A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon/Jarom
JAROM. A Nephite prophet who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries before Christ. He was the son of Enos, the son of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, and was intrusted with the care of the plates of Nephi, which he appears to have retained 59 years, or from the 180th to the 239th year of the Nephite annals. From his record we learn that during his days many of the Nephites were a stiff-necked and hard-hearted people, among whom the prophets and priesthood labored diligently, warning them of the great evils that must ultimately result to the nation if they did not repent. Their labors were blessed with measurable success. It is pleasing to learn from Jarom's writings that the Nephite kings and leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord, who not only led them to victory over their earthly enemies, but instructed them in the ways of eternal salvation. The laws of the land were exceedingly strict, the law of Moses was rigorously observed, the Sabbath day was kept holy unto the Lord, and profanity and blasphemy were unknown. Under the wise and righteous administration of these kings, the Nephites spread widely over the land of Nephi, which was then their home, and increased greatly in numbers, though they were nothing like so numerous as the Lamanites, with whom they had several wars during the time embraced in Jarom's record. The Lamanites invaded the Nephite possessions "many times”' but were driven out as often as they came. During this period the arts of peace were also encouraged, and the Nephites grew exceedingly rich; it also appears to have been an epoch in which manufactures took a decided step in advance. Reference is made to progress in the working of the precious metals, in the manufacture of machinery and tools, as well as of weapons of war; greater attention was paid to fine workmanship in wood and to improvements in building: altogether we may consider it a very prosperous portion of this peopled existence. If Jarom died in the year he delivered the plates to his son Omni, that event took place 362 years before the advent of the Messiah.