# Ether 4

*Paraphrase*

### The Sealed Vision

The Lord told the brother of Jared to come down from the mountain and write down everything he had seen. But these writings were to remain sealed—no one could read them until after Christ was lifted up on the cross. That’s why King Benjamin kept them hidden until after Christ appeared to his people. Once Christ had revealed himself to his people, he gave the command for these things to be made known. But now, they’ve all fallen into unbelief. Only the Lamanites remain, and even they’ve rejected the gospel of Christ. So I’ve been commanded to hide these records in the earth again.

Listen—I’ve written on these plates the very things the brother of Jared saw. Nothing greater has ever been revealed than what was shown to him. That’s why the Lord commanded me to write them down. And I have. He also told me to seal them up—along with their interpretation. So I’ve sealed up the interpreters, just as the Lord commanded.

The Lord told me: “These things won’t go out to the Gentiles until the day they turn from their sins and become clean before me. When that day comes—when they have the same kind of faith the brother of Jared had—then I’ll reveal to them what he saw. I’ll unfold all my revelations to them,” says Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth and everything in them.

### Christ’s Warning and Promise

“Anyone who argues against the word of the Lord—let him be cursed. Anyone who denies these things—let him be cursed. I won’t show such people anything greater,” says Jesus Christ. “I’m the one speaking. At my command the heavens open and close. At my word the earth trembles. At my command its people pass away like fire. Whoever doesn’t believe my words doesn’t believe my disciples. And if I don’t speak, then judge for yourselves. But you’ll know it’s me speaking—on the last day.”

“But whoever does believe what I’ve said—I’ll visit them with my Spirit. They’ll know the truth and bear witness of it. My Spirit will show them these things are true, because the Spirit leads people to do good. Whatever leads people to do good comes from me. No good comes from anyone else. I’m the one who leads people to everything good. Those who won’t believe my words won’t believe me. And those who won’t believe me won’t believe the Father who sent me. I am the Father. I am the light, the life, and the truth of the world.”

### An Invitation to All People

“Come to me, all you Gentiles, and I’ll show you greater things—knowledge that’s been hidden because of unbelief.”

“Come to me, house of Israel, and you’ll see the great things the Father has prepared for you since the world began. You haven’t received them because of your unbelief.”

“When you tear down that veil of unbelief—the one that keeps you trapped in wickedness, hardness of heart, and spiritual blindness—then the great and marvelous things hidden since the foundation of the world will be revealed to you. Yes, when you call on the Father in my name with a broken heart and humble spirit, you’ll know that the Father remembers the covenant he made with your ancestors, house of Israel. Then the revelations I had my servant John write will unfold before everyone’s eyes. Remember—when you see these things happening, you’ll know the time has come for them to be fulfilled. So when you receive this record, you’ll know that the Father’s work has begun across the whole earth.”

“Everyone, everywhere—turn from your sins and come to me. Believe in my gospel and be baptized in my name. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. But whoever refuses to believe will be condemned. And signs will follow those who believe in my name. Blessed is the one who stays faithful to my name until the end. They’ll be lifted up to live in the kingdom prepared for them since the world began. I have spoken. Amen.”

---

*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/ether/4)*
