Day 86 Ether 10-12

In Ether 10, Shez who became King after the death of Heth during the famine rebuilt his broken people and served as a good King.

The King later on that took over was wealth hungry and did over tax the people, caused stress, and was not a good King.  His name was Riplakish.  He had concubines and many wives and was worldly.  He built himself a throne and then he built many great and spacious buildings but taxed poor people and if they couldn't pay, created debtors prisons. 

Kings reigned and died and others took their place.  Levi and then Corom were good kings.  This chapter reviews the genealogy of the Kings.

Ether 11 talks about how the Brother of Shiblon hated the messages of the Prophets and demanded that Prophets who taught the people repentance or destruction be put to death!  The warnings of the Prophets started to come to pass with plagues, illnesses, famine and drought, etc.

The people started to repent but Shiblom was slayed.  Kings after Shiblom were all wicked.  Chapter 11 continues to describe the wars and wicked Kings and warnings of God for the non-repenting.

In Chapter 12, Ether the Prophet is introduced and he was a Prophet that taught the people that by faith, all things are fulfilled.  

He taught in Ether 12:4, "4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

In Ether12:7-9 it says, "7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.

8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.

In Ether 12:12 it says, "12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith. 

Moroni shares in Chapter 12 how Faith affected all the Prophets.  

Ether 12:27-28 says, "27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.

Likening These Chapters Unto Me

Chapter 12 Especially is one I will spend a few days on after I finish the Book of Mormon on Thursday.  I want to spend extra time pondering these words of Moroni.

I was reminded how much I loved Ether 12 on my mission.  It helped carry me through a really dark time when my lung collapsed, I  was in the hospital alot, and had to go home early before being sent back out 3 months later from Nebraska to Utah where I finished another 6 months before going home for good.  

Back then, there were not service missions that let Elders and Sisters finish near home while getting help for sicknesses.  I still desire to serve a Service Mission locally in my Area.  Someday maybe in the Lord's time this will be realized for me, maybe even with my husband.