Sixteen White Stones

The Lesson on the Sixteen Stones: Grandma taught a wonderful lesson to the missionaries about the lesson we learn from the Brother of Jared in Ether. Have you ever though about why the Lord gave the Brother of Jared an answer to one of his two quesitons so quickly but really made him for for the answer to the other question?

Background: Ether 2:6 - These people built mang barges, crossed many wathers and were directed continually by the Lord. Verse 13 - Finally they arrived near the sea and lived in tents for four years. Verse 14 - The Brother of Jared was chastised for not remembering to call upon the name of God. Verse 15 - The Brother of Jared was forgiven and told they would be lead to the promised land.

Question: How could someone as good as the Brother of Jared possible forget to call upon the name of God?

Possibilities: Perhaps this means his prayers were not as sincere as they should have been?
Now, here is the exciting connection to be made in this study:
After the brother of Jared was commanded to build ari tight barges, he approached the Lord in verse 19 and said "there is no light, how can we steer?" This was their first problem.
He also said "we cannot breathe" so we will perish (second problem).
Mortal life is given to us freely: The Lord immediately answered the second question and just told the Brother of Jared what to do. He told him to cut a hole in the top and fashion a stopper to plug the hole if the barged flipped over. He told him to do the same for the bottom.

Eternal life must be worked for: But when it came to the first question, the Brother of Jared was told to go figure it out. He told him he could not have windows for light because the glass would be "dashed in pieces" and he could not take fire for light on his voyage. So what would he do? The Lord asked the Brother of Jared "what would you have me do?" - in other words, he was told to go figure out the answer. (Isn't this the way so many of life's questions get answered?)
Isn't it interesting that the Lord immediately responded to the quesiton of breathing. This symbolizes our life here on earth. We have been given breath freely.
But as for light, we must really work (to have the Spirit with us). We must do all we can and then call on the Lord.

Brother of Jared's idea: How symbolic is it that the Borther of Jared would take a rock and heat it until it melted and became clear, white, and transparent glass. Then he did this 15 other times and took all 16 stones to the top of the mount (verse 1 of Chapter 3). This represents the temple.

Solution:There he humbled himself before God, acknowledging all his weaknesses, asking for pity and for the Lord's anger to be turned away. And he praised the Lord for all his power. And then....given that he had great faith...he saw the finger of the Lord as he had asked him to touch those 16 stones so they would have "light" on their journey.

Model for us: And so the pattern is laid out for us. To get light, we must be humble, faithful, work hard, and seek the Lord in a temple.