Jacob 2 - Intro

[pam]

The Sensitivity of Jacob

Jacob’s sensitivity is never more tenderly expressed than in his denunciation of sexual immorality. While he warns of the dire consequences of fornication and adultery (see Jacob 2:27-33; 3:12), he is mostly concerned with the sufferings of the victims. He declares that the Lord has “seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning… [and] the cries of the fair daughters.” He chastises those who have caused such sorrow, saying: “Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives…and the sobbing of their hearts ascend up to God….Many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds” (Jacob 2:31-35).

Expressions such as these reveal Jacob as one attuned to sorrow and suffering….Characteristic of Jacob is his discomfort with confrontational speech. Revealing his sensitivity to suffering, he consistently apologizes for the necessary harshness of his words. Jacob often emphasizes that he would rather comfort and console than chastise and rebuke….Jacob 2:2-11 records ten amazingly compassionate verses of apology before beginning a strong call for repentance….

In many ways, Jacob’s tender heart is much like the Savior’s. Shusaku Endo, the Japanese novelist and biblical scholar, said of Jesus: “The interest of Jesus extended to the ones who wept for the harsh realities of life: the sick and the lame crawling out of the huts….His heart ached at the sight. Love and sympathy flowed from him like blood from a deep wound. We in our own hearts know how we are attracted to glamorous and beautiful people and how we easily close our eyes to those who are filthy and ugly. It was different with Jesus” (Shusako Endo, a Life of Jesus, trans. Richard A. Schubert (New York: Paulist Press, 1973, 62).

Apparently, it was also different with Jacob. Perhaps this is why, when the name of Christ was revealed to the Nephites, Jacob was the first to receive that knowledge (see 2 Ne. 10:3).

Chris Conkling, Ensign, Feb. 1992 [salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1992], 9-10

[Dr T]

I thought Pammy was posting about being on "Team Jacob"

[pam]

I guess in a sense I am. Just not THAT Jacob. :)

[Therauh]

One of my favorites from the BoM

[TheActualLiz]

Pam,

I would like to join the study group. It seems like there could be a lot of good, solid discussion here. Past the general forum rules, and only moderators starting threads are there any other points of conduct that I should know about?

Liz

[pam]

Not really a study group. I just post a scripture from the Book of Mormon daily with a quote that goes with it.

Feel free to comment.