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

2 And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, [he knows who he is writing these for - So if you know who you are writing to then you will form your remarks for their benefit. This was passed down from Nephi 1 Ne. 12-13] 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.

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 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.

4 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.

5 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.

6 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. [both of these were against the Law Of Moses - but the Lamanites were without law because they most likely had perverted or just abandoned it - one of the main purposes for having a record is so that what was recorded is still recorded and available to review - the same as it was when it was originally written.]

7 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 [It appears that the same tradition started by Nephi has remained in tact - that there is a division between church and state - and in this case both are good men, men of God. Jacob 1:9,18; Jarom 1:11] 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.

8 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 [The Nephites had become very skilled in many areas - this only comes with a complex society, one were there are specialists - not just everyone doing the same thing. Compare this to the Lamanites who for the most part everyone in the tribe were hunter- gathers. One other factor was a result of the workmanship. Since they basically were using their skills to build machinery to till the grow, harvest and make their lives more comfortable - they aslo knew how to make weapons of steall and such so in battle they were more proficient as well. Possibly one of the major reasons outsinde of the Lords help that they were able to servive and defend themselves for so long.] 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.

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 prosper in the land. [One of the basic tenents repeated over and over in the Book Of Mormon 2 Ne. 1:9; 1 Ne.2:20,Omni 1:6;Mosiah 1:7; Alma 9:13; Hela. 3:20]

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 destroyed from off the face of the land.

11 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.

12 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.

13 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.

14 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.

15 And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, [Omni identifies who he is going to make responsible for the smaller plates, the ones with the spiritual records - maybe in an effort to encourage his son to do a better job than he has done; and so by identifing him if he does nothing with the plates then everyone for all time will know that at least he had the chance and should have.] that they may be kept according to the commandments of my fathers.