Jacob — Narrative Events
12 narrative events.
atom_jac_01_008
Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings. The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare— Wherefore, the people were desirou…
The text depicts the transfer of authority following Nephi’s old age, with his anointing of a new king, then linking Nephi’s name with subsequent kings as a symbol of protection and collective memory, before announcing his death.
atom_jac_02_001
The words which Jacob, the brother of Nephi, spake unto the people of Nephi, after the death of Nephi:
The text opens by identifying the speaker: Jacob, the brother of Nephi, addresses the people of Nephi after Nephi’s death, thereby connecting the discourse to a phase of leadership transition.
atom_jac_04_003
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.
Jacob describes the ongoing effort to engrave the words on the plates as a joyful task, aimed at having the children and brethren receive the record with gratitude and learn about their ancestors without contempt.
atom_jac_05_003
I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not. And it came to pass that he pruned it, and digged about it, and nourished it according to his word.
The text presents a repeated corrective action: the owner cultivates the tree, prunes it, and nourishes it to prevent its demise, then follows through with his words in action.
atom_jac_05_006
it had sprung forth and begun to bear fruit. And he beheld that it was good; and the fruit thereof was like unto the natural fruit. … because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit.
The owner observes that the grafting has succeeded: the tree has produced good fruit resembling natural fruit, and the strength of the root is what transformed the wild branches into good production.
atom_jac_05_009
they came to the tree whose natural branches had been broken off, and the wild branches had been grafted in; and behold all sorts of fruit did cumber the tree. … there is none of it which is good. And behold, there are all kinds of bad fruit
Upon inspecting the mixed tree, the owner finds an abundance of fruit, but it is all corrupt; thus, the quantity here does not signify goodness but reveals a comprehensive corruption.
atom_jac_05_013
the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few. … And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly
The servant carries out the command and brings others, despite their fewness, leading to the emergence of the natural fruit: the original branches begin to grow and thrive exceedingly again.
atom_jac_07_001
there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem. And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ.
Sherem appears among the Nephites as a preacher who attacks the faith in Christ, initiating the plot with a direct doctrinal conflict.
atom_jac_07_006
Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost … if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee … And it came to pass that … the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth.
Sherem requests a sign, and Jacob refuses to test God, making the divine smiting itself a sign, after which Sherem falls to the ground under the power of the Lord.
atom_jac_07_007
Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die … he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ … I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God.
Before his death, Sherem publicly confesses that he has been deceived and that he lied to God, transforming the scene into a collective confession before the people.
atom_jac_07_008
the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth. … peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures
The spiritual contagion from Sherem’s death spreads to the community; their astonishment turns into a collective fall, followed by peace and a return to scripture reading.
atom_jac_07_009
many means were devised to reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; but it all was vain … the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation
The project to reclaim the Lamanites to the truth fails, leading to a relationship characterized by defensive military conflict, with the Nephites relying on God as their rock of salvation.