Jacob
19 verses
Fifty-five years had passed since Lehi left Jerusalem, and Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment about the small plates on which these things are engraved.
For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.
He gave me, Jacob, a commandment to write on these plates a few of the things I consider most precious, and to mention the history of the people called the people of Nephi only briefly.
And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I consider to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.
He said that the history of his people should be engraved on his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and pass them down to my descendants, from generation to generation.
For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.
If there was sacred preaching, great revelation, or prophesying, I was to engrave the main points of them on these plates and include as much as possible, for Christ’s sake and for the sake of our people.
And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people.
Because of faith and great anxiety, it has truly been shown to us what will happen to our people.
For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.
We also received many revelations and had the spirit of prophecy, so we knew about Christ and his kingdom that would come.
And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come.
We worked diligently among our people to persuade them to come to Christ and experience the goodness of God, so they could enter into his rest. We did this so that God would not become angry and prevent them from entering, like he did during the time when the children of Israel provoked him in the wilderness.
Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.
We sincerely wish we could persuade everyone not to rebel against God or make Him angry, but instead to believe in Christ, consider His death, endure His cross, and bear the shame of the world. For this reason, I, Jacob, am taking it upon myself to fulfill the commandment my brother Nephi gave me.
Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.
Nephi was getting old and realized he would soon die, so he anointed a man to be king and ruler over his people, following the pattern of kings.
Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings.
The people loved Nephi very much because he was a great protector for them, wielded the sword of Laban to defend them, and spent his whole life working for their well-being.
The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—
The people wanted to remember his name. Whoever ruled after him was called by the people second Nephi, third Nephi, and so on, according to the reigns of the kings; and this is how they were called by the people, no matter what their actual names were.
Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would.
Nephi died.
And it came to pass that Nephi died.
The people who were not Lamanites were called Nephites; however, they were also known as Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.
Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.
From now on, I won’t use those names to distinguish them. I’ll call those who want to destroy the people of Nephi “Lamanites, ” and those who are friendly to Nephi I’ll call “Nephites, ” or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.
But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.
During the reign of the second king, the people of Nephi began to harden their hearts and engage in some wicked practices, like David of old who desired many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.
And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.
They also began to search for a lot of gold and silver, and started to become somewhat prideful.
Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.
So I, Jacob, gave them these words as I taught them in the temple, after first receiving my assignment from the Lord.
Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.
I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been set apart as priests and teachers for this people by Nephi.
For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.
We magnified our calling to the Lord, taking on the responsibility and accepting that we would be accountable for the people's sins if we didn't teach them God's word with all diligence. By working with all our strength, their blood would not come upon us; otherwise, their blood would be on us, and we would not be found blameless at the last day.
And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.