There is a girl, about 8-10 years old, with a doll in her hands. Sariah is her name. The doll is beautiful, something that someone living in your time wouldn’t expect for 1000s of years ago. The face is like porcelain, almost like a Victorian style doll, but with different clothes. The doll is clothed, but different than you might imagine from videos about the Nephites and Lamanites. You may assume that the Jaredites would dress similar to how you envision the Nephites and Lamanites, but that isn’t the case.
We had skilled weavers and grew cotton, and other various plants to make beautiful clothes. Cotton, just like now, was a vital trade item. Cotton farmers were very valuable and respected.
We used wool from sheep and other animals that we domesticated and herded. We made shoes from the leathers/skins of animals; and had silkworms to make silk. Some of us made dyes for our cloth, with a variety of colors. We didn’t have all the different types of fabrics that you have in your time, but we had a plentiful variety in our clothes, more than you would realize.
During disobedient or wicked times, some merchants would do like your society does, put a name on their clothes and mark up the price, much higher than it needed to be. It didn’t cost those merchants anymore to make or buy the clothes, they just increased the price. And, some people would pay the increased price and show off the designers name. If they only knew how ridiculous they looked. What is in a name?
So, during times of disobedience and wickedness, divisions based on wealth began to form as our people tried to outdo each other with the price of clothes, goods, and services. It was sad when that happened; our people were not truly happy. I much preferred the peaceful times, when our people were obedient to God’s commandments. That is when all of us received fair prices for goods and services and when we really prospered. There was more than enough for everyone, not just the wealthy. Actually, there really wasn’t a class of wealthy people; we were one, we were united. Our society was truly abundant! God poured His richest blessings to us!
Jaredite Stories 