He Who is Not Named...

Reading:   Ether 1

The book of Ether is an account of the Jaredites as recorded and preserved by Ether.  Ether is a descendant of Jared - 27 generations removed.  Jared lived in times of old, Tower of Babel times (see Genesis 11), and desiring to maintain his ability to communicate with his brother, family, and friends, he inquired of the Lord, actually, had has brother inquire of the Lord, as to what they should do...

ETHER 1:40-41

40    And it came to pass that the Lord did hear the brother of Jared, and had compassion upon him, and said unto him: 

41    Go to and gather together thy flocks, both male and female, of every kind; and also of the seed of the earth of every kind; and thy families; and also Jared thy brother and his family; and also thy friends and their families, and the friends of Jared and their families. 

Now I'm not sure at this point why it is we never hear the name of Jared's brother as it seems he is the one closely communicating with God; but we will allow that to unfold as we read on in the account.  Anyway, I thought it was interesting to have a pointed connection with the Old Testament in the beginning of this book.  I read the Genesis chapter (11) and appreciate Jared's need to skedaddle before the confounding of languages and scattering of the people.

Okay I can't leave it alone, I'm going to find out why Jared continually asks his brother to pray and why we are in the dark as to his name...

My research has ended, called my mom, his name is -

Mahonri Moriancumer

Interestingly, the name is never given in the scriptures - always being referred to as the brother of Jared.  Not certain as to why other than reverence of some sort (the guy was quite a powerful man of God, as we shall see in the reading).  His name was revealed to Joseph Smith some time later, after the translation of the Book of Mormon...

 "While residing in Kirtland Elder Reynolds Cahoon had a son born to him. One day when President Joseph Smith was passing his door, he called the Prophet in and asked him to bless and name the baby. Joseph did so and gave the boy the name of Mahonri Moriancumer. When he had finished the blessing he laid the child on the bed, and turning to Elder Cahoon he said, 'The name I have given your son is the name of the brother of Jared; the Lord has just shown [or revealed] it to me.' Elder William F. Cahoon ... heard the Prophet make this statement to his father; and this was the first time the name of the brother of Jared was known in the Church in this dispensation" (George Reynolds, "The Jaredites," Juvenile Instructor, 1 May 1892, 282).  

So there you have it...a name unmentioned in the scriptures brought to light through revelation given to Joseph Smith.

Thanks Mom!

~Kipling