Moroni Tells Ether’s Story
I, Moroni, will now tell you about the people who lived long ago in this north country. The Lord destroyed them. I am getting this story from 24 metal plates that King Limhi’s people found. These plates are called the Book of Ether.
I think the first part of this record talks about when God created the world. It also tells about Adam and everything that happened from his time until people built the great tower. The Jews already have those stories. So I won’t write about those things. But they are written on the plates. Anyone who finds them can read the full story. I’m not giving you the full story. I’m only giving you part of it. This part starts at the tower and goes until the people were destroyed.
Ether’s Family Line
Here’s how I’m telling the story. A man named Ether wrote this record. He was a great-great-grandson of Coriantor. Coriantor was the son of Moron. Moron was the son of Ethem. Ethem was the son of Ahah. Ahah was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Shiblon. Shiblon was the son of Com. Com was the son of Coriantum. Coriantum was the son of Amnigaddah. Amnigaddah was the son of Aaron. Aaron was a great-great-grandson of Heth. Heth was the son of Hearthom. Hearthom was the son of Lib. Lib was the son of Kish. Kish was the son of Corom. Corom was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Kim. Kim was the son of Morianton. Morianton was a great-great-grandson of Riplakish. Riplakish was the son of Shez. Shez was the son of Heth. Heth was the son of Com. Com was the son of Coriantum. Coriantum was the son of Emer. Emer was the son of Omer. Omer was the son of Shule. Shule was the son of Kib. Kib was the son of Orihah. Orihah was the son of Jared.
At the Great Tower
Jared came from the great tower with his brother and their families. Some other people and their families came with them too. This happened when the Lord mixed up everyone’s language. He was angry and promised they would be spread all over the earth. The people were scattered just like the Lord said.
Jared’s brother was a big, strong man. The Lord loved him very much. Jared said to his brother: “Pray to the Lord. Ask him not to mix up our language so we can still understand each other.” Jared’s brother prayed to the Lord. The Lord cared about Jared. So he didn’t mix up Jared’s language. Jared and his brother could still understand each other. Then Jared said to his brother: “Pray to the Lord again. Maybe he will stop being angry at our friends. Ask him not to mix up their language either.” Jared’s brother prayed to the Lord. The Lord cared about their friends. He cared about their families too. So he didn’t mix up their language.
Jared spoke to his brother again. He said: “Go ask the Lord if he’s going to make us leave this land. If he is, ask him where we should go. Maybe the Lord will take us to a land that’s better than any other place on earth. If that happens, we should be faithful to the Lord. Then we can have it as our home.” Jared’s brother prayed to the Lord. He prayed just like Jared had asked.
The Lord Answers
The Lord heard Jared’s brother pray. He cared about him. The Lord said to him: “Go gather your animals together. Get males and females of every kind. Also gather seeds of every kind of plant. Bring your families. Bring Jared your brother and his family. Bring your friends and their families. Bring Jared’s friends and their families. When you finish doing this, you will lead them down into the valley to the north. I will meet you there. I will go ahead of you to a land that’s better than any other land on earth. I will bless you and your children there. I will make your children and your brother’s children into a great nation. The children of the people who come with you will be part of it too. No nation on earth will be greater than this one. I’m doing this for you because you have prayed to me for so long.”