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...
Alma's son Corianton committed serious sexual sin, which kept the people he was called to teach from receiving the gospel. After Alma explained the gravity of this sin to his Son, he encouraged him to repents and seek the counsel and support of his older brothers, "And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers. And give heed to their counsel" (Alma 39:10). While parents are commanded to instruct their children and are held accountable for their teaching, siblings are not called to a specific stewardship over one another. For example, Alma responded to his responsibility to "command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities" (Alma 39:12-13).
For siblings, the scriptures contain general instructions to love one another (John 13:34) and to love thy neighbor as they self (Matthew 22:39), which certainly applies to loving siblings, but I'm surprised that I can't think of any recorded commandments for brothers and sisters to care for each other. That said, examples of siblings teaching and helping each other abound, from Nephi's example to his brothers, to the camaraderie of the sons of Mosiah. Reflecting on my relationships with my own siblings I know there is a divine purpose for us to be born to the same parents and to be a part of each other's lives.
It seems that part of Corianton's crisis of faith related to revelation about the coming of the Savior. He was confused that the coming of Christ was prophesied so long before His coming, to which his father Alma responded, "Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming? Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children? Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?" (Alma 39:17-19).
Corianton's concern was not merely puzzlement about a doctrinal detail. Within his "marvel why these things should be known" was an incomplete understanding of God and his character. Coronation's concern was not about the timeline of revelation about Christ, per se, but the nature of God. God's love for his children is unwavering and in all generations of time He has sought to guide and bless the people of the earth. He is omnipotent and never-changing in his efforts to make Himself know unto us. When we understand the intensity and consistency of God's love for every person who has ever lived on earth, it recolors our interpretation of natural disasters, political upheaval, religious conflict, death and disease.
Application Questions
How do your relationships with your siblings nourish you? What can you do this week to "nourish" your siblings and seek their counsel?
What evidence do you have of God's love in your life?
Image Credit: Kristin Galls
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