A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon/Shule
SHULE. One of the early kings of the Jaredites. He was the son of Kib, born to him in his old age, while he was in captivity, he having been deposed by an elder son named Corihor. When Shule grew to manhood he became mighty in judgment and bodily strength, and being angry with his brother Corihor for rebelling against their father, he raised an army, armed them with swords made by himself, gave battle to his brother at a city named Nehor, defeated the latter's forces and restored their father to the throne. Kib, being very aged, placed the sovereign power in the hands of Shule who reigned in righteousness and extended the borders of his growing people in all directions. Corihor, repentant of his former treason, received many favors from Shule and was placed in high power in the nation, the trusts whereof he faithfully performed. But as he had rebelled against his father in his early days, so in like manner one of his sons, named Noah, rebelled against him and against the king, and in this rebellion drew away all his brothers. At first, Noah was successful. He obtained possession of the land of the Jaredites' first inheritance, called by them Moron, and reigned king in that region of Central America. Again he attacked Shule, and this time took him prisoner, carrying him captive to Moron, with the intention of putting him to death. But before he had carried out his bloodthirsty design, his cousins, the sons of Shule, broke into his house and killed the usurper. They then went to the prison, where their father was held, released him from his confinement and replaced him on the throne of that part of the country not retained by the son of Noah. There were now two kingdoms, both of which were growing, while that one under the government of Shule "did prosper exceedingly and waxed great." After a time, Cohor, the son of Noah, commenced war with Shule, in which he was deservedly unsuccessful, and in the conflict that ensued he was slain. His son Nimrod, knowing the unrighteousness of his father's cause, restored Noah's kingdom to Shule, so that the latter again, as in the beginning, reigned over the whole of the Jaredite race. For this act of magnanimity Shule bestowed great favors upon Nimrod, who did in the whole kingdom "according to his desires."
Though the people were highly prospered at this time, they gave way to idolatry, and grew hard in their hearts. This, no doubt, was intensified by the bad example of the royal family and the miseries and cruelties of the wars which their quarrels induced. During Shule's days the Lord sent many prophets to the Jaredites, who warned the people of His impending judgments. For a time these prophets were rejected and reviled. But Shule made a law that the prophets should have free access wherever they wished to go, and further decreed a punishment for all those who persecuted and reviled them. The preaching of these holy men eventually brought the Jaredites to repentance, and because of their penitence the Lord spared them and turned away His judgments, and the people prospered again. In his old age Shule begat Omer, who succeeded him on the throne. Shule's days were full of trouble and sorrow, but he reigned in righteousness, was faithful to the Lord, and executed judgment in justice towards his subjects. We are of the opinion that Shule was a contemporary of the Patriarch Abraham.