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...
Nephi prophesies of the priestcraft and hypocrisy that would affect churches of our day. While he likely referred to churches specifically, his words apply to all organizations, institutions, and philosophies that run counter to the kingdom of God. Of the criticisms he levies, the one that stands out the most to me is the belief that God is finished, the heavens are closed, and the canon of scripture complete.
"Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men ... if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work" (2 Nephi 28:5-6).
When I read this passage, I think of the frequent rejection of the Book of Mormon on the grounds that God has already spoken to His children through the Bible. But I see similar sentiments creeping into my own thinking in the kinds of things I pray for and the miracles I seek in my life. It usually takes the benign form of "Thy will be done," but it does not come from a place of faith or humility. Instead, it is a caveat, an insurance policy, a defense against disappointment. I've noticed that in the past when I have given someone a blessing of healing, I have even hesitated to pronounce a blessing that they will be healed, instead focusing on learning lessons of patience and relying on others. God is a God of miracles, and while we might not always receive the things we ask for or recognize their fulfillment, we do ourselves a disservice when we do not articulate our will and boldly ask for miracles and assistance we seek. Nephi also warned against placing a cap on the revelation we are willing to receive from God: "Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!" (2 Nephi 28:27) I know I do this. Usually we forfeit additional knowledge and blessing from God because they are disguised as work, greater obedience, and discomfort. In the choose-your-own-adventure or mortal life, we self-select for growth, learning, and experience. Aa the Lord explained in Doctrine and Covenants, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation" (D&C 6:8).
God as offered us everything He has, and rewards us incrementally for consistent effort. "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have" (2 Nephi 28: 30) Our choices to follow God are compounding, and set us on a trajectory of more experience and growth.
Application Questions:
What knowledge, experience, or blessing could you gain through greater obedience and effort?
When you think about the best aspects of your life, can your trace back the decisions that have led you there? What can you learn about that journey that will help you reach new heights in the future?
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