1 Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a ^alittle of my words, because of the ^bdifficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain;

  30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and ^athese plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.

  26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the ^aother plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our ^blives passed away like as it were unto us a ^cdream, we being a ^dlonesome and a solemn people, ^ewanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.

  3 And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an ^aabridgment from the ^bplates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the ^crecords which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king ^dBenjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.