Nov 10, 2024

Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord by Robert T. Barrett

Now more than ever we must rely on God through revelation, and there are so many amazing blessings that await us when we commune with our Heavenly Father! Wilford Woodruff said, “The Lord has a great many things to reveal in the latter days, when we are prepared as a people to receive them.” One of the best ways to prepare to receive revelation is to learn how the process works.

The brother of Jared’s story in Ether exemplifies important principles about revelation. As the religious leader for his people, he was instructed by the Lord to build barges to bring his people to a new land. Throughout the process, the brother of Jared frequently relied on the Lord for direction and received instruction. 

First, the brother of Jared showed that asking God in faith is an important principle of receiving revelation. After building the barges, he said, “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?” (Ether 2:18–19). Instead of assuming that they would have to live in darkness or trying to come up with a solution on his own, the brother of Jared had faith to ask God for help. In Ether 4:15, the Lord instructs us, “Call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and contrite spirit.” Humbly asking for specific help has blessed my life and has led to many intimate experiences with God. While answers don’t always come when I expect or how I hope, I am often overwhelmed by the goodness and mercy of God when they do come. 

Second, the brother of Jared demonstrated the need for us to exercise faith to receive revelation. After he asked the Lord how they could steer without any light, he requested that the Lord light 16 stones with His touch. In Ether 3:5, he said, “O Lord, thou canst do this.” When we believe and act, knowing that the Lord is able to do anything according to His will, we will receive guidance. 

Finally, the brother of Jared received instructions line upon line, “being directed continually by the hand of the Lord” (Ether 2:6). Throughout the process of building the barges and traveling across the sea to the promised land, the Lord revealed more, little by little, to guide the brother of Jared and his people step by step. In his October 2022 general conference address, Elder Dale G. Renlund extended the invitation to “recognize what God has already revealed to you personally, while being open to further revelation from Him.” 

Receiving personal revelation is not always an easy process, but it is crucial for maintaining our relationship with God and following His will throughout our life. Similar to the brother of Jared, as I have done my best to ask God for direction, with faith in the Savior and an understanding that knowledge comes gradually, I have been blessed with insights that guide my life and discipleship.

Kamryn Maughan is studying Family Life at Brigham Young University. She joined the Wilford Woodruff Papers because she was drawn to its mission to deepen and strengthen faith through President Woodruff’s documents and history. Kamryn has a big, loving family who she recently reunited with after serving in Oklahoma as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loves hiking, playing card games, and watching movies with her family and friends. 

The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his records universally accessible in order to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, please explore wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.