Editing Book of Jarom

{{Short description|Fifth book in the Book of Mormon}}
{{Books of the Book of Mormon}}
'''The Book of Jarom''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ær|ə|m}}) is the fifth book in the [[Book of Mormon]]. According to the text it was written by [[Jarom]], who was the son of [[Enos (Book of Mormon prophet)|Enos]] and a descendant of [[Jacob (Book of Mormon prophet)|Jacob]], the brother of the [[prophet]] [[Nephi, son of Lehi|Nephi]].

The Book of Jarom is very short, consisting of only fifteen verses. According to the Book of Mormon, Jarom was the son of [[Enos (Book of Mormon prophet)|Enos]], the grandson of [[Jacob (Book of Mormon prophet)|Jacob]], and the great-grandson of [[Lehi (Book of Mormon prophet)|Lehi]]. He kept the commandment of his father to preserve the plates, and in turn he commanded his son [[Omni (Book of Mormon record keeper)|Omni]] to do the same. In the meantime, he inscribed these few verses on them. In his account, Jarom described the [[Lamanites]] and explained that the [[Nephites]] had many wars against them. He also narrated that the Nephites didn't listen to God but still kept the [[Law of Moses|Mosaic Law]].

== Structure ==
In the [[Book of Mormon]], the Book of Jarom succeeds the [[Book of Enos]] and precedes the [[Book of Omni]]; of the three, it is the shortest book.<ref>{{Harvnb|Harris|2020|p=50}}.</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Structure{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=57}}
!Section
!Verses
|-
|Jarom has the plates
|1–2
|-
|Jarom's people
|3–4
|-
|Nephites and Lamanites
|5-9
|-
|Teachers among the people
|10–12
|-
|Time period of the events
|13
|-
|Jarom's last words
|14–15
|}

== Narrative ==
[[Jarom]] narrates the Book of Jarom and begins his record explaining that he will not write his prophesies and revelations because he feels that similar things have been written by his forefathers.<ref name=":0">{{Harvnb|Arnold|1996|p=85}}.</ref> Besides which, Jarom explains, there is not enough room left on the plates to write very much. But Jarom recommends that his readers go to the large plates if they want more information; [[University of Vermont]] associate professor of English Elizabeth Fenton points out that the only available version of the large plates is Mormon's abridgement.{{sfn|Fenton|2013|p=315}} Jarom further states that the small plates are written for the Lamanites, though he expresses little hope for them in their present condition.{{sfn|Hardy|2023|pp=203, 205}} The Lamanites, Jarom explains, murder and drink animal blood.<ref>{{harvnb|Hardy|2023|p=205}}; {{harvnb|Thomas|2016|p=58}}</ref>

Jarom says that the laws of the land are strict<ref name=":0" /> and that many of the Nephites are unwilling to listen to God's words. Meanwhile, God is merciful and protects them in their wars against the Lamanites. During these wars, their leaders are faithful to God and strengthen the cities against attacks. Despite their lack of spiritual interest, the Nephites grow in population and keep the law of Moses.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=58}} After possessing the plates for 59 years, Jarom passes them to his son Omni.<ref> {{harvnb|Hardy|2023|p=203}}; {{harvnb|Harris|2020|p=50}}</ref>

== Interpretation ==

=== Literary ===
The Book of Jarom is the shortest book in the Book of Mormon text, excepting the explanatory [[Words of Mormon]].<ref>{{harvnb|Thomas|2016|p=56n1}}; {{harvnb|Givens|2009|p=9}}</ref> Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Hemming, co-authors of the three-volume series ''[[The Book of Mormon for the Least of These]]'', suggest that Jarom's choice of audience (the Lamanites) is based on his father Enos's covenant with God, in which the Lamanites would return to God. This impacts Jarom's practice of record keeping, Salleh and Hemming argue.{{sfn|Salleh|Hemming|2020|p=141}}

Due to the absence of events while maintaining a "narrative voice," Jarom's account has been called an "unnarration" by Elizabeth Fenton, who adopted the term from [[Robyn R. Warhol|Robyn Warhol]].{{sfn|Fenton|2013|p=349}} [[Brigham Young University]] professor [[Donald W. Parry]] contends that the book follows an “'''A'''abcd'''B'''ABBA'''CDEEDCBA'''dbca” [[chiasmus]] pattern that repeats ideas of faith, destruction, and obedience to commandments, among other things.{{sfn|Parry|2007|pp=151-153}} 
=== Theological ===
Professor of scripture, Nicholas Frederick, believes that according to Jarom, the Nephites keep the [[Law of Moses]] as a way to look forward to the then-future [[Nativity of Jesus|advent]] of [[Jesus]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Frederick|2017|pages=63–64}}.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Works cited==
*{{Cite book |last=Arnold |first=Marilyn |title=Sweet is the Word: Reflections on the Book of Mormon, Its Narrative, Teachings, and People |publisher=Covenant Communications |year=1996 |isbn=1-55503-925-1}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Fenton |first=Elizabeth |year=2013 |title=Open Canons: Sacred History and American History in The Book of Mormon |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/522405 |journal=The Journal of Nineteenth-Century Americanists |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |volume=1 |issue=2 |via=ProjectMuse}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Frederick |first=Nicholas J. |date=2017 |title='The Intent for Which It Was Given': How the Book of Mormon Teaches the Value of Scripture and Revelation |journal=Religious Educator |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=63–79}}
*{{Cite Q|Q123118236|ref={{sfnref|Gardner|2007}}}}
*{{Cite Q|Q114004901|ref={{sfnref|Givens|2009}}}}
*{{Cite Q|Q122259222|ref={{sfnref|Hardy|2023}}}}
*{{Cite book |last=Harris |first=Sharon J. |title=Enos, Jarom, Omni: A Brief Theological Introduction |publisher=Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-8425-0015-9 |language=en|chapter=Jarom|pages=50-76}}
*{{Cite book |last=Parry |first=Donald W. |title=Poetic Parallelisms in the Book of Mormon |publisher=Maxwell Institute Publications |year=2007 |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1060&context=mi|via=ScholarsArchive|isbn=978-0-934893-36-7 |location=Provo, Utah, USA}}
*{{Cite Q|Q123378840|ref={{sfnref|Salleh|Hemming|2020}}}}
*{{Cite Q|Q123196681|ref={{sfnref|Thomas|2016}}}}
==External links==
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/jarom/1 ''The Book of Jarom'' from The official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]

{{Wikisource|Book of Mormon/Jarom|Book of Jarom}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Small Plates of Nephi]]|||}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Book of Enos|Enos]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=<small>[[Book of Mormon]]</small>}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Book of Omni|Omni]]}}
{{s-end}}

[[Category:Books of the Book of Mormon|Jarom]]