The prophet Ether lived in a pretty tough time. The government (known as the King) was changing all the time and not by vaguely smooth elections, but typically through insurrections of royal kids against their fathers. Over time, leaders were just rotten guys on the whole but sometimes at least reasonably decent to their followers. Later, it was just grasping for power and destroying all opposition to their rule, so they were all wicked.
Ether 12:3-4
For he did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by faith all things are fulfilled— 4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
Ether's teaching was really exotic in a land of evil. He actually told them what they could have, which must have seemed like some fantasy to the people. I think everyone was ready to be destroyed and it was just a matter of when and how much luxury one could acquire and enjoy before the destruction happened. I would say that most of the people didn't think much about the future, especially an afterlife, in the push to get ahead today and in the immediate tomorrow.
But that is exactly what Ether was preaching about - a better life and afterlife that God offers to those who follow his ways. It isn't an exclusive offer only available to certain people; this is available to ALL that are willing to pursue it. The key is the words SURITY and SURE above. If you do things that God asks you to do, like repenting of your sins, You will ABSOLUTELY get A BETTER WORLD with a promise from a God that you can completely TRUST.
If you have been tricked or promised something that couldn't be delivered, you might get really jaded and un-trusting. God can be trusted to do what he says especially as he sent Jesus to do his Atonement to overcome sin and death. Jesus did it and God had him do this most difficult thing. Do you trust God yet?
As we learn that God can be trusted to make good on his promises, we can obey him and reap the seemingly impossible rewards he says he will give us. I, for one, am working to align with God and his purposes and get the rewards promised!
