An Old Testament prophet who was born to a priestly family and prophesied in Judah from 626-586 B.C. He lived near the time of other great prophets: Lehi, Ezekiel, Hosea, and Daniel.

Jeremiah was ordained to be a prophet in the premortal life (Jer. 1: 4-5). During his approximately forty years as prophet he taught against idolatry and immorality among the Jewish people (Jer. 3: 1-5; 7: 8-10). He had to face continuous opposition and insult (Jer. 20: 2; 36: 18-19; 38: 4). After the fall of Jerusalem, the Jews who escaped into Egypt took Jeremiah with them (Jer. 43: 5-6), where, according to tradition, they stoned him to death.

The book of Jeremiah: Chapters 1-6 contain prophecies given during the reign of Josiah. Chapters 7-20 are prophecies during the time of Jehoiakim. Chapters 21-38 deal with the reign of Zedekiah. Chapters 39-44 contain prophecies and describe historical events after the fall of Jerusalem. Chapter 45 contains a promise to Baruch, his scribe, that Baruch's life would be preserved. Finally, chapters 46-51 are prophecies against foreign nations. Chapter 52 is a historical conclusion. Some of Jeremiah's prophecies were contained in the brass plates of Laban secured by Nephi (1 Ne. 5: 10-13). Jeremiah is also mentioned two other times in the Book of Mormon (1 Ne. 7: 14; Hel. 8: 20).

The book of Jeremiah also includes an acknowledgment of man's premortal existence and Jeremiah's foreordination (Jer. 1: 4-5); a prophecy of the return of Israel from their scattered condition, gathering one of a city and two of a family to Zion, a pleasant land where Israel and Judah could dwell in safety and peace (Jer. 3: 12-19); and a prophecy of the Lord gathering Israel from the north countries by sending many "fishers" and "hunters" to find them (Jer. 16: 14-21). This event of the latter days will be larger in proportion than even Moses' bringing of Israel out of Egypt (Jer. 16: 13-15; 23: 8).