The sons of Akish were influential figures in Jaredite history, emerging during a period of substantial strife and moral decay within their society. Born to Akish, they were indoctrinated into a culture of secret oaths and conspiracies, a system their father capitalized on to secure power through the murder of his own father-in-law, Jared, who was seated on the throne at the time (Ether 8). The sons of Akish grew up in the shadow of their father’s egregious ambition and were later described as having captured the adherence of the people by perpetuating and encouraging iniquity (Ether 9:10).
Their grab for power was marked not only by a promise to uphold their father’s nefarious practices but also by a shrewd understanding of the allure of wealth. The sons of Akish enticed the majority of the populace to their cause by offering money, revealing an early example of political corruption fueled by material greed (Ether 9:11). This financial inducement proved effective, and they managed to secure a large following.
However, their loyalty to their father was tenuous, perhaps a facade from the start, as the sons of Akish eventually found themselves embroiled in a devastating internal conflict against Akish himself. This fratricidal war was protracted and brutal, eventually leading to almost complete annihilation of the kingdom Akish had fought so hard to establish. Of the people under their influence, all but thirty souls perished, with the survivors fleeing alongside the house of Omer, the original ruler Akish had usurped (Ether 9:12).
The narrative of Akish’s sons underscores a broader theme within the Book of Mormon of the destructive consequences of power struggles and moral corruption. Their revolt against their father reveals a cycle of betrayal that highlights the instability inherent in a society grounded in conspiracy and violence.