The End of the Jaredites

Today I finished reading the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Here are some of the things that I read.

"And it came to pass when Coriantumr had recovered of his wounds, he began to remember the words which Ether had spoken unto him.

He saw that there had been slain by the sword already nearly two millions of his people, and he began to sorrow in his heart; yea, there had been slain two millions of mighty men, and also their wives and their children.

He began to repent of the evil which he had done; he began to remember the words which had been spoken by the mouth of all the prophets, and he saw them that they were fulfilled thus far, every whit; and his soul mourned and refused to be comforted."

This reminds me of the scripture that teaches that wickedness never was happiness. Coriantumr began to understand this but his people had already suffered a huge loss. He was beginning to see that the prophets knew what they were talking about. I am grateful to have a living prophet to follow today. Coriantumr tried to write the opposing force and get the war to stop but the other leader Shiz would not. So for four years they each gathered together all the people who would follow them.

Verses 15-16:
"And it came to pass that when they were all gathered together, every one to the army which he would, with their wives and their children—both men, women and children being armed with weapons of war, having shields, and breastplates, and head-plates, and being clothed after the manner of war—they did march forth one against another to battle; and they fought all that day, and conquered not.

And it came to pass that when it was night they were weary, and retired to their camps; and after they had retired to their camps they took up a howling and a lamentation for the loss of the slain of their people; and so great were their cries, their howlings and lamentations, that they did rend the air exceedingly."

I can't imagine what it would be like to gather together all the people and then arm everyone, even women and children to go to battle. No wonder the howling and lamentation was so terrible. I think that I would yell and scream and cry if women and children were slain in battle. I like to think that we are far from having anything like this happen here, but are we really?

19"But behold, the Spirit of the Lord had ceased striving with them, and Satan had full power over the hearts of the people; for they were given up unto the hardness of their hearts, and the blindness of their minds that they might be destroyed; wherefore they went again to battle."

I want to be sure I continue to heed the words of the prophets, that I continue to pray and attend my meetings and keep the commandments. Ether witnessed the destruction of all of the people by their own hands. The Lord had sent prophets to cry repentence unto them and they would not. Hatred, anger and pride caused them to turn from the Lord and they killed each other every one. Ether was left alone to write the record of the destruction of the people.

The last words of Ether "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."

It doesn't matter what happens to us here, the trials and challenges, if we are true to what we know to be true and keep the commandments, then we will see the kingdom of God.