Worthiness vs. worthiness

I have been thinking about worthiness vs. worthiness.  It is minor thing but worth exploring.

The Church’s modern definition of worthiness has to do with a standard that has be set that we can compare ourselves against.  For example, if I am temple worthy I have stated that I meet a certain standard set by the Church.

On the other hand, the word ‘worthy’ in ancient times is used differently.  They would still compare themselves to a standard but would always find themselves coming up short.  Alma the Younger taught his son, Shiblon, the following:

Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. (Alma 38:14).

So, we members of the Church, these days, say that we are worthy members of the Church and Alma teaches to always acknowledge our unworthiness before God at all times.  Why is there an apparent discrepancy?  Or, is there?

The obvious answer is that we are talking about two different things.  One is a standard set by the Church and the other is a set by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Although this is true, it can be confusing.  If I am worthy before the Church, why am I unworthy before God? Shouldn’t I be worthy before God?

We will always be imperfect creatures.  Even if we were to get pretty close to perfection (completion) we still have sinned and do sin.  Without Christ’s atonement those sins can never be washed away.   We can never go it alone in this life.  Does this make us unworthy?  Yes, because we all require Christ’s infinite atonement to make it back. Without Him we are nothing.  We are less than the dust of the earth. (Helaman 12:7-8, Moses 1:10)

The fact is that we all sin.  So, what can we become perfect at?  We can become perfect in our faith in Jesus Christ (Jacob 9:23).  To develop faith, a main requirement is to be meek and lowly in heart (Moroni 7:39,43).  Being humble and acknowledging our unworthiness before God at all times go hand in hand. Other prophets describe perfect faith as unshaken faith in Christ, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is might to save (2 Nephi 31:19).  Others  describe this faith in Christ as “relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith. (Moroni 6:4).  And humility is always the prerequisite (see v.2).

It is very humbling to know that you are nothing without Jesus Christ.  This may even go against modern thought.  Here’s the kicker: when we are connected to Christ, we become perfect in Christ (Moroni 10:32), even in our unworthy state.  Of course, because we love the Lord for what He has done for us, and we love His ways, and we want to change.  This is all implied in our Christian discipleship.

Do not make sin and shame the center of your life.  Make Christ and His merits and His grace your center.  We will always be unworthy, imperfect creatures.  That is not the focus.  Letting our lives be lit up by Christ (the Light) will show our sins in the right perspective.

Being Church worthy is a wonderful first step on the path of being a humble follower of Christ.

Scott

Education Week, Day 3, 2nd Hour, Patrick Degn, The Sacrifice of the Red Heifer

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Education Week, Day 3, 2nd Hour, Patrick Degn

Sacrifice of the Red Heifer

 Redemption is through the blood of the Lamb, not through our own works.  Cain brought the wrong offering.

Napoleon Hill - No such thing as a free lunch.

Question: What is the Price of Redemption?

The work "Priesthood" is synymous with "Jesus Christ".

The tabernacle drawn out East to West:

1. the Ash Pit (price of redemption), Christ endows me with ability to repent and go the door (gate)

2. the Alter of Sacrifice (west of the east gate)

3. Lavar of Washing

4. Lamp Stead (Gives me light to rule  my day)

5. Shew Bread

6. Incense Altar (Prayers)

7. Ark

Hebrew 10:19-22

v.19 having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.  We are not to be shy.

v.20 by a new a living way...through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; - The highway out of the sea (the world) enables us to go from the world into Zion.  The veil of the temple is the flesh of Jesus Christ.  You must go the through his flesh.

v.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...(a new and living way is a fresh thing, still living) and consecrated.

Number 19

Hebrews 9:13-17

v.13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [absolves ritual uncleaness]

v.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [ashes to bring us to the reality of the blood]

v.16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. [the death of the testator is necessary.  He must be cut, and bleed and die.]

v.17 For a testament is of force after men are dead:otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. [We have new covenant with Him and his death]

Ezekial 43:21

21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, andhe shall burn it in the appointed place of the house,without the sanctuary.

There is a designated, appointed place outside the tabernacle.  This is the ash pit.

Seth was appointed to take the place of Abel.

The only animal slain at the Ash pit is the red heifer.

North indicates lost.  I die on the north side of the alter because of the price paid on the east.  "All slain to the north of the brazen alter of sacrifice (Leviticus).

