This book is by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which I will in the future call the LDS Church or LDS.
This book is not endorsed by the LDS Church nor does it represent official viewpoints thereof.
Faith is when you realize something is wrong, you suspend believing in what is unnecessary, you look for your new concept, and you discover a better explanation. If you want to know that the Book of Mormon is true, try Book of Mormon Central or Evidence Central . Or you can just examine the Book of Mormon with me at scriptures.lds.org . (From an orthodox LDS perspective).
Jacob
Jacob 1
Jacob 1:1 – “wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.” Nephi had already been commanded to fill the plates with things pleasing unto God and not to the world. (1 Nephi 6:5)
Jacob 1:2 – For that reason he was not supposed to cover history.
Jacob 1:3 – However he was supposed to pass them down to see how things worked out. Two things we’ve mentioned to look out for are: 1. how America prospers and secures the righteous and punishes the wicked; and, 2. what Christ would do.
Jacob 1:4 – Jacob should mention any prophesying.
Jacob 1:5 – “For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.” Jacob has learned what will happen to his people, which should be interesting if he shares it.
Jacob 1:6 They also knew about what Christ would do ahead of time and about His kingdom. Knowing about His kingdom would help further determine who belongs there.
Jacob 1:7 – “Wherefore we labored diligently among our people,” They have to work hard to get people to do the right thing.
Jacob 1:8 – “Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.” This is God’s plan as well but there must be opposition. (2 Nephi 2:10)
Jacob 1:9 – “he annointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings.” Nephi kinged someone.
Jacob 1:10 – The people would love Nephi’s endorsement.
Jacob 1:11 – A great name is a treasure. The king’s kept the name of Nephi. Proverbs 22:1
Jacob 1:12 – “And it came to pass that Nephi died.” Nephi lived a full life although he had sinned.
Jacob 1:13 – “Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.” Nephites were further divided.
Jacob 1:14 – For the purposes of the Book Nephites are Nephi’s friends and Lamanites are Nephi’s enemies.
Jacob 1:15 – “And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.” We will see the judgments of God on Nephi’s people already. Having impure hearts and dirty hands leads to not seeing the truth.
Jacob 1:16 – Riches and pride are things that help you to not progress. God should come first.
Jacob 1:17 – Jacob taught these things in the Temple and got strength from the Lord first. (1 Nephi 15:6)
Jacob 1:18 – He and his brother had also received permission from the people.
Jacob 1:19 – They took responsibility for the teaching.
Jacob 2
Jacob 2:1 – Jacob’s key initial sermon, coming right up.
Jacob 2:2 – Jacob would have to tell his people what to do or he would be innocent himself, so he’s going to address the wrongs of his people.
Jacob 2:3 – “I this day am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been.” Something’s happening that he is afraid will affect their afterlife.
Jacob 2:4 – They’ve been obedient to the commandments and word of God. What’s wrong then?
Jacob 2:5 – “I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yea, and abominable unto God.” Their thoughts were becoming sinful, and no time like the present to help things get better, especially if they aren’t that far gone yet.
Jacob 2:6 – “Yea, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with shame before the presence of my Maker, that I must testify unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts.” It makes him feel bad and he is reluctant to do it, but he must do it so he can stand upright before his Maker.
Jacob 2:7 – “And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God;” He has to talk about thoughts related to chastity in front of children.
Jacob 2:8 – “And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.” The children just want to hear the word of God so that they can be motivated, in particular through having their afflictions consoled.
Jacob 2:9 – “Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.” He understands that many are hurting spiritually and wants to be sensitive to them.
Jacob 2:10 – “But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the strict commands of God, and tell you concerning your wickedness and abominations, in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken heart, and under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.” However, he has to do it because righteousness encourages righteousness.
Jacob 2:11 – “Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people.” He wants it to be plain and he got his errand at the Temple.
Jacob 2:12 – “And now behold, my brethren, this is the word which I declare unto you, that many of you have begun to search for gold, and for silver, and for all manner of precious ores, in the which this land, which is a land of promise unto you and to your seed, doth abound most plentifully.” The promised land is abundant, but the main abundance is through obeying God.
Jacob 2:13 – “and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.” The last part is most telling. Because of riches they persecute their neighbor.
Jacob 2:14 – “do ye suppose that God justifieth you in this thing? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.” This is not right because it’s wicked.
Jacob 2:15 – “O that he would show you that he can pierce you, and with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust!” If they realized how much God cared they would reconsider.
Jacob 2:16 – “O that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!” Pride stops progress and especially dwelling on other things besides being obedient.
