Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/Ether/Chapter 13
A choice land is promised...
(compare Ether, chapter 13)
And now I, Moroni, finish my record about the destruction of the people of whom I have been writing.
The people rejected all of Ether's words, who truly told them of all things from the beginning of mankind.
Ether said that after the flood this land became a land more choice than any other, and that the Lord would have all who live here serve Him.
He said that this land is the place of the Lord's holy sanctuary, and of the New Jerusalem which will come down from heaven.
Ether saw the days when Christ would come, and he spoke about a New Jerusalem in this land.
He also spoke about the house of Israel, and the old Jerusalem, from where Lehi would come. Ether said that after Jerusalem would be destroyed, it would be built up again for the house of Israel and become a holy city of the Lord.
He said that the New Jerusalem will be built in this land for part of Joseph's descendants, as a symbol of the past.
For as Joseph brought his father to the land of Egypt, saving him and his brothers from starvation, the Lord brought part of Joseph's descendants (Lehi, Ishmael and Mulek) out of Jerusalem, saving them from destruction.
Joseph's descendants (through Ephraim and Manasseh) will build a holy city to the Lord in this land, like the Jerusalem of old. This will be the land of their inheritance, and they will no longer be oppressed.
There will be a new heaven and a new earth, and the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven (Enoch's city—Zion). And blessed are those who will live there, for their robes will be white through the blood of the Lamb, and they will be numbered among Joseph's descendants.
Then the Jerusalem of old will come. Its inhabitants will be blessed, for they will be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Those who were scattered will be gathered in from all over the earth, especially from the northern countries. They will participate in fulfilling the covenant that God made with their father, Abraham.
- Note: The Savior told the Nephites that when Isaiah's words are fulfilled, then shall the covenant (concerning the gathering of Israel), which the Father made with Abraham, be fulfilled (3 Nephi 20:11-13).
When these things happen, then the scripture will be fulfilled that says, "The first will be last, and the last will be first (1 Nephi 13:40)."
I was about to write more of Ether's great and marvelous prophecies, but I was forbidden.
The people of Ether's day considered his words to be worthless, and they threw him out from among them.
Then Ether hid in a cave during the day, where he made the rest of his record. At night he went out and witnessed the judgments that came upon the people.
In that same year, a great war broke out. Several mighty men rose up, seeking to destroy Coriantumr, the king, by their secret plans. Coriantumr had studied the art of war and the cunning of the world, so he gave battle to those who tried to destroy him.
Coriantumr, Cohor, Corihor and all the people in the land, including all their fair sons and daughters, refused to repent of their sins.
During the first year that Ether lived in a cave, many of Coriantumr's people were killed by those people who formed secret combinations to obtain the kingdom. Coriantumr's sons fought and suffered greatly.
During the second year, the Lord's word came to Ether again, "Go and prophesy to Coriantumr,
‘If you and all your household will repent, the Lord will give you your kingdom and spare the people. Otherwise, all of your household will be destroyed, except for you.
Then you will live to see the fulfilling of the prophecy that another people will receive this land for their inheritance, and you will be buried by them.”
Ether made this prophecy to Coriantumr, but he, his household, and all the people still refused to repent. The wars continued and the people tried to kill Ether, but he ran away and again hid in a cave.
Three years after Ether was rejected, a man named Shared defeated Coriantumr's army and brought him into captivity.
A year later, Coriantumr's sons beat Shared's army and regained the kingdom for their father. Now there was war in all the land. Every man with his band fought for whatever he wanted. There were robbers and all kinds of wickedness everywhere.
Coriantumr was very angry with Shared and went against him with his armies. They both met in great anger in the valley of Gilgal, and the battle became very sore, lasting for three days. Coriantumr's army prevailed and chased Shared's army to the plains of Heshlon. Shared's army fought again on the plains and beat Coriantumr's army, driving them back again to the valley of Gilgal.
Again, the two armies fought in the valley of Gilgal, and Shared. was killed. Coriantumr's thigh was wounded as he fought with Shared. This kept him from going to battle for two years. During this time, all the people in the land were killing one another without restraint.