Sacred place - Female cow, red heifer, most precious of all offerings.  Slain on the Day of Atonement - Miphkad.  Numbers 19:1-6

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

2 This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:

3 And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:

4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before thetabernacle of the congregation seven times:

5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:

6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Never came yoke means never been mounted by a male bull.

The sacrifice is done outside the camp.  He slay her with its face east toward God.  The heifer if place south (toward the covenant people) and the head is turned east to the temple and is then slain.  Blood is sprinkled seven times toward the temple.

Animal blood sprinkled before the Lord is like the Hosanna Shout.  Similar to the sacrifice of the Heifer.

Seven things offered (perfection) rather than five things (grace).  My four + the priest's 3.  Covenants always made in three.  We (the heifer) offers skin, flesh, dung and blood.  The priest offers cedar, hyssop, and scarlet.  Interesting that the four are present agents.  One is amazing (flesh).  The other three are the worst things to offer.  Who represents the red heifer?  A sweet savor offering (smells like BBQ) doesn't have skin and hair and blood.  This offering smells bad.

the red heifer represents Adam or each of us.

The priest mixes in  cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet ( Ex12:22, Lev 14, John 19:29).  In the offering, priest includes some of his nature.  The cedar is very expensive, durable, valuable, last forever, eternity, used by kings.  The hyssop grows on the walls of the temple.  It is a mystery.  Nobody knows now what it is.  The scarlet is the token of redemption.  Put in the window at Jericho.  Token on blood. Psalm 22:1, vs 6 "I am a worm and no man despised (this is the worm that you extract scarlet from.  It climbs up the wall and on the third day the egg sacks burst open and leaves a scarlet mark on the wall.

So, my four things that I offer and his three things that He offers are cast into the fire in the ash pit.  Ashes are produced.  The ashes represent the sins gathered up - purified for sin.

Numbers 19:11-22 - the ashes are used to purify ritual uncleanness on the 3rd and 7th day.  3rd day purified and on the 7th day pronounced clean.

A person that walks into the temple complex unclean (been around death) having the stench of death will be excommunicated.

Purified living waters plus the ashes of the heifer.  Doctrine of Christ

Bethphage - priestly city outside the camp.  Jesus was probably brought to Bethpage and was tried there.  According to the Mishna, only nine red heifers  had been offered from Moses to Jesus.  Very precious ashes.  Mythna Altar - the ash pit.

All ashes were carried to the ash pit.  Water washed the ashes to the Kidron Valley.  The blood of the sacrifices mixed with the ashes  East (ashes), West (Blood).

Jesus was at Gethsemane, he was led by the priest as was the Red Heifer. He was judged and then led to be sacrificed as was the Red Heifer.  He was probably crucified near the ash pit Mythna Altar east of the temple.  That would make sense.

Blood, red heifer, led by the priests. Red heifer bride and church. Ephesians 5:32. Paul says

32 This is a great a mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. {You give Christ everything.  He injects his goodness.}

C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity, 1960) -  about building a palace.  All that he requires of you is that you trust him and his priesthood.  He will find areas that are inconsistent.  You cannot do it on your own.You go to the end of all you can do which is relying only on His Merits.

I die in the waters of baptism.

The purchase price = everything.

Jesus part = everything.

He is Time.  He is Space.  His Grace is sufficient for me.

Water, cutting and dung are also used in grafting.  Isaiah 61.  This is our offering to be water, cut and dunged.  He requires you to trust in Him.

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

4 ¶And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vine dressers.

6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

7 ¶For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

8 For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

We can be transformed into trees of righteousness by believing in Jesus Christ and offering ourselves to be dunged, cut and watered.

What does the Average Humble Follower of Christ Experience?

I have read the Book of Mormon many times over many years.  I have come across numerous verses that spoke of signs, wonders and miracles following the believer.  Until recently I thought that this must be a very special person, perhaps the chosen few.  While I was reading 2 Nephi I came across one of these verses. Nephi tells us in 2 Nephi 26:13,

And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.

And it came to me!  I have been having these kind of manifestations from God my whole life.  As my faith grows they have been more frequent.  I realize now these tender mercies keep me going along the gospel path.  Sometimes the miracles, signs and wonders are small and I am barely aware of them. And at other times the manifestations are more grand.

