Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/Ether/Chapter 14
Millions die, Coriantumr fights on...
(compare Ether, chapter 14)
Because of the people's sinfulness, there was such a great curse on the land that if a man set down his tool or sword, the next day he could not find it. So no one would lend nor borrow, and all men constantly held onto their swords in defense of their property, their lives, and the lives of their wives and children.
Two years after Shared was killed, his brother, Gilead, led his army against Coriantumr's. Gilead's army was defeated and chased into the wilderness of Akish, where another sore battle claimed thousands of lives.
Coriantumr surrounded Gilead's army, who marched out of the wilderness by night, killing part of Coriantumr's drunken army.
Then Gilead's army went to the land of Moron, where Gilead put himself on Coriantumr's throne.
Coriantumr stayed with his army in the wilderness for two years, during which time he received great strength to his army. Gilead also received great strength to his army because of his secret combinations, but his own high priest murdered him as he sat on his throne.
Then Lib, a member of the secret combination, murdered the high priest in a secret pass and obtained the kingdom for himself. Lib was a man of great physical strength, stronger than any other.
During the first year of Lib's reign, Coriantumr came to the land of Moron to give him battle. Coriantumr's arm was wounded as he fought with Lib, but Coriantumr's army pressed Lib's army to the seashore.
Then Lib's army drove Coriantumr's army back through the wilderness of Akish and onto the plains of Agosh. As Coriantumr's army ran through that part of the land, they gathered people to help them fight.
In the plains of Agosh, Coriantumr fought Lib again, striking him with his sword until he died.
Then Lib's brother, Shiz, came against Coriantumr's army, and the battle became so sore that Coriantumr and his army retreated.
The army of Shiz chased Coriantumr's army and overthrew many cities. He killed women and children and burned the cities. A fearful cry went throughout the land, "Who can stand before Shiz's army? He sweeps the earth before him!"
The people began to gather together in armies throughout the land. Part of them joined Shiz, and the rest joined Coriantumr. The war was so great, and lasted so long that the whole land was covered with dead bodies.
So swift was the war that none were left to bury the dead. The bodies of men, women and children covered the land, and the smell so great that it troubled the people day and night.
And Shiz continued to chase Coriantumr, having vowed to avenge the death of his brother. But the Lord had told Ether that Coriantumr would not be killed by the sword.
From this account of their terrible war, we see that the Lord visited them in the fullness of His wrath. And their wickedness had prepared the way for their everlasting destruction.
Shiz and his army chased Coriantumr's army to the eastern seashore where they fought for three days. So terrible was the destruction among the armies of Shiz that they ran to the land of Corihor, killing all the people along the way who would not join them.
Shiz and his army camped in the valley of Corihor, while Coriantumr's army camped in the valley of Shurr, near Comnor Hill.
The next day, Coriantumr gathered his armies on top of the hill and sounded a trumpet to the armies of Shiz, inviting them to battle.
Shiz and his army came against Coriantumr twice and were driven back both times. The third time they came, the battle became very sore. Shiz gave Coriantumr many deep wounds, and after losing too much blood, Coriantumr fainted, and was carried away as if he were dead.
Now the loss of men, women and children on both sides was so great that Shiz commanded his people to stop chasing Coriantumr's army and to return to their camp.