Post by Jacob –
As I mentioned, to rid my garments of the sins of my people, I am teaching my people very plain but bold doctrines in the temple. I have included a good part of it here in this blog just as I delivered it in the Temple today.
“You yourselves know that I have been diligent in the office of my calling; but today I am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have been before. Until now, you have been obedient to the word of the Lord, which I’ve given you.
By the power of the all–powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that you are beginning to labor in sin, which is not only abominable to me but also to God. It grieves my soul and causes me to shrink with shame before the presence of my Maker, that I have to testify concerning the wickedness of your hearts.
And it grieves me that I have to speak so boldly about your sins, right in front of your wives and your children. Your wives’ and your children’s, feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which is so pleasing to God. Certainly they didn’t come here to the temple to hear you be chastened of the Lord. I am sure they’ve come to the temple to hear the pleasing word of God, even the word which healeth the wounded soul.
But instead of healing wounded souls, what God has commanded me to say will surely enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded. And for those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting on the pleasing word of God, daggers will be placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.
But, notwithstanding the greatness of this task, I must do according to the strict commands of God, and tell you concerning your wickedness and abominations, in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken heart, and under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.
So here is the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. As I inquired of the Lord, His word came to me, saying: “Jacob, go to the temple tomorrow, and declare the word which I will give thee unto this people.”
And this is the word which I declare unto you, that many of you have begun to search for gold, and for silver, and for all manner of precious ores, which is very abundant in this land of promise. The hand of providence has smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren you are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because you suppose that you are better than they. Do you actually think that God justifies this kind of pride? I tell you He does not. But he condems you, and if you persist in these things His judgments will speedily come upon you.
O that He would show you that He can pierce you, and with one glance of His eye He can smite you to the dust! O that He would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O that you would listen to the word of His commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!
Think of your brethren like yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. But more importantly, before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after you have obtained a hope in Christ you will obtain riches, if you seek them, and you will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
I have spoken unto you concerning pride, some of you have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because you were proud in your hearts for the things which God has given you. Do you think you won’t offend God when you are filled with pride, taking credit where the credit is His? He created all flesh, and one being is just as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust anyway and He created us all for the selfsame end which is to keep His commandments and in so doing we become like Him and we Glorify Him forever.”
After I made an end of speaking to them concerning this pride, I wished I could have stopped. But, I had to speak to them concerning a grosser crime. I will talk about that in the next blog.
(Book of Mormon | Jacob 2:2 – 35)
