Ether 2: God's Template for Answering Prayers

Well, we were able to discuss one of my all-time favorite lessons in the Book of Mormon this week. I think there are some really cool applications that can be found for our day, but this is by far the coolest application for me. I have always been one to struggle with receiving and understanding answers to prayer. I always feel like there are so many answers, and how could we ever know exactly what God wants us to do? Similarly, how do we know if we are being blinded by our own emotion and desires? How much will God tell us? Should we have faith for a step-by-step plan, or should we have faith for no answer at all? I always feel so lost. Luckily, God has prepared for us a guide for when we are needing answers to prayers. That guide can be found in Ether 2, where the Brother of Jared is preparing his people to cross the ocean to the promised land. The Brother of Jared and his people have prepared barges to cross the ocean, and they are faced with three issues: they have no way to breathe, they have no way to steer, and they have no light. Thus, the Brother of Jared approaches the Lord in prayer and asks what he would have them do for each. The Lord first gives the following response:

20 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.

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

So, God gives the Brother of Jared one piece to the puzzle. It is a step-by-step plan for how he must accomplish his work, and the Lord identifies exactly what he needs to do. Then, the Lord waits for the Brother of Jared to obey before he gives him the next piece:

23 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.

24 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.

25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?

So, the Lord gives him two more pieces. First, in essence, God tells the brother of Jared concerning steering, Don't worry about it. I will handle that, and I will take you where you need to go. Second, God asks the brother of Jared what he wants him to do to give them light in the barges. This question is giving the brother of Jared the agency to choose while still giving a few stipulations: no windows or fire. The Brother of Jared then brings the clear stones to the Lord for him to touch with his finger.

So, how does God answer prayers?

1. Step-by-step plan

2. Don't worry about it

3. Agency (with guidelines)

These are God's answers! Sometimes he will tell us exactly how to do something or exactly what to choose. Other times, he will ask us to have faith in not knowing because it is in his hands. Finally, sometimes it is up to us to make our own choices while still following his commandments and guidelines for a righteous life.

When the brother of Jared brings the stones to the Lord, the Lord probably could have had a better way to light the barges. But he blessed the brother of Jared for his faith and sanctified his offering to make it something much greater. It is the same for us. When he gives us the agency to choose, sometimes we will choose something different from the best way because of our limited capacity to understand. But God will sanctify every offering we give to him to something greater. 

I know with greater faith and confidence that God will answer our prayers in one of those ways if we listen and are worthy, and that he will sanctify our offerings for our good. Don't be afraid to trust in the answers you get! Pray, listen, and act! Do your best. The Lord will listen and will answer you.