Gilead emerged as a notable Jaredite military commander and contender for the throne during the tumultuous times that led to the ultimate downfall of the Jaredite civilization. Following the death of his brother Shared, who had waged war against King Coriantumr, Gilead assumed leadership of the rebellion and continued the cycle of conflict and violence (Ether 14:3). He engaged Coriantumr in battle but was initially defeated and driven into the wilderness of Akish. Despite this setback, Gilead proved to be resilient and strategically sound. He orchestrated a nighttime assault which decimated a portion of Coriantumr’s forces while they were incapacitated by drunkenness.
Capitalizing on the momentum of his successful surprise attack, Gilead claimed the seat of power by usurping the throne in the land of Moron (Ether 14:6). His rise to power was, in part, facilitated by the support of secret combinations, which granted him substantial strength to fortify his army (Ether 14:8). However, the treachery that marked his ascent to power ultimately led to his demise. In an ironic twist of fate emblematic of the violence and betrayal characterizing the Jaredite political landscape, Gilead met his end at the hands of his own high priest, who murdered him as he sat upon the very throne he had fought so fiercely to attain (Ether 14:9). Thus, Gilead’s brief reign was marked by bloodshed and conspiracy, providing a stark reflection of the unsustainable path the Jaredite civilization had embarked upon as it spiraled toward its tragic conclusion.