Scripture Sunday: Ether 12

It's been way too long since I did a Scripture Sunday post. 


Soon after my husband's deployment began in 2009, I made and printed out a chart for myself, planning to read from The Book of Mormon for at least 10 minutes a day. I also started (but haven't been nearly as consistent with) reading the Old Testament for at least 10 minutes a day. Sometimes I've just read and pondered the Ensign, which means I ended up skipping the Book of Mormon some days or reading it for a minute or two. I'm telling you about this chart and goal because it was a good idea that came to me and that has brought me joy. In a Young Women lesson only a few months earlier, one of our stake leaders had asked the youth to do three simple things daily: 1) study the Book of Mormon for 5 minutes or more, 2) have personal prayer morning and night, and 3) smile at people. Those things should be easy to do.


Now that I'm in Ether I will soon be done reading the Book of Mormon for . . . hmm . . . I think it's my seventh time cover-to-cover. In chapter 12, Moroni -- one of my very favorite people in the scriptures -- continues his summary of the events of Ether's day. Ether prophesied things, and the people didn't believe him. then Moroni writes that he (Moroni) will "speak somewhat concerning these things." Other parts have stood out to me before; here's what stood out to me today:

• part of verse 6: I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; {I love that he wanted the world to have the truth. I think he's still doing this; millions of people have now read his words.}
• verse 19: And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.   {I think it's a beautiful sentence. I wonder what those things are that they had beheld with an eye of faith.}
• verse 32, as he wrote what he had prayed: And I also remember that thou hast said that 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.
• verses 39-40: And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things;
  And only a few have I written, because of my weakness in writing. {I can't believe I didn't remember that Moroni had seen and spoken with Jesus face to face. Moroni said he had only written a few of the things; how cool will it be to learn about the rest?! And I think he was the opposite of a weak writer.}