# Ether 8

*Simple English*

### Jared Rebels Against His Father

He had a son named Omer. Omer became king after him. Omer had a son named Jared. Jared had sons and daughters. Jared turned against his father. He went and lived in the land of Heth. He used tricky words to win over many people. Soon he had control of half the kingdom. When he had half the kingdom, he fought against his father. He took his father prisoner and made him a slave.

Omer was a prisoner for half of his time as king. While he was a prisoner, he had sons and daughters. Two of them were Esrom and Coriantumr. They were very angry about what their brother Jared had done. So they got an army together and fought against Jared. They attacked him at night. After they killed Jared’s army, they were about to kill him too. But he begged them not to kill him. He said he would give the kingdom back to his father. So they let him live.

Jared became very sad because he lost the kingdom. He had really wanted to be king. He loved having power and glory.

### Jared’s Daughter Makes a Plan

Jared’s daughter was very smart. She saw how sad her father was. She thought of a plan to get the kingdom back for him. Jared’s daughter was very beautiful. She talked with her father. She said: Why are you so sad? Have you read the records our fathers brought across the great ocean? They tell about people long ago who used secret plans to get kingdoms and great power. So send for Akish, the son of Kimnor. I am beautiful. I will dance for him. I will make him happy so he will want to marry me. If he asks to marry me, tell him: I will let you marry her if you bring me the head of my father, the king.

Omer was a friend to Akish. So when Jared sent for Akish, Jared’s daughter danced for him. She made him so happy that he wanted to marry her. He said to Jared: Let me marry her. Jared said to him: I will let you marry her if you bring me the head of my father, the king.

### Akish Forms a Secret Group

Akish brought all his relatives to Jared’s house. He said to them: Will you promise to be loyal to me and do what I ask of you? They all made a promise to him. They promised by God in Heaven, by the sky, by the earth, and by their own heads. They said that anyone who didn’t help Akish would lose his head. And anyone who told Akish’s secrets would lose his life.

This is how they made their deal with Akish. Akish made them take the same oaths that people took long ago who also wanted power. These oaths had been passed down from Cain, who was a murderer from the beginning. The devil’s power kept these oaths alive. They were used to keep people in darkness and to help people who wanted power. These oaths helped people get power, murder, steal, lie, and do all kinds of evil and sexual sin. Jared’s daughter gave him the idea to look up these old things. Jared gave the idea to Akish. So Akish got his relatives and friends to take these oaths. He used nice-sounding promises to get them to do whatever he wanted.

They formed a secret group, just like the people long ago. This kind of group is the worst and most evil thing in God’s eyes. The Lord does not work through secret groups. He does not want people to kill each other. He has said no to this from the very beginning.

### Moroni’s Warning About Secret Groups

I, Moroni, will not write down how their oaths and secret groups work. I know these groups exist among all people. They exist among the Lamanites. They caused the people I am talking about to be destroyed. They also caused the Nephites to be destroyed.

Any nation that allows these secret groups to get power and wealth will be destroyed. When these groups spread across the nation, God will destroy that nation. The Lord will not let the blood of his people who are killed by these groups keep crying to him from the ground for revenge without doing something about it. God is wise to show you these things, you Gentiles. This way you can turn away from your sins. Don’t let these murder groups get control of you. They are built to get power and wealth. They will destroy you. God’s sword of justice will destroy you completely if you let these things happen. So the Lord tells you this: When you see these things come among you, wake up and see how terrible your situation is. These secret groups will be among you. If you don’t wake up, you will be in trouble because of all the people who have been killed. They cry from the dust for revenge against these groups and against those who build them up.

Anyone who builds up these groups wants to destroy the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries. It brings destruction to all people. It is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies. He is the same liar who tricked our first parents. He is the same liar who has caused people to murder from the beginning. He has made people’s hearts hard so they have murdered the prophets, thrown stones at them, and kicked them out from the beginning.

So I, Moroni, am told to write these things so that evil can be stopped. I write them so that the time may come when Satan has no power over people’s hearts. Then they will be led to do good all the time. Then they can come to the source of all that is right and be saved.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/simple/ether/8)*
