Jarom, the son of Enos and the grandson of Jacob, assumed responsibility for the small plates of Nephi following the commandment of his father. Jarom’s tenure as a record keeper spanned 59 years, dating from around 420 B.C. to 361 B.C. (Jarom 1:13, 1:15). During his stewardship, he authored a brief record, writing a mere fifteen verses, which he justified by stating that his prophecies and revelations would not add significantly to what his forefathers had already inscribed. He expressed a belief that the revelations of his time did not eclipse those of his predecessors who had sufficiently revealed the plan of salvation (Jarom 1:2).
Throughout Jarom’s writings, he focused on the spiritual and temporal prosperity of the Nephites, attributing their success to their adherence to the commandments of the Lord (Jarom 1:7-9). He noted the guidance of “mighty men in the faith of the Lord” and the active role of prophets, priests, and teachers in maintaining faith among the people. These religious figures emphasized the coming Messiah and the importance of the law of Moses as a preparatory gospel pointing to Christ (Jarom 1:11).
In his record, Jarom acknowledged the contentious relationship between the Nephites and the Lamanites, highlighting the defensive might and spiritual diligence of the Nephite leaders in protecting their people and faith (Jarom 1:7). Jarom’s entries also underscored that not all Nephites were hardened against the revelations of God, affirming that many had faith and communion with the Holy Spirit (Jarom 1:4).
Concluding his writing, Jarom transferred the record-keeping responsibility to his son, Omni, assuring future generations that detailed accounts of the people’s larger history and their wars could be found on the larger plates of Nephi (Jarom 1:14-15). Jarom’s brief but poignant record serves as a testament to both the faithful continuity of Nephite record keeping and the enduring message of salvation echoing through their generations.