Jacob 1:8-12

Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.

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 desirous to retain in remembrance his name.  And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would.

And it came to pass that Nephi died.

Jacob 1:8-12

Discussing his efforts, Jacob wishes that those involved in the work could convince all of us not to rebel against God and that all would believe in Christ.  Instead, they harden their hearts and “provoke [God] to anger.”  Nephi used the example of the children of Israel during the exodus.  “And notwithstanding they being led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day and giving light unto them by night, and doing all things for them which were expedient for man to receive, they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and reviled against Moses and against the true and living God”

(1 Nephi 17:30).

Once again, Jacob uses the metaphor of the cross (see 2 Nephi 9:18).  We must believe in Christ and “suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world.”  During His ministry, Christ taught, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple [JST Wherefore, settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you]” (Luke 14:27).

Hugh Nibley explains Jacob’s words.

If Nephi's last words are neither happy nor hopeful, the first words of Jacob, to whom he turns over the record, are positively alarming; he begins on a note of "great anxiety," because he has been shown what is going to happen (see Jacob 1:5). Jacob and his descendants are religious leaders, not kings, working to forestall a growing trend, trying to "persuade all men not to rebel against God" (Jacob 1:8). Already under Nephi the Second (see Jacob 1:11), they begin "to grow hard in their hearts," indulging "somewhat" in Solomon's luxurious vices and "lifted up somewhat in pride"—that "somewhat" still leaves the door open to repentance (Jacob 1:15–16). But they do all this under the guise of sanctity, justifying themselves by the scriptures (see Jacob 2:23).[1]

Turning from the spiritual to the political, Jacob tells us that Nephi, being and old man, decided the time had come to anoint a new king.  We know nothing about the man whom Nephi anointed king nor how he was selected.  Here we see a change in the political and religious.  Nephi had held both political leadership as well as leadership over things religious.  “From Jacob on, the plates were no longer kept by the rulers (see Jacob 1:9). Jacob and his descendants were not kings. From all we can tell, they did not play a leading role in political or military matters. This has major consequences for the record they left. After Nephi, never again do the authors of the small plates occupy a central position in the government.”[2]

Nephi was loved by the people.  He had served as a protector, wielding “the sword of Laban in their defence.”  He labored for the people his entire life.

Was Nephi their king?  We cannot answer that question.  There are hints that he may not have been king (see 2 Nephi 5:18).  In verse 10, Jacob lists all that had been done by Nephi for his people.  He makes no mention of Nephi having been a king.[3] In honor of Nephi, the kings would be known as “second Nephi, third Nephi, etc.” 

Verse 12 records the death of Nephi.  This ended an era among the Nephites.  Jacob and Joseph had been born during the time in the wilderness.  They were too young to remember much about the old world and knew nothing about Jerusalem and the Jews.  With Nephi’s death, we see the passing of the most important leader among Lehi’s party.  It was an important point in the evolution of Nephite society.

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[1] Scriptural Perspectives on How to Survive the Calamities of the Last Days, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed February 17, 2014.

[2] Jacob and His Descendants as Authors, John S. Tanner, Maxwell Institute, accessed February 17, 2014.

[3] Nephite Kingship Reconsidered, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute, accessed February 17, 2014.