Shem was a Nephite military commander who played a significant role in the climactic events that led to the fall of the Nephite nation. His brief mention in the Book of Mormon record occurs in the context of the catastrophic battle at Cumorah, a battle that culminated in the utter destruction of the Nephite forces and essentially ended Nephite civilization as it had been known. In the year AD 385, in the land of Cumorah, Shem stood valiantly with his contingent of ten thousand soldiers, facing the overwhelming hosts of the Lamanites. In this direst of conflicts, Shem, along with other Nephite leaders such as Lamah, Gilgal, Limhah, Jeneum, Cumenihah, Moronihah, Antionum, Shiblom, and Josh, is noted to have fallen with his ten thousand warriors (Mormon 6:14). This solemn entry in the Book of Mormon serves as both a testimony to his and his soldiers’ dedication to their cause and people and as a somber acknowledgment of the high cost of the prolonged conflicts between the Nephites and the Lamanites. Shem’s life, as summarized in this lone mention, underscores the tragic final chapter in Nephite history and the sacrifice borne by its defenders.