Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
Jacob Chapter 1
1:15 Men who lust after the flesh have lost respect for personality - their own as well as others.
Jacob rightly diagnosed their condition as hardness of heart. It is a pity that the Nephites as a
people should have become corrupt so soon after Nephi's death, considering his wise counsel and
the spiritual light given them through him.
Jac 1:16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat
in pride;
1:16 When people set their hearts on precious things, pride enters, and spiritual values are often
lost. In the book of Proverbs we read that "by pride cometh contention" (13:10) and "pride goeth
before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (16:18). Pride eventually undermined the
Nephite nation; this was the first step downward after the reign of peace following Christ's
personal ministry to the Nephites (IV N. 1:27 ff; D. and C. 38:9b).
Jac 1:19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the
sins of the people upon our own heads, if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence;
1:19 Nephi had consecrated Jacob and Joseph to be priests and teachers (II N. 4:42). The people
were called to the temple which Nephi had built after the manner of Solomon's Temple (11 N.
4:22). The Lord had directed Jacob on this "errand" Ob. 1: 17) or mission. The earnestness is
indicated by the statement, "by laboring with our mights, their blood might not come upon our
garments" (20).