# Ether 14

*Paraphrase*

### The Curse on the Land

A terrible curse settled over the land because of the people’s wickedness. Things began to vanish—a man could set his tool or sword on a shelf, and the next morning it would be gone. That’s how heavy the curse had become. So everyone clung to what they owned. No one borrowed or lent anything. Every man gripped his sword in his right hand, ready to defend his property, his life, and his family.

### The Brother of Shared

Two years passed. After Shared died, his brother rose up and attacked Coriantumr. Coriantumr defeated him and chased him into the wilderness of Akish. Shared’s brother rallied his forces in the wilderness and fought back. The battle was brutal. Thousands fell to the sword. Coriantumr laid siege to the wilderness. But Shared’s brother slipped out at night and attacked part of Coriantumr’s army while they were drunk, killing many of them. Then he marched to the land of Moron and seized Coriantumr’s throne.

Coriantumr stayed in the wilderness with his army for two years, building up his strength.

### Murder and Betrayal

Shared’s brother—whose name was Gilead—also built up his army through secret alliances. But then Gilead’s high priest murdered him while he sat on his throne. One of the secret conspirators then killed the high priest in a hidden pass and took the kingdom for himself. His name was Lib, and he was a man of massive build—taller and stronger than anyone else in the land.

### Lib Takes the Throne

In Lib’s first year as king, Coriantumr marched back to Moron and attacked him. During the fight, Lib struck Coriantumr’s arm and wounded him badly. But Coriantumr’s army pressed forward so hard that Lib had to retreat to the coast. Coriantumr chased after him, and Lib turned to fight on the shore. This time Lib crushed Coriantumr’s army and drove them back to the wilderness of Akish. Lib pursued him all the way to the plains of Agosh. As Coriantumr fled, he gathered all the people in that region and took them with him. When they reached the plains of Agosh, Coriantumr fought Lib and killed him. But Lib’s brother immediately took command and the battle grew even fiercer. Once again, Coriantumr had to flee.

### The Terror of Shiz

Lib’s brother was named Shiz. He pursued Coriantumr relentlessly, destroying city after city. He killed men, women, and children. He burned everything to the ground. Fear of Shiz spread across the entire land. People cried out everywhere: “Who can stand against Shiz’s army? He’s wiping out everything in his path!”

Armies began forming all across the land. The nation split in two. Some joined Shiz’s army, others joined Coriantumr’s.

### A Land of Death

The war had dragged on so long, and the slaughter had been so relentless, that corpses covered the entire land. The killing moved so fast that no one stopped to bury the dead. They just kept marching from one battle to the next, leaving bodies—men, women, children—scattered across the ground for scavengers. The stench of death filled the air everywhere. Day and night, people couldn’t escape the smell.

But Shiz wouldn’t stop hunting Coriantumr. He’d sworn to avenge his brother’s death. And there was the Lord’s word to Ether: that Coriantumr would not die by the sword. This shows how the Lord brought his full judgment on them. Their evil and corruption had paved the way for their total destruction.

### Battle at the Hill Comnor

Shiz chased Coriantumr east all the way to the coast. There they fought for three straight days. The destruction among Shiz’s armies was so horrific that his people panicked and began fleeing to Coriantumr’s side. They fled to the land of Corihor, driving out or killing everyone who wouldn’t join them.

They set up camp in the valley of Corihor. Coriantumr camped in the valley of Shurr, near the hill Comnor. He gathered his armies on that hill and sounded a trumpet, challenging Shiz to battle. Shiz’s army attacked but was driven back. They attacked a second time and were driven back again. On the third assault, the fighting became savage. Shiz struck Coriantumr with deep, terrible wounds. Coriantumr lost so much blood that he collapsed. His men carried him away like a corpse. The casualties on both sides—men, women, and children—were so staggering that Shiz ordered his people to stop pursuing Coriantumr’s army. So they returned to their camp.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/ether/14)*
