Jacob emerged as a significant figure during a time of great political upheaval among the Nephite civilization, at approximately 30 AD, when the societal structure of the Nephites had decayed to the point that the central government had collapsed (3 Nephi 7:6). In this chaotic environment, Jacob was appointed as the leader and king by a secret combination, which was responsible for much of the iniquity of the time, including the murders of righteous prophets who bore testimony of Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 7:9-10).
As a vehement opponent of the prophets and an active perpetrator of wickedness, Jacob’s influence on his followers was significant. To escape the consequences of their actions and to consolidate their power, Jacob instructed his followers to retreat to the northern territories with the intention of establishing their own kingdom. He leveraged the promise of accumulated strength through the expected joining of dissenters from the more righteous tribes (3 Nephi 7:11-13).
Under Jacob’s reign, his people founded the city of Jacobugath, which would become a notorious symbol of their wickedness. This city, along with Jacob and his followers, eventually met a catastrophic end. At the time of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, the city of Jacobugath was burned with fire by divine decree as a divine judgment for their sins, which were declared to be more grievous than those of any other people on the earth. The cleansing fire served as a divine retribution for their secret murders, conspiracies, and the disruption of peace among the peoples of the land (3 Nephi 9:9). This marked the end of Jacob’s reign and the secret combination he led, serving as a stark warning to future generations regarding the consequences of such grievous wickedness.