Reading: Ether 6-15
The Jaredites, after crossing the ocean and landing in the promised land (north America), prospered under the intensely righteous leadership of Jared and his brother (Mahonri Moriancumer). Near the end of their days, Jared and his brother were asked to name a king (much to their chagrin). They would not name a king as they both knew such an action would eventually lead to captivity; but they did not prohibit the people from crowning one. All the sons of both Jared and his brother were asked to assume the role of king and each refused until Jared's son, Orihah, finally accepted. Orihah reigned in righteousness for many years, his son, Kib, also. One of the 23 sons of Kib, Corihor, rebelled against his father and eventually overthrew him (making him a captive and sealing the prophesy that a king would breed captivity). Over all the subsequent generations, and throughout the Jaredite civilization, captivity and subterfuge became the norm and, just like in the eventual demise of the Nephites, secret combinations and oaths were at the heart of the driving wickedness.
Akish, a man beguiled by a sinister female, sets up a plan to murder the reigning king in order to wed the woman and put her father on the throne...
ETHER 8:15-16, 18, 21; 15:34
15 And it came to pass that thus they did agree with Akish. And Akish did administer unto them the oaths which were given by them of old who also sought power, which had been handed down even from Cain, who was a murderer from the beginning.
16 And they were kept up by the power of the devil to administer these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness, to help such as sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder, and to lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and whoredoms.
18 And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God;
The king, Omer, discovered the plot to dethrone him and fled the kingdom. The new king is crowned and Akish married his daughter. Akish then murdered the king (father of his wife) and ultimately gained the throne for himself. Akish, jealous of his own son, imprisoned him, caused his death, and ultimately an uprising within his own offspring caused mass destruction.
The cycle of pride reigned steady throughout the remainder of Ether's record and ends, like the Nephites, in a mass, continuous battle that claimed the lives of millions down to the last two men who killed one another.
21 And they [secret combinations] have caused the destruction of this people [Jaredites] of whom I [Moroni] am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi.
Ether, being the last Jaredite on the land, shared a moment of repose like that of Moroni at the demise of his people (the Nephites). I am sure the translation of Ether's record was extremely recollective and tough for Moroni to work through; especially considering the similarities of destruction between his people and the Jaredites.
15:34 Now the last words which are written by Ether are these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen.
Secret combinations and oaths, handed down in practice from Cain, have caused the demise of several civilizations throughout time. Watch out! Those around you willing to take part in such practices will, in fact, use such strategies against you, in their own due time, as well...
~Kipling
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