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Book of Mormon Commentary
Ether Chapter 2
TRANSLATION AND WITNESSES OF THE RECORD, VER. 1-5
Ether 2:1 And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my
memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not, in order that
ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God.
This passage stresses two points: (1) Memory is often faulty, and allowances must be made. (2)
How were they sealed? In the Wentworth letter, February, 1842, Joseph Smith, Jr., wrote: "The
volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed."'
Nephi wrote, "The book will be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed,
shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth: for, behold,
they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof" (II N. 11:130).
This throws but little light on the method of sealing, but that is not of much importance. Moroni
wrote: "Touch them not, in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by
and by it shall be wisdom in God" (1). A simple device which would indicate the forbidden plates
from the others would suffice.
The seer who would get the privilege of translating the unsealed portion could show the plates to
"those who shall assist to bring forth this work [the eight witnesses, see preface to Book of
Mormon]; and unto three shall they be shown by the power of God" (2). (See II N. 8:6; 11:133.)
"In the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established." "All this shall stand as a
testimony against the world, at the last day" (3). Men will have to answer finally not only for what
they know but for what opportunities they had for knowing. "And this is the condemnation," said
Jesus, "that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their
deeds are evil" (John 3:19).
Ether 2:4 And if it so be that they repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus, they
shall be received into the kingdom of God.
Those referred to here are the people who shall have the opportunity to hear and obey the fullness
of the gospel, at the time these records are brought forth as "it shall be wisdom in God."
Moroni then defended his right to speak on these matters. To those who would question his
authority, he wrote, "For ye shall know that I have authority when ye shall see me, and we shall
stand before God at the last day" (5).