Jacob 4:1

Now behold, it came to pass that

I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word,

(and I cannot write but a little of my words,

because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates)

and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain;

Jacob 4:2

But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates

must perish and vanish away;

but we can write a few words upon plates,

which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren,

a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers —

Jacob 4:3

Now in this thing we do rejoice;

and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates,

hoping that our beloved brethren and our children

will receive them with thankful hearts,

and look upon them that they may learn with joy

and not with sorrow, neither with contempt,

concerning their first parents.