Jaredite Barges are eight vessels built by the brother of Jared and his brethren according to the Lord’s instructions. They were built “after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built,” and their door, when shut, was “tight like unto a dish” (Ether 2:16-17). The brother of Jared made a hole in the top and another in the bottom so those inside could receive air and stop the holes if water entered (Ether 2:20-21).
The brother of Jared prepared the vessels for his people, and “the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight” (Ether 2:24; Ether 3:1). After food and animals were prepared, the people “got aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea” (Ether 6:4). A furious wind drove them toward the promised land, and they were many times buried in the depths of the sea (Ether 6:5-6).
When the barges were buried in the deep, no water hurt those aboard because the vessels were tight like unto a dish and tight like unto the ark of Noah (Ether 6:7). They “did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water” and traveled three hundred and forty and four days upon the water (Ether 6:10-11). They landed upon the shore of the promised land (Ether 6:12).