Before the last few battles of the Jaredites, “there had been slain by the sword already nearly two millions of [their] people, … two millions of mighty men, and also their wives and their children” (Ether 15:2). The record appears to be saying that the “two millions” included men, women and children, and this number had “already” been slain in multiple battles, not just a single battle, and apparently over an extended time-period and in numerous locations (Ether 13:25 –15:11).

After these many wars, and the slaying of some two million, there was a four-year gathering of “all the people upon the face of the land” to the hill Ramah (Ether 15:14). Those “who were for Coriantumr were gathered together to the army of Coriantumr; and the people who were for Shiz were gathered together to the army of Shiz” (Ether 15:11-13). “They were all gathered together, every one to the army which he would, with their wives and their children—both men, women and children being armed with weapons of war, having shields, and breastplates, and head-plates, and being clothed after the manner of war—they did march forth one against another to battle” (Ether 15:15). After several days of sustained fighting, only the two Jaredite leaders, Coriantumr and Shiz, had outlasted the other combatants. The final struggle ended when Coriantumr “smote off the head of Shiz” (Ether 15:30). The record does not indicate how many gathered for these final days of battle, and, consequently, we do not know how many were killed. Ether, stealthily observing these tragic events, finished his record and “hid them in a manner that the people of Limhi did find them” (Ether 15:33; Mosiah 21:25-28). Ether’s last word were: “Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God” (Ether 15:34).

In the days of Mosiah (the first), “there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God. And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla [the Mulekites]; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons” (Omni 1:20-21). Coriantumr spoke “concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward” (Omni 1:22).

We know the Book of Ether to be a true and correct account of the Jaredite cultures and civilizations. We also believe that the most important contribution of the Book of Mormon is not it’s geography or its cultural and historical details, but its clear and masterful contributions to our understanding of gospel doctrines of salvation, correct principles of behavior, and the consequences of unrighteous choices.

We conclude our geographical analysis of the Jaredite record with a comment by Moroni:

And thus it was.