Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome. Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4). This priority was not only reflecte...
After seeing a vision of the destruction of Jerusalem, Lehi warned the people to repent. When they refused and sought to take his life, the Lord commanded him to flee with his family:
"And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness" (1 Nephi 2:4).
Lehi's example helps me set priorities for my life and make sacrifices in order to do what God would have me do. I find it instructive to note what he left behind, and what he deemed essential to take with him on his journey into the wilderness. He left his home, his inheritance, and his wealth and took only is family and the basic necessities of survival. When I am making choices about how to spend my time, it is easy for me to over-invest in professional advancement and material attainment. I also think of Lehi leaving his home and the land of his inheritance as a symbol of his willingness to leave his comfort zone. Following God's will often requires us to do things that scare us and venture into the unknown.
In return for Lehi's obedience and sacrifice, the Lord extends him a promise:
"And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands" (1 Nephi 2:20).
Lehi could easily be added to the list of Old Testament heroes recounted in Hebrews chapter 11. In his epistle to the Hebrews, Paul lists dozens of example of faithful followers of Christ, many of whom received miracles and great blessings for their faithfulness. But he concludes: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13). Even those who witnessed great miracles did not receive the ultimate promises of God: to live forever in happiness with God and family.
Paul describes the core of faith, which is to be persuaded by and embrace God's promises of future blessings, and live and work in such a way to qualify for them. Part of that is acknowledging (or confessing) that this life is a temporary state and not and end in and of itself. Paul further explains that the faithful of the Old Testament possessed courage and motivation because they "declare[d] plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city (Hebrews 11: 13-16), which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10).
(This idea is beautifully alluded to in one of my favorite hymns, Pilgrim's Song.)
In fact, it was that very mindfulness "of that country from whence they came out" that prevented Nephi's older brothers, Laman and Lemuel, from faithfully following Lehi's inspired direction:
"...for behold [Laman and Lemual] did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart" (1 Nephi 2:11).
Trying to follow God's instructions for my life has challenged me, and there have been many times where my thinking has been counter to God's will. I still have many outstanding questions about how to live my faith, and balk at many chances to better serve God and those around me. In addressing doubt and aligning my will with God's, Nephi and his brothers give examples of three different approaches. Laman and Lemuel "did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them (1 Nephi 2:12), but "Nephi, ... having great desires to know of the mysteries of God ... did cry unto the Lord" (1 Nephi 2:16). In countless instances, the Lord has responded to my questions and prayers. Through subtle thoughts and feelings that I know to come from the Spirit, he has clarified and explained challenging ideas, and filled my heart with confidence and belief in what I need to do and change. God hears and answers the prayers of his children, and gives clarity and guidance to those who sincerely seek. In Nephi's case, "[the Lord] did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers" (1 Nephi 2:16).
While I have been richly blessed with a sensitivity to spiritual things, I know from my interactions with family and friends that it is a unique gift that is not common to everyone. Many people, even those with similar spiritual education and backgrounds, do not know and feel the same things that I do. It is in this context that I take comfort in the experience of Sam, Nephi's younger brother. Nephi explains, "I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words" (1 Nephi 2:16). For some, faith is inherently a more cerebral endeavor, and requires a deliberate choice to accept on merit the things that they do not intuitively feel. As Joseph Smith taught regarding the different gifts and talents we all poses different degrees, "To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful" (D&C 46: 13-14).
Whether faith is the anchoring core of our soul, or a tentative curiosity, we receive equal blessings for our sincere efforts to love and serve.
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