Jacob 2:17 – “Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.” Ultimately that is how it’s supposed to get done.
Jacob 2:18 – “But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.” This is what I’ve been saying.
Jacob 2:19 – “And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.” Then you will share your riches with others which is more than acceptable. It is better to be rich and share your riches than to be poor and not be able to share.
Jacob 2:20 – “And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it?” Harming others is bad, and they did it because they thought they were better.
Jacob 2:21 – “Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him forever.” We are not independent and very low. We are supposed to keep His commandments and glorify Him forever.
Jacob 2:22 – There’s worse than pride.
Jacob 2:23 – “But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.” People are doing the very thing that brought David and Solomon down!
Jacob 2:24 – “Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.” It is clear that this is the reason.
Jacob 2:25 – “Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.” America is supposed to be a righteous place.
Jacob 2:26 – America must be better.
Jacob 2:27 – “Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;” Therefore they must have one wife and no concubines.
Jacob 2:28 – “For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.” He wants people to just share their passions with one person, married, and control their own urges towards themselves.
Jacob 2:29 – “Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.” The land is already on the verge of being cursed to the people who don’t do this.
Jacob 2:30 – “For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.” The Lord will command if polygamy is necessary.
Jacob 2:31 – Women have been hurt by their husbands. That leads to straining families.
Jacob 2:32 – The Lord won’t suffer this to happen because He is good.
Jacob 2:33 – The women are tender.
Jacob 2:34 –Jacob explains that he has given them responsibility now.
Jacob 2:35 – “Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.” The Lamanites deserve to molest them in warfare and Jacob laments hurting people’s feelings who were pure.
Jacob 3
Jacob 3:1 – “But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.” The pure in heart have integrity. The Lord will therefore help them.
Jacob 3:2 – “O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.” It even says “if your minds are firm,” confirming what I just said. They would have the iron rod and the love of God forever.
Jacob 3:3 – “But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart, that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes; and the Lamanites, which are not filthy like unto you, nevertheless they are cursed with a sore cursing, shall scourge you even unto destruction.” Those who are filthy have the land cursed; it is only prosperous and safe to the obedient.
Jacob 3:4 – “that except ye repent they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among you.” The unrighteous would get punished by God and the righteous would settle. We have yet to see this happening later in the Book of Mormon.
Jacob 3:5 – The Lamanites are pure in being morally clean which is the head.
Jacob 3:6 – “6 And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people.” This purity will make them blessed.
Jacob 3:7 – “Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?” They have loving families and are ignorantly mistaken, which is better than being immoral.
Jacob 3:8 – “I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God.” The skin color curse would be reversed by them being brighter than the Nephites. If at first in salvation, after in reality.
Jacob 3:9 – Therefore the Nephites were to not look down on them but look at their own problems.
Jacob 3:10 – Now the Nephite children would have problems.
Jacob 3:11 – Wake up and avoid hell!
Jacob 3:12 – Jacob told the consequences for sins. We know some of them already from our Book of Mormon study.
Jacob 3:13 – The historical details are not included here.
Jacob 3:14 – Jacob is done speaking.
Jacob 4
Jacob 4:1 – “because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon” Writing on the plates was difficult, so they did it considerately.
Jacob 4:2– It had to be on plates or the record would disappear.
Jacob 4:3 – “hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.” It was hoped that they’d be grateful and not bitter, joyous and not sorrowful, and not contemptible. In other words, it was hoped that it would work.
Jacob 4:4 – “For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.” They wanted us to know that ancient prophets, in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, knew of Christ and had hope through Him.
Jacob 4:5 – “Behold, they believed in Christ and worshipped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.” So, keeping the law of Moses is a way to worship and points to Jesus. An example is Abraham being asked to sacrifice his only chance at a son when he was promised seed like the sand of the sea or the stars in heaven.
Jacob 4:6 – “Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.” Hope will increase productivity a great deal!
Jacob 4:7– “Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.” Yet, these things are miracles through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Jacob 4:8 – “Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.” You have to have a revelation to know anything about God.
Jacob 4:9 – “why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?” God commands the earth and its people.
Jacob 4:10 – “ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.” Don’t try to tell God what to do. He has greater wisdom, justice and mercy. Those three qualities make Him the best.
Jacob 4:11 – “be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ,” Therefore apply the atonement for very great reward.
Jacob 4:12 – This is good to understand.
Jacob 4:13 – Prophecy is plain.
Jacob 4:14 – Jews thought too hard. So, the Lord gave them hard things.
Jacob 4:15 – They would stumble over Jesus Christ Himself.
Jacob 4:16 – However He is the only thing they can build on.
Jacob 4:17 – How can they build on Him if they stumbled over Him?
