JaromChapter1

Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos, that our genealogy may be kept.

I, Jarom, write a few words here as my father Enos commanded, so that our genealogy may be kept.

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. 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.

Since these plates are small, and since these things are written for the benefit of our brothers, the Lamanites, I need to write only a little. But I will not write my prophecies or my revelations. What could I write beyond what my fathers have already written? Haven't they revealed the plan of salvation? I tell you, yes; and that is enough for me.

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; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the land.

There is much that needs to be done among this people because of their hard hearts, deaf ears, blind minds, and stiff necks. Even so, God is very merciful to them and has not yet swept them off the face of the land.

And 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.

And there are many among us who receive many revelations, because they are not all stubborn. Everyone who is not stubborn and has faith has communion with the Holy Spirit, which reveals things to people according to their faith.

And 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.

By now two hundred years had passed, and the people of Nephi had grown strong in the land. They were careful to keep the law of Moses and to keep the sabbath day holy to the Lord. They did not profane sacred things, and they did not blaspheme. And the laws of the land were very strict.

And 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.

They were spread across much of the land, and so were the Lamanites. The Lamanites were far more numerous than the Nephites. They loved murder, and they would drink the blood of animals.

And 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.

Many times they came to battle against us, the Nephites. But our kings and our leaders were powerful men in the faith of the Lord, and they taught the people the ways of the Lord. So we withstood the Lamanites and swept them out of our lands, and we began to fortify our cities and whatever other places we had inherited.

And 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.

We multiplied greatly and spread across the land, and we became very rich in gold, silver, valuables, fine woodwork, buildings, machinery, and also in iron, copper, brass, and steel. We made all kinds of tools for working the ground, and weapons of war: the sharp-pointed arrow, the quiver, the dart, and the javelin, and every preparation for war.

And 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.

Because we were prepared this way to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. The word of the Lord that he spoke to our fathers was proven true: "If you keep my commandments, you will prosper in the land."

And 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.

And the prophets of the Lord warned the people of Nephi, according to the word of God, that if they did not keep the commandments but fell into sin, they would be destroyed from the face of the land.

Wherefore, 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.

That is why the prophets, the priests, and the teachers worked diligently, urging the people with all patience to be diligent, teaching the law of Moses and the purpose for which it was given, and persuading them to look forward to the Messiah and to believe in him, still to come, as though he had already come. This is how they taught them.

And 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.

By doing this they kept them from being destroyed from the face of the land, because they pricked their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up to repentance.

And 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.

And so two hundred and thirty-eight years had passed, much of the time filled with wars, conflicts, and dissensions.

And 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.

And I, Jarom, do not write more, because the plates are small. But my brothers, you can turn to the other plates of Nephi, because the records of our wars are engraved on them, according to the writings of the kings, or the records they had others write for them.

And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, that they may be kept according to the commandments of my fathers.

And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, so that they may be kept according to the commandments of my fathers.