The Jaredite record began about 2200 BC and the book of Ether covers a period of over 1700 years. Ether was the last Jaredite prophet. In it, we learn of a great man called Mahonri Moriancumer, the brother of Jared. We learn of his faith and his three-hour interview with the Lord during which he was chastened. The Lord must have really loved him! (see Job 5:17 & Revelation 3:19). His reaction and subsequent actions were much different than that of Laman & Lemuel when they were corrected (see 1 Nephi 16:1-2).
In Ether chapter 12, we learn about faith and why men are given weaknesses. Our understanding is also deepened as to why "the greatest of these is charity".
"Charity is, perhaps, in many ways a misunderstood word. We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more.
"Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. It makes the thought of [putting others down] repulsive.
"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other" (Elder Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, May 1992, 18-19).
In Ether 12:41, we read: "And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen."
Elder Jeffrey Holland shared the following insight: "'Abide in me' is an understandable and beautiful enough concept in the elegant English for the King James Bible, but abide is not a word we use much anymore. So I gained even more appreciation for this admonition from the Lord when I was introduced to the translation of this passage in another language. In Spanish that familiar phrase is rendered permaneced en mi. Like the English verb abide, permanecer means 'to remain, to stay,' but even [English-speakers] like me can hear the root cognate there of 'permanence.' The sense of this, then, is stay--but stay forever'" (Ensign, May 2004, 32).
In Ether chapter 12, we learn about faith and why men are given weaknesses. Our understanding is also deepened as to why "the greatest of these is charity".
"Charity is, perhaps, in many ways a misunderstood word. We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more.
"Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. It makes the thought of [putting others down] repulsive.
"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other" (Elder Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, May 1992, 18-19).
In Ether 12:41, we read: "And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen."
Elder Jeffrey Holland shared the following insight: "'Abide in me' is an understandable and beautiful enough concept in the elegant English for the King James Bible, but abide is not a word we use much anymore. So I gained even more appreciation for this admonition from the Lord when I was introduced to the translation of this passage in another language. In Spanish that familiar phrase is rendered permaneced en mi. Like the English verb abide, permanecer means 'to remain, to stay,' but even [English-speakers] like me can hear the root cognate there of 'permanence.' The sense of this, then, is stay--but stay forever'" (Ensign, May 2004, 32).
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