Moroni Transcribed onto the Plates Exactly What the Brother of Jared Saw, and Sealed Them Up, Along with the Urim and Thummim
Ether 4:3–5
3 And now, after that, they have all dwindled in unbelief; and there is none save it be the Lamanites, and they have rejected the gospel of Christ; therefore I am commanded that I should hide them up again in the earth.
4 Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared.
5 Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord.
President Joseph Fielding Smith said:
“Now the Lord is withholding from us a great many truths that He would gladly reveal if we were ready to receive them. Did you know that a portion of the record from which the Book of Mormon is taken is sealed? The Prophet was not permitted to break the seals, and we will not receive the sealed record until the time comes when the people will show by their faith their willingness to accept it (see 3 Nephi 26:6–12; Ether 3:21–28; 4:4–8). How many have read the Book of Mormon through? How many have made themselves familiar with the things revealed to us in the Doctrine and Covenants regarding what the Lord has said of our duties as members of the Church and what He has said regarding our salvation and exaltation and how it may be obtained? Until we are prepared to receive the things already given, I fear the Lord will hold from us those other things which one time will be revealed.”
(Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 3:201–2.)
