You are here
Book of Mormon Central is in the process of migrating to our new Scripture Central website.
We ask for your patience during this transition. Over the coming weeks, all pages of bookofmormoncentral.org will be redirected to their corresponding page on scripturecentral.org, resulting in minimal disruption.
Ether 1–5
Click here for printable Reading Plan PDF (Scripture References Only)
Scripture Central Videos
Watch videos from Gospel scholars and teachers to learn more about these Book of Mormon passages.
Other Creator Videos
Coming soon!
KnoWhys
Evidences
Commentary
Book of Mormon Minute is a commentary series made especially for the free ScripturePlus app, which features insights from Book of Mormon scholar Brant A. Gardner. John W. Welch's notes for Come, Follow Me are also available for free.
John W. Welch, General Editor
Reading Plan
Structure your personal scripture study by following a 15-minute, day-by-day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come, Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study. For the best experience, use our Reading Plan in the free ScripturePlus app! You can track your progress and have access to the best resources.
Monday
- Scripture: Ether 1:1-43
- Commentary: Study Questions for Ether
-
Additional Study
- Commentary: Ether’s Genealogy Is Listed Back to Jared
- Commentary: Seeing the Underlying Record of Ether as an Epic
- Commentary: Josephus’s Account of the Tower of Babel
- Evidence: Many Names
- Commentary: Ether 1:38-43
- Commentary: Moroni as Abridger, Editor, Commentator, or Author
- Commentary: What Was Contained in the Jaredite Scriptures?
- Evidence: Flood Stories
Tuesday
- Scripture: Ether 2:1-15
- Commentary: Study Questions and Items of Interest
- Commentary: The Valley Northward
- Commentary: Ether 2:13-14
- Commentary: Ether 2:15
-
Additional Study
- Commentary: The Lord Spoke Through a Cloud (or Veil)
- Commentary: Ether 2:1-3
- Commentary: Ether 2:7-10
- KnoWhy: Where Does the Word “Deseret” Come From?
- Evidence: Deseret
Wednesday
- Scripture: Ether 2:16-25
- Commentary: Ether 2:16-17
- Commentary: Ether 2:22-25
-
Additional Study
- Evidence: Early Ceramics
Thursday
- Scripture: Ether 3:1-12
- Video: Come, Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Ether 1–5)
- Commentary: Questions to Ponder and Principles to Apply
- Commentary: The Brother of Jared Is Admitted to the Divine Council
- Commentary: The Brother of Jared Is Admitted into the Presence of the Lord
- Commentary: Ether 3:1
- Commentary: Ether 3:6-8
-
Additional Study
- Commentary: Ether 3:9-13
- Evidence: Shining Stones
- KnoWhy: How Were Jonah and the Brother of Jared Able to Find Comfort?
Friday
- Scripture: Ether 3:13-28
- Video: The Father and the Son - John Hilton III (Ether 1-5)
-
Additional Study
- KnoWhy: Why Were Man and Woman Created in the Image of God?
- Commentary: The Premortal Jesus Ministered to the Brother of Jared
- Commentary: Was the Savior’s Appearance to the Brother of Jared Unique?
- Commentary: Ether 3:14-15
- Commentary: Ether 3:16-20
- Commentary: Ether 3:21-24
- KnoWhy: Why Did Jesus Say, “Never Have I Showed Myself unto Man”?
- Evidence: Doubled, Sealed, and Witnessed Documents
Saturday
- Scripture: Ether 4:1-19
- Commentary: Questions about the Sealed Record
- Commentary: Ether 4:1
-
Additional Study
- Commentary: Ether 4:5-7
- Commentary: Ether 4:13-17
- Commentary: Ether 4:18-19
- Evidence: Secret Records
- Commentary: When Will The Sealed Record be Revealed?
- Commentary: Ether 4:11-12
- Commentary: Why Do So Many of Mormon’s Teachings Appear in Ether 4 and 5?
Sunday
- Scripture: Ether 5:1-6
- Commentary: Questions about Witnesses
- Commentary: The Plates Will Be Shown to Three Witnesses
- Commentary: Ether 5:1-2
- Commentary: Ether 5:3-5
Additional Resources
Explore art, charts, and more.
Images
Charts
- Writings of Moroni
- Jaredite Kings
- Key Doctrinal Chapters: Helaman–Moroni
- Sealed or Sealed–Up Documents
- Whose Words Are Found in the Book of Mormon?
