Stones (lighting the Jaredite barges) by Eleazar

The Brother of Jared

Although his name is not mentioned in the Book of Mormon, in modern times his name was revealed as, Mahonri Moriancumr. He was a large and mighty man, a great prophet and highly favored of the Lord. He and his brother led a colony of people from the Tower of Babel to a promised land in the western hemisphere and founded the Jaredite nation. He was a man of such faith that he spoke to the Lord face to face.

The brother of Jared built eight unique barges (Ether 2:16-25) in which to cross the ocean. Then he prepared sixteen clear molten stones and asked the Lord to make them shine to illuminate the inside of the barges (Ether 3:1-5). As the Lord touched the stones, the brother of Jared saw the finger of the Lord and was "struck with fear" (Ether 3:6). Never before, the record states, had man come before God with such exceeding faith; as a result, he was brought into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and saw the premortal spirit body of Christ (Ether 3:9-13).

(TO GET A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT, PLEASE CONSIDER READING THE SCRIPTURES PROVIDED ABOVE.)

This is only a brief glimpse into allegories of the Jaredites. But now you may be able to go back and look at these Book of Mormon stories again with newer perspectives.

STONES (LIGHTING THE JAREDITE BARGES)

The Brother of Jared fashions (makes/creates) stones which he has God touch so that they give light when their barges are buried in the sea. Seas are symbols of people, the world, and barges are symbols of us.

Carnal man's heart is said to be like stone... hard, unyielding, and dead. Who makes it that way? Carnal man fashions his heart of stone. That is what is conveyed in the parable of (Brother of Jared) fashioning the stones. However, in a metaphorical sense, the Spirit (or light of Christ) can give light unto a heart made of stone by (a metaphor coming here..) touching it.

These stories are real-time parables for us to see. As carnal man is buried (a symbol of death) in the sea (symbolizing peoples of the world), his heart (of stone) can give him light if it is touched by the finger of God (Spirit).

Click here if video doesn't work: The Jaredites Travel to the Promised Land