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...
Faith is a principle of action. It motivates our righteous efforts and prompts us to work. In fact, faith without works cannot really be considered faith for "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). So when Nephi says, "I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat" it is more than a statement of optimism (2 Nephi 33:7). To have faith that many souls shall be saved is to endeavor to save many souls.
Having confidence that God will save "many of us, if not all" seems like it would pacify us from taking urgent action. If we have confidence in Christ's victory over death and hell and choose to believe "through the Atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved," wouldn't we then become complacent and delay our efforts to share the gospel and serve others? I argue that the opposite is true. Our efforts to build God's kingdom on earth should come from a place a security and love, not anxiety. Think about your interactions with others, particularly those that are not of your faith, or those whose behavior does not reflect the standards of the church. How would you treat them if you were wholly convinced that one day they would be exalted? What if you knew for sure that repentance was around the corner? You would be filled with patience and perseverance knowing that none of your efforts would be in vain. Contrast that to your feelings and actions if you weren't so sure. What if you highly suspected that there was no hope for this person, that they were too far gone? What if in your heart you felt that the love and effort you rendered in their behalf was in vain?
Now apply that to a global scale. It is very easy to be pessimistic about our world. But there is just as much evidence (and I would suggest more compelling evidence revealed in the scriptures through God's prophets) that the world is a wonderful place that is destined for goodness. What if you knew for sure that eventually all the ills of the world would be righted? What if you truly believed that one day pain and conflict would cease? You would roll up your sleeves and create a more beautiful world knowing that your efforts mattered and would ultimately succeed. The more fervently we believe that in the end "the earth shall be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory" the more we will work for it, not less. Nephi shared this optimism and worked to realize it "And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day" (2 Nephi 33:12). Apocalyptic doom and gloom is not harmful because it is inaccurate, but because it is demotivating.
As faithful members of the church it is easy to feel anxiety and distress when those we love stray from what has so richly blessed us. Nephi seems balanced and at peace when he describes those who would not receive his words. "And now ... all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ" (2 Nephi 33:10). He is convinced that even if they do not believe his words, the more a person believes in Christ, and I would extrapolate to include all light and goodness, that those virtuous beliefs and actions will be a foundation for their future growth, and the head of a trail that leads them to a stronger belief in Christ and his words, "for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words" (2 Nephi 33:11)
Application Questions:
What do the scriptures teach about the ultimate destiny of our world? How does knowing that earth will enjoy millennial peace and eventually be exalted help you face conflict, wickedness, and natural disasters today?
Who would you serve better if you changed your attitude about them?
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