; sin and weakness are intrusions caused by the Fall (Romans 5:12). God uses our weakness, but He does not 'give' it to us as a tool for humility. Ether 12:27 implies a pedagogical utility to human flaw that borders on making God the author of imperfection. Furthermore, it conditions the sufficiency of grace on the human act of humbling oneself ('if they humble themselves'), whereas biblical grace is the unmerited favor that enables humility.

Comparative Analysis

Status: Yes

Theological Gap

The Book of Ether introduces a Christology where Jesus exists as a spirit-man before the Incarnation, blurring the distinction between Creator and creaturely form. It also presents a 'theology of geography' where salvation and survival are tied to the American continent. Most critically, the soteriology in Ether 12:27 conditions the sufficiency of grace on the prior action of the believer (humbling themselves), whereas Evangelicalism teaches that grace is the unmerited favor of God that precedes and enables all human response. The text also promotes a 'knowledge over faith' epistemology (Ether 3:13, 19) that suggests the goal of faith is to move beyond it to sight in this life.

Shared Values with Evangelicalism

  • The necessity of repentance
  • The reality of Jesus Christ
  • The danger of conspiracy and corruption
  • The power of prayer

Friction Points

1 Major

Sola Gratia

Grace is presented as sufficient only *after* or *if* men humble themselves (Ether 12:27).

2 Critical

Theology Proper (Trinity/Incarnation)

Christ claims to be the Father and the Son (Ether 3:14) and has a pre-mortal body of flesh-like spirit (Ether 3:16).

3 Major

Kingdom of God

Ties the Kingdom to a specific geographic location (Americas) with a threat of destruction for non-compliance.

Semantic Warnings

Terms that have different meanings between traditions:

"Faith"

In This Text

A power or force that causes miracles and penetrates the veil (Ether 12:12, 30).

≠
In Evangelicalism

Trust and reliance on the character and promises of God (Hebrews 11:1).

Example: In Ether 12:30, the Brother of Jared moves a mountain 'because' of his faith, treating faith as the mechanism of power.

"Redeemed"

In This Text

Brought back into God's presence through knowledge and vision (Ether 3:13).

≠
In Evangelicalism

Purchased from the slavery of sin by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7).

Example: Ether 3:13: 'Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall.'

Soteriology (Salvation)

Salvation Defined: Being redeemed from the Fall, entering God's presence, and inheriting the 'choice land.'

How Attained: Through faith that leads to knowledge, repentance, and keeping the specific covenant of the land.

Basis of Assurance: Personal revelation and 'perfect knowledge' (Ether 3:19-20).

Comparison to Sola Fide: Ether 3:13 links redemption to 'knowing these things,' and Ether 12:27 conditions grace on humility. This differs from Romans 3:28, which states a man is justified by faith apart from deeds of the law.

Mandates & Requirements

Explicit Commands

  • Serve the God of the land (Jesus Christ) or be swept off (Ether 2:8)
  • Repent of iniquities (Ether 2:11)
  • Believe in God so that miracles can be wrought (Ether 12:12)
  • Seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written (Ether 12:41)

Implicit Obligations

  • Avoid secret combinations and oaths
  • Maintain a 'broken heart and contrite spirit' to receive revelation
  • Treasure up/hide sacred records for future generations

Ritual Requirements

  • Prayer (crying unto the Lord)
  • Baptism (mentioned in Ether 4:18)

Evangelism Toolkit

Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:

Discovery Questions

Open-ended questions to promote reflection:

  1. In Ether 12:27, it says grace is sufficient 'if' men humble themselves. How do you know when you have humbled yourself enough to make grace sufficient?
  2. Ether 3:13 says the Brother of Jared was redeemed 'because' he knew the things the Lord showed him. Does redemption come from our knowledge/vision, or from Christ's finished work on the cross?
  3. The text mentions millions dying in battle at the Hill Ramah (Cumorah). Why do you think there is no archaeological trace of such a massive event?

Redemptive Analogies

Bridges from this text to the Gospel:

1

The Barges and the Light

Gospel Connection:

The Jaredites were in vessels 'tight like a dish' (safe from judgment waters) but had no light. They needed God to touch stones to provide light within.

Scripture Bridge: John 8:12 - Jesus is the light of the world. Like the barges, we need internal light to navigate the darkness of the world.

Spiritual Weight

Burdens this text places on adherents:

1 Performance/Uncertainty Moderate

The conditionality of grace in Ether 12:27 ('if they humble themselves') places the burden of initiating salvation on the believer's emotional state and self-abasement.

2 Fear of Destruction Severe

The repeated threat that inhabitants of the land will be 'swept off' if they are not righteous creates a corporate anxiety where the individual's safety is tied to the nation's morality.

+ Epistemology

Knowledge Source: Faith leading to visual confirmation (Theophany).

Verification Method: Trial of faith precedes the witness (Ether 12:6).

Evangelical Contrast: Ether 3:19-20 suggests that 'perfect knowledge' (seeing) replaces faith. Biblical epistemology (Hebrews 11:1) defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for, which remains the mode of Christian existence until the eschaton (2 Corinthians 5:7 'we walk by faith, not by sight').

+ Textual Criticism

Dating: Purported to be ancient (2200 BC - 600 BC), abridged approx. 400 AD, published 1830.

Authorship: Attributed to Ether (ancient prophet) and Moroni (abridger); Critical view attributes to Joseph Smith.

Textual Issues: Contains 19th-century revivalist language ('born again,' 'secret combinations' - a term used for Masons in Smith's time) and KJV New Testament phrasing in an Old Testament setting.