Despite the difficulty of engraving on the plates, the first reason given by Jacob for writing our chapters 4 through 6, was he wanted a permanent record to remain for their beloved brethren and their children to “ learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents” (v. 3). The context of “their first parents” is Lehi, Ishmael, and their families who left Jerusalem in 600 B.C. He addresses their beloved brethren and their children throughout chapter 4. To “learn with joy” is to receive the record of Nephi and Jacob with thankful hearts and learn that their first parents, and those accompanying them, were led by the hand of the Lord to “a land which is choice above all other lands” (1 Nephi 2:20). They had great blessings extended to them. As discussed in the previous chapter, these same blessings are extended to their beloved brethren, the Lamanites, in the last days.
To learn “with sorrow” is to reject the record of Nephi, Jacob, and others; to realize that the rejection of that record had cost them the opportunity for their salvation. The Prophet Joseph Smith cautioned the Twelve in his day to beware of pride, and ask them this perplexing question: “Why will not men learn wisdom by precept at this late age of the world, when we have such a cloud of witnesses and examples before us, and not be obliged to learn by sad experience everything we know?” ( TPJS, 155). Possibly, Joseph had Jacob’s admonition in mind when he admonished the Twelve. Regardless, as believers in the Book of Mormon, we should learn with joy from Jacob’s admonition and not from the sorrow of our own experiences; or to use a modern expression “learn the hard way.”
Jacob was also concerned that the descendants of Lehi and Ishmael not be weighed down with sorrow from being a nation of fallen people, but would rather that they recognize the great blessings extended to them in the latter days. He also seemed concerned that they not react with contempt as did the descendants of the rebellious Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael. This concern may have been fostered by his knowledge that all of the remnants of Lehi and his party would be designated as Lamanites today; and that while even in his day those who sought “to destroy the people of Nephi” were called Lamanites (Jacob 1:14), he did not want the designation to carry a negative connotation in the last days. He obviously knew, as did Alma, that all those who remained after the downfall of the Nephite nation “shall be numbered among the Lamanites” (Alma 45:14). As the Lord has confirmed by revelation, there are descendants of all the original families of Lehi’s party among those called Lamanites today (see D&C 3:16–18). This revelation confirms the teaching that a major purpose for preserving the plates was to make known to all these people the fact that the promises of the Lord would be fulfilled (Jacob 4:19).