Jacob 4:18 – Now we get to hear the history of the Earth!
Jacob 5
For this one I want to not only look at hive minds but look at the whole allegory as a parable about a single mind, where applicable. Neurons can be like trees where the soil is everywhere in the brain.
Jacob 5:1 – “my brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the prophet Zenos, which he spake unto the house of Israel, saying:” We don’t know Zenos. The House of Israel is a hive mind or a smart part of the brain.
Jacob 5:2 – The House of Israel or the smart part of the brain should tune in.
Jacob 5:3 – An olive tree is a special tree. It bears olives. Israel grows and the smart part of the brain grows. But a tree and a brain get old and begin to decay.
Jacob 5:4 – “I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not.” The House of Israel and the brain will get a chance to rejuvenate with new connections, new space to grow, and healthier cells/people.
Jacob 5:5 – So that was or would be able to happen.
Jacob 5:6 – The House of Israel and the brain made good new connections, but the part that grows out the most was ultimately stifled.
Jacob 5:7 – But the Lord has a plan and the top would be removed and destroyed. Also, he brought wild, or ordinary connections to the tree. This is mixing with gentiles or mixing with other parts of the brain.
Jacob 5:8 – The good stuff goes elsewhere so it’s growth can be preserved. This is like scattering Israel or learning to use a different part of the brain.
Jacob 5:9 – So the original smart part or originally smart house of Israel had ordinary parts or ordinary people put into it and the stuff that was removed would have to die. In the brain, the cells would gradually die out and with the house of Israel it is gradual too.
Jacob 5:10 – Narrative that it happened.
Jacob 5:11 – The Lord rehearsed unto His servant why He did this. That is like the conscious part of the brain exercising its brain to follow its will.
Jacob 5:12 – The tree would be watched to see if anything was needed.
Jacob 5:13 – Rehearsal.
Jacob 5:14 – Narrative that it happened.
Jacob 5:15 – After a long time away or the brain transformed the consciousness or the leader went to check up on this.
Jacob 5:16 – “Behold, look here; behold the tree.” They looked at the house of Israel or the original smart part.
Jacob 5:17 – By working with the regular people or neurons, the house of Israel or the smart part of the brain brought forth good fruit. This was done, if you’ll remember, to handle strong thinking that was getting old by mixing it with regular thinking that was new.
Jacob 5:18 – The scattered house of Israel or the newly learning part of the brain had much “moisture” or vitality.
Jacob 5:19 – They decided to check the worst part of the world or the brain where they had put the best but old branches.
Jacob 5:20 – The Lord was able to get good fruit. That meant good works of the House of Israel or an effective brain.
Jacob 5:21 – “And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard.” It was wondered why the worst place to grow produced so much.
Jacob 5:22 – The Lord or the consciousness knew what it was doing.
Jacob 5:23 – An even poorer spot worked even better.
Jacob 5:24 – Another spot had it occur.
Jacob 5:25 – “And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others.” There was something wrong with the competition between the two grounds or areas.
Jacob 5:26 – The non-functional part of the brain must be destroyed or it could spread like a cancer. The same with the House of Israel (or the gentiles).
Jacob 5:27 – They wanted to give it a chance to grow a little while longer.
Jacob 5:28 – The whole world and the whole brain were exercised.
Jacob 5:29 – After a while the season was ending and the good and bad would have to be separated.
Jacob 5:30 – “And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant went down into the vineyard; and they came to the tree whose natural branches had been broken off, and the wild branches had been grafted in; and behold all sorts of fruit did cumber the tree.” The original place had all sorts of fruit.
Jacob 5:31 – So the braininess of the House of Israel brought forth much fruit when combined with the gentiles.
Jacob 5:32 – And yet, none of it was good.
Jacob 5:33 – “And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: What shall we do unto the tree, that I may preserve again good fruit thereof unto mine own self?” So the Lord said to Jesus, or consciousness sought through mental exercise, what more could be done?
Jacob 5:34 – “And the servant said unto his master: Behold, because thou didst graft in the branches of the wild olive tree they have nourished the roots, that they are alive and they have not perished; wherefore thou beholdest that they are yet good.” Those roots weren’t bad. Roots are always helpful when you want to know where you are coming from.
Jacob 5:35 – “And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots thereof profit me nothing so long as it shall bring forth evil fruit.” But what difference does it make if there’s no good fruit? Fruit is like a new neuron connection. The fruit gets planted in the brain and grows a new neuron.
Jacob 5:36 – “Nevertheless, I know that the roots are good, and for mine own purpose I have preserved them; and because of their much strength they have hitherto brought forth, from the wild branches, good fruit.” The roots used to work.
