Ether 2

(Below is a list of questions that help me think about each verse as I read it. The numbers represent the verses in the chapter.)

As we act in faith on direction the Lord has given us, we can receive further guidance from him. The Lord is not pleased when we fail to call upon him in prayer. The Lord desires us to call upon him regularly and prayer. As we strive to do our part to solve our problems, we can receive the Lord's help.

1-3. How did the Jaredites respond to the instructions the Lord gave them about preparing to travel to the promised land? How thorough were these people in preparing to travel to an unknown land? When you receive instructions from the Lord, such as a church calling or a prompting to do something, how thorough are you in preparing to carry out and perform that task?

4-5. How did the Jaredite's know where to go and in what direction to go as they traveled in the wilderness? How can your mortal journey be compared to traveling in a wilderness? Where can you turn to for direction on this journey?

6. These people were directed continually by the hand of the Lord. What can you do in your life to receive that continual direction from the Lord? How can the Lord's continual guidance and direction bless and benefit you, your friends and your family?

"Seldom will you receive a complete response [to prayer] all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires you to exercise faith in our Father's capacity to respond. While sometimes it's very hard, it results in significant personal growth." – Richard G Scott, GC, April 2007

7. The Lord desired the people to complete their journey through the wilderness so that they ended up in the Promised Land. How does this principle help you more deeply understand your mortal journey here on the earth? What does the Lord desire for you?

8. What is the Lords promise to those who serve him in the Promised Land? What will happen to those who neglect to serve him? What can you do to prevent being swept from the land of promise?

9. What Scriptural examples do we have of a people who became ripened in iniquity and were swept off the land of promise? What warning for us in our day do you find in these examples?

10. How do you know if a society is approaching the fullness of iniquity?

The Nephites "had been told that it was a privilege for anyone to live on the American continent, for it is a promised land, and those who reside here must abide by the rules that God decreed pertaining to it. Only those who are willing to serve Jesus Christ, who is the God of this land, may remain here. Others will be swept off." – Mark E Peterson, GC, October 1978

11. What can you do to ensure that your life never becomes ripened in iniquity? How can the principles of obedience and repentance be considered a form of insurance against the calamities that are sure to follow iniquity?

"This knowledge has been revealed to us that we may know the decrees of God – that we may repent, and not continue in our iniquities until the fullness come, that we may not bring down the fullness of the wrath of God upon us as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done." – Marion G Romney, GC, October 1975

"The very reason the book has been given to us is that we may know the decrees of God set forth there in and buy a obedience to them escape the calamities which are to follow disobedience. " – Marion G Romney, GC, April 1960

12. What can you do to help your nation remain free from bondage?

"Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, salmon, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, or deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion. The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel, through his servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times. Have we heeded his counsel?" – Ezra Taft Benson, the teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, page 706

13. How do we know that this place was named after the brother of Jared?

"While residing in Kirtland Elder Reynolds Cahoon had a son born to him. One day when President. Joseph Smith was passing his door he called the prophet in and asked him to bless and name the baby. Joseph did so and gave the boy the name of Mahonri Moriancumer. When he had finished the blessing he made the child on the bed, and turning to Elder Cahoon he said, the name I had given your son is the name of the brother of Jared; the Lord has just shown [Or revealed] it to me. I'll do William F Cahoon, who was standing near heard the profit make this statement to his father; and this was the first time the name of the brother of Jared was known in the church in this dispensation." – George Reynolds, the Jaradite's, juvenile instructor, May 1, 1892, page 282

14. Have you ever been chastened or corrected? How did you feel during the experience? How did the brother of Jared's chastisement compared to yours? Why was he chastised? How often do you pray? How do you feel about the frequency of your personal prayers? How do you feel about the sincerity of your personal prayers? In your personal prayers, do you feel that you truly communicate with heavenly father? Why or why not?

"Daily fervent prayers seeking forgiveness and special help and direction are essential to our lives and the nourishment of our testimonies. When we become hurried, repetitive, casual, or forgetful in our prayers, we tend to lose the closeness of the Spirit, which is so essential in the continual direction we need to successfully manage the challenges of our everyday lives. Family prayer every morning and night adds additional blessings and power to our individual prayers and to our testimonies." – Donald L Staheli, GC, October 2004

15. How did the chastening that the brother of Jared received affect him? If you could make one change in your prayers that would improve your personal prayers, what might it be?

"Remember that if we resist correction, others may discontinue offering it altogether, despite their love for us. If we repeatedly failed to act on the chastening of a loving God, then he too will desist… Eventually, much of our chastening should come from within – we should become self-correcting." – D Todd Christofferson, GC, April 2011

16. What did the Lord command the Jaradite people to do after they had repented for their forgetfulness of their God?

17. In Scripture when a phrase is repeated numerous times it is often of great importance. What phrase is repeated over and over in this verse? How can this phrase, tight like unto a dish, help us know how to live in the world but not of the world?

18-19. What problems did the brother of Jared face after building the barges?

20-25. If someone came to you with a problem what might some of the approaches be that could help them find a solution? How does the Lord help the brother of Jared solve his problems?

20-21. How did the Lord help Jared solve the problem of needing air to breeze in the barges? How did the brother of Jared's faith help him to receive this solution? Have you ever asked someone for advice or help and have them tell you what you should do? How did you receive that counsel? If you followed it, did you first seek a confirming witness from the spirit?

22-24. Why do you think that the brother of Jared did not want to travel in darkness? How did the Lord help him solve his problem? Did he receive an immediate answer? How did the Lord help him to further understand why traditional forms of light would not provide a solution to his dilemma?

25. What did the Lord expect the brother of Jared to do concerning his problem? Have you ever faced a problem or challenge, approach the Lord with it, but received no immediate answer? How might this story help you know what the Lord expects of you? Why is it important to pray like everything depends upon God, and then get up off your knees and act like the answer depends upon you? What does the Lord expect you to do when it comes to solving your problems? How can knowing this principle hope you to receive help or guidance concerning your decisions? What do you think the Lord might expect you to do in making your decision?