Jacob (Book of Mormon prophet)

According to the Book of Mormon, Jacob ( /ˈdʒeɪkəb/; Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב‎, Standard Yaʿakov) was a younger brother of the prophet Nephi, and became the keeper of the small plates of Nephi after Nephi's death.^[1] He also became a prophet in his own right, and is considered to be the author of the Book of Jacob.

Family

Life and teachings

According to the Book of Mormon narrative, Jacob was born in the wilderness during his father Lehi's journey from Jerusalem to the promised land (the Americas) sometime between 600 B.C. and 592 B.C.^[2]

Jacob and his family eventually traveled to the Americas via boat constructed by his brother, Nephi. Jacob went on to be a righteous leader, and succeeded Nephi as prophet to the Nephites. Jacob is the author of the Book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon.

Among Jacob's teachings recorded in the Book of Mormon is the Parable of the Olive Tree,^[3] which is an allegory of the scattering and gathering of Israel. Jacob attributes this parable to another prophet, Zenos.^[4] He also taught that polygamy was not to be practiced by the Nephites, unless directed by God via revelation for the purpose of "rais[ing] up seed unto me".^[5]

Notable descendants

According to the Book of Mormon, several important record keepers were direct descendants of Jacob as shown below:

References