Jacob 6:3 how blessed are they who have labored diligently
“In
this verse, Jacob bestows a benediction upon the servants of the Lord who have
been zealous and who persevered in His service in the vineyard of our Lord. It
reminds us of the words of the angel, who, in speaking for the Lord, said to
Nephi, ‘And blessed are they who shall seek to bring
forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the
Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last
day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the lamb;…’(1
Nephi 13:37)”
(Reynolds and Sjodahl, Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 484)
Few
would doubt that men like Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Hyrum Smith, John
Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and a hundred others were foreordained to the great
work of the Restoration. Joseph F. Smith said of these men, before they were born, they, with many others, received
their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in
the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the
souls of men (DC 138:56). Sometimes, we underestimate the importance of
an event because of our proximity to it. The Restoration of priesthood keys,
saving ordinances, and temple worship is the key to saving the entire earth
from destruction. This destruction would come with the Second Coming of the
Lord. Joseph Smith was told what would happen without the Restoration, If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted
at his coming (JS-H 1:39).
Jacob 6:3 the world shall be burned with fire
Jacob is referring to the
last verse of the allegory which speaks of the time when the Lord burns the
vineyard. The events described are to occur after the Millenium. This is
important because of the similarities between events which attend the Second
Coming and those which occur during the little season when Satan is loosed
after the Millenium. Both time periods have destruction by fire, both time
periods have a battle of Armageddon, both time periods are characterized as
bringing forth a new heaven and a new earth.
Jacob’s record, though is
clear; this burning of the vineyard will occur after the Millenium. This has
reference to the sanctification of the earth in preparation for its celestial
glory. It does not refer to the wicked being killed by fire. By this time, all
the wicked have been resurrected already and there can be no more physical
death. There can only be spiritual death—when those who are filthy still are cast out into their own place!
Jacob 6:4 he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long
When the Lord stretches out
his hands to his people, it can have one of two meanings. It is either an
expression of the unending nature of his mercy and love, as in this passage, or
he is stretching out his hand in judgment. The latter interpretation is
commonly seen in the prophecies of the Old Testament, For
all this his anger in not turned away, but his hand is stretched out
still (Isa 10:4).
Jacob 6:5 come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God
The scriptures teach that
the Lord has no interest in someone who comes to him with reservations,
qualifications, or exceptions. He expects us to love him with all our might,
mind, and strength. But take diligent heed to do the
commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to
love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his
commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and
with all your soul (Josh 22:5). If we cannot keep this first and great
commandment, we are of no use to him. As the Lord told the Laodiceans, I know thy words, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I
would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth…be zealous therefore, and
repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Rev
3:15-20).
“To
cleave unto God,” means to hold on fast. It is the verb used to describe the
appropriate relationship between husband and wife, Therefore
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his
wife: and they shall be one flesh (Gen 2:24). In our marriage
relationship, as with our relationship with the Lord, we are to be constantly
faithful, ever cleaving unto our beloved. There is no allowance for occasional
excursions away. The Lord does not want us to try another partner for a while
or to turn from the Lord for a season. Such is the nature of enduring to the
end.
Mark E. Petersen
“Any
married man who pays attention to any woman other than his wife, to that extent
is in rebellion against Almighty God, and any woman who is married and receives
attention from any other man is flying in the face of Providence and violating
the law of heaven.” (Conference Reports, Oct. 1954, p. 18)
John Taylor
“In
regard to the work in which we are engaged, we all feel to a certain extent
interested therein, and there are many points that it will be necessary for us
to reflect upon. One is, that it is ‘not every one
that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.’ And it is
for us to square our lives according to the principles laid down for all of
us…and for every man to magnify his calling with singleness of heart before
God, and to feel that God demands of us righteousness, truth and integrity in
our hearts; that we cleave unto him, observe his laws and keep his
commandments; and if we do this, then the blessings of which we have heard are
ours; if we do not we shall not possess them.” (Conference Reports, Apr.
