Nephi has moved on.... It's now 55 years since Lehi's family left Jerusalem. Nephi turned over the care and trust of the sacred record he was keeping on the small plates of Nephi to his brother Jacob and passes away. It also appears that he handed over the duties of prophet and teacher to Jacob, who is a ready and able spiritual leader; Jacob takes his responsibility to heart and in Jacob 2 - 3 we read an address he delivers to the people of Nephi.
It's interesting to me that the line of authority is carefully observed and the role of a spiritual leader has been preserved. Jacob had been consecrated as a teacher over the people most of his life; he wasn't even born when Lehi's family left Jerusalem. We can assume that he was born before the Lehites ( Lehi's family, including the sons and daughters of Ishmael as well as Zoram) boarded the newly built ship to sail for this continent. It is reasonable, then, that Jacob is at least 47 years old at the point that the book of Jacob is recorded (it was 8 years after leaving Jerusalem that they were in the land Bountiful when Nephi was commanded to build a ship, see 1 Ne 17; 1 Ne 18 declares that Jacob and Joseph were born in the wilderness). Certainly Jacob, and Joseph as well, were well groomed in leading and teaching righteousness to the people. We can see from this example of organizational continuance that the Lord provides righteous leaders for his people.
Jacob was anxious for the welfare of his people and, like a good spiritual leader, sought guidance in which he "...first obtained mine errand from the Lord" (Jacob 1:17). As we serve in church positions, the most basic foundation that can be laid for success is to learn what to do.... including what the Lord would have you focus your attention and energy on. If you are called to a church calling you need to know the whats, the hows, and the whos of the job. The what to do can be learned from reading and being taught by others. The how to do is learned by reading, being taught, and by observing. The who to help and serve comes from being taught, observing, and seeking the spirit's guidance. It's important that we recognize the role of the spirit in our church callings. Certainly Jacob recognized this principle.
Jacob's address to his people is a study in spiritual boldness; he denounces love of riches, pride, and other unholy practices. He addresses unchastity very pointedly in his address. He reminds the people that sin hurts not just their spiritual selves but also hurts their wives and their children. From this we learn that we are not islands. Our actions, for good or for bad, affect others. Committing a sin is like throwing a stone in the lake; anyone near to us will feel the repercussion of the thing we do. Satan would have us think that we are the only one that our sin damages, but this is not true; the effects are felt by our loved ones. Our example is displayed to those around us. We need to keep this perspective always in our lives as motivation to do good.
I am impressed that Jacob would carry out the duty of naming the sins of his people so boldly. Several times during the address he apologizes that he had to discuss the sinfulness of the people - "Yeah, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with shame before the presence of my Maker that I must testify unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts" (Jacob 2:6). He talks about his anxiety for the people to the extent that his eyes water his pillow at night. As we serve in our callings, we must take on this level of commitment to our responsibilities. In doing so, we become anxious that those we serve are being touched for the good by our service. In committing ourselves, our service becomes sacred and is prospered by the hand of the Lord. The result is that we prosper and grow right along with those we serve.
Don
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