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...
I'm always curious to know what purpose God intends with every passage of scripture. In chapter 6 Mormon is enveloped in despair as he witnesses the total destruction of his people. Why is it important that we read and understand a portion of Mormon's abject sorrow? What weight must have hung on his shoulders as he etched the words, "I finish my record concerning the destruction of my people" onto the gold plates (Mormon 6:1). How could he have possibly gone into battle "knowing it to be the last struggle of my people" (Mormon 6:6)? I guess it is important for us to know that goodness does not always win in the short term. I guess we need to know that even generals and prophets cannot always save their people. Perhaps it is instructive for us to vicariously experience the miserable effects of sin so that we can choose to avoid them for ourselves.
Recently I went with my oldest two daughters to a modern dance performance, which reinterpreted Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. In the performance Ebenezer Scrooge saw a vision of his future if he did not change his ways. It was a bleak future in which no one mourned his death, and Tiny Tim perished for want of Scrooge's help. By not filtering the tragedy of the Nephite's destructions, Mormon has given us a similar opportunity to consider what a life of unrighteousness would ultimately bring. I am regularly tempted to make choices that I would regret, and when I am, I often hear a voice in my mind say, "there is no happiness there."
The consequences of our sins are not likely to be as dramatic and the doomed Nephites, but was can take their experience as a warning, and commit to follow God. We can avoid the inevitable punishment and natural consequences of sin. Perhaps the most heart-wrenching scene is Mormon's record is his description of his people "with their wives and their children" looking on as the armies of the Lamanites closed in "with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked," as they waited to receive them" (Mormon 6:8). Sin robs us of confidence, fills us with fear, and leads to destruction.
Mormon's sorrow is haunting as he mourns for his fair ones. "O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! ... O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!" (Mormon 6:17-19). Departing from the ways of the Lord is all too easy, and many reject their Savior. Mormon saw these souls as precious at their most wicked point, even when they were on the brink of destruction. We can seek to see the same immutable value in all people, even when their behavior gives us reason to sorrow.
Application Questions
If you remain on your current path, what will be the likely outcomes of your life? How do you feel about them?
Who do you know who has "departed from the ways of the Lord?" How can you see them as "fair ones" and help them realize that they are loved of God?
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