I then came across this verse in Jacob 4:6:

Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

I realized that Christian faith is evidence-based faith!  The only way for us to obtain a hope is to have spiritual witnesses.  These come to us as revelations and the spirit of prophecy.  Nephi called them signs, wonders and miracles.  So, the witnesses (evidences) cause us to gain a hope (in Christ) and this hope + witnesses causes our faith to become unshaken.

What do I do if I am not seeing signs, wonders and miracles in my life?  We work on getting closer to God.  How might I do this?  Perhaps we exercise faith unto repentance.  Perhaps we just begin to believe in Christ (Alma 33).  Perhaps we become very humble and submissive to God.  Ask God what you ought to be doing.  He will tell you through the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost. He knows you are a beginner and will give you small things to do.  Come and fear not (Alma 7:15).  God is good and loves you.  Once we exert ourselves to follow Christ something wonderful begins to happen.  We feel connected to God.  The Spirit starts to guide us.  The seed (Alma 32) begins to swell in our hearts.  This always happens.

What has happened is the great plan of redemption has immediately been brought about to you:

Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. (Alma 34:31)

What does immediate mean?  I believe it means that grace has entered your soul.  We are saved by grace!  As we continuously look for ways to deny ourselves all ungodliness and come unto Christ through repentance and loving service, we become perfect in Christ (Moroni 10:32).  We remain perfect in Christ as we continue to exert ourselves.  We fall from this when we get slothful.  But, what's wonderful is that as we continue forward God continues to bless us.  These evidences increase our faith.  Our love grows deeper for our Savior.  The gospel tastes delicious to us.

By grace we are saved after all we can do.  All we can do is exert ourselves to be better, to always remember Christ in all that we do, repenting when we make mistakes and believe.  We are constantly saved by grace if we are striving to do good!

Here’s the pattern to begin to receive assurances.

1.       Believe in Christ.  Humble yourself.  Put all your trust in Him.  Rely only on His merits.  Recognize your unworthiness at all times.

2.       Repent.  This is humbling yourself again casting off pride and fixing any of the basic commandments that you are deficient in.

3.       Worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by partaking of the Sacrament with real intent.  Ask for cleansing.

4.       Sincerely ask for the Holy Ghost.  Ask for the gifts of the Spirit that you need. 

This is the pattern.

The Deceitfulness of Riches

Jacob talks of the rich and learned that are proud in 2 Nephi 9:42.  I can't stop but wonder who Jacob's readership is.  It can only be Latter Day Saints and investigators.  That's all who read the Book of Mormon.  So, I conclude that this means that he is talking to Mormons.  I wonder what a Mormon who is rich or learned is thinking when he or she reads this passage:

And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.

So, I am reading this passage.  I ask myself the question, have I passed through the gate?  Has Christ opened up to me?  I have two options - yes he has or no he hasn't.  If I answer yes, what evidence do I have that the Holy One of Israel has opened the gate?  Have I been baptized by fire?  Do I have the Holy Ghost as my constant companion?  Have I received Justification?  If I can't provide myself these evidences than the answer is no.  That doesn't mean that I am bad.  It just means that I haven't passed through this gate.

I might then ask myself if I could be considered puffed up by the Lord?  I am rich or I am learned or I am both?  Do I identify with my riches or my learnedness?  Do I believe who I am (my identity) is based on my riches or being learned?  If so, I am running under the natural man.  Egoic states possess my consciousness.  I want my riches and learnedness more than I want my God.

How I would I know if this is true?  Well, I definitely haven't cast off my riches. I still have them. Perhaps I can keep my riches, but be a good steward over them.  What would that look like?  Could it mean to give away my surplus riches?  Do I make a mock of my brothers and sisters by showing off my wealth by what I wear and drive?  Do I show off my riches in the house I choose to live in? Why might this be considered mocking my brethren?  Surely this can't be so!  My poor brothers and sisters should just be humble and admire my things.  They should learn not to covet and envy.  This is sin. You are exactly right, but what else does this blatant inequality do among believers?  Temporal equality is a tenet of gospel of Christ.  It brings a sense of unity, of common purpose for a Stake of Zion.  What example does having rich and poor in a Stakes of Zion give to everyone especially our youth? Perhaps, that we give lip service only - to the cause of Christ and Zion.

