Jarom 1:1 - 1:5

Jarom 1:1 Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos, that our genealogy may be kept.

Jarom now takes over the keeping of the records from his father Enos. His purpose, he says is to preserve his genealogy.

Jarom 1:2 And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.

There is little room on the plates of Nephi to record. He will not record his own prophecies or revelations. He says they are no better than his father or grandfather of great grandfather. So why write down the same things? Since the record is for the Lamanites, what is written so far will accomplish this purpose. They have written all the things that the Lamanites will need to know in order for them to know about their ancestors and how to come to Christ.

Jarom 1:3 Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the land.

The Nephites, Jarom tells us conditions have not improved since the days of his father Enos. They are still a people that need to be constantly threatened with strong words for them to stay anywhere near being faithful to the Gospel. However, they have not reached to point where they will be swept off the promised land as yet. The Lord is still trying to work with them.

Jarom 1:4 And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.

But there are still some good people among the Nephites. Many have had revelations and inspiration from time to time as needed.
[They are probably the ones that are preventing the Lord from destroying the wicked Nephites at this point.]

Jarom 1:5 And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme. And the laws of the land were exceedingly strict.

Two hundred years have passed since Lehi left Jerusalem. The Nephites are many and prospering in the land. They are keeping the Law of Moses and keeping the Sabbath as it is required. They are also civil on their language with each other and there are many laws on the books regulating how men are to deal with each other in personal and group relationships.
[It says that the laws are “exceedingly strict.” Am wondering just what that infers? It probably means there is no crime allowed even small ones. They might be very strict in making sure the full extend to punishment be melted out to all law breakers. There are no pays offs by criminals to officials so they can escape punishment either.]