Ethem was a Jaredite king noted in the lineage of leaders provided by Moroni. He was the son of Ahah and the father of Moron (Ether 1:9). His reign, as recorded, was marked by iniquity. During Ethem’s rule, the Jaredite society was in a state of decline, characterized by widespread wickedness (Ether 11:11). This societal degradation was in spite of the work of many prophets, who actively preached repentance and prophesied destruction if the people did not forsake their sins. The prophetic warnings were clear: the inhabitants of the land were at risk of utter annihilation unless they repented (Ether 11:12).
The legacy of Ethem’s rulership is further darkened by the continuation of these unrighteous patterns by his son, Moron, who succeeded him as king (Ether 11:14). Ethem’s era powerfully illustrates the consequences of a leader’s influence on the spiritual and moral direction of a people, detailing a somber chapter in Jaredite history where the voice of prophecy was ultimately dismissed to the nation’s detriment.