1880, p. 30)
Orson Hyde
“Brethren
and sisters, I rejoice in the Lord our God, that he has moved graciously in
favor of the Latter-day Saints; and inasmuch as we will forsake all evil and
cleave unto him we shall find that his words unto us will be fulfilled, where
he declares, ‘I will fight your battles.’ I
would rather live near to God and serve him with all my heart and soul, might,
mind and strength, than fight my own battles.” (Journal of Discourses,
vol. 16, p. 14)
Jacob 6:8 deny the good word of Christ…and the gift of the Holy
Ghost
Jacob is describing the sons
of Perdition. The context of verse 3 shows that the topic is those who are cast out into their own place—or in other words,
those who are the sons of Perdition. The key reason why an individual is worthy
of such a punishment is because they choose to deny the Holy Ghost. As the Lord
said:
‘Wherefore I say unto
you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the
blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh
a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh
against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world,
neither in the world to come.’ (Matt
12:31-32)
The language of this chapter
is reminiscent of the language used in DC 76 to describe the sons of Perdition.
To make a mock of the great plan of redemption
is similar to the phrase in DC 76, having denied the
Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put
him to an open shame (DC 76:35). Both phrases describe a disdain for the
great atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The reward for both groups is the lake
of fire and brimstone.
Jacob 6:9 stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God
One concept that is
repeatedly taught in the Book of Mormon is that the righteous who have fallen
away from the truth will be faced with the truth before the bar of God. While
looking the Savior in the face, their pangs of guilt will be piercing. This is
eloquently expressed in the following passages:
‘Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an
enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a
lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence
of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which
is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.’ (Mosiah 2:38)
‘The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect
form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now
are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as
we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.’ (Alma 11:43)
John Taylor
“God has made each man a register
within himself, and each man can read his own register, so far as he enjoys his
perfect faculties. This can be easily comprehended.
“…Let your memories run back, and you
can remember the time when you did a good action, you can remember the time
when you did a bad action; the thing is printed there, and you can bring it out
and gaze upon it whenever you please.
“…Man sleeps the sleep of death, but
the spirit lives where the record of his deeds is kept--that does not die--man
cannot kill it; there is no decay associated with it, and it still retains in
all its vividness the remembrance of that which transpired before the
separation by death of the body and the ever-living spirit. Man sleeps for a
time in the grave, and by-and-by he rises again from the dead and goes to
judgment; and then the secret thoughts of all men are revealed before Him with
whom we have to do; we cannot hide them; it would be in vain for a man to say
then, I did not do so-and-so; the command would be, Unravel and read the record
which he has made of himself, and let it testify in relation to these things, and
all could gaze upon it. If a man has acted fraudulently against his
neighbor--has committed murder, or adultery, or any thing else, and wants to
cover it up, that record will stare him in the face, he tells the story
himself, and bears witness against himself. It is written that Jesus will judge
not after the sight of the eye, or after the hearing of the ear, but with
righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity the meek of the
earth. It is not because somebody has seen things, or heard anything by which a
man will be judged and condemned, but it is because that record that is
written by the man himself in the tablets of his own mind--that record that
cannot lie--will in that day be unfolded before God and angels, and those who
shall sit as judges.” (Journal of Discourses, pp. 77-9)
Jacob 6:10 the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied
The sons of Perdition are
the only ones who are not redeemed by the atoning sacrifice (DC 76:38). This
means that although they are resurrected they do not receive a kingdom of
glory. They are the only ones whom the mercy of the Lord cannot reach. This is
because they have effectively denied the mercies of the Holy One. Therefore,
the demands of justice are in force. No one else will feel the power of justice as forcefully as these unfortunate
souls. Therefore if that man repenteth not, and
remaineth and dieth an enemy to God…mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore
his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment (Mosiah 2:38-9).
Jacob 6:10 lake of fire and brimstone
The lake of fire and
brimstone is so frequently talked about in the Book of Mormon that it would be
a mistake if the reader thought this phrase is used literally. The
interpretation is figurative as the teachings of Joseph Smith clarify.
Joseph
Smith
“A man is his own tormenter and his own
condemner. Hence the saying, They shall
go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. The torment of disappointment in the mind of man is as exquisite
as a lake burning with fire and brimstone.
