Episode 63: The brother of Jared sees the finger of the Lord

Ether 3-5

3^1-4 The brother of Jared made sixteen small stones (two for each of the eight barges), as clear as glass, out of molten rock. Then he asked the Lord to touch the stones to make them into lights to light up the inside of the barges.

⁶ The Lord did as the brother of Jared requested. And the brother of Jared saw the finger of the Lord. "It was as finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood." And it scared the hell out of him.

^7-8 When the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen down, he said, "Get up. What are you afraid of?" He said that he was afraid the Lord might smite him for looking at his finger.

⁹ The Lord said he let him see his finger because he had so much faith, more than anyone the Lord had ever seen before. But the Lord was a bit worried about what else he might have seen, so he asked, "You didn't see anything else, did you?"

¹⁰ The brother of Jared said, "No Lord, but I want to see more. Show yourself to me." ¹³ So the Lord showed himself to the brother of Jared, and said, ¹⁴ “I’m Jesus Christ. I’m the Father and the Son. ¹⁵ I’ve never shown myself to anyone else, because no one ever believed in me as much as you do. ¹⁶ But this is just my spirit body. Later I’ll appear in the flesh.” ¹⁹ After the brother of Jared saw the finger of Jesus, he lost his faith, since he now knew and no longer doubted. (Those who have faith also have doubt.) ²¹ Jesus told the brother of Jared not to tell anyone what he had seen (Jesus's finger and spirit body) and heard (that Jesus is his own father). ^22-24 He told him to write his scriptures in a language that no one can read. (Good idea!) And gave him two magic stones that will "magnify the eyes of men" so that they can read what Jared writes.

²⁵ Then Jesus showed the brother of Jared every human that has lived or ever will live. ²⁸ Jesus commanded him to write things down in the language that can't be read and then "seal them up" with the two magic stones.

The brother of Jared writes about the things that he saw

4^1-3 Jesus told Jared's brother to write about the things that he'd seen (Jesus's finger and spirit body), but Jesus told him not to tell anyone else. (It's a little secret just between him and Jesus.) 2200 years later, Jesus will be born and reveal his finger and body to the rest of the world. Then in another 1820 years, after the Lamanites kill all the Nephites and everyone has dwindled in unbelief, Joseph Smith will dig up the plates that will tell everyone all about what the brother of Jared saw.

^4-5 In about 400 CE, 2600 years after the brother of Jared saw the finger of Jesus, Moroni found the plates that the brother of Jared hid, along with the interpreters (a pair of magic stones) that Jesus provided. Moroni transcribed this information to his plates and hid them in a place (Joseph Smith's backyard) where Joseph Smith would find them about 1420 years later. And that's how we know what the brother of Jared saw 4220 years ago. Or something like that.

^6-7 This is what Jesus said to me (Moroni): “If the Gentiles repent and believe in me like the brother of Jared did, then I’ll show them the things I showed to the brother of Jared (my finger and spirit body). And I’ll let them know that I’m both the Father and the Son of God. ⁸ But whoever denies these things will be accursed. ⁹ I can burn everyone to death if I feel like it. ¹² Everything that is good comes from me. I’m the Father – the light, life, and truth of the world. ¹⁵ Those who don’t believe are in an awful state of wickedness.”

¹⁷ When you read this in the Book of Mormon, you'll know the end of the world is near. (Well, within a few hundred years, anyway.) ¹⁸ Those who don’t believe are damned and signs will follow those who believe.

The Three Witnesses

5¹ Moroni wrote this book from memory. Then he sealed it up, so don’t touch it or try to translate it. That is forbidden to you. ^2-3 There are only three witnesses will be allowed to see it, and they will testify to its truth.