Omer escapes the coup attempt, and Jared becomes king. His collaborator, Akish, turns against him, takes his life, and then becomes king. But no one can trust each other, and soon, the people of Akish destroy each other except for a few people who join Omer and his people.
Omer’s son Emer presides over a period of prosperity, and he sees the Son of Righteousness. His son and grandson also rule in righteousness. But his great-grandson, Heth, begins to embrace the old oaths, and his people persecute the prophets. The Lord sends a famine which eventually compels the people to repent.
Chapter Outline
- Omer is deposed but returns to power when his enemies destroy each other (v. 1-13)
- Omer’s son Emer presides over a period of prosperity. He sees the Son of Righteousness. (v. 14-22)
- Several generations later, the people reject and kill the prophets. The Lord sends curses, including poisonous serpents and a famine until they repent. (v. 23-36)
My Takeaways
- Righteousness means doing what is right, without needing to be asked.
- The adversity we experience can play an important role in our spiritual growth.
- Sustainable leadership is built on love, mutual respect, and honesty. Unsustainable leadership is built on coercion, intimidation, and fear.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Omer – Ether 9:1-13
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.
Akish Began to Be Jealous – Ether 9:6-8
5 And it came to pass that Akish sought the life of his father-in-law; and he applied unto those whom he had sworn by the oath of the ancients, and they obtained the head of his father-in-law, as he sat upon his throne, giving audience to his people. 6 For so great had been the…
❖ Emer – Ether 9:14-22
Righteousness
The Jaredite king Emer presided over a period of prosperity, following a troubling time of political upheaval and distrust. Moroni tells us that “Emer did execute judgment in righteousness all his days” (Ether 9:21). What a relief it must have been for his people to know what to expect and to be able to have…
❖ A great dearth – Ether 9:23-36
But the People Believed Not – Ether 9:28-29
28 And there came prophets in the land again, crying repentance unto them–that they must prepare the way of the Lord or there should come a curse upon the face of the land; yea, even there should be a great famine, in which they should be destroyed if they did not repent.29 But the people…
Poisonous Serpents – Ether 9:29-35
29 But the people believed not the words of the prophets, but they cast them out; and some of them they cast into pits and left them to perish. And it came to pass that they did all these things according to the commandment of the king, Heth. 30 And it came to pass that…
Old Testament Foundations
Rain
As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promised land, Moses promised them that God would bless them in their new home, including providing the moisture needed to grow crops: It shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with…
Church History Connections
The Son of Righteousness – Ether 9:21-22
21 And Emer did execute judgment in righteousness all his days, and he begat many sons and daughters; and he begat Coriantum, and he anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead. 22 And after he had anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead he lived four years, and he saw peace in the land; yea,…
All Posts Referencing Ether 9
- Creatures, Living Things, and Beasts (7/16/2025)
- Preparing the Way of the Lord (6/20/2025)
- King of the Mountain (11/23/2024)
- Ether and the Books of Kings (11/21/2024)
- Rain (11/10/2022)
- Glory (12/28/2021)
- Anointed (10/31/2021)
- Righteousness (11/22/2020)
- “There Came Prophets” (11/19/2020)
- The Jaredite Generations (11/18/2020)
- What Does It Mean to Be “Ripe in Iniquity?” (11/23/2019)
- What Do We Know About the Jaredite Plates? (5/26/2019)
- Poisonous Serpents – Ether 9:29-35 (5/29/2018)
- The Son of Righteousness – Ether 9:21-22 (5/28/2018)
- Akish Began to Be Jealous – Ether 9:6-8 (6/12/2017)
- But the People Believed Not – Ether 9:28-29 (12/7/2015)
- Ether 9:34-35 When They Had Humbled Themselves Sufficiently (12/21/2014)