Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/Ether/Chapter 6
The Jaredite ocean voyage...
(compare Ether, chapter 6)
- And now I, Moroni, continue with the record of Jared and his brother:
After the Lord touched the stones that had been taken to the top of the mountain, Jared's brother came down and put one stone in each end of the eight vessels. The Lord had caused the stones to shine, and they gave off light so that His people would not have to cross the ocean in darkness.
After they had prepared all kinds of food for themselves and for their flocks, herds, and other animals and birds that they would carry with them, they boarded their vessels and set out to sea, commending themselves to the Lord their God.
Then the Lord caused a furious wind to blow toward the promised land, and they were tossed on the waves by the wind. Many times they were submerged under the mountainous waves that broke upon them.
But their vessels were water-tight, like Noah's ark, so they were not harmed. And when they were buried in the sea they cried out to the Lord, who brought them up to the surface again.
The wind never stopped blowing toward the promised land while they were on the ocean. Jared's brother and his people sang praises to the Lord, thanking Him all day long. And when night came, they continued to praise the Lord.
Their vessels were too strong for any whale to break, and they had continual light as they were driven on the sea, whether above water or below. They were carried across the stormy water for 344 days.
Finally they landed on the shore of the promised land. As they set their feet on dry ground, they bowed down and shed tears of joy before the Lord, for He had shown such tender mercy toward them. Then they spread out and began to plow the earth.
Jared had four sons, Jacom, Gilgah, Mahah and Orihah. Jared's brother also had sons and daughters.
There were about twenty-two friends of Jared and his brother, who all had sons and daughters before they came to the promised land. These sons and daughters began to marry, and they were all taught from on high to walk humbly before the Lord.
Soon these people spread out over the land and farmed it, and their numbers greatly increased. As Jared's brother grew old, he realized he would soon die, and he said to Jared, "Let us gather our people and ask them what they desire of us before we leave this life.”
Jared's brother had twenty-two children, and Jared had twelve (four sons and eight daughters).
After all their people had gathered, Jared and his brother counted them and asked them what they desired of them before they died. The people wanted them to anoint one of their sons to be a king over them.
This was grievous to Jared's brother, who replied, "Surely this will lead to captivity."
But Jared said to his brother, "Allow them to have a king."
So Jared's brother said to the people, "Choose a king from among our sons.”
The people chose Pagag, the firstborn of Jared's brother, but he refused to be their king.
The people wanted Jared's brother to force his son to be their king, but he would not. He commanded them to force no man to be their king.
One by one, each of Pagag's brothers also refused to be king. Then Jared's sons also refused, except for Orihah, and he was anointed king over the people. He began to reign and the people began to prosper and become very rich.
Soon Jared died, as did his brother. Orihah walked humbly before the Lord, teaching his people about the great things the Lord had done for his father and forefathers.