Faith of the Brother of Jared

Ether Chapter 3

[VERSE 1 — Ether 3:1, fragile and searching]
I did not know the answer,
I did not know the way.
The sea was dark before us,
And the night would not give way.
So I gathered up the stones I’d found,
And held them in my hands…
“Lord, I’m trying to do something—
Please accept this humble plan.”

[VERSE 2 — Ether 3:1 continued, gentle rising]
I melted out the mountain rock,
I shaped them one by one.
I polished every surface
Till they shimmered like the sun.
I do not have the wisdom, Lord,
But I’ll offer what I can…
If there’s light within these stones,
It will come by Thy command.

[CHORUS 1 — The ascent of Mount Shelem]
So I climb this holy mountain,
With the stones pressed to my chest.
Every step a prayer of longing,
Every breath a pleading quest.
If I can reach the highest place,
Where heaven meets the air…
Maybe Thou wilt look upon me,
Maybe Thou wilt meet me there.

[VERSE 3 — Ether 3:2–3, soft prayer]
O Lord, behold our weakness,
For we stumble in the night.
We are fallen, we are fragile,
We have lost our ancient sight.
But Thou art full of mercy, Lord,
Thy patience never ends…
Please look upon Thy people,
And forgive the faults of men.

[VERSE 4 — Ether 3:4–5, trembling request]
And now I lay these stones before Thee,
Every one I shaped with care.
If Thou wilt touch them with Thy finger,
They will shine through any snare.
I know that Thou art able, Lord,
To do what I cannot…
So touch them with Thy glory,
Let Thy light fill every spot.

[CHORUS 2 — Ether 3:6, the touch of God]
And the mountain filled with silence,
As the veil began to part.
Then a light broke through the darkness,
Like a fire in my heart.
For the Lord reached forth His finger,
And the stones began to glow…
And I fell down in holy trembling,
For His glory touched the stone.

[VERSE 5 — Ether 3:7–9, fear and concern]
Then He asked me why I’d fallen,
Why my strength had fled away.
And His voice was filled with kindness,
As He waited for my say.
“Lord, I saw Thy holy finger,
And the light that filled the air…
And I feared before Thy presence,
For I knew that Thou wert there.”

[VERSE 6 — Ether 3:10–12, confession of faith]
Then He asked if I saw more than this,
If my eyes beheld His form.
And I answered through my trembling,
With a heart both crushed and warm:
“Yea, Lord, I know Thou livest,
For no lie can come from Thee…
And I knew that Thou couldst touch them,
For Thy truth has carried me.”

[CHORUS 3 — The Lord reveals Himself]
Then the Lord stood there before me,
In the brightness of His grace.
And He showed His holy body,
And the glory of His face.
“Because of faith unshaken,
Thou art redeemed this day…
For never have I shown Myself
To a man in mortal clay.”

[OUTRO — Light for the Journey, gentle and hopeful]
So I gathered up the shining stones,
Still warm with heaven’s light…
And I carried them down Shelem,
Through the thinning of the night.
For the Lord had touched the darkness,
And the way was clear to see…
And the light He placed upon the mount
Now burns in front of me.