Becoming Mahonri Moriancumer

I think that the account of the Brother of Jared, from the Book of Ether in The Book of Mormon, is an excellent story to learn from.

Mostly because people are people, no matter the time period, and despite differences in situation we aren't all that different in the long run.

And Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have to work with imperfect people. So seeing the Brother of Jared's progression is heartening, and helps us other "imperfect people" realize that we can do it, too.

The record of Jared and his brother, Mahonri Moriancumer (there's a reason why he's called The Brother of Jared. Seriously, Mom of these two, what were you thinking? And I thought that my name was difficult), is set during the Tower of Babel.

Right before the languages of all the people get confounded, as a punishment for trying to build a tower to get to Heaven, rather than...you know, trying to follow the commandments and just be good people in general. Instead they wanted to cheat. So Heavenly Father confounded their languages as a punishment.

But Jared and Mahonri (his brother) are a bit better than that. Jared proves himself to be one that follows the prophets (as his brother IS the prophet) and asks for the Lord to have mercy on them and not confound their language.

So the Brother of Jared (Mahonri) prays long and hard, and Heavenly Father is pleased, and promises not to confound their language.

Then Jared, who is a pretty awesome guy and doesn't get as much mention as his brother does in the scriptures, says, "can you do the same for our friends and family, who we really care about?"

So the Brother of Jared (Mahonri) does. He prays for a really long time, in humility, and asks for the Lord's help. And this sign of humility and devotion via prayer results in, yes, their kinsfolk and friends not having their language confounded, either.

Then Jared is talking with the Brother of Jared and mentions that it makes sense that they are going to be driven out to other lands (which follows the fact that everyone has scattered because of the languages, and it's customary for the righteous to be sent forth from the wicked. We have several other scriptural accounts, such as Moses and the Israelites leaving Egypt, Lehi and his family leaving right before the Babylonians conquer the Jews, things like that).

So he says, "well, if we are going to be driven out, can you please ask  God to send us to a better land? A Promised Land?"


So the Brother of Jared does and they are sent out into the wilderness.

But then once they are there they forget to ask for more instruction. They spend FOUR YEARS in the wilderness, basically just chilling.

Which makes me think of you and I. Before going on my mission I spent year and years doing the same thing, with the same result, and no progression. I worked the same job (Toys R Us) for seven years. I was at the same school (Salt Lake Community College) for the same length of time. And I did the same thing every week, month, and year.

I could tell that I was spiritually stagnant, which bothered me, but I didn't know what I could do to change my situation.

This was in part because I was too comfortable where I was at to want to change or develop.

Because changing and improving is HARD. And hard things can be uncomfortable and sometimes saddening.

And then, at the tender age of 25, when President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints announced the age change, from 21 down to 19, for young women who wished to serve a mission I had two thoughts:

1. This is awesome! My sister is nineteen! She can totally go on a mission early!
2. "This means you, too."

I put the second one in quotes because it was a thought that wasn't quite a thought. It was a strong, "WAM", hit-you-in-the-chest, bowl-you-over-with-certainty kind of feeling and simultaneous impression.

The Lord wanted me to go on a mission. And I couldn't deny it.

Of course, I could put up a few Biblical-style protests. "Um, don't you think that I'm a bit old for that?" a la Sarah, wife of Abraham. (Genesis 18:10-14) https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/18?lang=eng

And then, "well, if I'm going to go on a mission then I'll need help finishing school. Because I don't have enough money to finish my schooling in a short period of time."

Almost immediately after I, and all the other unfinished art majors in my field, received tuition wavers. I kid you not. And this experience is tied to Tithing as well, but that's a story for another time...

So don't test the Lord--nothing is impossible for God.

Seriously.

So I found myself spiritually stagnant and was, in my experience, sent on a mission to change that. I met people who changed my life and my heart, and learned more about myself that I could have ever expected.

I grew and developed and started on the path toward the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be.

And, of course, it hurt sometimes. But other times it was absolutely fantastic as I was given the chance to meet and fall in love with a family I had never known, all the way across the world from where I had been.

