They Were All Gathered Together with Their Wives and Their Children

“In the final Jaredite battle, women and children actually did fight along with the men to the literal end of their civilization. Four years were spent gathering all the people together, that they might have ’all the strength which it was possible that they could receive.’ Sides chosen, a lamentable scene unfolded: ’Both men women and children being armed with weapons of war, having shields, and breastplates, and head-plates, and being clothed after the manner of war—they did march forth one against another to battle.’ (Ether 15:14-15.) Women were not immune to death by the sword, unfortunately, and slaughter claimed untold numbers of female lives. Even before this great and final battle, Coriantumr sorrowed that ’two millions of mighty men, and also their wives and their children,’ had been slain (Ether 15:2), to the extent that the bodies of men, women, and children covered the face of the land (see Ether 14:21-22).” (Marjorie Meads Spencer, Ensign, Sep. 1977, “My Book of Mormon Sisters”)