The Book of Jarom

Jarom 1

I accept the legacy that my father Enos has passed on to me and hereby maintain the sacred records for the benefit of the Lamanites’ future descendants. I don’t have a lot to say and will not write of the prophecies or revelations that I’ve received because they are the same revelations that my forefathers have already written of, concerning the plan for our salvation.

For the most part, the Nephites have become as hard in their hearts, as stubborn, as deaf to the truth, and as blind in their minds as ever. That they have not been thrown off the land by God is a testimony to his mercy. But there are also many among us who have given up their stubbornness and demonstrated their faith in God. These people find themselves in communion with the Holy Spirit and have many revelations of their own.

The Nephites have grown strong after being in this land for 200 years. They have observed the law of Moses and kept the Sabbath sacred unto God. Because our laws are strict, there is no profanity or blasphemy among us. [399 BC]

As both the Lamanite and the Nephite populations have grown greatly, we have spread ourselves broadly across the new land. Even as our Nephite numbers grow, the number of murderous Lamanites increases faster. In frequent battles with the Lamanites, our defenses have so far held because of the fortifications we have built around our cities, and because our kings and leaders have maintained their faith in God.

As our numbers have grown we have become rich in silver and gold, and developed the capacity for fine workmanship in wood, iron, copper, brass, and steel. We have constructed great buildings and created machinery for making all kinds of tools to farm with, as well as making weapons of war. And so we have been well prepared to repel the Lamanite attacks.

Because our prophets have been vigilant in their warnings the Nephites have kept God’s commandments to their forefathers and, as promised to us, we have prospered on the land. We are also very aware that if we stray from God’s commandments the Lamanites will destroy us. So our prophets and priests have kept us intensely focused on the coming Messiah, as if he were already here.

Since our people left Jerusalem, 238 years have now passed. It is now time for me to pass on the legacy of the plates to my son Omni, so that this record may be continued as our forefathers have instructed us to do. [361 BC]