Jacob 1:1

For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away

from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem;

wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment

concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

Jacob 1:2

And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates

a few of the things which I considered to be most precious;

that I should not touch, save it were lightly,

concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.

Jacob 1:3

For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates,

and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down

unto my seed, from generation to generation.

Jacob 1:4

And if there were preaching which was sacred,

or revelation which was great, or prophesying,

that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates,

and touch upon them as much as it were possible,

for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our people.

Jacob 1:5

For because of faith and great anxiety,

it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people,

what things should happen unto them.

Jacob 1:6

And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy;

wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come.

Jacob 1:7

Wherefore we labored diligently among our people,

that we might persuade them to come unto Christ,

and partake of the goodness of God,

that they might enter into his rest,

lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in,

as in the provocation in the days of temptation

while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.

Jacob 1:8

Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men

not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger,

but that all men would believe in Christ,

and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world;

wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.