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Book of Mormon Commentary
Jarom Chapter 1
THE NEPHITES SERVE THE LORD AND PROSPER, VER. 1-32
Jar 1:2 And 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.
1:2 Jarom was directed by his father, Enos, to keep the genealogy of his people (1). He wrote on
the small plates of Nephi, and indicated that there was little room left on them.
Jarom must have had the gift of prophecy and the spirit of revelation (2), but decides not to write
of these as "my fathers" have covered "the plan of salvation," and he felt he could add nothing (3-
5). This is the shortest book in the Book of Mormon.
Jar 1:6 Behold, 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;
1:6 He explains that some of the Nephites were hardhearted, deaf, blind, and stiff-necked. Yet
because of God's mercy they had not been swept "off from the face of .the land" (7). His phrase
''as yet" is quire significant.
Jarom hastens to add, "There are many among us who have many revelations (8) ...have faith,
have communion with the Holy Spirit" (9).
Jar 1:10 And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi had waxed
strong in the land.
1:10 Time was reckoned from Lehi's departure from Jerusalem, about 600 B.C. The term "waxed
strong" doubtless refers to population. The Lamanites "were exceeding more numerous" (15).
These are relative terms which do not convey any specific data.
Jarom next tells that his people kept "the law of Moses, and the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord.
And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme" (11, 12). They were an agricultural and
pastoral people who needed to spread out "upon much of the face of the land" (14).
Jar 1:15 And they were exceeding more numerous than were they of the Nephites; and they loved
murder, and would drink the blood of beasts.
1:15 Jarom does not intend to put historical matter on these small plates, yet in picturing for his
readers the living conditions, he does tell "that they came many times against us ...to battle" (16).
He then explains two reasons why the fiercer and more numerous inhabitants of the land could not
subjugate the Nephites.
(a) "Our kings and our leaders. were mighty men in the faith of the Lord," and they taught
their people in his ways (17).
(b) They fortified their cities and made better weapons of war, such as "the sharp pointed
arrow ...the dart, and the javelin" (20).
Jar 1:19 And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceeding
rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in