Jacob 5:37 – “But behold, the wild branches have grown and have overrun the roots thereof; and because that the wild branches have overcome the roots thereof it hath brought forth much evil fruit;” The branches took over the roots. This is like a sci-fi where history was changed, or where history was ignored, or where the brain ignored its past. That makes evil.
Jacob 5:38 – They decided to check the most scattered of Israel or the weakest parts of the brain which were exercised to be smart.
Jacob 5:39 – They had all similarly become corrupt. Was it overrunning the roots again? (Jacob 5:37)
Jacob 5:40 – “And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died.” After a while, the trees wanted to bring forth corrupt fruit before good fruit. Could that be because Israel or the smart part still got too lofty?
Jacob 5:41 – “And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?” Even the Lord or the whole brain would recognize a mistake if He or it could find one.
Jacob 5:42 – There was nothing left.
Jacob 5:43 – “And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard.” The best land didn’t work.
Jacob 5:44 – He had given space for it or them to do what it or they wanted.
Jacob 5:45 – “And thou beheldest that a part thereof brought forth good fruit, and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and because I plucked not the branches thereof and cast them into the fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch that it hath withered away.” He would have had to be more vengeful!
Jacob 5:46 – The Lord or brain is still looking for ways to help the House of Israel or itself.
Jacob 5:47 – “Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?” He asks.
Jacob 5:48 – “And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?” We know that in our day, technology goes a long way and people ignore tradition. How did Joseph Smith know this? Honoring your parents helps with this!
Jacob 5:49 – “And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have done more for my vineyard?” The Lord is about to destroy it.
Jacob 5:50 – “But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little longer.” Jesus Christ or the brain itself tries to keep it going.
Jacob 5:51 – “Yea, I will spare it a little longer,” The Lord of the consciousness is decided that it will try. What’s to lose? They still have a little longer.
Jacob 5:52 – So they put the worst growing parts back in the worst growing place and the least tasty parts back in the least tasty places.
Jacob 5:53 – Perhaps the roots could be saved by things being more from where they are from.
Jacob 5:54 – He’s trying it.
Jacob 5:55 – They do it.
Jacob 5:56 – They do it.
Jacob 5:57 – But they only do it with the fruit of the worst tasting branches.
Jacob 5:58 – So they trimmed the prosperity of the human race or the ability of the brain so they wouldn’t or it wouldn’t overcome itself.
Jacob 5:59 – “And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may overcome the evil.” They wanted the roots to keep the branches in check.
Jacob 5:60 – The Lord is hopeful as humanity and a brain who realizes these things should be hopeful.
Jacob 5:61 – In the last days, there would be other servants. That could be brain augmentation too.
Jacob 5:62 – “Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.” He will allow it a chance to reform under these conditions.
Jacob 5:63 – “Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time.” The last would be first because they need the most attention having been through this so long and vice versa.
Jacob 5:64 – If they grow this time, He will allow it to continue.
Jacob 5:65 – “And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof;” The bad tasting fruit would be cleared away enough to balance the roots and branches that were doing good.
Jacob 5:66 – “For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard.” Balancing tradition and advancement is very important.
Jacob 5:67 – The House of Israel would grow in its own place again.
Jacob 5:68 – They shall be one.
Jacob 5:69 – The bad will be thrown away when there needs to be place for new things to grow, like the House of Israel or neurons.
Jacob 5:70 – “And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.” Missionaries of Jesus Christ in the vineyard would be rare but hard-working. Brain augmentation would do what it could.
Jacob 5:71 – “and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.” The Lord will reward them with the fruit. They will be happy with converts.
Jacob 5:72 – The servants had to obey the commandments. Augmentation had to maintain the balance.
Jacob 5:73 – They kept this up.
Jacob 5:74 – “which was most precious unto him from the beginning.” The Lord had wanted fruit from the beginning like a little child wants to have a good brain.
Jacob 5:75 – It will work if we keep the commandments. Keeping the commandments unravels your mind. (2 Nephi 1:13).
Jacob 5:76 – It has been done.
Jacob 5:77 – “And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire.” Then the Lord keeps the good with Him and has to burn the fire to repeat the process.
Jacob 6
Jacob 6:1 – “that the things which this prophet Zenos spake, concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive tree, must surely come to pass.” Since a hive mind works like a mind, and since they tried everything with each one, the narrative naturally fits.
Jacob 6:2 – In the last days, the missionaries would give more room to grow and strengthen the connections among people.
