Jarom

(All of my own thoughts are in red type.5/20 GREEN 3/21 orange 5/22 Brown 2023)

The Book of Jarom

Chapter 1

The Nephites keep the law of Moses, look forward to the coming of Christ, and prosper in the land—Many prophets labor to keep the people in the way of truth. About 399–361 B.C.

  1 Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos, that our ^agenealogy may be kept. Sounds like he defined genealogy as not just lineage, but history. This is Jacobs grandson and Lehi's great grandson.
  2 And as ^athese plates are ^bsmall, I wonder if that refers to the plates that had been written on so far or if there were blank pages and just a small number in total; or were they small in size...and as these things are ^cwritten for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the ^dLamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; If I read this with a little disdain for the Lamanites, he could be saying, "Since they aren't going to help my people and are just for those nasty Lamanites who hate us and murder us, I'm not going to write very much." But that is probably not what he meant. If he had compassion for them, he would be saying, "Even though there is not much room on these plates, since it's for the welfare of our brethren, I will still consider it important that I write a little for them." Either way, he seems to believe what his father, Enos prayed for was paramount (that the record would be preserved for the Lamanites someday) 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? Do I see the plan of salvation in the words of the BOM so far? Yes! The Doctrine of Christ is spelled out clearly in 2 Nephi 31! Notice that Jarom had received his own witness as evidenced by his prophesying and revelations. I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.
  3 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 ^astiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet ^bswept them off from the face of the land. He just says "this people" so I don't know if he's referring to all the children of Lehi, or just the Nephites or just the Lamanites...Sometimes I think this describes the people of our day. There is much hardness of hearts deafness, blindness, stiff necks and we are facing being "swept off the face of the land" - yet...I pray God will continue to be "exceedingly merciful" to us and bring light and divine intervention to us.
  4 And there are many among us who have many ^arevelations, for they are not all ^bstiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have ^ccommunion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith. Sounds like Nephites are stiffnecked. Remember Enos just got through saying they would only stay in the right way with hard preaching and threats of judgment... If we have received the Holy Spirit, we should also be receiving many revelations and have communion with the Holy Spirit. Pray for faith sufficient to receive this!
  5 And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. It has been 200 years since the 1st Vision and the Gentiles are strong in the land here in America as well. It was 200 years and then the Nephites began to fall. We’ve been told WE are at a hinge point in our history. I am starting to believe the hingepoint is that this is the "day" for the saints to truly be born again (the 2nd half of their baptism). The future is such that only those that "have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide" will abide the day. It all "hinges" on this! "Taking the Holy Spirit for their guide" is more than general inspiration...it's the literal baptism by fire by the Holy Ghost, the remission of sins, and our receiving the witness of the Holy Ghost and the "mighty change". They observed to ^akeep the law of Moses and the ^bsabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they ^cprofaned not; neither did they ^dblaspheme. And the ^elaws of the land were exceedingly strict. Well, the Sabbath Day is not kept holy by most and most take the name of God in vain and the laws are not strict or strictly enforced as to spiritual things. In 2020 the laws were corrupted. We were left to ourselves to keep the Sabbath day since churches were closed. Still wondering if they did animal sacrifice... 
  6 And they were scattered upon ^amuch of the face of the land, and the Lamanites also. And they were exceedingly more ^bnumerous Why do the wicked always outnumber the good? than were they of the Nephites; and they loved ^cmurder and would drink the ^dblood of beasts. Why?...
  7 And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle. But our ^akings and our ^bleaders 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 ^cour lands, and began to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance. Good leaders are so influential! It's important to sweep evil out of your midst and fortify against their return. Our leaders have encouraged us to fortify our homes and strengthen our personal testimonies and faith. But we have not swept the enemy out of our land, but have opened the door wide and welcomed it in by going along with all the evils designs forced upon us.
  8 And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in ^agold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine ^bworkmanship of wood, in buildings, and in ^cmachinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and ^dweapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war. Check, check..
  9 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: ^aInasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall ^bprosper in the land. As stiffnecked as they were, they still prospered. I think this speaks much to the covenant of prosperity vs. cursing for this land has it's basis in keeping the Ten Commandments, which it sounds like these people did.
 10 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 ^adestroyed from off the face of the land. I wish this threat were known among all Americans. Surely, it will come and when it does, persecution will rage. Who were these prophets? Perhaps since their hearts were not converted, their keeping the "rules" was the one thing keeping them from destruction. This would show how faithful God is in keeping his promises about this land and protection.
 11 Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the ^ateachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to ^bdiligence; teaching the ^claw of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to ^dlook forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come ^eas though he already was. I love this phrase - believing as though he'd already come. I think we need to do that again... And after this manner did they teach them. In 2020, at least in my corner of the vineyard, the “priests and teachers” have been pretty silent. They have placed the whole burden on the family and individual to stay in the right way, perhaps to strengthen the Home Centered Church concept. 
 12 And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being ^adestroyed upon the face of the land; for they did ^bprick their hearts with the word, ^ccontinually stirring them up unto repentance. It seems like we do the opposite. We feel if we speak boldly that we'll lose people, not keep them in the right way. but I think we end up losing them anyway...No pricking of hearts around here..... Just want to stress again, that it was their diligence in teaching and persuading and "pricking" with the word and "continually sitrring them up unto repentance" that kept them from being destroyed off the land. It worked! We must not be afraid to do the same! We must stay focused on the "word" as we teach. 
 13 And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and eight years had passed away—after the manner of wars, and ^acontentions, and dissensions, for the space of ^bmuch of the time. They kept the basic commandments but they weren't really converted or they wouldn't have so much contention and dissension - unless this is referring to their interactions with the Lamanites
 14 And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates are ^asmall. But behold, my brethren, ye can go to the ^bother plates of Nephi; for behold, upon them the records of our wars are engraven, according to the writings of the ^ckings, or those which they caused to be written.
 15 And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, that they may be kept according to the ^acommandments of my fathers.