Jacob 1-4: "Be Reconciled unto God through the Atonement of Christ" (April 1-7)

Paul Anderson

April 1

The book of Jacob divides into four sections:

Introduction (chapter 1)
Jacob's second sermon to his people (chapters 2-3)
Jacob teaches us about the gathering of Israel (chapters 4-6)
Sherem challenges Jacob (chapter 7)

This week, we will study the first four chapters of the book. We will see Jacob's conscientiousness in fulfilling his priestly responsibilities. We will learn about the dangers of pride and the importance of chastity. And we will recognize the importance of being reconciled to God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Here are some highlights from these chapters, with links to relevant blog posts:

Outline

Jacob 1 – Jacob's Duty - Jacob describes how he fulfilled Nephi's instructions and his responsibilities as a priest.
Jacob 2 – Jacob's Second Sermon, Part 1: Pride and Unchastity - Jacob teaches his people to treat everyone as equals and to obey the law of chastity.
Jacob 3 – Jacob's Second Sermon, Part 2: Receive the Pleasing Word of God - Jacob comforts the pure in heart and warns those who are not pure to repent.
Jacob 4 – Building on the Sure Foundation - He urges us to receive counsel from God and to be reconciled to Him through Christ.

Key Themes

God loves all of His children, and we are all precious in His sight. We must be careful not to confuse worldly wealth with eternal worth.
God will give us specific assignments to help us fulfill our responsibilities. We can move forward in confidence after obtaining our "errand" from Him.
Writing in a journal can help us better evaluate and extract meaning from the experiences of life.
We can find solace and strength in the scriptures and in the words of modern prophets.

Connections

A psalm prophesies that a stone rejected by builders will become their cornerstone. (See Psalm 118:22-23.) Peter testified that Jesus was that stone. (See Acts 4:10-12.) Jacob explains how those who have "rejected the sure foundation can one day build upon it" (Jacob 4:17).
Jacob taught that Abraham acted in the "similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son" (Jacob 4:5) when he offered Isaac as a sacrifice.
Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). Jacob provided a succinct answer: "Things as they really are, and...as they really will be" (Jacob 4:13; see also Doctrine and Covenants 93:24).

Applications

Recognize the importance of your callings and perform them to the highest standard of excellence.
Be sensitive to the feelings of the people around you, particularly when those feelings are tender.
When you pray, ask for guidance, not just blessings. Don't pray as though you had the master plan and you just need God to help you fulfill it.