Post by Joseph –
Jacob has given his whole life to the Lord. Nephi turned over responsibility of this blog to Jacob and now Jacob sees that he will soon go down to his grave; so he’s giving them to my nephew, Enos, to take these plates and he told Enos the same things my brother Nephi had commanded him, and Enos promised to do the same.
Jacob and I are the last two remaining who crossed the great waters and come to this promised land. Needless to say, age has taken its toll. Before we both go on to that great reward promised by our Savior. I wish to share our experience with Sherem. Sherem has sought much opportunity to hack this blog so he could shake you from the faith. It may be my last entry, but what is great, it is a fitting testimony of my brother Jacob’s steadfast greatness, all bundled up into a fitting conclusion of his life’s work.
Sherem came among our people and began to preach to them that there would be no Christ. He flattered them with his preaching and his objective was to overthrow the doctrine of Christ. He worked diligently to lead the hearts of the people away from what Jacob and I have spent our lives teaching and testifying. He began to see success with many of our people.
Sherem knew that Jacob had great faith that Christ would come and so he looked for the opportunity to confront Jacob. Let me tell you, Sherem was very learned, he had a perfect knowledge of our language and was able to use flattery so masterfully that his speech was powerful, according to the power of the devil of course.
He hoped to shake Jacob from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which Jacob had seen concerning these things; for Jacob truly had seen angels, and they had ministered to him. And Jacob had heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him in very word, from time to time; there was no way, Jacob could be shaken. But Sherem wanted to try anyway.
I was not so worried that Sherem could shake our testimonies but he had succeeded with others and so as you read, notice how cunning he was. I include his very words as closely as I can.
” Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity that I might speak to you; for I have heard and also know that you go about much, preaching that which you call the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ. And you have led away many of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and don’t keep the law of Moses which is the right way; and you convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which you say will come many hundred years into the future.
And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knows of such things; and you can’t tell of things to come.”
This is how Sherem began his challenge to Jacob. But the Lord God poured His Spirit into Jacob’s soul, so much so that Jacob confounded him in all his words. Although it is heartbreaking to see how the devil can deceive the hearts of man, it was beautiful to see the Spirit unravel Satan’s cunning plans.
Jacob asked Sherem if he denies the Christ who will come? and Sherem said,
“If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be.”
Jacob asked: “Do you believe the scriptures?” To which Sherem said he did.
Then Jacob boldly declared: “Then you do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ. And this is not all—it has been made manifest to me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest to me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.”
Then Sherem said, “Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.”
Jacob was incredible at this point to be able to keep his composure, but firmly he responded, “What am I that I should tempt God to show you a sign in the thing which you indeed know to be true? If I did, you would deny it, because you are of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite you, let that be a sign to you that He has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.”
When Jacob spoke these words, the power of the Lord landed powerfully on Sherem, and Sherem fell to the earth and was out for many days. When Sherem finally arose, he requested that our people gather together the next day because he was going to die; and he wanted to speak to the people before he died.
The next day the people were gathered together; and Sherem spoke plainly to those assembled and denied everything he had taught them, he confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels. And he made it clear, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. And he talked of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment.
And he said: “I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God.”
After he had said these words he couldn’t talk any more, and he gave up the ghost. When the multitude witnessed that he spoke these things as he was about to die, they were so astonished that the power of God came down on them, and they were overcome and they fell to the earth.
I happen to know Jacob pretty well, and let me tell you, this was very emotional for him. Jacob went to Heavenly Father and had requested that Sherem’s words would not have a lasting destructive affect on our people. Yet, Jacob had no desire to destroy Sherem, for Jacob’s life has been dedicated to reclaim all of our people.
Following this experience with Sherem, the peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and they quit believing and following the words of this wicked man.
(Book of Mormon | Jacob 7:1 – 27)