How would I know if I am puffed up and proud? I am grateful to God, (like a wicked Zoromite?), that he has blessed me more than others and I thank him (that I am better off than others).  I wear, drive and live in - expensive things.  If I am not proud then what am I?  Highly blessed by God above other people, has to be my answer.  Oh, the deceitfulness of riches!  I have to decide whether I am humble rich or proud rich.  Am I humble rich wearing, driving and living above everyone else?  Yes, that must be it!  The person writing this essay is an idiot.  All is well in Zion! Let's read this scripture:

And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance. 2 Nephi 28:21-22)

 We rich Mormons might be deceived by our riches.  Read this:

And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts. 

For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not? (Mormon 8:36-37, 39)

What can I do, if I am rich, to show my faith and love for my God?  How do I get through the eye of the needle and get to heaven?  How do I show my devotion to God and the cause of Zion?  I don't want to lift up my head with the wicked in hell?  See D&C 104:18:

Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.

This tells me to impart my portion. The more rich I am, the more generous I am to be.  Maybe, over time, I might even decide to live like the rest of human kind in a modest home, driving a modest car and wearing comely apparel.  But, for now, I think I will just give a lot to the poor.  When I gain that  hope in Christ I will even more compelled to do the following:

Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. (Jacob 2:17)

Now there's a principle to be followed!  But, it take time to extricate one's self from our wicked traditions.

But, I am a Mormon.  I have a hope in Christ! Look what a person with a hope in Christ does:

And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted. (Jacob 2:19)

My riches (and my ability to produce riches) are a gift like any other gift - to be used to give God glory - not for self-aggrandizement.  When I live this principle, considering myself a fool before God, then God will open the gate and permit me to pass through.

But, if not....

But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints. (2 Nephi 9:43)

That happiness of the saints will be hidden from me forever.

Shibon - The Good Son

Shibon was a never-do-it-oncer.  He was that classic young man raised in the church with obedience that comes naturally in a society filled with good role models.  Shiblon has been steady and faithful unto God (v.2); he commenced in his youth to look to the Lord.  On his mission to the Zoromites he has been faithful, diligent, patient and long suffering (v.3).  He has been raised well and had made good choices.

Alma, in verse 6, feels  to tell his son that he (Alma) has been born of God.  He tells his son that he had to cry unto the Lord for mercy, receive a remission of his sins and find peace to his soul.  He emphasizes the importance of Jesus Christ being at the center of Shiblon's faith (v.9), not extolling Christ as one of Shiblon's virtues but as counsel for Shiblon to learn wisdom (v.9)

It's as if Alma sees what Shiblon lacks and is gently persuading him to add the mercy (v.8), the saving power (v.9) and centrality of Christ - being the life, the light and the word of truth and righteousness - as new additions to his son's belief system.

Alma counsels Shiblon to be temperate (v.10), not be lifted up in pride (v.11), that he not boast in his own wisdom nor in his much strength (v.11).  It's almost as if Alma sees the direction a young man raised well will take if Christ doesn't become the center.  Strict observance can unwittingly become pride, the very thing that was to be avoided.  If this happens, the mark is missed and the whole of being raised in strict obedience is lost.

Alma counsels his son to take of stand for righteousness (boldness in v.12) but not overbearance; to bridle his passions, be filled with love and refrain from idleness.  He then tells Shibon what prayer isn't (v.13).  As Alma is speaking of the wickedness of the Zoromites, it's as if he sees something that needs correcting in his son.  Alma senses that Shiblon believes he is 'better' than others because he has done all the outward commandments since his youth (see v. 14).  Alma's counsel strikes to the heart of the matter that plagues all who have outwardly obeyed yet never felt mercy: judging oneself as better than others.  "Rather say, forgive thy unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy" (v.14)

I can imagine seeing the obedient young person, like Shiblon, saying, "but, how can I be unworthy?  I have obeyed all the commandments from my youth!  I don't get it. This doesn't make sense."  Alma goes on and says, "acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times", re-enforcing the fact that Christ paid for all our sins and we will forever be unworthy creatures.  There's no changing this.  To believe otherwise denies that atonement and suggests that we work our way back to heaven.  Then why obey? Why do good works?

Embedded throughout Alma's counsel to his second born son is the need to live a Christ-centered life. We change and become better people because Christ paid for our sins in the first place.  He loved us first.  This should cause us great humility.  Alma was trying to teach his son, and all of us, that we choose to change and progress by and through the grace of God because we love Him and want to be like Him.  Any other motive breeds pride.  We know we are running on that other motive when we can't see or comprehend our own unworthiness.

