Shiz emerged as a pivotal figure in the final throes of Jaredite history, galvanized by a vendetta fueled by the death of his brother, Lib. He assumed command of his brother’s forces after Lib’s demise and engaged in a protracted and brutal war with Coriantumr, the last Jaredite king. Shiz’s military campaigns were characterized by their severity, as he was known to slay women, children, and burn cities in his path, instilling widespread fear across the land (Ether 14:17).
Fueled by an implacable desire for vengeance and a refusal to accept defeat, Shiz vowed to avenge his brother’s death and defy the prophecy stating that Coriantumr would not fall by the sword (Ether 14:24). The result was a cycle of catastrophic battles that devastated the Jaredite population, leading to near-total annihilation. Shiz’s dogged pursuit of Coriantumr persisted despite multiple offers of peace and sovereignty over the kingdom, as Shiz reportedly demanded the personal satisfaction of killing Coriantumr with his own sword (Ether 15:5).
The stubborn animosity between Shiz and Coriantumr led to a final, apocalyptic clash where millions perished. In a poignant illustration of their relentless hatred, in their final battle, after all of their followers had fallen and both leaders were grievously wounded, Shiz’s tenacity was on full display. Despite losing copious amounts of blood, he rose on his hands in a last, futile attempt to continue the fight—a gruesome moment that would mark the end of the Jaredite civilization (Ether 15:30-31). In a tragic culmination of warfare, Coriantumr finally decapitated the weakened Shiz, thereby fulfilling the words of the prophet Ether concerning the destruction that would come upon the people if they did not repent (Ether 13:20-21).