Sunday School 13 Jacob 1-4
Labor in sin what does it mean? Perhaps the Nephites had got so busy in life that the Savior was a afterthought. Life had become about work, the house, the vast amount of acquisitions. Jacob even mentions women as a trophy that the men wanted, wives and concubines, but we'll discuss that later.
The first point that Jacob is simple hatred that the two people had foreacother between the sons of Lehi. Because God has changed the Lamanites from the Nephites, the difference was a catalyst for racism and bigotry, because over time one generation had become ignorant in unrighteous. Brothers and sisters, it took one generation to undo the teachings of Lehi to his children. How precious the gospel is and how precious our children are. We must be sure to teach them that those who do not have the gospel are more prone to vallue stuff over people. The subtle depleted value leads to bigotry and racism. Nephites we're starting to show it in their lifestyles through clothes wealth and servants.
Jacob was showing that the Nephites were wanting now more and better over having just enough. We should seek to share our trinkets we call wealth. There is a difference abundance vs. needs and wants. When we have what we need and a little want we are pleasantly satisfied. When we have a vast abundance acquisition becomes more important than our joy and the joy of others. Our pride and arrogance take over. Things become all we want. Wealth does that to people. Brigham Young warned us in the following way...
"A man or a woman who places the wealth of this world and the things of time in the scales against the things of God and the wisdom of eternity, has no eyes to see, no ears to hear, no heart to understand" (DBY, 306–7).
Jacob knew that Satan uses abundance of every kind. He loves that the blessings of God are used for his wicked purposes. While he hates the saints and tempts them, seeing them sour is an equal delight to the devil. To see the sons of Lehi escape the wrath of God in Jerusalem only to become equally rotten must of been a delight to the old scratch.
It's not the action of acquisition of wealth but what do we do with the wealth that makes us what we become. The proverb says, "A rich man doesn’t own his things; rather, his things begin to own him." When we pay tithing we fight against our pride to become chained to want and be one a giver and free of greed. We improve humanity because we give to it.
Finally I love a good CS quite. "Strictly speaking, there are no such things as good and bad impulses. Think once again of a piano. It has not got two kinds of notes on it, the "right" notes and the "wrong" ones. Every single note is right at one time and wrong at another." - CS Lewis
Now to address the other issue that Jacob brought up, Chastity. Jacob's message of chastity is about change and selflessness. Sexual purity and commitment was and is important. It keeps the soul from becoming pierced and broken and the tenderhearted from weeping. He warned of laciviousness (looking hot and flirting, not necessarily evil but can be a catalyst), sexual sin, tempting others and using the scriptures and law to justify their behavior. Again, it was about acquisition and not about love. Pride was ruining society.
Jacob mentioned how God disappoved of David and Solomon and I am sure it was not about the tender hearts of the women these kings had squared but that they had become things. Relationships that are possessions die fast. How great is God in sending this message to us in the modern times of today. We watch as relationships have become less in value than phones, cars, houses, business, money, and information, and that's just a taste of what greed wants.
Jacob wants us to cherish each other; to serve each other; to give to each other. He wants us to learn each law and commandment and follow through on our commitments and Covenants. He wanted his people and us to repent and to use the Atonement daily. We will get a lot of stuff in our lives but we must be willing to let go so that better things can take the space that we make for it... or them the people we care about.
Brothers and sisters, take an inventory of the things you think are important and pull the people you know are important and keep them close. Spend time with them, teaching them the very thing you prize the most. The early Lehites missed the opportunity, don't do the same. I hope you enjoyed Conference.
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