Post
# 179 -- Come, Follow Me – Week # 11 -- March 9–15 -- Jacob 1–4 -- Be Reconciled unto God through the Atonement of Christ
Dear
Family and Friends
You
probably have not been counting the days and seriously neither have I really. I
have a reminder on my phone for all of my appointments otherwise I might forget
them☹
Anyway today was my chemotherapy and because I was able to get my clearance
from my dentist I was also able to receive my bone shot😊
Not that I am a fan of shots, but if a shot will help keep my bones strong
enough to handle the cancer I’ll take the shot😊
wouldn’t you?
When
I finished up with my doctor and went into the chemotherapy room, I noticed yet
another new patient, he was young and newly diagnosed. It saddens me to see
young people having to go through all that a diagnosis of cancer comes with☹
Well, I guess with a diagnosis of any disease or illness, really. Because there
are different changes that you have to make in your life with other diseases besides
cancer!
I
guess what I am trying to say in my clumsy way is that my diagnosis at the age
of 58 was okay because I have lived a good life in spite of the various trials,
situations, struggles, and circumstances in my life. But when the same type of
diagnosis comes to such young adults or even children, it is a bit harder to
take in the same way, you know what I mean???
My
oncologist said all my labs looked great and my treatment went well. I think I have
mentioned before that it only takes about 4 and a half hours for my treatments
now. During this time, since I am hooked up to an I.V. pole and can’t really go
very far😊 therefore I am able to work on my blog.
Which is exactly what I am doing right this very moment😊
Today
our lesson covers Jacob Chapters one through four. Did you finish these
chapters during this past week? Okay, then you must be read to dive right into our lesson for this week, right??? You are amazing!!! have you got everything ready? Yes, then let's get going
As
you have most likely noticed from your study this past week of Jacob 1–4 that these chapters contain many
teachings that apply to our day. As you read through and study these chapters,
consider how you can help your family and friends to live the doctrine Jacob
taught. You may want to jot down the doctrine learned in these chapters in your
journal😊
Something you may want to consider doing
with your family members and friends – ask them each to write or draw a scripture
reference from this week’s chapters that you or they found meaningful😊
then you could put the papers into a container or a box.
You could then draw
one out and have that person share their insights about their scripture
reference😊 Another way you could share insights
with one another is to draw a paper out and have your family study group
discuss the scripture reference that is on the paper😊
You could then draw
one out and have that person share their insights about their scripture
reference😊 Another way you could share insights
with one another is to draw a paper out and have your family study group
discuss the scripture reference that is on the paper😊
The Nephites considered Nephi their “great
protector” (Jacob 1:10).
He had defended them against attacks from their enemies, and he had warned them
about spiritual dangers. Now he was gone, and the task of leading the Nephites
spiritually fell to Jacob, whom Nephi had consecrated to be a priest and
teacher of the people (see Jacob 1:18).
By inspiration, Jacob perceived that his people needed to be taught with “much
boldness,” for they were “beginning to labor in sin” (Jacob 2:7, 5).
These sins were much like what people struggle with today: love of riches and sexual immorality. And yet while Jacob felt that he had to condemn this wickedness, his heart also ached for its victims, whose hearts had been “pierced with deep wounds” (Jacob 2:35). Jacob testified that healing for both groups—the sinner and the spiritually wounded—comes from the Savior Jesus Christ. Jacob’s message, like the message of Nephi before him, was a call to “be reconciled unto [God] through the atonement of Christ” (Jacob 4:11).
These sins were much like what people struggle with today: love of riches and sexual immorality. And yet while Jacob felt that he had to condemn this wickedness, his heart also ached for its victims, whose hearts had been “pierced with deep wounds” (Jacob 2:35). Jacob testified that healing for both groups—the sinner and the spiritually wounded—comes from the Savior Jesus Christ. Jacob’s message, like the message of Nephi before him, was a call to “be reconciled unto [God] through the atonement of Christ” (Jacob 4:11).
Righteous leaders
labor diligently for the welfare of souls.
The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints volunteer their services, none of them get paid for what
they do. In fact all members of the church that serve in any position volunteer
their time and talents, none of them are paid a salary either. We give our service to what we are called to do in the church and we do it freely for the good of others😊
In today’s lesson we learn of Jacob’s diligent
labor among his people. Can you or your family members and friends share an
experience when you or they were blessed by the service of a Church leader? What
about an experience when you or your family members and friends have felt inspired
to serve someone?
