# Ether 9

*Paraphrase*

### Akish’s Treachery

Now I, Moroni, continue the record. Because of the secret plots Akish and his allies had hatched, they overthrew King Omer’s kingdom.

But the Lord showed mercy to Omer and to those of his family who hadn’t tried to destroy him. The Lord warned Omer in a dream to leave the land. So Omer took his family and traveled for many days. They passed by the hill of Shim and the place where the Nephites would one day be wiped out, then headed east to a place called Ablom by the sea. There he set up camp with his sons and daughters and all his household—everyone except Jared and his family.

Jared was crowned king through treachery, and he gave his daughter in marriage to Akish. Akish turned on his father-in-law. He called on those who had sworn the ancient oaths with him, and they assassinated Jared as he sat on his throne addressing his people. This evil secret society had spread so far that it corrupted everyone’s hearts. So Jared was murdered on his throne, and Akish took his place as king.

### A Kingdom Destroys Itself

Akish grew jealous of his own son. He threw him in prison and starved him to death.

The dead man’s brother, Nimrah, was furious with his father for what he’d done. Nimrah gathered a small band of followers and fled the land. He went and joined Omer.

Akish had other sons, and they won the people’s loyalty—even though those people had already sworn to commit any evil Akish wanted. The people were as greedy for wealth as Akish was for power. So Akish’s sons bribed them with money and pulled most of the people to their side. Civil war broke out between Akish and his sons. It dragged on for years and nearly wiped out the entire kingdom. Only about thirty people survived, along with those who had fled with Omer’s household.

So Omer returned to his land and reclaimed his throne.

### Omer’s Final Years

Omer grew old, but even in his old age he had a son named Emer. He crowned Emer king to rule after him. After he crowned Emer, the land had peace for two years. Then Omer died after a very long life filled with sorrow. Emer took the throne and followed in his father’s footsteps.

### Prosperity Under Emer

The Lord began lifting the curse from the land. Emer’s dynasty thrived under his rule. In sixty-two years they became incredibly strong and wealthy.

They had every kind of fruit and grain, silk and fine linen, gold and silver, and precious things of all kinds. They raised cattle—oxen and cows, sheep, pigs, and goats—and many other animals that provided food. They also had horses and donkeys. There were elephants, cureloms, and cumoms—all useful to people, especially the elephants, cureloms, and cumoms. The Lord poured out his blessings on this land, which was more precious than any other. And he commanded that whoever lived here must honor him as Lord, or they would be destroyed once their wickedness reached full measure. “On such people,” the Lord says, “I will pour out my full anger.”

### Kings of Righteousness

Emer ruled justly all his days. He had many sons and daughters. One son was Coriantum, and Emer crowned him king to succeed him.

After crowning Coriantum, Emer lived four more years and saw peace in the land. He even glimpsed the Son of righteousness and rejoiced in his day. Then he died in peace.

Coriantum followed his father’s example. He built many great cities and ruled his people well all his days. But he had no children, even when he was very old. His wife died at the age of one hundred and two. In his old age, Coriantum married a young woman and had sons and daughters with her. He lived to be one hundred and forty-two.

He had a son named Com, who took the throne after him. Com ruled for forty-nine years and had a son named Heth, along with other children.

### Evil Returns

The people had spread across the land again, and terrible wickedness returned. Heth revived the old secret plots to kill his father. He overthrew his father by running him through with his own sword, then took his place as king.

### Prophets and Judgment

Prophets appeared in the land again, calling the people to turn back to God. “Prepare the way of the Lord,” they warned, “or a curse will come upon the land—a devastating famine that will destroy you if you don’t change your ways.”

But the people refused to believe the prophets. They threw them out. Some they threw into pits and left to die. They did all this at King Heth’s command.

### Famine and Serpents

A terrible drought hit the land. People began dying rapidly from the famine. No rain fell anywhere.

Poisonous snakes appeared across the land and killed many people. Their livestock fled south from the serpents, toward the land the Nephites called Zarahemla. Many animals died on the way, but some made it to the south. The Lord stopped the serpents from chasing them further. Instead, he made the snakes block the way so no one could pass. Anyone who tried would be killed by the poisonous serpents.

The people followed the fleeing animals and ate the carcasses of those that died along the way. They kept this up until all the dead animals were gone. When they realized they were going to starve, they finally started repenting and crying out to the Lord. When they had humbled themselves enough before the Lord, he sent rain. The people began to recover. Crops started growing again in the northern regions and all around. The Lord showed his power by saving them from starvation.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/ether/9)*