I say, so is the torment of man.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph
Smith, p.357)
Jacob 6:10 What is endless torment?
‘And surely every man
must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless.
Wherefore, I revoke not
the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and
gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand.
Nevertheless, it is not
written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless
torment.
Again, it is written eternal
damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might
work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name's glory.
Wherefore, I will
explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine
apostles.
I speak unto you that
are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.
For, behold, the
mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the
punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my
name. Wherefore--
Eternal punishment is
God's punishment.
Endless punishment is
God's punishment.’ (DC 19:4-12)
Jacob 6:12 O be wise
Marvin J. Ashton
“I
carry in my daily date book a few brief memo sheets….One sheet almost worn out
now has nothing more on it than Jacob 6, verse 12: ’O
be wise; what can I say more?’ Be wise enough to accept appropriate
discipline and guidelines. Be wise enough to say the right words at the right
time to the right person….Ever bear in mind that Jesus was the wisest of the
wise, even brilliant, in his relationships with people….President Spencer W.
Kimball, on one occasion a few years ago asked me to accompany him to the Utah
State Prison….I learned much from a prophet who was wise….We were greeted by
the warden and taken to his office….Two inmates were invited to come in and
meet with us. They were in their prison garb and looked hard. I felt very
uneasy when the steel door closed behind them and we were left with the two of
them….President Kimball shook their hands before we all sat down. This was
followed by a brief period of intense silence. The prisoners were looking at
the floor. President Kimball was looking at them, and I was looking at him.
After this awkward period of silence was over, President Kimball started off
with what seemed to me to [be] an unusual approach. The thought crossed my mind
that he could say: ‘What are you in here for? Why did you do it? When do you
get out? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves,’ or ‘What is your previous
record?’…He looked at the one, and said to my surprise: ‘Tell me about your
mother.’ The prisoner responded and told President Kimball and others of us
assembled about his mother….President Kimball finally looked at the other
prisoner and said: ‘What does your father do for a living?’ He too responded
with comments, and the Prophet gave complete attention and listened
intently….They looked at him, responded, and looked in his face while he gently
listened….Word had spread that President Spencer W. Kimball was at the prison
visiting, and some of the media were outside the doors waiting for pictures and
conversation with President Kimball. [He]…invited some of the press into the
room with a cameraman. One reporter said, ‘President Kimball, we’d like to have
a picture of you talking to these two inmates.’ President Kimball granted the
interview by standing up promptly and getting between the two prisoners as the
picture was taken. I recall as though it were yesterday what he said after the
picture was taken. He shook one hand and then the other and said, ‘Thank you,
boys, for letting me have my picture taken with you.’ One of these hardened
prisoners was in for murder and the other one for grand larceny. To say they
were touched and responsive is an understatement. I will never forget the
impact of this visit upon me and my future. A wise, gentle prophet conducted
his interview without embarrassment, without ridicule, and without
condemnation…interviewing, counseling, instructing, and touching lives with wisdom.”
(BYU University Conference, Aug. 24-5, 1992 as taken from Latter-day
Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 187)
Jacob 6:13 I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God
Jacob promises to meet us at
the judgment bar of God. He will apparently be there with Nephi, Moroni, and
many other prophets. Nephi declared, I shall meet many
souls spotless at his judgment-seat…and you and I shall stand face to face
before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write
these things (2 Ne 33:7,11). Moroni also will be at the judgment-seat, we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where
all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood
(Ether 12:38).
“It is worthy of note that the four
persons who contribute the most as writers in the Book of Mormon-Nephi, Jacob,
Mormon, and Moroni-all certify that one's acceptance or rejection of that which
they have written by the power of the Spirit will be a crucial issue at the
judgment bar of God. ‘And if they [his words in the Book of Mormon] are not the words of Christ,’ Nephi challenged, ‘judge ye-for Christ will show unto you, with power and
great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall
stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded
of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness’ (2 Nephi
33:11; see also Mormon 3:18-22; Moroni 10:27).” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal
Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 82)