Once you have answered these two questions
and shared your experiences you and your family members and friends can go to Jacob
1:6–8, 15–19; 2:1–11; and 4:18 to find words or
phrases therein that will help us to understand how Jacob felt about his calling
and the people he served. Now for question time: How have you or your family members and friends seen our leaders magnify their callings? What do these verses suggest about the way we should sustain our leaders?
Book of Mormon
6 And
we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we
knew of Christ and his
kingdom, which should come.
7 Wherefore
we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God,
that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they
should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children
of Israel were in the wilderness.
15 And
now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second
king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in
wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.
16 Yea,
and they also began to search much gold and
silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.
17 Wherefore
I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.
19 And
we did magnify our
office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility,
answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the
word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might
their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their
blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the
last day.
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
The Lord wants me to magnify my
calling.
To Jacob, teaching the word of God was more than an assignment
from his brother—it was
an “errand from the Lord,” so he labored diligently to “magnify [his] office” (Jacob 1:17, 19). President Gordon B. Hinckley taught that we magnify our
callings “as we serve with diligence, as we teach with faith and testimony, as
we lift and strengthen and build convictions of righteousness in those whose
lives we touch” (“Magnify Your Calling,” Ensign, May 1989, 47).
Think about your own “[errands] from the Lord” as you read Jacob 1:6–8, 15–19 and 2:1–11. Why
did Jacob serve so faithfully? What does his example inspire you to do to
magnify your Church callings and your responsibilities at home?
See also “Rise to Your Call” (video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
We should avoid pride
and reach out to those in need.
In our study you have probably noticed
that the Lord had strong warnings for the Nephites about pride. You could ask
your family members and friends to look for ways the adversary promotes the
love of riches and material things in our world today, as they study during the
week😊
This could lead you into a discussion on this topic of the
adversary. Then you could have your family members and friends work in pairs if
you have enough people in your family study group. Have them read through Jacob
2:12–21, Looking to find what the Lord has taught us about how we
should view material wealth.
12 And
now behold, my brethren, this is the word which I declare unto you, that many
of you have begun to search for gold, and for silver, and for all manner of
precious ores, in the which this land, which is a land of promise unto you and to your seed, doth abound
most plentifully.
13 And
the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have
obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly
than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff
necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute
your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they
14 And
now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God justifieth you in this thing? Behold,
I say unto you, Nay. But he condemneth you, and if ye persist in
these things his judgments must speedily come unto you.
16 O
that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O that ye would
listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your
hearts destroy your souls!
17 Think
of your brethren like
unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance,
that they may be
rich like unto you.
19 And
after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek
them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the
captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
21 Do
ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh?
And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of
the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep
his commandments and
glorify him forever.
Next you may want to get out your poster board and together or
individually you can make and share a poster that promotes that principle. now
take some time to ponder individually what you and your family members and
friends can do to apply what you and they have learned from Jacob’s message.
You and your family members and friends could next review Jacob 2:12–21 together and
come up with your own questions to add to Elder Perry’s list in his statement
below:
Our attitudes toward material wealth.
We should read this scripture as though it were written expressly for us in these days, because it was. His words should cause us to ask soul-searching questions of ourselves.
Is the order of things right in our own lives? Are we investing, first and foremost, in the things that are eternal in nature? Do we have an eternal perspective? Or have we fallen into the trap of investing in the things of this world first and then forgetting the Lord?” (“United in Building the Kingdom of God,” Ensign, May 1987, 34).
After reading through Elder Perry’s statement answer the
following question:
What does Elder Perry’s statement add to our understanding of
Jacob’s teachings?
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
The Lord delights in
chastity.
There was a statement
from Elder A. Bednar’s talk he gave in
2013 when he taught that we live “in a world that increasingly mocks the
sanctity of procreation and minimizes the worth of human life” (“We
Believe in Being Chaste,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 41–44).
How might you help your family members and friends to use Jacob 2:23–35 to counteract the world’s messages about chastity? One way might be to write on a piece of your poster board: 😊
How does the Lord feel about chastity? and then ask your family members and friends to find answers to the question.
If you
have enough people in your family study group 😊you can divide them into
small groups or pairs and some of them could search Jacob
2:23–35, and the others could search Elder Bednar’s talk referenced above.
They could make a list on your poster board 😊the answers you and / or they find.
