The Jacobites were a subset of the Nephite population in the Promised Landn history, named after their progenitor, Jacob, who was the brother of Nephi, the founder of the Nephite nation. Initially, the term “Nephites” was a general label applied to the followers of Nephi and those who were not Lamanites—a term designating the descendants of Laman, another of Nephi’s brothers and initial antagonist. Over time, distinct subgroups named after their patriarchal heads came to be recognized, which included the Jacobites, Josephites, and Zoramites, alongside the main Nephite body (Jacob 1:13).
Jacob, in an effort to streamline the socio-political designations of his people, decided that henceforth those who were friendly to the cause of Nephi would be known as Nephites, while the term Lamanites would refer to those who opposed them. This decision was aimed at consolidating the Nephite identity and reducing divisions within their society. Despite such efforts, the references to the Jacobites as a distinct group persisted in the historical records, implying continued recognition of their lineage and perhaps certain socio-cultural characteristics (Jacob 1:13-14).
Centuries later, after the visit of Christ to the Promised Land and the subsequent period of peace and unity among the descendants of Lehi, followers of Christ were identified as the Nephites, which included Jacobites, Josephites, and Zoramites. This identification speaks to the Jacobites’ dedication to the teachings of Jesus Christ and their integration into the body of believers (4 Nephi 1:36-37).
During the catastrophic war that led to the near annihilation of the Nephites, the term Jacobites was again used to describe part of the Nephite coalition, suggesting that these people remained an identifiable group until the end of Nephite recorded history (Mormon 1:8). Throughout their known existence, the Jacobites contributed to the Nephite heritage, but detailed specific contributions and individual Jacobites beyond their tribal identity are not mentioned in the extant record.