Seminary
Ether 12:23–27: “Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong unto Them”

“Ether 12:23–27: ‘Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong unto Them,’” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)

“Ether 12:23–27,” Book of Mormon Student Manual

Ether 12:23–27

“Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong unto Them”

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Moroni writing on plates

As Moroni continued abridging the book of Ether, he feared the Gentiles would mock his work because of his weakness in writing. The Lord responded that as we come unto Him in humility and faith, He can turn our weak things into strengths (see Ether 12:27). This lesson is intended to help you come unto Jesus Christ to overcome weaknesses through His grace.

Weakness and strength

  • What is something that is beyond your physical strength to do right now? What would you need to do in order to be strong enough to accomplish the task?

In mortality, we all face weaknesses. Sometimes this can be discouraging. In this lesson you will learn about a pattern the Lord taught Moroni that can turn weaknesses into strengths.

Moroni’s concerns

Moroni was given the task of abridging the account of the Jaredites, and he knew this account would be read by many people in the future. As he finished his abridgment, he recorded some of his final thoughts and included his personal concerns and worries about what he was asked to do.

Read Ether 12:23–25, looking for what concerns Moroni had.

  • What was Moroni specifically worried about?

The Lord’s response to Moroni

Read Ether 12:26–27, looking for how the Lord responded to Moroni’s concerns.

Ether 12:27 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily. You will have an opportunity in the next lesson to practice applying the doctrine taught in this passage to a question or situation.

Divide a blank sheet of paper or a page in your study journal into four squares, and write the first bolded phrase below in one of the squares. Then write the second bolded phrase in a different square. Continue until you have included all of the bolded phrases. Write notes in these squares that help you understand what these phrases mean.

“If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness”

  • What do you think it means to come unto Christ?

Notice that the Lord says that He will show us our weakness if we come unto Him.

  • Why is this a blessing to us?

The word weakness in this phrase refers to our fallen condition, which includes individual “weak things” and our inability to be perfect.

  • What do you learn from Ether 12:27 about why the Savior wants you to recognize your weakness?

Ponder whether you have had an experience recently in which God has shown you your weakness. Or consider offering a silent prayer for Him to help you overcome a weak thing in your life.

“I give unto men weakness that they may be humble”

Read some examples of individuals in the scriptures who recognized their weakness:

  • How did recognizing their weakness help the individuals in these accounts be humble?

  • Why do you think the Lord wants us to be humble?

“My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me”

  • What do you think it means that the Savior’s grace is sufficient for all who humble themselves before Him?

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the Seventy explained:

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Elder Kevin S. Hamilton

[Jesus Christ’s] strengthening, enabling grace gives us power to overcome all obstacles, all challenges, and all weaknesses as we seek to change.

The Savior worked out His infinite and eternal Atonement so that we could in fact change, repent, and become better. We can actually be born again. We can overcome habits, addictions, and even the “disposition to do evil” [Mosiah 5:2]. (Kevin S. Hamilton, “Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong,” Liahona, May 2022, 51–52)

Notice how the people of King Benjamin experienced the Lord’s grace in Mosiah 4:3.

  • Who else in the scriptures demonstrated that the Savior’s grace is sufficient to help us overcome our weaknesses?

“If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them”

Elder Hamilton pointed out that “weak things” in this verse could refer to our behaviors that are weaknesses.

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Elder Kevin S. Hamilton

As we first change our fallen natures, our weakness, then we will be able to change our behaviors, our weaknesses. (Kevin S. Hamilton, “Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong,” Liahona, May 2022, 51)

  1. Do one of the following:

    1. In a paragraph of at least three sentences, record what you have learned and want to remember from this lesson.

    2. In a paragraph of at least three sentences, describe how you will apply what you have learned today.