Sunday School 41 - Ether 1-5

Class, 

I know I have not written in a while. I am not a teacher but a member of Sunday School. That's neither here nor there.

This week we are studying Ether chapters 1 through 5. Moronic wanted to show that society was the same over and over by showing the information King Mosiah had acquired, namely the book of Ether. Society doesn't change. Satan gets through good governments and corrupts kings and leaders. Jared and his brother took them out of the equations of the towers only to bring their children into a world that would be run by kings. Some cared and others didn't care, but I am getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning.

Jared had a brother who was a prophet. During this time, God was asking Jared and his brother to prepare for change. There was a change of language and location. The first three chapters give us how righteousness played in their experience. Jared's brother saw Christ because of being curious about the finger of the Lord, all because he was asked to build dishboats and solve for light and air. Line upon line and step by step, the family was blessed with keeping their language, staying with their families, building the correct vessels, and traveling in safety to the promised land. 

Now let's look at some cool things...

Eight in Hebrew means renewal. Has that always been that way? Jared built eight dish-like vessels. These vessels need light and air. For one the Lord said make holes with plugs. However, the second need He, the Lord, said, "What would you have me do?" He does the same for us. When traveling through the trials and chaos of life, we are given strict and direct instructions to navigate our courses. However, we are asked what we want to do about light. Jared presented a solution, prayed for mercy, and had the Lord touch the sixteen stones. Touch them, he did, and they glowed. 

Have we asked for the Lord to touch our lives? Have we seen his hand in our lives and have wanted to see more? When ask for a little the Lord offers more. When he asks for a little, he pays us back full and then some. God wants to give you everything, but to do so would be a firehose of blessings that we could not comprehend nor appreciate. At times we need to see a little at a time. Prepare ourselves and our children for more.

Another thing I learned is that if you can be bought for even a small price you are vulnerable. In later chapters we watch kings sell their virtue for women and money.  Kingdoms and principalities came and went. When you recognize that you are bought with a price then you will never seek out. You're priceless and the person who bought you wants to give you the world. He wants your loyalty and trust. We can say we love the Lord but are we loyal? Do we renew that loyalty weekly at the Sacrament table? 

When the danger is immediate the revelation is also. When the danger is low, the Lord asks for faith and thinking. That's why the Lord gave instructions for air but asked for faith for Light. When we want the light of Christ, he asks how we want it.

There is a difference between saying a prayer vs. praying. When we say a prayer, there is no immediate danger or stress, but when we are praying, when we are truly fasting, pleading for an answer, there is a distinct difference, and both approaches are appreciated. One has thanks, and the other has opportunities to exercise faith, your deep, resounding trust. Jared and his brother learned both. We need to do the same. God loves us a lot but we must realize he is loyal and he trusts us. We need to see that. 

We must learn to endure chaos when God will not take it away. Pray for strength when when the weight is breaking us. God will use breaking like a horse to change us, strengthen us, and increase our trust and faith. Our lives may be flipped like the air-tight boats of Jared, chaos flips our lives, but we must trust that God got us and is lighting our path, leading us to a new place we will call home heaven. 

This week give thanks for his light. Renew your loyalty. Will we fall, maybe, but that is ok because we can repent and correct our course. God is at the helm, folks. He's got us in his hands, just squeeze and hold on tight.  The cornerstone taught the stones for light for Jared and his brother; hell does the same for us. Just say "Here are my limitations: what can I do for you, Lord?" God sees us and will teach us the path we will be willing to take.
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