Unworthiness, in a scriptural sense, is our acknowledgment to our Savior that he has paid the price so we can return.  Mercy has satisfied the demands of Justice.  This unworthiness produces an attitude of  humility, contriteness and a broken heart.  It is the foundation on which all other gospel virtues hinge.





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Posted By NelsonFamilyBlog to Scott's Life at 10/28/2013 07:37:00 AM

The Community Foundation of Jacob 2 - Part 1

As I studied the words of Jacob to his people, I realized that Jacob dictated (from God) two community principles upon which the Nephites were to build their civilization.  The foundation principles were temporal equality and gender equality.  These two principles are outgrowths of living or striving to live, the principles of the gospel.  Instead dispelling already embedded false traditions, Jacob, was not going let them get started. (Jacob 2:5).  Nephi's group had grown large enough by this time that the people weren't inherently acting as a cohesive family unit.  So, this first regulation was made.  Their society and their church were essential the same.

Jacob seeing that some men are now obtaining more wealth than other men, were beginning to walk in the pride of their hearts (Jacob 2:13).  Their wearing of fine apparel and their persecuting of their brethren are the evidences Jacob uses to show their pride.  Jacob tries to impress upon their minds the gravity of the matter by telling them that God could strike them down with a single glance (v.10,15).  Jacob later infers that their abundance is a gift from God (v.20) and temporal inequality is an abomination unto God (v. 21).  No wonder Jacob tells his brethren to "be free with their substance, that they may be rich like unto you"(v.17).  He explains in his way what Christ taught in his ministry in Palestine to seek first for the Kingdom of God and all things would be added unto them (Matthew 6:33).  The obvious outcome of first having a hope in Christ is to use your surplus riches to help others (v.18,19).

The Nephite prophets sought to uphold and maintain the foundation principles taught by their fathers.  Two of these were temporal equality and gender equality (to be discussed).  Their church was built on these principles. Falling away from these principles was consider wickedness and pride. I find it curious that we, the LDS people, continuously strive to arrive at a similar state (of mind and reality).  We are coming from a different direction, though.  To dispel our deep set traditions is not easy.  Our logic, and the natural man within us, easily dismisses the idea that temporal equality will work.  More progress has been made in the area of gender equality.

See other writings on the Book of Mormon at:
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Jaredites Destroyed Four Times!

Jaredites Destroyed Four Times

Please indulge me on my latest research.  I always have wondered why Moroni put those chapters in Ether recounting the reign of kings and the intrigue associated with it, in the Book of Mormon.  So, here's my broad view analysis.  I learned a few things.  First, that it appears that the time period that each king reigns is longer in the first half of the Book of Ether than the second half.  Second, that the Jaredites were almost totally destroyed at least three times during the life of the kingdom.  And one last thing, the there seems to be a brief democratic rule by the people once in the history of the Jaredites.

The Jaredites arrive in the new world somewhere around 2200 B.C.  They are destroyed around 600 B.C.  So, we have about 1600 years to work with.

Ether 6/7/8

1. Orihah (righteous king, son of Jared, lived exceedingly long)
3. Kib (lived to be exceedingly old while in captivity)
4. Corihor (rebelled against father, Kib, and brought him into captivity)
5. Shule (righteous king, v.8, captivity, son of Kib, restored kingdom to Kib)
6. Noah (son of Corihor, rebelled, took kingdom)
7. Divided Kingdom (v. 20, Shule (righteous king) and Cohor, Nimrod, son of Cohor gives kingdom back to Shule, prophets rejected by people but protected by Shule, people repent)
8. Omer (righteous king)
9. Jared (Jared rebelled against his father, Omer, took kingdom, Esrom and Coriantumr (sons of Omer, return kingdom to Omer.  Jared very sad.))
10. Omer (until he is told to leave in a dream)
11, Jared (until he get decapitated by Akish)
12. Akish and his sons

These kings rule for a long time.  They live long lives.  Men were living well over 100 years - perhaps 200 years before they died.  I estimate that these first kings ruled about 80 years each (except for number 9 and 11: Jared).  This puts us at 640 years or 1560 B.C.

Destruction #1

The first destruction of the Jaredite civilization was after Akish became the king.  He never got to cut off Omer's head (King Omer was warned in a dream and left for a period of time), so he cut of the head of his co-conspirator, Jared and became king.

