The Nephites considered Nephi their “great protector” (see Jacob 1:10). He had also protected them against spiritual dangers, warning them against sin and urging them to come unto Christ. Now that task fell to Jacob, whom Nephi had consecrated to be a priest and teacher (see Jacob 1:18). Jacob felt a responsibility to boldly warn those who were “beginning to labor in sin” while also comforting “the wounded soul” of those who had been hurt by the sins of others (see Jacob 2:5–9). How would he do both? He would point them to Jesus Christ—because both groups needed the Savior’s healing (see Jacob 4). Like the message of Nephi before him, Jacob’s testimony was a call to “be reconciled unto [God] through the atonement of Christ” (Jacob 4:11).
To Jacob, teaching the word of God was an “errand from the Lord,” so he labored diligently to “magnify [his] office” (Jacob 1:17, 19). What do these phrases that Jacob used mean to you? Think about what a magnifying glass does. Does that give you any ideas? As you ponder Jacob 1:6–8, 15–19 and 2:1–11, think about the errands the Lord might have for you. What do you feel inspired to do to “magnify” them?
See also “Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies,” in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Thomas S. Monson (2022), 209–20; “Rise to Your Call” (video), Gospel Library.
“Let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!”
The Nephites had a problem with pride and focusing on riches (see Jacob 2:13), and that problem wasn’t unique to them or their day. How does the adversary promote the love of riches today? After reading Jacob 2:12–21, describe in your own words how God wants you to view material wealth. A hymn like “Because I Have Been Given Much” (Hymns, no. 219) could provide additional insights. What do you feel inspired to do about what you’re learning?
As you read Jacob 2:22–35; 3:10–12, what do you find that helps you understand why chastity is so important to God? What are some of the negative consequences of immorality—in Jacob’s day and in ours? What are the blessings of living a chaste life?
Elder David A. Bednar taught that we live “in a world that increasingly mocks the sanctity of procreation” (“We Believe in Being Chaste,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 41–44). How do you help others understand why you obey the law of chastity? A good place to start is the explanation of God’s standards on sexual feelings and relations in “Your body is sacred” in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (pages 22–29). What else do you find in this resource that would help you explain why you live the law of chastity?
You could find additional answers in Elder Bednar’s message referenced above or in the video “I Choose to Be Pure” (Gospel Library).
How is God’s standard of sexual purity different from other messages you might encounter? What are the blessings of living a chaste life?
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). One definition of reconcile is to restore to friendship or harmony. As you ponder your own life, think about a time when you may have felt distant from Heavenly Father. How does the Savior help you restore this relationship? What counsel can you find in this chapter that helps you reconcile with God? (see verses 4–11).
What additional insights do you gain from Matthew 5:23–24? How can the Savior help you reconcile with God—and others?
I can avoid spiritual blindness by focusing on the Savior.
As Jacob worked 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). According to Jacob 4:8–18, what can we do to avoid spiritual blindness?
When He taught, the Savior used comparisons to everyday life. Jesus’s parables helped people find spiritual truths in their common experiences. Try to do the same when you teach. For example, when teaching Jacob 4:8–18, you could ask learners if they’ve ever had an eye exam. How did the doctor assess their physical vision? How can we assess our spiritual vision?
To help your children understand how a “wounded soul” can be healed, you could discuss together how our bodies get wounded and what helps them heal. Perhaps your children could talk about times when they got hurt and what helped them heal. You could even show them bandages or medicine as part of this conversation. Maybe you could share with them how the Savior has helped you when your spirit needed healing.
Some of the people in Jacob’s time were very rich, but they didn’t want to share what they had with others. As you read Jacob’s teachings to them in Jacob 2:17–19, you could give your children pictures or objects to hold that go with words or phrases in these verses. You might explain that you are sharing these objects with them; maybe you could then invite them to share the objects with you or with each other. Talk about how you feel when you share. What else could we share with others to help them feel happy?
After reading together Jacob 2:17, perhaps your children could name some blessings Heavenly Father has shared with them. Why does He want us to share with each other?
Jacob’s faith in Christ was so strong it could not be shaken. To teach your children how to build faith like this, you could ask them about things we do to make our bodies stronger. What can we do to make our faith in Jesus Christ stronger? Read Jacob 4:6 together to help the children discover what Jacob and his people did to make their faith “unshaken.”
Another way to help your children understand what it means to be “unshaken” in their faith would be to find a large tree and ask them to shake individual branches. Then let them try to shake the trunk. Why is it harder to shake the trunk? What phrases in Jacob 4:6, 10–11 describe what we can do to make our faith in Jesus Christ unshaken?
Like the trunk of a tree, our faith in Christ can be “unshaken.”
For other comparisons to teach your children about unshakable faith in Jesus Christ, see Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 18–21; and the video “Spiritual Whirlwinds“) or “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281; see also Matthew 7:24–27).
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
