Jacob now being advanced in years, delivered his records to his son, Enos, and told him of the instructions he had received from his brother, Nephi. Enos promised to carry out those instructions and so Jacob passed away.
His last days were made sad by the failure of the Nephites to convert the Lamanites and the necessity of making preparations against them to prevent wars and bloodshed. Also, by the contemplation of past experiences; the time, he says, "passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated by our brethren, which caused wars and contention; wherefore we did mourn out our days."