Gospel Doctrine, Lesson 12: Seek Ye for the Kingdom of God Jacob 1-4

#1: President Hugh B. Brown: President John Taylor said on one occasion, speaking to the brethren of the priesthood: If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those you might have saved, had you done your duty. This is a challenging statement. If I by reason of sins of commission or omission lose what I might have had in the hereafter, I myself must suffer and, doubtless, my loved ones with me. But if I fail in my assignment as a bishop, a stake president, a mission president, or one of the General Authorities of the Churchif any of us fail to teach, lead, direct, and help to save those under our direction and within our jurisdiction, then the Lord will hold us responsible if they are lost as the result of our failure (CR Oct 1962). #2: Elder Dallin H. Oaks: Last week I was talking with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve about comments we had received on our April conference talks. My friend said someone told him, I surely enjoyed your talk. We agreed that this is not the kind of comment we like to receive. As my friend said, I didnt give that talk to be enjoyed. What does he think I am, some kind of entertainer? Another member of our quorum joined the conversation by saying, That reminds me of the story of a good minister. When a parishioner said, I surely enjoyed your sermon today, the minister replied, In that case, you didnt understand it. You may remember that this April conference I spoke on pornography. No one told me they enjoyed that talknot one! In fact, there was nothing enjoyable in it even for me. I speak of these recent conversations to teach the principle that a message given by a General Authority at a general conference a message prepared under the influence of the Spirit to further the work of the Lord is not given to be enjoyed. It is given to inspire, to edify, to challenge, or to correct. It is given to be heard under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, with the intended result that the listener learns from the talk and from the Spirit what he or she should do about it (The Dedication of a Lifetime, CES fireside for young adults, May 1,
2005), ldsces.org.

#3: President Brigham Young: The worst fear that I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty, and all manner of persecution, and be true. But my greater fear for them is that they cannot stand wealth; and yet they have to be tried with riches, for they will become the richest people on this earth.
(Brigham Young: The Man and His Work, 4th ed., p.128-129)

#4: President Spencer W. Kimball: The possession of riches does not necessarily constitute sin. But sin may arise in the acquisition and use of wealth For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1 Tim. 6:10-11.) Book of Mormon history eloquently reveals the corrosive effect of the passion for wealth Had the people used their wealth for good purposes they could have enjoyed a continuing prosperity. But they seemed unable for a sustained period to be simultaneously wealthy and righteous (The Miracle of Forgiveness, 47-8). #5: Rex Lee, former president of BYU: When our neighbor, Jimmy, was four, he was not happy in preschool. No one could determine why. The school offered him the best toys and paints and smiling teachers. But still Jimmy cried every day. So Jimmys mother and the director decided it would be best for him to withdraw. After a few weeks, Jimmy decided he wanted to go to a different preschool. His mother was skeptical but enrolled him in the new school. When she left him the first day, she was careful to leave a phone number, feeling certain she would receive a call. But it never camenot that day or all that week. He was happy every day and when asked what he did there, his usual reply was, I help Bobby. Then one day when Jimmys mother suggested taking him out of school for the day, he burst out crying, I cant be gone. I have to be there. Bobby needs me. It was then that she learned the source of her son's new found happiness in school. He was helping a boy with impaired muscular coordination, and both boys benefited from the relationship. Shiny red trucks, swings, or finger paints could not make Jimmys day happy at preschool. Amidst those toys he could only think of how miserable he was and how much he missed home. But giving service to someone in need directed his interests away from his problems, gave him purpose, and made him happy. (Overcoming Discouragement, BYU Devotional, http://speeches.byu.edu/
reader/reader.php?id=7821)

#6: Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone cautioned, A word to adults and parents: Elder Bruce R. McConkies father counseled that when we violate any commandment, however small, our youth may choose to violate a commandment later on in life perhaps 10 times or 100 times worse and justify it on the basis of the small commandment we broke (CR Oct. 1999).

