Many regimes of kings came and went among the Jaredites. Some, like Orihah, Emer, and Lib, were righteous and presided over periods of prosperity. Others, like Akish and Heth, sought power by treachery and contributed to instability and violence. Many of the “kings” listed in this history spent much or even all of their lives in exile or in captivity. The last of these, Ether, lived “in the cavity of a rock,” hidden from his own people because they had tried to kill him for preaching the gospel. Like Moroni, he spent much of his time making a record of his life and teachings for future generations. (See Ether 13:14, 22.)
One lesson we learn from Moroni’s account of the Jaredites is that a great leader isn’t always in a position of authority. A great leader exercises influence from a visible leadership role, from a position of little or no organizational leverage, or even from a position of relative isolation. We can be a force for good regardless of our current circumstances.
Here are some additional lessons I’ve learned from these chapters:
Outline
- Ether 6 – The Jaredites Travel Across the Sea to Their Promised Land
- Ether 7 – Captivity and Freedom During the Reigns of Orihah, Kib, and Shule
- Ether 8 – The Rise of Secret Combinations
- Ether 9 – Omer’s Exile, Emer’s Prosperity, and Poisonous Serpents
- Ether 10 – Fourteen Kings
- Ether 11 – “There Came Many Prophets”
Key Themes
- An obsession with worldly power leads to instability and unhappiness.
- Righteousness means doing what is right, without needing to be asked.
- Sustainable leadership is built on love, mutual respect, and honesty. Unsustainable leadership is built on coercion, intimidation, and fear.
- Leadership roles are responsibilities, not privileges, and leaders need to serve others unselfishly.
- A good leader will defend and support the most vulnerable people in the group.
Connections
- Jeremiah testified that God is the “fountain of living waters” (Jeremiah 2:13, 17:13). Zechariah prophesied that in the last days, “living waters shall go out from Jerusalem” (Zechariah 14:8) and will heal the land. Moroni wanted his readers to “come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved” (Ether 8:26; see also Ether 12:28).
- In two of the psalms, David refers to “the multitude of [God’s] tender mercies” (Psalm 51:1, Psalm 69:16). Lehi and Nephi use that same phrase near the beginning of the Book of Mormon. (See 1 Nephi 1:20, 1 Nephi 8:7-8.) Many years earlier, when the Jaredites arrived in their promised land, they “did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them” (Ether 6:6-12)
Applications
- Follow the guidance you receive from God, even when you don’t know where it will lead.
- Prepare for the storms you will inevitably face by taking care of your health, investing in key relationships, and creating effective plans.
- Help your students find their own answers to gospel questions, rather than trying to answer those questions for them.
- Be a hopeful realist. Strive to see things as they really are and to be optimistic about what you can achieve with God’s help.
- Take advantage of the opportunities you have been given. Move forward with diligence and with gratitude.
Recommended Posts
Blog Posts: November 19-24
Being Part of That Furious Wind
The Jaredite barges traveled across the ocean to their promised land because of a “furious wind” which “never did cease to blow towards the promised land.” We can likewise serve as gusts of wind for others, helping them progress toward their promised land
Walk Humbly
The ancient prophet Micah counseled us to “walk humbly with God.” The Jaredites taught their children to walk humbly as an expression of gratitude. The Spirit of the Lord can help us learn to walk more humbly.
Ether and the Books of Kings
Ether has a lot in common with the books of 1 & 2 Kings in the Old Testament: In both accounts, we see the effects of a leader’s character on their nation. Prophets deliver warnings boldly. They are not afraid to share the truth, even when it’s unpopular.
Your Awful Situation
A secret combination is a group of people who are oath-bound to hide one another’s sins. Moroni warned us to be aware of these groups and not to let them spread. We do this by valuing integrity over loyalty and by not hiding or rationalizing wrongdoing.
King of the Mountain
Several Jaredite kings learned the hard way that obtaining power by treachery doesn’t set you up for long-term success. It is much better to be part of a team that is working toward a common goal and supporting one another along the way.
Doing Justice to Myself
Morianton was a Jaredite king. He “did do justice unto the people, but not unto himself.” There are many ways we can do justice to others but not to ourselves, including neglecting our health and failing to forgive ourselves. We need to be kind to all of God’s children, including ourselves.
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