To build according to the instructions of the Lord (v. 16), confirms again that the Jaredites had been praying for and receiving revelation. The Lord spoke to the brother of Jared because he was their chosen leader. Although we have no record of his being ordained to any office, he was “a man highly favored of the Lord” (Ether 1:34). The people looked to him for guidance, and it is not unreasonable to suppose, from the brief record that we have, that he was a priesthood leader. We will point out other evidences of his holding the priesthood as we continue. In instructions given by the Prophet Joseph Smith, he informed the Church, through a personal letter to a member, of the fundamental principle of revelation:
I will inform you that it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves; therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed to them; but if any person have a vision or a visitation from a heavenly messenger, it must be for his own benefit and instruction; for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the Church are vested in the keys of the kingdom. [TPJS, 22]
In the same letter, he later wrote: “And again we never inquire at the hand of God for special revelation only in case of their being no previous revelation to suit the case; and that in a council of High Priests” (TPJS, 22). In later instructions given by the Prophet Joseph Smith regarding disciplinary councils in the Church, it was written: “if there is not a sufficiency written to make the case clear to the mind of the council, the president may inquire and obtain the mind of the Lord by revelation” (D&C 102:23, Feb. 17, 1834). The Jaredites were to rely on the previous revelations before they attempted to receive more revelation. We must feast upon the words of Christ and they “will tell you all things what you should do” (2 Nephi 32:3).
The description given of the barges (Ether 2:16–17) will not be discussed here. While some have attempted to construct a model in one form or another, in the writer’s opinion, we do not have enough information to do justice to the project. Therefore, we must wait for the unabridged record to come forth.