The brother of Jared was perplexed about what to do; he recognized three major problems. The group needed lighting, steering, and breathing mechanisms for their vessels. Each craft would be, in some sense, a submarine, “as a whale in the midst of the sea,” at times “swallowed up in the depths” or submerged, at other times brought back “up again out of the depths of the sea” (see also Ether 6:7, 10).
How were the three challenges or problems resolved? In three ways, which suggest to us how the Lord trains us and how we in turn can teach and train others, such as children, family members, and those associated with our callings. First, the Lord commanded a course of action be taken, “you do this …” Second, the Lord, by implication, asks for the brother of Jared’s best thinking, and then he tells him to request a course of action from the Lord. “What will ye that I should do … ?” the Lord asked his prophet. Though all-powerful, God doesn’t just step in and do everything for us. It is our responsibility to suggest a remedy or solution. There is no waste of divine energy. What man can do, man must do; then God steps in to help. Finally, the Lord says in effect, “Trust me, I will do such and such …”
As the Lord knew, boats were not the only kind of vessels to be concerned about in this situation. People are vessels as well, as we know. Mary, the mother of Jesus, for example, was “a precious and chosen vessel” (Alma 7:10), and so are Heavenly Father’s other children. Leaders and teachers are charged with helping to fill those vessels with light.