Akish starved his son to death causing the son's brother, Nimrah, to flee to Omer.  Akish begats other sons - who used a classical political move to draw away the more part of the people after them.  The people wanted gain (transfer payments in our day) and the sons of Akish wanted power (control of the kingdom).  This started a war between the sons of Akish and Akish.  It lasts for many years unto the destruction of everyone except thirty souls.  That is no small destruction.  King Omer returns and establishes a righteous kingdom once again.

Destruction #2

We go from Omer to Emer to Coriantum (who received the Second Comforter, Ether 9:22).  Corantum had no children until after he was over one hundred years old.  He begets Heth.  Heth was a bad boy and brought back the secret plans to destroy his father.  He dethrones and kills his father (v.27).  Prophets come into the land crying repentance.  Nobody believes the prophets.  They are cast out and killed according to the commandment of Heth.  A great dearth upon the land begins.  The drought and famine destroys the inhabitants exceedingly fast.  Poisonous serpents push the flocks and herds southward.  The Lord causes the serpents to create a hedge so the people can't pass to get to their flocks.  The people humble themselves sufficiently for the Lord to send rain again.  It sounds like the people were pretty much destroyed once again.  Using an average of 50 years per king, we have another 200 years since the first destruction.

1. Omer (good king)
2. Emer (good king)
3. Coriantum (very good king, sees the Son of God)
4. Heth (bad king, kills the prophets, dearth in the land)

Ether 10

Shez, a descendant of Heth, begins to build up a 'broken people'.  Shez is a righteous king.  His son, Shez dethrones him and is killed by a robber.

1. Shez (good king, builds up a broken people)
2. Shez (killed by robber)
3. Riplakish (bad, son of Shez 1, taxes and prison labor, reigned 42 years)
4. People rule (Riplakish killed, descendants driven out)
5. Morianton (Just king but bad morally, descendant of Riplakish, wars against the People and wins)
6. Brother of Morianton (rebels, puts Morianton into captivity)
7. Levi (good king, son or Morianton, 42 years in captivity, makes war and obtains kingdom)
8. Corom (son of Levi)
9. Lib (good king, destroyed poisonous serpents, very industrious, people blessed)
10. Hearthom (son of Lib, reigned 25 years, went into captivity)
11. Heth (son of Hearthom, lived in captivity)
12. Aaron (son of Heth, lived in captivity)
13. Amnigaddah (son of Aaron, dwelt in captivity)
14. Coraintom (son of Amnigaddah, dwelt in captivity)
15. Com (battled against King Amgid and won back the kingdom, fought unsuccessfully against robbers/secret combinations in the land)

Ether 11

The people reject the prophets and they flee to Com for protection.

16. Shiblom (Son of Com) and the brother of Shiblom (rebelled against Shiblom and started an exceedingly great war, caused all the prophets to be but to death; wicked combinations)

Destruction #3

During the reign of Shibom,  there are wars, contentions, famines and pestilences.  No one had ever known such great destruction.  We must remember that the last great destruction occurred over 16 kings back.  If we were to average a reign of a king at 35 years, that would be 560 years!  No wonder no one remembered the last great destruction.  During the estimated 560 years, there are five good kings interspersed. That amount of time is like us remembering the times of Columbus (1492)!  The people begin to repent.  Shiblom is slain.

17. Seth (son of Shiblon, dwelt in captivity)
18. Ahah (bad king, son of Seth, obtained kingdom, few were his days)
19. Ethem (bad king, descendant of Ahah, prophets prophecy utter destruction of the people)
20. Moron (bad king, rebellion, lost half of kingdom but gained it back, secret combinations)
21. Descendant of the Brother of Jared (apparently a bad guy, over throws Moron who dwells in captivity the rest of his days)
22. Coriantor (son of Moron, dwells in captivity all his days, prophets come again prophesying utter destruction.) Another people to possess the land, the word is rejected due to their secret society and wicked abominations.)
23. Ether (son of Coriantor, prophet of the Lord.)

Destruction #4 (the final destruction)

So, Ether would have been king if he hadn't dwelt in captivity.  From the time the people began to repent (Shiblon) to Ether, there are six kings (some rule and some live in captivity).  If we were to let each rule for 35 years, that 210 years!  To get perspective, that's like going back to the beginning of our nation!  It took that long for the Jaredites to ripen for their final destruction.

Notes:

80	8	640
50	4	200
35	16	560
35	6	210
		1610

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Author
Scott Nelson, creator of Greenscooter blog