Jacob 6:3 – “And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard; and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place! And the world shall be burned with fire.” Hooray for those who help and too bad for those who fight; and the Lord will surely be motivated to keep things that way.
Jacob 6:4 – “And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.” Things must be balanced. With a brain, not changing and not being correct are all that can hurt it. That is stiffneckedness and gainsaying.
Jacob 6:5 – Therefore Jacob’s audience, like everyone, should seek to change and stick to what the Lord does to learn better.
Jacob 6:6 – “Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die?” That is what people should do right now. The heart starts it because it is motivation.
Jacob 6:7 – “For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire?” Therefore, we must progress!
Jacob 6:8 – Why would you not listen to something so clear?
Jacob 6:9 – Shame and guilt are harmless, but they are awful to motivate someone not to end up with them.
Jacob 6:10 – “And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment.” Torment is severe mental or physical suffering. This is something nobody wants even if it leads them to unbelief.
Jacob 6:11 – “O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.” This is what we should all do.
Jacob 6:12 – “O be wise; what can I say more?” For a hive mind or an individual mind is that all you can say?
Jacob 6:13 – “13 Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear. Amen.” This is good for everyone.
Jacob 7
We have the first example of a rebel since Nephi’s day. We will look for how the promises of God play out in his life and anyone who follows him.
Jacob 7:1 – “there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem.” His name was Sherem.
Jacob 7:2 – “And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.” He taught that Christ does not make sense as somebody to come. He is going to present alternative logic.
Jacob 7:3 – This was no shy man. He wanted to meet with Jacob although he was already flattering many others.
Jacob 7:4 – He was very good at speaking, but unfortunately not for good.
Jacob 7:5 – Although Sherem wanted to get Jacob, Jacob had had many signs that were righteously brought about. We know that the righteous forces should be able to beat the wicked, but it could be hard for Jacob.
Jacob 7:6 – He tries to sound like a friend.
Jacob 7:7 – He used the “Bible, Bible, nor more Bible” argument.
Jacob 7:8 – “But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.” The spirit gives all understanding, so Jacob got the upper hand.
Jacob 7:9 – “but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be.” He again goes to the idea that prophecy is already complete. There hasn’t been a Christ so there won’t be one.
Jacob 7:10 – “And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.” So Jacob asked if he believed the scriptures so he could use them.
Jacob 7:11 – “And I said unto him: Then ye 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.” Jacob said all the prophets testified of Christ.
Jacob 7:12 – “And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.” Jacob knew for himself that without an atonement all mankind would be lost which doesn’t seem to be a good attitude; but that is what Sherem is preaching.
Jacob 7:13 – “Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.” So Sherem asks for a sign. Jacob got signs, but perhaps Sherem is just pretending to be good so that he would deserve a sign. A sign is a powerful thing.
Jacob 7:14 – “What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true?” Jacob did not want to tempt God for something Sherem already knew, like Moses did not want to tempt God for things the Israelites didn’t need. Jacob said Sherem would be smitten.
Jacob 7:15 – “insomuch that he fell to the earth.” Even if Sherem was a good guy faking it, this necessarily demonstrates that Christ would come. Christ did miracles.
Jacob 7:16 – “And it came to pass that he said unto the people: Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I shall die.” Sherem was going to die so it wasn’t pretend. He wanted to speak to the people.
Jacob 7:17 – “and he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.” He admitted to all the helpers of God.
Jacob 7:18 – “And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment.” He warned them all that he had been a bad example.
Jacob 7:19 – Despite the looming punishment that he sensed for himself, he admitted the truth because he still wanted to help.
Jacob 7:20 – “And it came to pass that when he had said these words he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost.” That was all he could say and then he died. Now we will see what the people do.
Jacob 7:21 – “And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth.” His followers fittingly fell to the earth as well. It was because of shock but the symbolism is fitting.
Jacob 7:22 – “Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer.” Jacob had prayed for all of this.
Jacob 7:23 – “And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man.” Because of Sherem’s good example at the very end of his life, the people fell like he did, making them ready to climb back up from their fall.
Jacob 7:24 – The Lamanites were vicious however.
Jacob 7:25 – “Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.” They had to conquer to defend.
Jacob 7:26 – “and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.” They were by themselves and mourned because of the difficulty. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. They had a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The Lamanites stirred them up to rememberance.
Jacob 7:27 – That’s it. It was a small book and Enos is commanded to fill the plates with the things of God.
Jacob 1:1 to 1 Nephi 6:5
Jacob 1:8 to 2 Nephi 2:10
Jacob 1:11 to Proverbs 22:1
Jacob 1:17 to 1 Nephi 15:6