From: Charting the Book of Mormon, by John and Gregory Welch

Other thoughts too great not to include: Thomas S. Monson: I promise to be diligent. I will magnify my calling. What does it mean to magnify a calling? It means to build it up in dignity and importance, to make it honorable and commendable in the eyes of all mankind, to enlarge and strengthen it, to let the light of heaven shine through it to the view of other men. And how does one magnify a calling? Simply be performing the service that pertains to it. In short, we magnify our callings by learning what our duties are and then by performing them. I pause when I think of the words of President John Taylor: If you do not magnify your calling, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty. ( Be Your Best Self, 147) Wilford Woodruff: The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice. If we had not stopped it, you would have no use for any other men in this temple at Logan; for all ordinances would be stopped throughout the land of Zion. Confusion would reign throughout Israel, and many men would be made prisoners. This trouble would have come upon the whole Church, and we should have been compelled to stop the practice. Now, the question is, whether it should be stopped in this manner, or in the way the Lord had manifested to us, and leave our prophets and apostles and fathers free men, and the temples in the hands of the people, so that the dead may be redeemed. The Lord has told me exactly what to do, and what the result would be if we did not do it but I want to say this: I should have let all the temples go out of our hands; I would have gone to prison myself and let every other man go there, had not the God of Heaven commanded me to do what I did do; and when the hour came that I was commanded to do that, it was all clear to me. I went before the Lord and I wrote what the Lord told me to write. (Deseret News, November 21, 1891) Ruben Alvarez...in the late 1990s served as the stake president in Puerto Mont, Chile After his mission, he...became an engineer in water agriculture in order to work in the salmon industry in Chile. When he went for an interview with one of the big salmon companies, he was one of fifty-four applicants for the job. After initial interviews he was one of four called back for another interview in Santiago Before accepting the job he told the managers, Ill give you every day, even nights, except one the Sabbath. They liked his honesty and character. The closest church was seventeen kilometers away from Rubens home. He and his wife walked to church and back every week, even through heavy rains, because they were committed to following God. After seven months they were transferred to Chiloc, another city in the south, where he was made the branch president. They prospered financially. People told him he had good luck. He told them it was not luck; it was obedience to Gods laws: faithful observance of the Sabbath and faithful payment of tithing. One stormy night, he got a call that a four-hundred pound sea lion had broken into the salmon cages submerged off the coast (the giant cages were worth about two million dollars each). He grabbed his big shotgun and headed to the beach. He and his crew got into their boats and made for the cages. The laws prohibited Ruben from killing any sea lion, so every time it came up for air, he shot into the water as close to it as he dared. But the shots had no effect. The company stood to lose huge sums of money; a four-hundred pound sea lion can eat a lot of salmon. Ruben put down his gun and walked away from the others to pray. With tears streaming down his face, he reminded the Lord that he had been faithful in all his duties as a true disciple: Ive paid my tithing; Ive kept the Sabbath. He pleaded with the Lord to help him. As he got up from his knees, he felt an incredible warmth blanketing him. He walked back, and his workers grabbed him excitedly to tell him that the sea lion had left. When the scuba divers checked the damaged cages, they found them full of salmon. Malachi 3:11 records the Lords promise to those who are loyal to the law of tithes and offerings: I will rebuke the devourer for you sake. (D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, Verse by Verse, 263-64)

