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Unit 9: Day 3 - Jacob 1-2



As I think back to my priesthood leaders that I had when I was youth, I can't help feeling such gratitude towards them.  I was the only member in my family when I was only a deacon so my priesthood leaders were all that I had to navigate this gospel.  I can't necessarily remember all their names but I can remember their faces.  I can remember sitting in the classroom listening to their lessons.  They constantly challenge me to do better, to follow the commandments and even to serve a mission.  As Jacob appropriately in chapter 2 verse 3 "I this day am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls".  I certainly hope I didn't make any of my priesthood leaders anxious (I'm sure I have).  But now that the tables have turned as I've taught the youth though various callings in the past and presence, am I anxious?  You bet I am and that speaks to my concern for you and to recognize the kind of temptations you have to face everyday.

In speaking of temptations, Jacob speaks of two kinds here in Ch 1 and 2; that's pride and chastity.  It's unusual to say we are tempted to be prideful.  But we do (I certainly fall into that trap sometimes).  It is our natural man to seek worldly glory, praises of men (i.e. your friends) and riches.  Jacob suggests to do the opposite so we can to keep ourselves grounded.  Cloth the naked, feed the hungry, liberate the captive (in today's context, do you know someone who may be lonely? someone that needs a friendly hand to reach out to?) and administer the sick.  I think we can certainly add to this list of "to-do's" to combat the pride that is in us but this is certainly a good start.

Chastity . . . after Nephi died, the people of Nephi fell right into it as Jacob chastised them.  Jacob warned against whoredoms and taking on concubines.  Now I don't think I have to list explicitly here how those particular transgressions has translated in today's terms; I think we can easily identify them all around us.  The truth of the matter is it affects us a lot more than we think.  Jacob in verse 35 says "ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children . . . the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you."  So in short, whether you like it or not, violating the law of chastity will affect your family, including your current family and dare I say, even your future families; it is that serious.  Now do you see why violating the law of chastity is second to murder?  Can you think of choices you can make today so you won't make the same mistake those early Nephites have made soon after Nephi died?

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