Mosiah 8: 9; 28: 12, 18; Ether 8: 23, 26

Why is the account of the Jaredites included in the Book of Mormon?

"9 And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold." (Mosiah 8: 9)

"12 And this he did because of the great anxiety of his people; for they were desirous beyond measure to know concerning those people who had been destroyed." (Mosiah 28: 12)

"18 Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice." (Mosiah 28: 18)

"23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be." (Ether 8: 23)

"26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved." (Ether 8: 26)

And here's the introductory commentary for this week's reading assignment: "November 18–24: “That Evil May Be Done Away” Ether 6–11

"Hundreds of years after the Jaredites were destroyed, the Nephites discovered the ruins of their ancient civilization. Among these ruins was a mysterious record—plates of “pure gold” that were “filled with engravings,” and the Nephites “were desirous beyond measure” to read it (Mosiah 8:9; 28:12). Today you have an abridgment of this record, and it’s called the book of Ether. When the Nephites read it, “they were filled with sorrow” to learn of the tragic fall of the Jaredites. “Nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice” (Mosiah 28:18). You, too, may find sorrowful moments in this book. But you can also rejoice in this gift of knowledge. As Moroni wrote, “it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you … that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men” (Ether 8:23, 26).

Clearly, God wants His children to learn from what the Jaredites went through. As we study the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon, we can be inspired by the Lord to know exactly what to do to make better decisions than what the Jaredites did which caused their destruction.