I can't even imagine NOT having gone on a mission and met those people, learned those things, and most importantly having felt the love of God and Jesus Christ for them and myself within my heart. <3

 The Brother of Jared, however, found himself on the receiving end of a three-hour lecture, telling him that if they were supposed to go to the Promised Land (they had even asked for it!), why weren't they working on the next step to go there?!

Here's how it went down:

"And now I proceed with my record; for behold, it came to pass that the Lord did bring Jared and his brethren forth even to that great sea which divideth the lands. And as they came to the sea they pitched their tents; and they called the name of the place Moriancumer; and they dwelt in tents, and dwelt in tents upon the seashore for the space of four years.

And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord.

And the brother of Jared repented of the evil which he had done, and did call upon the name of the Lord for his brethren who were with him. And the Lord said unto him: I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And these are my thoughts upon the land which I shall give you for your inheritance; for it shall be a land choice above all other lands." (Ether 2:13-15)

Aka, 'I'll forgive you this time. But seriously, don't sin any more, or I'll stop helping you and guiding you by my Spirit. Now let's get things in order for you to head off to this promised land of yours.'

So they basically get a slap on the wrist, and a Parental tug in the right direction.

(Here's a pic of Jared repenting by praying some more.)

 

But the interesting thing is that, from here on out, the Brother of Jared (Mahonri) does not forget this experience. And he keeps praying for help, which really leads to the happy ending of this story.

So! In order to go to the promised land they need to cross the sea. So they build boats that are "tight like a dish." My brain just compares them to tuperware containers floating in a pool. :|

But there's a problem! There's no light, and no air.

First, the Brother of Jared approaches the Lord about the first problem:

"And it came to pass that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me. 

And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish.

And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.

And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did so, according as the Lord had commanded."

(Ether 2:18-21)

Problem solved. Yet there was still a problem with the lack of light.

"And he cried again unto the Lord saying: O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness? 

And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire.

For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth." (Ether 2:22-24)

Now, I love sarcasm in the scriptures (Elijah is a hoot!) and in this instance it might seem like the Lord is a tad...impatient with Jared.

But from the perspective of a Teacher it makes perfect sense!

He basically says:

"What do YOU think? Here is the story problem: you can't have windows, you can't have fire. Now what do you think the answer is?"

Which is, again, something that we can learn from. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ expect for us to pray to Them.

It's the same way that my Mom wants me to Skype every week, so that we can remain connected and help each other in our trials and difficulties. She's my best friend and the more we communicate the stronger that bond is.

But while the Lord is willing to help us, He is not going to give us all the answers! Sometimes we have to muddle through things on our own and use our own agency.

So the Brother of Jared ponders what to do and comes up with an idea.

He takes 16 stones. Then moltens them so that they are clear like glass.

And presents them to the Lord.

Now, remembering his sins and what they did before, he prays in humility for help.

 

"O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.

Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which I have molten out of the rock.

And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.

Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men." (Ether 3:2-5)

In faith he asked this request--that the Lord touch the stones, and from the power of the Lord they would glow so that they could have light as they traveled in the darkness of the ocean. Because faith requires action. And this is the action he took, acting in the faith that the Lord can do all things.

But the end result is so much more than just sixteen glow-in-the-dark rocks!

The Lord did as he requested...

"And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.
 

And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?

And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood." (Ether 3:6-8)

As He touched the stones, the Brother of Jared saw the finger of the Lord!

So shocked by the realization that Jesus Christ (who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the intermediary between men and God until his Atonement allowed me to pray to Heavenly Father directly) had the form of a man, Jared fell back in understandable anxiety that he would get smitten!

But the Lord isn't mad at all!

"And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?

And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.

 And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?

And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.

And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters." (Ether 3:9-11)

 In preparing the stones and asking for the Lord's help he was acting on Faith. In trusting the Lord, that He could do all things, he was showing his Faith. Because of his Faith he could see the finger of the Lord. And in seeing the finger of the Lord he was given the chance to further see the Lord in full.

And THAT is why the Brother of Jared is awesome.

Because he's human and makes mistakes and has to repent and sometimes asks dumb questions.

But ultimately, he shows his Faith, and the results are amazing!