“He Did Bring Them Forth Again Upon the Top of the Waters”

W. Cleon Skousen

It must have been a great satisfaction to Mahonri and his brother, Jared, to observe that when these barges were subjected to mountainous waves which sent tens of tons of water crashing down on their decks, the seams, joints and joists all held firmly. The scripture says these vessels were tight like unto a dish and then we have the remarkable statement that they were actually fashioned according to the inspired architecture of the famous Ark of Noah! We are also told that the ferocity of the waves sometimes submerged the barges for long periods of time and the people had to plead with the Lord to intervene so they would not suffocate.

It appears that the only way the occupants of these barges could have any semblance of order during these chaotic periods when the barges were pitching about on the sea would be to have these barges carefully compartmentalized and all of the animals, feed and storage firmly fixed in place. And let us mention two other miraculous things which would have required divine intervention. One was the fact that the barges stayed together and arrived in the promised land at the same time. Divergent currents could have scattered them hundreds of miles apart. Another miracle was the fact that they weathered these many months of tempestuous waves without having the barges smash into one another.

Treasures from the Book of Mormon

References