I’ve always thought that the etymology of the name of the mountain, Shelem, was simply the Hebrew שַׁלָם (shelem), meaning whole or complete. Other synonyms for the Hewbrew שַׁלָם (shelem) include: entire, full, perfect, consummate, unabridged, undivided, integral, total, implicit, plenary, strict, unabbreviated, very, grand; unharmed, intact, safe, sound. Thus Mount Shelem was the whole, complete, full, perfect, and consummate mountain. We’ll better understand the meaning of Shelem and various Book of Mormon words and names once we can learn reformed Egyptian and the Jaredite language.
In the meantime, the name of the mountain and even the mountain itself are not nearly as important as the brother of Jared’s experience upon the top of the mountain. We are indebted to the brother of Jared for recording it, to Ether for including it in his twenty-four gold plates, and to Moroni for abridging it. This means that there is a full and complete (shelem) account that has yet to be revealed, a full and complete account of the brother of Jared’s communion with the Lord upon the top of Mount Shelem that the Lord will reveal in His own due time. There is so much more that has yet to be revealed:
We believe all that God has arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Articles of Faith 1:9)
When I study the brother of Jared’s vision upon Mount Shelem, it encapsulates for me the essence of the doctrine of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a simple doctrine. It is a profound doctrine. Heavenly Father wants us to believe in His Son Jesus Christ, to have faith in Him:
And now as I said concerning faith—afaith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye bhope for things which are cnot seen, which are true.
And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is amerciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word. (Alma 32:21-22)
King Benjamin taught:
Believe in aGod; believe that he is, and that he bcreated all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all cwisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not dcomprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. (Mosiah 4:9)
In the School of the Elders in Kirtland, Ohio, during the winter of 1834-35, a series of lectures was delivered, the Lectures on Faith, - that “represent perhaps the earliest attempt to formulate a systematic LDS theology, informed by the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith’s early revelations.” These lectures define faith, what faith is, how faith is acquired, and how faith is nourished and strengthened. I mention these lectures because the definition and strengthening of faith in Jesus Christ aligns perfectly with Moroni’s purpose for recording and abridging the brother of Jared’s experience with the Lord upon the top of Mount Shelem. Moroni, like each of the Book of Mormon prophets who preceded him, aimed to build faith in Jesus Christ in his audience.
While there is no specified author for the Lectures on Faith, scholars speculate that both Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon originally prepared and delivered the lectures. While the extent of Joseph Smith’s involvement in the production of the lectures is unknown, it is likely that Joseph Smith approved of the content of the lectures. I mention the introductory lecture on faith as a prelude to better understanding Moroni’s purpose for abridging Ether’s record because it articulates in such clear language what faith in Jesus Christ is and why the brother of Jared was able to exercise such great faith in Jesus Christ. The Church History Topics essay on the Lectures on Faith helps us to understand what these lectures were all about:
Three things are necessary, the lectures teach, for any “rational and intelligent being” to exercise the faith in God necessary for salvation: first, the idea that God exists; second, a correct idea of His character and attributes; and third, a knowledge that the course of life one pursues is in accordance with His will.1 The lectures elaborate on and explain these ideas. (See also the Joseph Smith Papers)
The brother of Jared knew that God exists. He had a correct idea of His character and attributes - which includes an understanding of and appreciation for Heavenly Father’s great mercy. The brother of Jared also knew that the course of life that he pursued was in accordance with the will of God. This correct knowledge as a foundation enabled the brother of Jared to exercise great faith in Jesus Christ, and even to accomplish miracles. As we shall see in chapter 12 of the Book of Ether, both Ether and Moroni recorded these things in order to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and lead us to salvation and Eternal Life. As we recall, this was the same purpose of Book of Mormon prophets from the beginning:
But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender cmercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of ddeliverance. (1 Nephi 1:20)
The brother of Jared, Ether, Moroni, and the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon taught faith in Jesus Christ, because that is what Jesus Christ taught and encouraged in His disciples. Think of how often our Lord chided those of little faith and commended others for their great faith. Here are a few examples to consider before we enter into a deeper study of the brother of Jared’s example of faith in Christ:
The Lord’s Gentle Correction:
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:30)
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Luke 12:28)
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:31)
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matthew 17:20)
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. (Luke 17:6)
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (Matthew 21:21)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matthew 23:23)
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:40)
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Mark 11:22)
And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. (Luke 8:25)
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:32)
And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. (Ether 4:7)
And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. (Moroni 7:33)
Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that which you ought not. (D&C 8:10)
And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing. (D&C 18:19)
And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost. (D&C 19:31)
And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive. (D&C 29:6)
And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick; they shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk. (D&C 35:9)
And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed. (D&C 42:48)
Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God. (D&C 63:10)
And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. (D&C 88:118)
The Lord’s Commendation and Praise:
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Matthew 8:10)
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Luke 7:9)
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. (Matthew 9:22)
And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. (Mark 5:34)
And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. (Mark 10:52)
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50)
And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. (Luke 8:48)
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (Luke 17:19)
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. (Luke 18:42)
Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. (Matthew 9:29)
And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole. (Enos 1:8)
Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. (Helaman 5:47)
For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you. (3 Nephi 17:8)
And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying he came again to the disciples, and said unto them: So great faith have I never seen among all the Jews; wherefore I could not show unto them so great miracles, because of their unbelief. (3 Nephi 19:35)
Heavenly Father wants us to believe in Him and in His Beloved Son Jesus Christ. They provided the Book of Mormon, including Moroni’s abridgment of Ether’s record of the brother of Jared in order to strengthen our faith in Them. What a gift! What a blessing! We can trust in the Lord. And we can learn from the brother of Jared how to grow in our faith in Jesus Christ.