The emphasis on the Messiah is particularly for their people because Nephi and Jacob understand what lies in their future. Both Nephi and Jacob also understand that, if the Nephites were to lose faith in the Messiah, they would bring upon them the doom of their apostasy and eventual destruction. Both Nephi and Jacob are aware of this possibility and are intent upon averting that doom, if it is at all possible. Nephi’s instructions reveal his belief that a firm faith in the Messiah can alter the predicted course of Nephite future history. After all, Nineveh repented and avoided Jonah’s dire prophecy (Jonah 3).