Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
Ether Chapter 4
Ether 4:34 And it came to pass that they did all these things according to the commandment of the
King Heth.
The rains ceased to fall, and there was "a great dearth upon the land . . . and there came forth
poisonous serpents" upon all the land (35). Their flocks fled south toward the land called
Zarahemla by the Nephites. "The Lord did cause the serpents ... should pursue them no more, but
that they should hedge up the way, that the people could not pass" (38).
The people followed their flocks "and did devour the carcasses of them which fell by the way"
(39). "When the people saw that they must perish, they began to repent" (40).
Ether 4:41 And it came to pass that when they had humbled themselves sufficiently before the Lord, he
did send rain upon the face of the earth,
The wicked king, Heth, and all his household perished in the famine. Shez, a descendant of Heth,
"began to build up again a broken people" (43). "He remembered what the Lord had done in
bringing Jared and his brother across the deep; and he did walk in the ways of the Lord" (44).
Shez's oldest son, also named Shez, rebelled, but he was struck down for his wealth by a robber,
which brought peace again to his father (45). King Shez built many cities, and the people again
"spread over all the face of the land" (46).
PROPHETS REJECTED AND THE PEOPLE SUFFERED, VER. 47-115
Ether 4:48 And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for
he did have many wives and concubines, and did lay that upon men's shoulders which was grievous to
be borne; yea, he did tax them with heavy taxes; and with the taxes he did build many spacious
buildings.
Shen lived to a great age, and when he died his son, Riplakish, became king (47). He erected "an
exceeding beautiful throne; and he did build many prisons" for tax dodgers (49). He used prison
labor to "obtain all his fine work" in gold. Those who refused to labor he put to death (50).
After forty-two years of his reign, the people rose in rebellion. Riplakish was killed, and his
descendants were driven out of the land. Many years passed before Morianton, a descendant of
Riplakish, gathered "an army of outcasts, and went forth and gave battle unto the people" which
lasted many years, and thus established himself as king. He eased the people's burden and gained
favor in their eyes.
Ether 4:55 And he did do justice unto the people, but not unto himself, because of his many whoredoms;
wherefore he was cut off from the presence of the Lord.
Morianton built up many cities, and the people prospered. In his old age he begat Kim, who succeeded
him on the throne. In the eighth year of Kim's reign, Morianton died (56, 57). Kim did not
reign in righteousness, and his brother overthrew him and kept him in captivity all his days. While
in captivity he begat sons and daughters. When he died his son "Levi did serve in captivity" for
forty-two years (59, 60). He made war on the king of the land and obtained the throne for himself
(61).