“Ether 2: ‘Directed Continually by the Hand of the Lord,’” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

“Ether 2,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual

Ether 2

“Directed Continually by the Hand of the Lord”

Have you ever faced a difficult decision or problem and you were confused about what to do? As the brother of Jared and his people built barges to cross the ocean, they encountered several significant problems. The brother of Jared acted with faith in the Lord and sought His guidance in each challenge. This lesson can help you know how to seek the Lord’s help in solving your problems.

Give students opportunities to seek personal revelation. President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught that “the scriptures will help us resolve all of our personal questions because by reading them we invite and qualify ourselves for the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, which will guide us into all truth” (“Studying the Scriptures,” BYU–Hawaii devotional address [Mar. 14, 1986], 18–21). Look for opportunities to help students seek the Lord’s help with their personal problems as they study the scriptures.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share experiences in which they or others they know received the Lord’s help to solve problems.

Possible Learning Activities

Problems and decisions

Invite students to work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to do the following activity.

Alternatively, students could anonymously share on slips of paper problems and stresses they and their peers are experiencing. If useful, consider listing on the board the most common problems, or ask students to list what they feel are the top three problems they face.

Imagine someone on social media made a list of what he or she thought were the top three most common problems and stresses youth face today. This person listed the following:

Pressure to do well in school
Getting along with friends
Planning for the future

Do you agree with this person’s choices? Why or why not?
What other problems or stresses might you include on the list? Why?

Invite students to silently reflect on the following questions. It may help to read the questions slowly.

What are your greatest stresses and problems?
Do you seek the Lord’s help with them? How?
How confident are you that with the Lord’s help you can overcome your stresses and problems?

Choose one of the problems or decisions you thought of that you would like the Lord’s help with. As you study, seek for truths that can guide you to receive help from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with the problem or decision you chose.

Preparing for the Lord’s help

The Jaredites followed the Lord’s direction and built barges to “cross many waters” (Ether 2:6) until they arrived at the shores of the “great sea” (Ether 2:13). The Lord then commanded them to again build barges “after the manner of the barges which [they had] hitherto built” (Ether 2:16) to cross the “great sea” to the promised land. The brother of Jared encountered several serious challenges as he sought to follow the Lord’s instructions for such a long journey.

Consider drawing the following chart on the board or inviting students to draw it in their study journals. It may be effective to divide students into pairs or small groups to read Ether 2:16–25; 3:1, 4, 6 and fill in the chart together. Or consider inviting students to read the passages and fill in the chart on their own and then compare with a partner or small group.

What did the brother of Jared and his people do?	What questions or concerns did the brother of Jared have?	How did the Lord respond to his questions?

How might these verses apply to our lives?

Consider writing students’ answers on the board and inviting students to record them in their study journals.

One principle we can learn is that as we call upon Heavenly Father in prayer and do our part to solve our problems, we can receive the Lord’s help.

What are different ways the Lord responds to the brother of Jared’s questions? (See Ether 2:19–23.)

According to President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973), the Lord’s question in Ether 2:23, “What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?,” was similar to saying the following:

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President Harold B. Lee

“What would you suggest that we should do in order to have light?” …

… It was as though the Lord were saying to him, “Look, I gave you a mind to think with, and I gave you agency to use it. Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you’ve done all you can, I’ll step in to help you.” …

… If you want the blessing, don’t just kneel down and pray about it. Prepare yourselves in every conceivable way you can in order to make yourselves worthy to receive the blessing you seek. (Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places [1974], 243–44)

Why might the Lord in some situations give specific direction while at other times He wants us to propose a solution and seek His help to solve our problems?
Why might the Lord want our thoughts and efforts along with our prayers?
How might the ways the Lord answers our questions and concerns help us grow?

Consider which of the following activities may be best for the students, or allow them to select one.

To help you ponder how this principle may apply to us in our day, do one of the following activities:

Write about how the Lord responded to you or someone you know with specific instructions to solve a problem or how He wanted you to propose a solution and seek His blessing. Record what you learned from the experience.
Select what you think is one of the most common problems or stresses for youth today. Think of what someone could do to overcome this problem and how he or she might seek the Lord’s help.

If students have modern-day examples of this principle in action, invite them to share. Consider sharing an example yourself as well.

Personal application

Consider the problem or decision you chose at the beginning of the lesson. Add the following to your chart:

What have I done or could I do to solve or overcome my problem?

What questions or concerns do I have that I could take to the Lord?

In what ways might the Lord help or answer me?

Invite students to reflect on or share their preparation for class. Then encourage them to do the following.

Seek Heavenly Father’s help through the Holy Ghost to know what you should do. Remember what you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that gives you confidence to seek Their help.

Commentary and Background Information

Why is it important for us to do our part to solve our problems?

President Russell M. Nelson said that he often heard President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) say the following:

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President Russell M. Nelson

“I don’t know how to get anything done except getting on my knees and pleading for help and then getting on my feet and going to work.” (Russell M. Nelson, “Spiritual Capacity,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 16)

President Nelson also taught:

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President Russell M. Nelson

The Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it. (Russell M. Nelson, in Joy D. Jones, “An Especially Noble Calling,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 16)

Why should we turn to the Lord for help?

Watch “Our Only Chance” from time code 2:49 to 3:45 to hear Sister Sheri L. Dew, then Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency.

Ether 2:7–12. What is the “choice land” described in Ether 2?

Many prophets, including President Ezra Taft Benson, have indicated that the “choice land” referred to in Ether 2 is America (see Ezra Taft Benson, “A Witness and a Warning,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 31, 33). However, it is important to remember that God is the source of freedom, and His promises of protection can apply to each of us in our own lands as we are willing to follow Jesus Christ (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Promised Land,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Supplemental Learning Activities

Ether 2:1–7. Additional examples

To help students see additional examples of the Jaredites’ efforts and the Lord’s help, invite them to divide a page in half. As they read Ether 2:1–7, they can write or briefly draw what the Jaredites did to prepare for their journey to the promised land on one half of the paper and how the Lord helped them on the other half of the paper.

For example, on one side of the paper, students could draw the brother of Jared praying, preparing bees and beehives, and performing other actions. On the other half, they might draw a cloud guiding a group of people. Be sure that students do not depict the Lord in any way that may be irreverent or disrespectful. Then consider asking questions like the following:

Why do you feel the Jaredites’ efforts led them to receive help from the Lord?
How would you describe the Lord based on His actions in these verses?
How does recognizing these truths about the Lord influence your feelings toward Him?

Additional ideas

For additional ways to teach this chapter, see the following sections from Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church 2024: “Ether 2; 3:1–6; 4:7–15. I can receive revelation for my life” and “Ether 2:16–25. The Lord will prepare me to cross my ‘great deep.’”