Barges are small vessels built by the brother of Jared and his brethren for travel across waters. During their wilderness journey, they “did build barges, in which they did cross many waters,” while being “directed continually by the hand of the Lord” (Ether 2:6).
The Lord told the brother of Jared to “build, after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built.” The brother of Jared and his brethren built them according to the Lord’s instructions, and the barges were “small, and they were light upon the water, even like unto the lightness of a fowl upon the water” (Ether 2:16).
The brother of Jared said, “I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me” (Ether 2:18). After preparing food for themselves, their flocks, herds, and other animals and fowl, they boarded the barges and “set forth into the sea” (Ether 6:4).