- Number of Pages in Books of the Book of Mormon
- Average Number of Pages Covering One Nephite Year
- Nephite Books Compared by Length and Years Covered
- Nephite Books Listed Chronologically
- Names Used for Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Names and Concepts Associated with Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Number of Names Used for Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Number of Names for Christ Used Exclusively by Individual Authors
- Ten Essential Features of Book of Mormon Geography
- Geographical Names Listed Alphabetically
- Geographical Names Listed by Scripture Reference
Bibliography
Ether
Brinley, Douglas E. “The Jaredites—A Case Study in Following the Brethren.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 45–59. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1995.
Donaldson, Lee L. “The Plates of Ether and the Covenant of the Book of Mormon.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 69–79. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.
Jolley, Elliot. “Gazelem the Jaredite.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 27 (2017): 85–105.
Nibley, Hugh W. “Some Test Cases from the Book of Ether.” In An Approach to the Book of Mormon. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1988.
Sorenson, John L. The Years of the Jaredites. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1969.
Sperry, Sidney B. “What the Book of Mormon Is (Concluded).” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 4, no. 1 (1995): 28–40.
Tanner, Morgan W. “Jaredites.” In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan, 1992.
Warren, Bruce W. “Secret Combinations, Warfare, and Captive Sacrifice in Mesoamerica and the Book of Mormon.” In Warfare in the Book of Mormon. Edited by Stephen D. Ricks and William J. Hamblin. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1990.
Ether 1
“The Genealogy from Jared to Ether.” Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2016.
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Does the Book of Ether Begin with Such a Long Genealogy? (Ether 1:16).” KnoWhy 235 (November 21, 2016).
Goff, Alan. “Boats, Beginnings, and Repetitions.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 1, no. 1 (1992): 67–84.
Miner, Alan C. “The Book of Ether, Chapter 1.” In Step by Step through the Book of Mormon: A Collection of Cultural Commentary. Vol. 7. Springville, UT: N.P., 2016.
Nibley Hugh W. “Lecture 109: Ether 1-2.” In Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 4: Transcripts of Lectures Presented to an Honors Book of Mormon Class at Brigham Young University, 1988-1990. Provo, UT: FARMS, 2004.
Thompson, John S. “The Jaredite Exodus: A Literary Perspective of a Historical Narrative.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 3, no. 1 (1994): 104–112.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Sources behind the Book of Ether.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 15.
Ether 1:1–2
Reeve, Jr., Rex C. “The Book of Mormon Plates.” In The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 99–111. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988.
Ether 1:3–5
Sorenson, John L. “Towers in the Book of Mormon.” Insights: A Window to the Ancient World 21, no. 2 (2001): 3.
Ether 1:7–15
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Jaredite Kings.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 31.
Ether 1:11
Larsen, Stan. “Conjectural Emendation and the Text of the Book of Mormon.” BYU Studies Quarterly 18, no. 4 (1978): 563–569.
Skousen, Royal. “Book of Mormon Critical Text Project Completes Text Analysis.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 29, no. 3 (2009): 1–3.
Ether 1:38
Sorenson, John L. “Old World People in the New.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 248–252. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Ether 2
Garrett, H. Dean. “Light in Our Vessels: Faith, Hope, and Charity.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 81–93. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.
Nibley Hugh W. “Lecture 111: Ether 2-8.” In Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 4: Transcripts of Lectures Presented to an Honors Book of Mormon Class at Brigham Young University, 1988-1990. Provo, UT: FARMS, 2004.
Thompson, John S. “The Jaredite Exodus: A Literary Perspective of a Historical Narrative.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 3, no. 1 (1994): 104–112.
Ether 2:3
Book of Mormon Central. “Where Does the Word “Deseret” Come From? (Ether 2:3).” KnoWhy 236 (November 22, 2016).
Barney, Kevin L. “On the Etymology of Deseret.” BCC Papers 1, no. 2 (2006).
Head, Ronan James. “A Brief Survey of Ancient Near Eastern Beekeeping.” The FARMS Review 20, no. 1 (2008): 57–66.
Parker, Stephen. “Deseret.” In Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan, 1992.
Ether 2:10–12
Hilton, John III, Ryan Sharp, Brad Wilcox, and Jaron Hansen. “Gentiles in the Book of Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 33 (2019): 267–288.
Petersen, Mark E. “The Last Words of Moroni.” General Conference October 1978.
Ether 2:17
Nibley, Hugh W. “Some Test Cases from the Book of Ether.” In An Approach to the Book of Mormon. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1988.
Ether 2:24–25
Read, Nicholas, Jae R. Ballif, John W. Welch, Bill Evenson, Kathleen Reynolds Gee, and Matthew Roper. “New Light on the Shining Stones of the Jaredites.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 253–255. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Tvedtnes, John A. “The Jaredite Ocean Voyage.” In The Most Correct Book: Insights from a Book of Mormon Scholar, 285–290. Salt Lake City: Cornerstone Publishing, 1999.
