Jacob 5–7

March 21–27

The Lord Labors with Us

Introduction and Impressions

Sometimes I may wonder how I can make a difference when so many people still need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jacob taught that the vineyard belongs to the Lord and that He labors there alongside His servants (see Jacob 5:72). God knows His children and will prepare a way for each of them to hear His gospel. He has given me a small part of the vineyard to labor in, helping the people in my life.

Record Impressions

It is very important that you seek impressions from the Spirit to help you and your family. Therefore, before reading the rest of this study outline, read Jacob 5–7. What messages do you find for your life? What will be of most value to you and your family? What can you share in your Church classes? Record your thoughts and impressions below or in a journal or notebook.

Ideas for Personal Learning

Jacob 5:61–62, 70–75. God invites me to help Him gather His children.

In the allegory of the olive tree, the Lord told his servant to call other servants to work with them. As members of the Church, we are all responsible to help God gather His children. What principles do I learn from this allegory about working in the Lord’s vineyard? What experiences have I had in this work?

See also Mark 16:20; “The Vineyard” (video), LDS.org.

Jacob 6:4–5. As I repent and come unto God, He will receive and forgive me.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “I marvel to think that the Son of God would condescend to save us, as imperfect, impure, mistake-prone, and ungrateful as we often are” (“The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 107–10). How does this statement relate to Jacob 6:4–5? What feelings do these verses inspire? What does the imagery of the stretched forth hands, the extended arm, and God’s cleaving unto us suggest about God’s love? How have I experienced this in my life?

See also “Lifting Burdens” (video), LDS.org; “Repentance,” in For the Strength of Youth (2011), 28–29.

Jacob 7:1–23. I can stand strong for the truth.

The experience that the Nephites had with Sherem is often repeated today: learned, well-spoken people sometimes try to destroy our faith. But Jacob “could not be shaken” (verse 5). According to these verses, why couldn’t he be shaken? What can I learn from his example that can help me have the same resolve to stand for the truth as Jacob had?

See also Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 6–9.

Improving Personal Study

Study the words of latter-day prophets and apostles.

Read what latter-day prophets and apostles have taught about the principles you find in the scriptures. For instance, how can President Russell M. Nelson’s talk “The Gathering of Scattered Israel” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 79–82) help you better understand Jacob 5?

Ideas for Family Learning

Family Discussions

Jacob 5. What can we learn about the allegory of the olive tree from Jacob’s teachings in Jacob 6 and Nephi’s teachings in 1 Nephi 15:12–18?

Jacob 6:5. The word cleave in this verse means “hold to.” What other scriptures use cleave with this meaning?

Jacob 7:1–4. What do we learn from these verses about how some people try to lead others astray?

Family Home Evening

Jacob 6:4–6. What does it mean to have a heart that is not hardened?

Jacob earnestly exhorted his readers to not harden their hearts against God (see Jacob 6:4–6). One way to convey this idea is to find things around our home that are hard and things that are soft. How can these objects help us understand why we should not harden our hearts? What in these verses teaches us how to not harden our hearts? The scriptures teach us that our hearts must be broken. What scriptures can we find that teach us what it means to have a broken heart? (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Broken Heart,” scriptures.lds.org).

Improving Our Teaching

Let children express their creativity.

As sons and daughters of God, children are born to create. When you invite your children to create something related to a gospel principle, you not only help them understand the principle better but you also give them a tangible reminder of what they have learned. Allow them to build, draw, color, write, and create.