Ether Prophesies to the People
Ether lived during the time of King Coriantumr. Coriantumr was king over all the land. Ether was a prophet of the Lord. So Ether came during the time of Coriantumr. He started to prophesy to the people. He could not be stopped because of the Spirit of the Lord that was in him. He spoke from morning until sunset. He told the people to believe in God and turn away from their sins. If they didn’t, they would be destroyed. He said: “Faith makes all things happen. So whoever believes in God can hope for a better world. They can hope for a place at the right hand of God. This hope comes from faith. It is like an anchor for people’s souls. It makes them strong and steady. They always do good works and honor God.”
Ether prophesied great and amazing things to the people. But they did not believe him because they could not see these things.
Moroni Teaches About Faith
I, Moroni, want to talk about these things. I want to show the world that faith is hoping for things you have not seen. So don’t argue just because you can’t see something. You won’t get proof until after you have faith. It was by faith that Christ showed himself to our fathers after he rose from the dead. He did not show himself to them until after they had faith in him. So some people had to have faith in him first. He did not show himself to the world. But because of people’s faith, he showed himself to the world. He honored the name of the Father. He made a way for others to share in the heavenly gift. They could hope for things they have not seen. So you can also have hope and share in the gift. You just need to have faith.
It was by faith that the people long ago were called to the holy order of God. So by faith, the law of Moses was given. But when God gave his Son, he made a better way. And it is by faith that this has happened. If people have no faith, God can do no miracles among them. That’s why he did not show himself until after they had faith.
Examples of Faith
It was the faith of Alma and Amulek that made the prison fall to the ground. It was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that changed the Lamanites. They were baptized with fire and with the Holy Spirit. It was the faith of Ammon and his brothers that did such a great miracle among the Lamanites. All who did miracles did them by faith. This was true for those who lived before Christ and those who came after. It was by faith that the three disciples got a promise that they would not die. They did not get the promise until after they had faith. No one has ever done miracles until after they had faith. So they first believed in the Son of God.
Many people had very strong faith before Christ came. They could not be kept from beyond the veil. They saw with their own eyes the things they had seen by faith. And they were glad. We have seen in this record that one of these people was the brother of Jared. His faith in God was so great that when God put out his finger, he could not hide it from the brother of Jared. This was because of what the brother of Jared had asked God by faith. After the brother of Jared saw the finger of the Lord, the Lord could not keep anything from his sight. This was because of the promise the brother of Jared had gotten by faith. So the Lord showed him all things. He could no longer be kept from beyond the veil.
It is by faith that my fathers got the promise that these things would come to their brothers through the Gentiles. That is why the Lord has told me to write. Jesus Christ himself has told me.
Moroni Worries About His Writing
I said to him: “Lord, the Gentiles will make fun of these things because we are weak at writing. Lord, you have made us powerful in speaking by faith. But you have not made us powerful in writing. You have made all these people able to speak much because of the Holy Spirit you have given them. You have made us so we can write only a little because our hands are clumsy. You have not made us strong in writing like the brother of Jared. You made him so that the things he wrote were as powerful as you are. They were so powerful that people could hardly read them. You have also made our words powerful and great. So great that we cannot write them. So when we write, we see our weakness. We stumble because of how we place our words. I am afraid the Gentiles will make fun of our words.”
The Lord Comforts Moroni
When I said this, the Lord spoke to me. He said: “Foolish people make fun of others. But they will be sad. My grace is enough for the humble. They will not use your weakness against you. If people come to me, I will show them their weakness. I give people weakness so they will be humble. My grace is enough for all people who humble themselves before me. If they humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong for them. I will show the Gentiles their weakness. I will show them that faith, hope, and charity lead to me. I am the source of all goodness.”
I, Moroni, heard these words and felt comforted. I said: “O Lord, your good will be done. I know that you work for people based on their faith. The brother of Jared said to the mountain Zerin: ‘Move.’ And it moved. If he had not had faith, it would not have moved. So you work after people have faith. This is how you showed yourself to your disciples. After they had faith and spoke in your name, you showed yourself to them in great power. I also remember that you said you have made a house for people. It is among the homes of your Father. There people can have a better hope. So people must have hope, or they cannot get a place in the home you have made. I remember that you said you loved the world. You loved it so much that you gave your life for the world. Then you took it back to make a place for the people. I know that this love you had for the people is charity. Unless people have charity, they cannot get a place in the homes of your Father. So I know by what you have said that if the Gentiles do not have charity because of our weakness, you will test them. You will take away their talent. You will take away what they have received. You will give it to those who have more.”
I prayed to the Lord that he would give the Gentiles grace so they might have charity. The Lord said to me: “If they do not have charity, it does not matter to you. You have been faithful. So your clothes will be made clean. Because you have seen your weakness, you will be made strong. You will sit down in the place I have made in the homes of my Father.”
Moroni’s Farewell
I, Moroni, say goodbye to the Gentiles. I also say goodbye to my brothers whom I love. I will see you before the judgment seat of Christ. There all people will know that my clothes are not spotted with your blood. Then you will know that I have seen Jesus. He has talked with me face to face. He told me in plain humility. He spoke like one man tells another in my own language. He told me about these things. I have written only a few things because I am weak at writing. I want you to seek this Jesus whom the prophets and apostles have written about. May the grace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit be with you forever. The Holy Spirit is a witness of them. Amen.