Jacob Calls His People to Repentance

After Nephi died, I spoke these words to the Nephites:

“My beloved brothers and sisters, I am responsible to God to fulfill my obligation to serve you, so I will not have to answer for your sins. This is why I have come to give you God’s words in the temple today. You know that I have taught you diligently. So far, this has not been a hard task. But today it is hard because I am weighed down more than ever with anxiety over the welfare of your souls. Until now, you have obeyed the Lord’s words that I have given you. But listen to me, for by the help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth, I know your thoughts—how you are beginning to work in sin, which is very offensive to God, and to me. It sorrows my soul and causes me to shrink with shame before the presence of my Maker, for I must testify to you about the wickedness of your hearts. I’m also sorry that I must speak so boldly about you in front of your wives and children, for many of their feelings are very tender, chaste and delicate before God, which is pleasing to Him. They have come to hear the pleasing word of God—the word that heals the wounded soul. My soul is burdened because I am compelled by a strict command from God to admonish you for your crimes, and enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing them. And those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God, they will have their souls pierced and delicate minds wounded. But as hard as this, I must obey God’s strict command and tell you about your wickedness in the presence of their pure and broken hearts, and do it under the gaze of the Almighty God’s piercing eyes.

“I must tell you the truth according to God’s plain word. For as I was praying, His word came to me, ‘Jacob, go to the temple tomorrow and tell your people the words that I will give you.’ Now my brothers and sisters, these are the words:

“Many of you have begun to search for gold, silver, and all types of precious ores that are plentiful in this land of promise, given to you and your descendants. God has smiled upon you most pleasingly, and by His providence you have obtained many riches. Because some of you have obtained more than others you have become lifted up in the pride of your hearts. You lift your heads high because of your expensive clothing, and you criticize others, thinking that you are better than they. Now, do you think God justifies you in doing this? No, He condemns you. And if you continue to do this, His judgments must quickly come upon you. I wish He would show you how He can level you to the dust with just one glance of His eyes! I wish His Spirit would take the desire to sin away from you so you would listen to His commands and not let the pride of your hearts destroy your souls!

“You should know all your brothers and sisters’ needs as you do your own and be generous with your things, so generous that you all become equally rich. But before you seek riches, seek God’s kingdom. After you have obtained a hope in Christ you will have riches, if you want them to do good—to buy food and clothing for those in need, to liberate those in debt, and to give relief to the sick and afflicted.

“I have spoken to you about pride. And those of you who afflict and despise your neighbors because you are so proud of your possessions—things with which God has blessed you—what do you say for yourselves? Don’t you think your pride offends your Creator, to whom everyone is equally precious? For God created us all from the dust, to keep His commandments and thereby glorify Him forever.

“This is all I will say about your pride. If I did not have to speak to you about a more serious sin, my heart would rejoice greatly because of you. But God’s word burdens me because of your crimes. The Lord told me, ‘This people are becoming sinful. They do not understand the scriptures. They try to excuse their immorality because of what is written about David and his son Solomon, who both had many wives and mistresses—a serious sin before me. I led this people out of Jerusalem by the power of my arm to raise up righteous descendants of Joseph of old. To do this, I, the Lord God, cannot allow this people to do what David and Solomon did.’ Now my brethren, hear me and obey the Lord, for every man should have only one wife and no mistresses. For the Lord said: ‘I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women, and immorality of any kind is a very serious sin before me. My people will keep my commandments or the land will be cursed for their sakes. If I need to raise up many righteous people, I will command accordingly. Otherwise, they must obey this law. I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow and have heard the mourning of my people’s daughters in Jerusalem, and in all my people’s lands, because of their husbands’ wickedness. I will not allow the cries of the fair daughters of this people, whom I have led out of Jerusalem, to come up to me against my people’s men. For if they seduce and capture the hearts of my people’s daughters because of their tenderness, I will visit them with destruction for committing sexual sins like those of old.’

“My brethren, you know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi. Now you have come under great condemnation for doing what you know is wrong. Your sins are greater than those of the Lamanites. Because of your bad examples, you have broken your wives’ tender hearts and have lost your children’s confidence. The sobbing of their hearts goes up to God, and because of God’s strict word that has come down against you, many of their hearts have died, pierced with deep wounds.