The prophets have no champion in the king, a signal of continued decline toward the prophesied calamity. Their withdrawal symbolizes the Spirit’s withdrawal from the people. Moroni is communicating that the people are sealing their fate. Ethem, a wicked king, is succeeded by an equally wicked son, Moron.
Chronology: The average reign of thirty years chronology places Ethem at 320–290 B.C. and Moron at 290–260 B.C.