COME FOLLOW ME Book of Mormon – NOVEMBER Lesson 46 “By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled” Ether 12-15 – Activities and Song Visuals for Primary and Home, family home evening (individual families), Sunday School, Seminary

Ether 12:6–22

Faith is believing in things we cannot see.

In addition to profound insights about faith, Ether 12 also has a lot to say about hope—maybe you could note each time the word “hope” appears. What does hope mean to you? What were the reasons that Ether had to “hope for a better world”? (see Ether 12:2–5). How has the gospel of Jesus Christ given you “a more excellent hope”? (Ether 12:32).

See also Moroni 7:40–41; Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 21–24; Preach My Gospel, 117.

When we read Moroni’s powerful writings, it’s easy to forget that he worried about his “weakness in writing” and feared that people would mock his words (see Ether 12:23–25). But God promised that He would “make weak things become strong” for the humble (verse 27), and the spiritual power in Moroni’s writings is convincing evidence that the Lord fulfilled this promise.

After reading Ether 12:23–29, ponder times when God has helped you recognize your weaknesses and made you strong in spite of them. Maybe this is also a good time to think about the weaknesses you are currently struggling with. What do you feel you need to do to humble yourself before the Lord and show faith in Him in order to receive His promise to “make weak things become strong”? (Ether 12:27).

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As you ponder these verses, the following insight from Elder Neal A. Maxwell may be helpful: “When we read in the scriptures of man’s ‘weakness,’ this term includes the … weakness inherent in the general human condition in which the flesh has an incessant impact upon the spirit (see Ether 12:28–29). Weakness likewise includes, however, our specific, individual weaknesses, which we are expected to overcome (see Doctrine and Covenants 66:3; Jacob 4:7)” (Lord, Increase Our Faith [1994], 84).

See also “Grace,” Gospel Topics, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• To help class members personalize the truths Moroni learned about weakness and strength in Ether 12, you could invite class members to think of someone who may be feeling discouraged because of their weaknesses. Then encourage class members to search Ether 12:23–29 to find messages that could help that person. If Moroni were here today, what might he say to encourage him or her? Class members could also share experiences from their own lives when the Savior has helped “weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27). How is this change different from self-improvement efforts that a person might make without relying on the Savior? For more on this topic, see the statement by President Henry B. Eyring in “Additional Resources.”

• Moroni’s experience is one of many in the scriptures that show how the Savior’s grace can turn our weaknesses into strengths. It might be helpful to divide the class into groups, assign each group to pick someone in the scriptures who had a weakness, and discuss how the Lord made that person strong. Some examples are suggested in “Additional Resources.” You might also suggest that class members review the definition of grace in the Bible Dictionary or True to the Faith (pages 77–78). How do the scriptural examples they studied to illustrate the power of the Savior’s grace? How do we invite this power into our lives?

• It’s common to compare our weaknesses to another’s perceived strengths; even Moroni felt he compared unfavorably to the brother of Jared (see Ether 12:24). Why is it dangerous to compare ourselves to others? According to Ether 12:26–27, how does the Lord want us to see our weakness? (see also the statement by President Henry B. Eyring in “Additional Resources”). How does He want us to see the weakness of others? (see Ether 12:26).
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Being king of the Jaredites was, historically, a dangerous position. This was especially true for Coriantumr, as many “mighty men … sought to destroy him” (Ether 13:15–16). In Ether 13:15–22, notice what Coriantumr did to protect himself and what the prophet Ether counseled him to do instead. As you read the rest of the book of Ether, ponder the consequences of rejecting the prophets. What happens to people when “the Spirit of the Lord [ceases] striving with them”? (Ether 15:19).

• Given the important truths taught in Ether 12, you may not choose to spend a lot of time in class on chapters 13–15. However, it may be useful to ask a class member to briefly summarize what happens in these chapters. To help class members find meaningful messages in this account, you could ask them to complete the phrase “thus we see …” with a lesson they learn from the fall of the Jaredites. How was their fall similar to the fall of the Nephites? (see, for example, Ether 15:19 and Moroni 8:28). What does the Lord want us to learn from these accounts, and what can we do to avoid the fate of the Jaredites? Class members could also review how the end of the book of Ether connects with Omni 1:19–22; Mosiah 8:8; and Mosiah 28:11–18.