Ether 10

All of Heth’s family died in the famine, except for a son named Shez. Remembering the destruction, Shez formed a righteous kingdom and restored peace and prosperity to the land. When he died, the kingdom passed to his son Riplakish.

Under Riplakish, the kingdom again strayed from God’s good will. Riplakish had many wives and mistresses, and taxed the people heavily to pay for his luxurious palaces. Those who objected to the taxation, or were unable to pay, were thrown into jail. In jail, the prisoners were forced to work endlessly on the king’s projects or be subject to execution. This example of promiscuity, greed, and abuse set the tone for the kingdom. After 42 years, the people rebelled, killed Riplakish, and drove his family out.

Many years later, a descendant of Riplakish, named Morianton1, gathered an army of outcasts and made war on the cities. This bitter war lasted many years, but eventually Morianton gained power over all of the land and established himself as king. His reign was easier on the people than the war had been, so the people were relieved and openly acknowledged Morianton as king. He ruled the people with justice but practiced personal depravity, and was cut off from God.

Morianton was succeeded by his son Kim, who also ignored the will of God. Kim was overthrown by his brother and kept prisoner for the remainder of his life. As an aged prisoner, he fathered a son named Levi, and then died. Levi was imprisoned for 42 years before he overthrew the king and crowned himself.

Levi followed God’s will and the people prospered. Levi passed the kingdom on to his son Corom, who also was favored by God.

Corom passed the kingdom on to his son Kish, who passed it on to Lib. Under Lib’s guidance, God’s laws were observed and the poisonous snakes were eliminated. Without the snakes to interfere with their passage, the people moved southward to hunt the abundant wild game. When the people came to a narrow neck of land, they stopped their migration and built a great city. The south land was left as a hunting preserve and the north lands became covered with people and their fine cities. They mined gold, silver, copper, and iron ore to make tools, weapons and ornaments. The people made fine cloth from silk and linen. Utilizing their excellent workmanship, they made highly specialized weapons, tools for agriculture, and tools for working with their animals. They were blessed by God and prospered in peace.

Lib passed the kingdom on to his son, Hearthom, who ruled until he was overthrown and spent the rest of his life as a prisoner. For four generations, the descendants of Hearthom lived their entire lives in captivity: Hearthom to Heth, to Aaron, to Amnigaddah, to Coriantum2. Coriantum’s son Com rose up against his captivity and became ruler of the kingdom after many years of fighting. During Com’s rule, robbers arose throughout the land and sought to destroy the kingdom with their secret oaths and alliances. King Com’s efforts to overcome them were insufficient and the kingdom faltered.