To discuss standards and blessings associated with living the law of chastity, you might review “Sexual Purity” (For the Strength of Youth, 35–37) or show one of the videos listed below.” What are the blessings of living a chaste life? https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/for-the-strength-of-youth/sexual-purity?lang=eng
How might you help your family members and friends to use Jacob 2:23–35 to counteract the world’s messages about chastity? One way might be to write on a piece of your poster board: 😊
How does the Lord feel about chastity? and then ask your family members and friends to find answers to the question.
They could make a list on your poster board 😊the answers you and / or they find.
To discuss standards and blessings associated with living the law of chastity, you might review “Sexual Purity” (For the Strength of Youth, 35–37) or show one of the videos listed below.” What are the blessings of living a chaste life? https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/for-the-strength-of-youth/sexual-purity?lang=eng
“Chastity: What Are the Limits?” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/video/chastity-what-are-the-limits?lang=eng
“Law of Chastity” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2010-05-1110-law-of-chastity?category=topics/chastity&lang=eng
Book of
Mormon
23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser
crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in
iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse
themselves in committing whoredoms, because
of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this
people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I
might raise up unto me a righteous branch
from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.
26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this
people shall do like unto them of old.
27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the
word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you
have save it be one wife; and concubines
he shall have none;
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.
And whoredoms are
an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments,
saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they
shall hearken unto these things.
31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and
heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea,
and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that
the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the
land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith
the Lord of Hosts.
33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of
my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore
curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of
old, saith the Lord of Hosts.
34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these
commandments were given to our father, Lehi;
wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation;
for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done.
35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities
than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender
wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples
before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And
because of the strictness of
the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with
deep wounds.
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
The Lord delights in chastity.
When you read Jacob 2:31–35 and 3:10, look for ways immorality was affecting the Nephites as a people and as individuals.
How are these ways similar to the consequences of immorality you see in today’s world? What do you find in Jacob’s words that could help you teach a loved one about the importance of chastity? How have you been blessed by your efforts to be chaste?
Note that Jacob also addressed the practice of having more than
one wife. What do you find in Jacob 2:23–30 that
helps you understand why the Lord has, in limited situations, commanded His
people to practice plural marriage? How does He feel about those who do so
without His authorization?
The Nephites believed
in Jesus Christ.
I believe this is something that you might also want to share
with your family members and friends. If it was important enough for it to be
included in the scriptures, then I think it is most likely something we should
pay attention to😊 don’t you think so?
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
I can be reconciled to God
through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Jacob pleaded with his people to “be reconciled unto [God]
through the atonement of Christ” (Jacob 4:11).
What do you think that means? Would it help to look up reconcile in a dictionary?
Perhaps you can find
words or phrases in this chapter that suggest to you how you can come unto
Christ so that you can be reconciled to God.
For example, Jacob taught that the law of Moses was given to point the people to Jesus Christ (see Jacob 4:5). What has God provided to point you to Christ? How are you using these things to draw closer to God?
For example, Jacob taught that the law of Moses was given to point the people to Jesus Christ (see Jacob 4:5). What has God provided to point you to Christ? How are you using these things to draw closer to God?
See also 2 Nephi 10:24.
I can avoid spiritual
blindness by focusing on the Savior.
This section is about spiritual blindness. You might begin by
asking your family members and friends the following question: Have any of you recently
had an eye exam?
If so, you might ask this person to describe how the doctor
assessed his or her vision. You and / or your family members and friends could
share what they think it means to be spiritually blind. How is spiritual
blindness similar to physical blindness?
You may want to consider asking your family members and friends
to suggest ways we can assess whether we are spiritually blind. You could also consider reviewing Jacob
4:8–18 and suggest to your family members and friends some things
that you and they can do to increase your/ their ability to “see” spiritual
things.
Being able to do this seems something very important to learn. I know I am going to work on it! In his talk “Looking Beyond the Mark,” Elder Quentin L. Cook outlined four ways that people might look “beyond the mark” in our day. You may want to read the following aloud with your family members and friends😊
Being able to do this seems something very important to learn. I know I am going to work on it! In his talk “Looking Beyond the Mark,” Elder Quentin L. Cook outlined four ways that people might look “beyond the mark” in our day. You may want to read the following aloud with your family members and friends😊
Elder
Quentin L. Cook taught how we might look “beyond the mark”:
“Substituting the
philosophies of men for gospel truths”
“Some people seem to
be embarrassed by the simplicity of the Savior’s message. They want to add
complexity and even obscurity to the truth to make it more intellectually
challenging or more compatible with current academic trends. … We look beyond
the mark when we refuse to accept simple gospel truths for what they are.”