Ether 3
Bokovoy, David E. “’Thou Knowest That I Believe’: Invoking The Spirit of the Lord as Council Witness in 1 Nephi 11.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 1 (2012): 1–23.
Holland, Jeffrey R. “Rending the Veil of Unbelief.” In A Book of Mormon Treasury: Gospel Insights from General Authorities and Religious Educators, 47–66. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2003.
Hopkin, Shon D. “Preparing Students to Receive Revelation: Insights from the Book of Mormon.” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 13, no. 2 (2012): 72–87.
Matthews, Robert J. “The Mission of Jesus Christ - Ether 3 and 4.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 19–29. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.
Thompson, John S. “The Jaredite Exodus: A Literary Perspective of a Historical Narrative.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 3, no. 1 (1994): 104–112.
Valleta, Thomas R. “Jared and His Brother.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 303–322. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1995.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Sealed or Sealed–Up Documents.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 118.
Ether 3:2
Book of Mormon Central. “How Were Jonah and the Brother of Jared Able to Find Comfort? (Ether 3:2).” KnoWhy 526 (July 26, 2019).
Ether 3:4
Tvedtnes, John A. “Appendix 2: Glowing Stones in Ancient and Medieval Lore.” In The Book of Mormon and Other Hidden Books: "Out of Darkness Unto Light", 195–225. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2000.
Tvedtnes, John A. “Glowing Stones in Ancient and Medieval Lore.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 6, no. 2 (1997): 99–123.
Tvedtnes, John A. “New Light on the Shining Stones of the Jaredites.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 12, no. 4 (1992): 2–4.
Ether 3:6
Thomas, M. Catherine “The Brother of Jared at the Veil.” In Temples in the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism, ed. Donald W. Parry (Salt Lake City and Provo, UT: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1994), 388–398.
Ether 3:14
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “People to Whom Jesus Christ or the Angel of the Lord Appeared.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 41.
Ether 3:15–17
Jackson, Kent P. “’Never Have I Showed Myself Unto Man’: A Suggestion for Understanding Ether 3:15a.” BYU Studies Quarterly 30, no. 3 (1990): 71–76.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Does Christ Have a Body?” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 52.
Ether 3:20
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Moroni Use Temple Imagery While Telling the Brother of Jared Story? (Ether 3:20).” KnoWhy 237 (November 23, 2016).
Ether 3:22
Arts, Valentin. “A Third Jaredite Record: The Sealed Portion of the Gold Plates.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 11, no. 1 (2002): 50–59, 110–111.
Ether 4
Holland, Jeffrey R. “Rending the Veil of Unbelief.” In A Book of Mormon Treasury: Gospel Insights from General Authorities and Religious Educators, 47–66. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2003.
Jones, Clifford P. “The Record of My Father.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 32 (2019): 9–32.
Matthews, Robert J. “The Mission of Jesus Christ - Ether 3 and 4.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 19–29. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Sealed or Sealed–Up Documents.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 118.
Ether 4:1
Sharp, Daniel B., and Matthew L. Bowen. “’For This Cause Did King Benjamin Keep Them’: King Benjamin or King Mosiah?” Religious Educator 18, no. 1 (2017): 80–87.
Ether 4:5
Book of Mormon Central. “Is There Evidence That Joseph Smith Possessed a Urim and Thummim and Breastplate? (Ether 4:5).” KnoWhy 409 (February 20, 2018).
Hoskisson, Paul Y. “Urim and Thummim.” In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow.
Spencer, Stan. “What Did the Interpreters (Urim and Thummim) Look Like?” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 33 (2019): 223–256.
Ether 4:7–9
Grover, Jr., Jerry D. “The Order of Nehor.” In Evidence of the Nehor Religion in Mesoamerica, 51–64. Provo, UT: Challex Scientific Publishing, 2017.
Ether 4:13–14
Anderson, Kenneth W. “’The Knowledge Hid Up Because of Unbelief.’” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 31–44. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.
Hilton, John III, Ryan Sharp, Brad Wilcox, and Jaron Hansen. “Gentiles in the Book of Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 33 (2019): 267–288.
Ether 4:19
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Do So Many of Mormon’s Teachings Appear in Ether 4 and 5? (Ether 4:19).” KnoWhy 239 (November 25, 2019).
Ether 5
Jones, Clifford P. “The Record of My Father.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 32 (2019): 9–32.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Sealed or Sealed–Up Documents.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 118.
Ether 5:4
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Were Three Key Witnesses Chosen to Testify of the Book of Mormon? (Ether 5:4).” KnoWhy 267 (January 27, 2017).
Rappleye, Neal. “’Idle and Slothful Strange Stories’: Book of Mormon Origins and the Historical Record.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 20 (2016): 21–37.