The prophet Jacob in the Book of Mormon felt the weight of his calling, and the pains of his people. He uses a word that many of us can relate to today in describing his state of mind—anxiety. In reading Jacob 1–4 we’ll see if we can find out what is causing Jacob’s anxiety, how we can relate, and the advice he has for everyone who has felt like he has.
Segment 1
Scriptures:
Jacob 4:13 (Spirit speaketh truth)
Jacob 2:18 (Seek God before riches)
Words of the General Authorities:
Contrary to the doubts of some, there really is such a thing as right and wrong. There really is absolute truth—eternal truth. One of the plagues of our day is that too few people know where to turn for truth. (Russell M. Nelson, “Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation”, October 2021 General Conference)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
Introducing Jacob Scripture Chain:
1 Nephi 18:7 (Born in the wilderness)
1 Nephi 18:19 (Loved his family)
2 Nephi 2:1-2 (Persecuted by his brothers)
2 Nephi 10:3 (Saw angels)
2 Nephi 11:2-3 (Saw Christ)
Jacob 1:2-4 (What Jacob writes on the plates)
Jacob 1:7-8 (Why he writes)
Quotes:
To suffer the cross of Christ is to be willing to bear the burdens of Christian discipleship, particularly of crucifying the "old man of sin" and putting on Christ. "if any man will come after me," Jesus taught his meridian Twelve, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments." Matthew 16:25-26; JST (Robert L. Millet, Joseph Fielding McConkie, “Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon Vol. 2”)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
Jacob 2:5-8 (Words to heal the wounded soul)
2 Nephi 32:3 (Angels speak the words of Christ)
Matthew 5:43-44 (Love your enemies)
Words of the General Authorities:
Never give up—however deep the wounds of your soul, whatever their source, wherever or whenever they happen, and however short or long they persist, you are not meant to perish spiritually. You are meant to survive spiritually and blossom in your faith and trust in God.
God did not create our spirits to be independent of Him. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through the incalculable gift of His Atonement, not only saves us from death and offers us, through repentance, forgiveness for our sins, but He also stands ready to save us from the sorrows and pains of our wounded souls. (Neil L. Andersen, “Wounded”, October 2018 General Conference)
Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Sunday Will Come”, October 2006 General Conference)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
Jacob 2:9 (Enlarging wounds)
Jacob 2:13,20,31,35 (What is ailing the people)
Jacob 2:18-19 (Seeking riches)
Jacob 2:34-35 (Pride cycle)
Words of the General Authorities:
Our wounds may come from a natural disaster or an unfortunate accident. They may come from an unfaithful husband or wife, turning life upside down for a righteous spouse and children. The wounds may come from the darkness and gloom of depression, from an unanticipated illness, from the suffering or premature death of someone we love, from the sadness of a family member dismissing his or her faith, from the loneliness when circumstances do not bring an eternal companion, or from a hundred other heart-wrenching, painful “[sorrows] that the eye can’t see.” We each understand that difficulties are part of life, but when they come to us personally, they can take our breath away.
No injustice, no persecution, no trial, no sadness, no heartache, no suffering, no wound—however deep, however wide, however painful—will be excluded from the comfort, peace, and lasting hope of Him whose open arms and whose wounded hands will welcome us back into His presence. (Neil L. Andersen, “Wounded”, October 2018 General Conference)
Translations:
Wait = Twisting and braiding a rope (Aramaic)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
Jacob 1:5 (Jacob’s anxiety)
2 Nephi 6:3 (Jacob worries for his people)
Jacob 2:3 (Jacob weighed down with his calling)
Jacob 4:18 (Over anxiety)
Jacob 3:1-2 (Advice for the pure in heart)
Jacob 3:3 (Wo to the not pure in heart)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
Jacob 4:6 (Unshaken faith)
Jacob 4:16-18 (Jesus is the foundation)
Words of the General Authorities:
In nature, trees that grow up in a windy environment become stronger. As winds whip around a young sapling, forces inside the tree do two things. First, they stimulate the roots to grow faster and spread farther. Second, the forces in the tree start creating cell structures that actually make the trunk and branches thicker and more flexible to the pressure of the wind. These stronger roots and branches protect the tree from winds that are sure to return.
You are infinitely more precious to God than a tree. You are His son or His daughter. He made your spirit strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds of life. The whirlwinds in your youth, like the wind against a young tree, can increase your spiritual strength, preparing you for the years ahead. (Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds”, April 2014 General Conference)
View transcript here.