Ether 8
People in this chapter
Ether 8 is one of the darkest chapters in the Book of Mormon, and Moroni treats it as one of the most important. It begins with a son who rebels against his father for the throne, loses, and cannot let go of it. Jared, son of Omer, had set his heart upon the kingdom and upon the glory of the world (v. 7).
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Ether 8:1-7He Had Set His Heart upon the Kingdom
1And it came to pass that he begat Omer, and Omer reigned in his stead. And Omer begat Jared; and Jared begat sons and daughters. 2And Jared rebelled against his father, and came and dwelt in the land of Heth. And it came to pass that he did flatter many people, because of his cunning words, until he had gained the half of the kingdom. 3And when he had gained the half of the kingdom he gave battle unto his father, and he did carry away his father into captivity, and did make him serve in captivity; 4And now, in the days of the reign of Omer he was in captivity the half of his days. And it came to pass that he begat sons and daughters, among whom were Esrom and Coriantumr;
Omer became king after his father Shule. Omer's son Jared rebelled, won over half the kingdom with flattery, and took his father captive.
5And they were exceedingly angry because of the doings of Jared their brother, insomuch that they did raise an army and gave battle unto Jared. And it came to pass that they did give battle unto him by night. 6And it came to pass that when they had slain the army of Jared they were about to slay him also; and he pled with them that they would not slay him, and he would give up the kingdom unto his father. And it came to pass that they did grant unto him his life. 7And now Jared became exceedingly sorrowful because of the loss of the kingdom, for he had set his heart upon the kingdom and upon the glory of the world.
Jared's brothers defeated his army. He begged for his life and promised to give the kingdom back to their father. They spared him, but he was miserable because he had set his heart on the kingdom.
Ether 8:8-12The Daughter of Jared
8Now the daughter of Jared being exceedingly expert, and seeing the sorrows of her father, thought to devise a plan whereby she could redeem the kingdom unto her father. 9Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And it came to pass that she did talk with her father, and said unto him: Whereby hath my father so much sorrow? Hath he not read the record which our fathers brought across the great deep? Behold, is there not an account concerning them of old, that they by their secret plans did obtain kingdoms and great glory? 10And now, therefore, let my father send for Akish, the son of Kimnor; and behold, I am fair, and I will dance before him, and I will please him, that he will desire me to wife; wherefore if he shall desire of thee that ye shall give unto him me to wife, then shall ye say: I will give her if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king.
Jared's daughter was clever and beautiful. She reminded her father that the old record told how men had gained kingdoms by secret plans. She would dance for Akish, and Jared would offer her in marriage if Akish brought him the king's head.
11And now Omer was a friend to Akish; wherefore, when Jared had sent for Akish, the daughter of Jared danced before him that she pleased him, insomuch that he desired her to wife. And it came to pass that he said unto Jared: Give her unto me to wife. 12And Jared said unto him: I will give her unto you, if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king.
Akish was a friend of King Omer. But when Jared's daughter danced for him, he wanted to marry her, and Jared named his price: the head of the king.
Ether 8:13-17Handed Down Even from Cain
13And it came to pass that Akish gathered in unto the house of Jared all his kinsfolk, and said unto them: Will ye swear unto me that ye will be faithful unto me in the thing which I shall desire of you? 14And it came to pass that they all sware unto him, by the God of heaven, and also by the heavens, and also by the earth, and by their heads, that whoso should vary from the assistance which Akish desired should lose his head; and whoso should divulge whatsoever thing Akish made known unto them, the same should lose his life.
Akish gathered his relatives and made them swear to be faithful to him. Anyone who failed to help him, or who revealed his plans, would be killed.
15And 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. 16And 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. 17And it was the daughter of Jared who put it into his heart to search up these things of old; and Jared put it into the heart of Akish; wherefore, Akish administered it unto his kindred and friends, leading them away by fair promises to do whatsoever thing he desired.
These oaths were very old. They went all the way back to Cain, the first murderer, and the devil kept them alive to help people gain power and do evil.
Ether 8:18-22The Lord Worketh Not in Secret Combinations
18And 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; 19For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man.
20And now I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people, and they are had among the Lamanites. 21And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi. 22And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.
Moroni refuses to write down the secret oaths. He says these combinations destroyed both the Jaredites and his own people, the Nephites, and that any nation that supports them will be destroyed.
Ether 8:23-26Awake to a Sense of Your Awful Situation
23Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be. 24Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
Moroni speaks to people in the last days. God wants them to know about secret combinations so they can repent and not let these groups gain power over them. When they see these things, they must wake up to the danger.
25For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
Moroni says these combinations try to destroy freedom everywhere. They are built by the devil, the father of lies, who deceived Adam and Eve and has led people to murder and to kill the prophets from the beginning.
26Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Secret CombinationsGathers the scriptures on secret combinations, from Cain to the Jaredites, Nephites, and latter days.
- CainBackground for verse 15: the oaths handed down even from Cain, who was a murderer from the beginning.
- DevilScriptures on the father of all lies Moroni describes in verse 25.
- PrideScriptures on the pride and desire for the glory of the world that drive Jared in verse 7.
Where this echoes in Scripture
He Had Set His Heart upon the Kingdom
- Matthew 6:21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
- Doctrine and Covenants 121:35Their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men.
- Jacob 7:4He could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.Sherem's flattery among the Nephites.
- Ether 7:7Kib dwelt in captivity... until he became exceedingly old.The pattern of captive kings.
The Daughter of Jared
- Mark 6:22-25The daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod... Give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
- Esther 4:14Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?President Faust's example of a woman who saved her people.
- Alma 37:27Ye shall keep from this people, that they know them not, lest peradventure they should fall into darkness also.Alma's instruction about the Jaredite record's secret oaths.
- 2 Timothy 3:15The holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.
Handed Down Even from Cain
- Moses 5:29-31Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die.
- Helaman 6:26-27That same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world.
- John 8:44He was a murderer from the beginning... for he is a liar, and the father of it.
- Matthew 5:34-36Swear not at all; neither by heaven... nor by the earth... neither shalt thou swear by thy head.
The Lord Worketh Not in Secret Combinations
- 2 Nephi 26:22-23The Lord God worketh not in darkness.
- John 18:20I spake openly to the world... and in secret have I said nothing.
- Alma 37:29Ye shall keep these secret plans of their oaths and their covenants from this people.
- Helaman 2:13This Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi.
- Genesis 4:10The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Awake to a Sense of Your Awful Situation
- John 7:37If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
- Moroni 10:32Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.
- Moroni 7:13That which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually.
- 2 Nephi 1:13O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell.
- Doctrine and Covenants 38:30If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.