Ether 12:28–41

Jesus Christ: “The Fountain of All Righteousness”

a painting of Christ

Depending on what we seek, we can find much good or much bad in the world. After learning of the destruction of the Jaredites and witnessing the destruction of the Nephites, Moroni pled with all his readers to seek Jesus Christ and the blessings He has to offer. This lesson can help you feel a greater desire to seek Jesus Christ in your own life.

Help students recognize the Lord’s blessings in their lives. In addition to teaching facts about Jesus Christ, give students opportunities to reflect on His love, power, and mercy. Encourage them to remember experiences when they have felt the Savior’s power and mercy extended to them or those they love. Doing this can help learners come unto Jesus Christ more fully.

Student preparation: Consider providing students with a copy of Elder Melvin J. Ballard’s experience that is included in this lesson. Invite them to come prepared to share what they learned and felt about Jesus Christ through reading Elder Ballard’s experience.

Possible Learning Activities

Fountains

Consider displaying the following definition and image.

A fountain is defined as “the source from which something proceeds or is supplied”—for example, “a spring of water issuing from the earth” (Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, “fountain”).

A fountain of water

• If you had access to a miraculous fountain that supplied a continuous flow of anything you chose, what would you want it to produce?

Draw a quick picture of a fountain producing what you chose, and briefly explain why you would want that.

Consider inviting a few students to briefly share their drawings.

Read Ether 12:28, looking for the fountain the Lord referred to after teaching Moroni about His ability to turn our weaknesses into strengths.

• What is the fountain the Lord referred to?

• What does this verse teach about how we come to Christ?

One truth this verse teaches is that faith, hope, and charity bring us to Jesus Christ, the Fountain of All Righteousness.

• Why is “the Fountain of All Righteousness” a good title for Jesus Christ?

• What do you think or feel is constantly coming from Him?

• How do you think developing faith, hope, and charity brings us to Jesus?

For the following suggested activity, consider placing students in groups of three. Invite each person to think of and share one example with their group.

List some examples that illustrate how the Savior is the Fountain of All Righteousness. These examples could come from the scriptures, from your life, or from the lives of people you know. If you need help thinking of an example, you could read the account of the Savior in Mark 2:1–12 or watch “Jesus Forgives Sins and Heals a Man Stricken with Palsy” (2:57).

Ponder how these examples influence your feelings toward Jesus Christ. Think about your current desire to come to Jesus Christ and partake of the righteousness that comes from Him. Is your desire as strong as you want it to be? Why or why not?

As you continue to study, seek truths about Jesus Christ that can positively influence your desire and ability to come unto Him and partake of the righteousness He offers.

Gifts that flow from Christ

Read Ether 12:29–37, looking for blessings that Jesus Christ offers those who come to Him with faith, hope, and charity.

• What blessings did Moroni say come from seeking Jesus?

• Which of these blessings have you or others experienced as you have sought the Savior?

• Which of these blessings do you most look forward to receiving in the future? Why?

Seek Jesus

At the end of Ether 12, Moroni shared a sacred experience he had. Read verse 39, and try to imagine what that experience must have been like for Moroni.

Read and consider marking Moroni’s invitation in verse 41.

• After having the experience he described in verse 39, why do you think Moroni would offer us this invitation?

Like Moroni, Elder Melvin J. Ballard (1873–1939) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had a sacred experience with the Savior. Read his description of this experience, and again try to imagine what it must have been like.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard

I found myself one evening in the dreams of the night in that sacred building, the temple. After a season of prayer and rejoicing I was informed that I should have the privilege of entering into one of those rooms, to meet a glorious personage, and, as I entered the door, I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious being my eyes have ever beheld or that I ever conceived existed in all the eternal worlds.

As I approached to be introduced, He arose and stepped towards me with extended arms, and He smiled as He softly spoke my name. If I shall live to be a million years old, I shall never forget that smile. He took me into His arms and kissed me, pressed me to His bosom, and blessed me, until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt! When He had finished, I fell at His feet, and, as I bathed them with my tears and kisses, I saw the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of the world. The feeling that I had in the presence of Him who hath all things in His hands, to have His love, His affection, and His blessing was such that if I can receive that of which I had but a foretaste, I would give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt!

… I see Jesus not now upon the cross. I do not see His brow pierced with thorns nor His hands torn with the nails, but I see Him smiling, with extended arms, saying to us all: “Come unto me!” (Melvin J. Ballard, “I Know That He Lives,” Ensign, Dec. 2014, 80)

• What stood out to you most from Elder Ballard’s experience? Why?

• What thoughts or feelings about the Savior do Elder Ballard’s and Moroni’s experiences bring to your mind?

To conclude the lesson, consider giving students the following invitation. It may be helpful to share about your own desires to seek Jesus Christ and the blessings that have come as you have sought Him.

Ponder what you have learned and felt today. What most influenced your desire to seek Jesus in your life? Commit to act on any promptings or impressions you have had.

Commentary and Background Information

What is charity?

Elder Marvin J. Ashton (1915–94) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Marvin J. Ashton

Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. …

Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other. (Marvin J. Ashton, “The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword,” Ensign, May 1992, 19)

Ether 12:41. How can I seek Jesus, and what blessings can come as I do?

President Russell M. Nelson promised:

President Russell M. Nelson

If you proceed to learn all you can about Jesus Christ, I promise you that … your ability to turn away from sin will increase. Your desire to keep the commandments will soar. (Russell M. Nelson, “Prophets, Leadership, and Divine Law” [worldwide devotional for young adults, Jan. 8, 2017], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Watch “Wise Men Still Seek Him” (3:31) or “Seek, and Ye Shall Find” from time code 13:59 to 15:16 to see some examples that can help answer this question.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Ether 12:36–38. The Lord’s judgment

Ether 12:36–38 reflects the following truth: The Lord will not hold us accountable for the wickedness of those around us. He will judge us based on our own desires and works. If students might benefit from better understanding this truth, consider sharing the following.

Hyrum Smith, after being wrongly imprisoned in Carthage Jail, turned down the page at Ether 12 in the copy of the Book of Mormon he had. He and his brother the Prophet Joseph Smith would soon be martyred in that jail for their beliefs. Just prior to their martyrdom, Hyrum read verses 36–38 (see Doctrine and Covenants 135:4–5). Invite students to read Ether 12:36–38 carefully, looking for evidence of the above bolded truth. Consider asking questions such as the following:

• What do you think verses 36–38 might have meant to Hyrum at that time?

• What are some circumstances you have faced or could face in which the truths in these verses would be helpful?

• What do these verses help you understand about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Why are those truths important to you?

The character of Christ

Students may benefit from focusing more on the characteristics of Jesus Christ in Ether 12:29–41. After identifying in Ether 12:28 the Savior’s title “the Fountain of All Righteousness,” invite students to write this title in the middle of a paper. Around it, they could list what this title teaches about the character of Christ.

Invite them to read Ether 12:29–41, identify additional characteristics of the Savior, and add them to their lists. For example, they might notice in Ether 12:29 how the Savior comforts us and that His will is always righteous. It may also be helpful to point out Moroni’s teaching that the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us is charity (see Ether 12:32–34). After students have completed their lists, invite them to seek the Lord’s help to develop one of these characteristics themselves.