Jarom 1

People in this chapter

The book of Jarom is fifteen verses long. Jarom, the son of Enos, explains why: these plates are small (v. 2), and his fathers had already written what mattered most. For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.

Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.

Jarom 1:1-4This Sufficeth Me

1Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos, that our genealogy may be kept. 2And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.

Jarom writes only a little. His fathers had already written about the plan of salvation, and that was enough for him.

3Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the land. 4And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.

Many Nephites had hard hearts, but God was still merciful to them. Those who had faith could have communion with the Holy Spirit.

Jarom 1:5-9Mighty Men in the Faith of the Lord

5And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme. And the laws of the land were exceedingly strict. 6And they were scattered upon much of the face of the land, and the Lamanites also. And they were exceedingly more numerous than were they of the Nephites; and they loved murder and would drink the blood of beasts. 7And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them away out of our lands, and began to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance.

Two hundred years after Lehi left Jerusalem, the Nephites were strong. They kept the law of Moses and the Sabbath day holy.

The Lamanites attacked many times. The Nephites survived because their kings and leaders had faith and taught the people the ways of the Lord.

8And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war. 9And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land.

The Nephites became rich and skilled, and they were prepared for war. The Lord kept His promise: if they kept His commandments, they would prosper.

Jarom 1:10-12As Though He Already Was

10And it came to pass that the prophets of the Lord did threaten the people of Nephi, according to the word of God, that if they did not keep the commandments, but should fall into transgression, they should be destroyed from off the face of the land. 11Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.

The prophets warned the people plainly. They also taught patiently, with long-suffering, and urged the people to be diligent.

12And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance.

Teaching about Christ kept the Nephites from destruction. The word of God pricked their hearts and kept them repenting.

Jarom 1:13-15The Plates Are Small

13And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and eight years had passed away—after the manner of wars, and contentions, and dissensions, for the space of much of the time. 14And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates are small. But behold, my brethren, ye can go to the other plates of Nephi; for behold, upon them the records of our wars are engraven, according to the writings of the kings, or those which they caused to be written. 15And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, that they may be kept according to the commandments of my fathers.

Jarom points readers to the other plates for the history of the wars. Then he gives the small plates to his son Omni.

Research trail

Sources & further study

These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.

Where this echoes in Scripture

This Sufficeth Me

Mighty Men in the Faith of the Lord

As Though He Already Was

The Plates Are Small