Ether 10:5–7 describes the reign of King Riplakish. His wicked reign and his fall were very similar to the reign and the fall of the wicked King Noah (see Mosiah 11). Note the following characteristics of both kings:
Riplakish (Ether 10)
Characteristics
Noah (Mosiah 11)
Verse 5
Very immoral
Verse 2
Verse 5
Taxed the people heavily
Verse 3
Verse 6
Built spacious and elaborate buildings
Verse 8
Verse 7
Glutted himself on the work of others
Verse 6
Verse 8
Killed by his own people
Mosiah 19:20
Isaiah warned, “For the leaders of this people cause them to err” (Isaiah 9:16; 2 Nephi 19:16). The righteous King Mosiah later commanded his people not to have kings because “the sins of many people have been caused by the iniquities of their kings” (Mosiah 29:31).