LESSON OUTLINE Since were beginning our study of the Book of Jacob today, I think it would be appropriate to review what we know about the prophet Jacob. ~Was he older or younger than Nephi? (Younger) ~If Nephi was 16 when his family left Jerusalem, about how old was he when Jacob was born? (18-20) ~Where was Jacob born? (Arabian desert) ~According to Lehi, how could we characterize Jacobs childhood? (great afflections & much sorrow due to whom? rudeness of thy brethren, 2 Ne. 2:1) ~And yet, he was also greatly favored of the Lord. Did he have visions? (In his youth he beheld the Savior and saw His ministry 2 Ne. 2:3-4. He also taught about things clear back to the creation of the world 2 Ne. 6:811, as well as the future destiny of America! 2 Ne. 10:10-19) When Nephi was about 72 years old, he turned over some plates to about 54 year old Jacob. ~How many books of plates did Nephi create? (2) ~What were they called? (Small Plates of Nephi & Large Plates of Nephi) ~What did Nephi reserve the large plates for? (history) ~What did Nephi reserve the small plates for? (precious spiritual things) ~So which plates did Nephi turn over to Jacob? (small plates) See Book of Mormon Plates & Records Chart ~Who actually put together the Book of Mormon? (Mormon) ~Then how does Moroni fit in? Notice on the left column are all the records that we know of that Mormon studied and copied from to create the Book of Mormon. ~What did the small plates consist of? (An abridgment of Lehis record, and quotes from the brass plates I think youll find this chart very interesting as you study it. One important point for todays lesson is, ~Did Mormon consider Jacobs words to be of great value? Why? (He quoted them in full)
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Jacob 1:2-4 (Lets see just what Nephi told Jacob to write) ~What does that mean in verse 4: that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates? (just the most important points) Jacob 1:5-6 (Lets see how Nephi & Jacob knew what would be of most value to their people) ~So why should we listen to our prophets, seers and revelators? (Because they speak for Heavenly Father, and know what will be of most value to us) ~Was Nephi the King of the Nephites? (Yes, verse 9) ~When Nephi became old, did he anoint Jacob to be the next King? (No, verse 9) ~What did Nephi call Jacob and Joseph to do? (Priests and Teachers, verse 18) ~So let me ask you this: Will we ever be punished for someone elses sins? Jacob 1:19 ~What does that mean: that their blood might not come upon our garments? (When our action or inaction causes others to sin) ~Then under what circumstances can we be held at least partially responsible for the sins of those within our sphere of influence? Quotation #1 ~Does this include Visiting and Home Teaching assignments? How about our roles as parents, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, friends, etc? Back to Jacob. Hes about to give what may be his first sermon since Nephis death. ~Where did he speak? (temple, verse 17) ~Was he anxious about his message? Lets look at Jacob 2:2. What are some words he uses to indicate what hes feeling? Responsibility verse 2 Soberness Weighed down verse 3 Anxiety
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Grieves his soul verse 6 Shrink with shame Burdeneth verse 9 Jacob 2:10 (Here Jacob sums up his feelings about what hes about to say.) ~Do you think our General Authorities felt a great burden in delivering their messages to us last weekend at General Conference? Quotation #2 So Jacob was commanded to speak on 3 subjects Look at verse 12 of chapter 2 and tell us what the first subject is. (Materialism & pride) ~Is this a trial that members of the church face today? Quotation #3 (You have to love Brigham Youngs candor here!) ~Is wealth bad, then? Quotation #4 Jacob 2:19 (Here Jacob lists 4 proper uses of money) 1. To clothe the naked. There are many in need. Can we take care of them all? How should we prioritize? (Family first, then relatives, ward, others) 2. To feed the hungry. (Same priorities?) 3. To liberate the captive. What does this mean? (Emotionally & spiritually captive, such as in sin and addiction, etc.) 4. Administer relief to the sick and afflicted. (Same priorities?) D&C 11:7 (This scripture puts everything in perspective concerning money.) ~Is it really riches that bring us joy, anyway? Quotation #5 After discussing riches and pride, Jacob goes on to his next subject. Scan verse 22 to see what it is. (Immorality) Jacob 2:23-24
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~Is excusing our immoral behavior due to the actions of others common to day as well? Jacob 3:10 Again, how we behave influences those around us. To the extent that our influence causes others to falter, we will be held accountable. Quotation #6 Jacob 3:1-2 (Jacob shows the greatness of his heart here. For while he seeks to obey the command to address the immorality of the people, he also feels compassion for those affected by that immorality. Here is his counsel to them.) I am grateful for Jacobs timeless message. That we may use our means for that which is of eternal worth, and consider how our behavior is influencing those with whom we interact is my prayer...