# Ether 6

*Paraphrase*

Now I, Moroni, will tell you the story of Jared and his brother.

### The Journey Begins

After the Lord prepared the stones that the brother of Jared had carried up the mountain, he came back down and placed the stones into the vessels—one at each end. And just like that, they glowed with light. This is how the Lord made stones shine in the darkness, so that the men, women, and children wouldn’t have to cross the great waters in the dark.

When they had stored up all kinds of food for the journey—enough to last on the water—and gathered food for their flocks and herds and whatever animals or birds they were taking with them, they climbed aboard their barges and launched out into the sea, entrusting themselves to the Lord their God.

### Crossing the Great Waters

The Lord God sent a fierce wind blowing across the water toward the promised land, and they were carried along on the waves. Time after time they were plunged deep beneath the sea by towering waves and terrible storms driven by the howling wind. When they were buried in the depths, no water could get inside—their vessels were sealed tight as a dish, like Noah’s ark. So when the waters closed over them, they cried out to the Lord, and he brought them back up to the surface. The wind never stopped blowing them toward the promised land the whole time they were on the water, driving them forward.

They sang praises to the Lord. The brother of Jared sang praises and thanked the Lord all day long. And when night came, they still didn’t stop praising him. So they were driven forward. No sea monster could break through their hulls, no whale could damage them. And they had light constantly, whether they were above the water or under it.

They were driven across the water for three hundred and forty-four days.

### Landing in the Promised Land

Then they landed on the shore of the promised land. When their feet touched the sand, they fell to their knees and bowed low to the ground. They humbled themselves before the Lord and wept tears of joy, overwhelmed by his tender mercies.

They spread out across the land and began to farm the soil.

Jared had four sons: Jacom, Gilgah, Mahah, and Orihah. The brother of Jared also had sons and daughters. Jared and his brother had about twenty-two friends with them, and they also had sons and daughters before they reached the promised land. So their numbers grew quickly.

They were taught to walk humbly before the Lord, and they were taught by him directly.

They spread out across the land, multiplying and farming the earth, and they grew strong.

### The People Ask for a King

The brother of Jared grew old and knew his time was short. So he said to Jared, “Let’s gather our people together and count them. We should find out what they want from us before we die.” So the people gathered together. The brother of Jared had twenty-two sons and daughters, and Jared had twelve—he had four sons. After they counted everyone, they asked the people what they wanted them to do before they died.

The people asked them to anoint one of their sons to be king over them.

This troubled them deeply. The brother of Jared said, “This will only lead to captivity.”

But Jared said to his brother, “Let them have a king.” Then he told the people, “Choose one of our sons to be king—whoever you want.”

They chose the firstborn son of the brother of Jared. His name was Pagag. But he refused to be their king. The people wanted his father to force him, but his father wouldn’t. He told them firmly that no one should be forced to be king. So they asked all of Pagag’s brothers. They all refused. None of Jared’s sons would take it either—except one. Orihah agreed, and he was anointed to be king over the people.

He began to reign, and the people began to thrive. They became very wealthy.

Then Jared died, and his brother died too.

Orihah walked humbly before the Lord and remembered the great things the Lord had done for his grandfather. He taught his people about the great things the Lord had done for their ancestors.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/ether/6)*
