Lessons on the Book of Mormon 2020
Lesson No. Forty-Five
“My Grace Is Sufficient For All Men Who Humble Themselves Before Me” – Ether 12:27
The power and historical significance of Ether 12 – “When Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum started for Carthage to face what they knew would be an imminent martyrdom, Hyrum, to comfort the heart of his brother, read a few short verses from the 12th chapter of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Before closing the book, Hyrum turned down the corner of the page from which he had read, marking it as part of the everlasting testimony for which these two brothers were about to die” (Jeffery R. Holland, Safety for the Soul, Ensign, November 2009, see attached Video Testimony of the Book of Mormon).
Ether 12 is one of the great doctrinal discourses in all scripture. In this chapter Moroni expounds on the weakness of the flesh, faith, hope, charity, and grace. This Lesson will touch lightly on these essential doctrines, but the entire chapter should be studied and re-studied.
Weakness of the flesh is a necessary part of mortality – The Lord said: “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” (Vs 27).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained: “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, and individual weaknesses, which we are expected to overcome (see D&C 66:3; Jacob 4:7)” (Lord, Increase Our Faith [1994], 84).
“An eye of faith” is used three times in the scriptures, all in the Book of Mormon (See Alma 5:15; Alma 32:40; Ether 12:19) To see with “an eye of faith” is the ability to see into the future, and make connections between choices and consequences. We can increase our ability to see with an eye of faith by developing habits of personal worship such as obedience, prayer, scripture study, and temple worship.
The temple is referred to as “a house of faith” (D&C 109:16). Temple worship gives us an endowment of power to see with an eye of faith Everything done in the temple looks to the future and into the next life for both ourselves and others. Temple worship greatly increases our ability to connect actions of today with consequences of tomorrow.
“A more excellent hope” is not a flimsy desire, but it is a desire coupled with the full expectation that faithful people have to gain eternal life in the kingdom of God. Speaking to the Lord, Moroni said: “Thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared” (Vs 32, emphasis added).
“Charity is the pure love of Christ” – Moroni replying to the Lord said: “I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightiest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which hast been prepared in the mansions of thy Father (Ether 12:33-34, emphasis added).
The grace of Jesus Christ – The Lord said: “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” (Vs 28). Faith, hope, and charity must be centered in Christ and in His grace.
“It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by His atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life” (Bible Dictionary, Grace). This is the unconditional aspect of the atonement.
“It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts” (Ibid). This is the conditional aspect of the atonement of Christ.
We should pray as Moroni did – “And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity” (Vs 36). We like wise should pray that the Lord will pour out His grace so that people throughout the earth will have “faith, hope and charity” and come unto Him, “the fountain of all righteousness” (Vs 28).
But regardless of how others may chose, we must chose to be faithful, and thereby receive the promise of the Lord that “thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father” (Vs 37).