“Gospel extremism”
“We are looking
beyond the mark when we elevate any one principle, no matter how worthwhile it
may be, to a prominence that lessens our commitment to other equally important
principles or when we take a position that is contrary to the teachings of the
Brethren.”
“Some members
profess that they would commit themselves with enthusiasm if given some great
calling, but they do not find home teaching or visiting teaching [now called
ministering] worthy of or sufficiently heroic for their sustained effort.”
“Elevating rules
over doctrine”
“Those who are
committed to following rules without reference to doctrine and principle are
particularly susceptible to looking beyond the mark” (“Looking beyond the Mark,” Ensign or Liahona, Mar. 2003, 42–44). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2003/03/looking-beyond-the-mark.p8?lang=eng#p8
It is question time again, are you ready? You should ask your
family members and friends the following questions: What do his words add to
our understanding of Jacob
4:13–15? What does it mean to look beyond the mark? How can we avoid
looking beyond the mark?
Book of Mormon
9 For
behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth
was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being
able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why
not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it,
according to his will and pleasure?
10 Wherefore,
brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For
behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his
works.
11 Wherefore,
beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented
as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and
obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the
flesh.
13 Behold,
my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men;
for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as
they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these
things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are
not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.
14 But
behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they
could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his
plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because
they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.
16 But
behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only
sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build.
17 And
now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure
foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their
corner?
18 Behold,
my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any
means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my
over anxiety for you.
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
I can avoid spiritual blindness
by focusing on the Savior.
As Jacob sought to turn his people more completely to the Lord,
he warned them not to be spiritually blind and not to despise the gospel’s
“words of plainness” (see Jacob 4:13–14).
Elder Quentin L. Cook warned of similar problems in our day: “There is a
tendency among some of us to ‘look beyond the mark’ rather than to maintain a
testimony of gospel basics. We do this when we substitute the philosophies of
men for gospel truths, engage in gospel extremism, … or elevate rules over
doctrine. Avoiding these behaviors will help us avoid the theological blindness
and stumbling that Jacob described” (“Looking beyond the Mark,” Ensign, Mar.
2003, 42).
You might want to let your family and
friends know that they will find the answer to the question in Jacob chapter
four verse seventeen as they prayerfully read the next three chapters during
this upcoming week😊
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
As you read the scriptures with your family, the Spirit can help
you know what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of
your family. Here are some ideas.
Jacob 1:6–8, 15–19; 2:1–11; 4:18
Perhaps family members could share ways we can sustain our Church leaders. You could plan to do something as a family for local Church leaders, such as writing notes to thank them for their service or remembering them and their families in your prayers
.
Jacob 2:8
How does the word of God heal “the wounded soul”?
Jacob 2:12–21
What do these verses teach about how we should view material
wealth? What are we doing to reach out to others who need our help?
Jacob 3:1–2
What does it mean to be “pure in heart” and “look unto God with
firmness of mind”?
Jacob 4:4–11
One way to help your family understand what it means to be
“unshaken” in their faith would be to find a large tree nearby and ask family
members to shake individual branches. Then let them try to shake the trunk. Why
is it harder to shake the trunk? What can we learn from Jacob’s teachings about
how to develop faith that is “unshaken”?
I have
totally enjoyed spending this time with each one of you. It’s time for me to call
it a day though as it is getting late here. I have an early morning at work
tomorrow since I had to come in later today because of my chemotherapy this morning😊I
have really liked sharing today’s lesson with each one of you. I hope that you
and your family and friends have enjoyed the lesson as well😊
As always,
please remember who you are!!! You are each one a child of God! Mo matter what
your age, you are still His child. He knows each one of you individually and He
loves each one of you perfectly. He wants the very best life for each one of
you and He will help you achieve your eternal potential as only He can see you 😊
Jesus did all
this through His Atonement. If we repent of our sins and transgressions and are
baptized by those having the priesthood authority, we become members of His Church.
Even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After our baptism into His
Church we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The greatest gift from our
Heavenly Father😊
I do hope and
pray that each one of you have learned a lot from today’s lesson. There is so
much important information in this lesson, many of which we truly do need to
apply to our own lives. I promise you that as o do, our loves will become
better. Little by little, step by step. Line upon line, precept upon precept,
here a little, there a little… Until my next post please make it a great week😊
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