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...
Wicked judges verbally attacked Nephi and his reputation because he truthfully condemned the corruption, murder, and promiscuity of Nephite society. Helaman recounts that "those judges were angry with him because he spake plainly unto them concerning their secret works of darkness" (Helaman 8:4). Even when we have not committed any grievous sin, our natural inclination as humans is to become defensive when others rightfully call out our errors. How many times do you grow short with your spouse for not appreciating what you cooked for dinner, when in your heart of hearts you know if didn't include enough green vegetables and that it was too spicy for the kids (hypothetically speaking, of course). If we are humble, we don't react negatively to information about our faults. We take even scathing criticism of our failings in stride, noting it as useful information, without wielding it as a weapon to bludgeon our self-worth, or to strike back on the offensive.
To try to persuade the people, Nephi testified of the words of the ancient prophets, and asserted that the Savior would come. He said, "Moses did not only testify of these things, but also all the holy prophets, from his days even to the days of Abraham. Yea, and behold, Abraham saw of his coming, and was filled with gladness and did rejoice. Yea, and behold I say unto you, that Abraham not only knew of these things, but there were many before the days of Abraham who were called by the order of God" (Helaman 8:16-18). Prophets throughout time have preached of Jesus Christ as a means of shaping human behavior and culture. The prophet Alma believed “the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them” (Alma 31:5).
Is the word of God this transformative in my life? Do I experience this as my reality? I'm always looking for a solution that feels more logical and direct. And yet many prophets have believed in the power of God’s word to transform so strongly that they bet there lives and their life’s work on it. So many, in fact, that a good portion of their words and identities are no longer available to us. Their responses to knowledge of the Savior was gladness and rejoicing. Even when they, like Nephi, were faced with violent rejection they chose testimony of Jesus Christ as their most persuasive tool. When I am faced with an intractable problem or feel overwhelmed by my circumstances I am quick to download a podcast, pick up a book, or reach out to a friend, but slow to rely on God's power and wisdom. I may be slow and forgetful, but I'm trying to increase my faith and heed the simple counsel in the hymn Did You Think to Pray: "When life gets dark and dreary, don't forget to pray."
Application Questions
How can I be less defensive and more receptive to criticism without doing damage to my sense of self worth"
How does my testimony of Jesus Christ change who I am, what I do, and what I say?
Do I see the word of God as the most powerful persuasive force in my world? How to I show my trust in God's power?
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