The Book of Jarom
Jarom Records History of His People Event 39
Reference: Jarom 1:1-15
NOW behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to thecommandment of my father, Enos, that our genealogy maybe kept. 2 And as these plates are small, and as these thingsare written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren theLamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little;but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor ofmy revelations. For what could I write more than myfathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan ofsalvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.JaromLand of Nephi421 to 401 B.C.3 Behold, it is expedient that much should be done amongthis people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and thedeafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, andthe stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God isexceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet sweptthem off from the face of the land. 4 And there are manyamong us who have many revelations, for they are not allstiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and havefaith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which makethmanifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.5 And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away,and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. Theyobserved to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holyunto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did theyblaspheme. And the laws of the land were exceedinglystrict. 6 And they were scattered upon much of the face ofthe land, and the Lamanites also. And they wereexceedingly more numerous than were they of the Nephites;and they loved murder and would drink the blood of beasts.400 to 363 B.C.7 And it came to pass that they came many times against us,the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders weremighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught thepeople the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood theLamanites and swept them away out of our lands, andbegan to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of ourinheritance. 8 And we multiplied exceedingly, and spreadupon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich ingold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fineworkmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, andalso in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, andweapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and thequiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations forwar. 9 And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, theydid not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord wasverified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that:JaromLand of Nephi400 to 363 B.C.Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper inthe land.The Lord10 And it came to pass that the prophets of the Lord didthreaten the people of Nephi, according to the word of God,that if they did not keep the commandments, but should fallinto transgression, they should be destroyed from off theface of the land. 11 Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests,and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with alllong-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law ofMoses, and the intent for which it was given; persuadingthem to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in himto come as though he already was. And after this mannerdid they teach them.Jarom12 And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them frombeing destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did pricktheir hearts with the word, continually stirring them up untorepentance.13 And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and eightyears had passed away—after the manner of wars, andcontentions, and dissensions, for the space of much of thetime. 14 And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates aresmall. But behold, my brethren, ye can go to the otherplates of Nephi; for behold, upon them the records of ourwars are engraven, according to the writings of the kings, orthose which they caused to be written. 15 And I deliverthese plates into the hands of my son Omni, that they maybe kept according to the commandments of my fathers.362 to 325 B.C.