What Are the Patterns Shown by the Jaredites, Chess, and Mulan?

 My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Ether 6-11 in a lesson titled “That Evil May Be Done Away.” The lesson was introduced by this information: 

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).

Some of the principles taught in this scripture block are (1) The Lord will guide me through my mortal journey (Ether 6:1-12), (2) Walk humbly before the Lord (Ether 6:5-18, 30; 9:28-35; 10:1-2), and (3) The Lord does not work in darkness (Ether 8:7-26). I feel prompted to discuss a fourth principle: I can become a Christlike leader (Ether 7-11).

Ether 7-11 cover at least 28 generations. There is little detail in the chapters, but the information shows a pattern about the consequences of righteous and wicked leadership. Before Jared and his brother died, their people asked them to appoint one of their sons to be their king. None of the sons of the brother of Jared and three of Jared’s sons rejected the opportunity to become king. The fourth son of Jared – Orihah – accepted the appointment, and he was a righteous king. He was followed by numerous unrighteous kings. 

These chapters in Ether tell the stories of various kings and their wars. In most cases, the victorious kings took the losing kings into captivity. Sometimes, the kings and their posterity lived in captivity for several generations. The victors seemed to prefer putting the loser into captivity rather than killing them although they did destroy the enemy armies.

The above-described practice has always confused me, but I gained much information today after reading an article in Meridian Magazine by Daris Howard. This article is titled “Are There Any Other Cultures That Match the Jaredites?” In his article, Howard compared the practices of the Jaredite kings to the game of chess and the Disney movie Mulan. I am not a chess player, but I have watched numerous members of my family play chess. Howard explained, “In chess, everything is done to protect the king, and when the king is killed or captured, the game (war) is over.” This is about the only thing that I understand about the game, but I instantly made the connection that he was making: Chess follows the pattern shown in the book of Ether. Howard then explained that this pattern is the way that wars are fought in Asia. 

Howard then compared the practice of the kings in Ether to the Disney movie Mulan. I have watched the movie – numerous years ago – and do not remember much about it. However, Howard explained the following.

In the 1996 Disney® movie Mulan, many things are similar to the book of Ether. One of the most important is a statement made near the beginning of the movie that most people miss…. But right now, let’s consider the legend that Mulan comes from.

According to ancient Chinese legend, Hua Mulan was a warrior woman…. It is hard to read too much about China without coming across the legend of Mulan. The Chinese feel she was a real person and a great hero to her country….

There are a few things that are key in all the different versions of the stories I have read. First, Mulan entered the army in place of her aging father, whom she loved, knowing he could not endure the viciousness of war. Second, she always seems to have hidden the fact that she was a woman until later in the story, and when it did come out, that inspired her people. Third, there is usually a love interest in the form of a military command. And fourth, she doesn’t seek for riches from her fame and power, but only to do good for her people and her family.

Howard shared four concepts found in the story of Mulan: (1) Protect the king at all costs (as shown in the second scene of the movie), (2) It doesn’t take a whole army to win – all you have to do is capture or kill the king, (3) Control of the emperor is control of China, and (4) Bow in captivity or die. Howard then summarized the Mulan movie, showing that the culture matches practice of the Jaredites.

Though there is much of Hollywood in the movie Mulan, in many respects it holds true to the traditional story of Mulan found in books. In that movie, we can see the very essence of the culture of the Jaredites. First, everything is done to protect the king. His is the only life that seems to be of much value. Second, it does not take an entire army to win – a commando squad can win if they can kill or capture the king. Third, control of the king is control of the nation, whether he is dead or alive. And fourth, it is preferable to capture the king and keep him in captivity instead of killing him.

Howard’s article contains much more information, but what I have shared shows how the game of chess – which originated in China or India – and the Disney movie Mulan – about a girl in China – shares the same pattern as followed by the kings and armies discussed in the book of Ether.

As to the principle chosen for this essay – I can become a Christlike leader, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke on the topic in the Priesthood Session of the April 2017 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a talk titled “The Greatest Among You.” He concluded his talk with the following information. 

Let us follow the example of our Savior, who was meek and lowly, who sought not the praise of men but to do the will of His Father.

Let us serve others humbly – with energy, gratitude, and honor. Even though our acts of service may seem lowly, modest, or of little value, those who reach out in kindness and compassion to others will one day know the value of their service by the eternal and blessed grace of Almighty God.

My dear brethren, dear friends, may we meditate upon, understand, and live this paramount lesson of Church leadership and priesthood governance: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”