Jacob 2:5 Ye are beginning to labor in sin

“The sins of the people in Jacob’s day were not inadvertent transgressions; they had begun to ‘labor in sin’ in the sense that sin had become their obsession and their preoccupation.  They had begun to flirt with that spirit which characterised the wickedness of the days of Noah: ‘And every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, being only evil continually’ (Moses 8:22).” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 11)

‘More than 30 years ago, I urged BYU students to avoid the “promotional literature of illicit sexual relations” in what they read and viewed. I gave this analogy:

“Pornographic or erotic stories and pictures are worse than filthy or polluted food. The body has defences to rid itself of unwholesome food. With a few fatal exceptions, bad food will only make you sick but do no permanent harm. In contrast, a person who feasts upon filthy stories or pornographic or erotic pictures and literature records them in this marvelous retrieval system we call a brain. The brain won’t vomit back filth. Once recorded, it will always remain subject to recall, flashing its perverted images across your mind and drawing you away from the wholesome things in life.” ‘[Challenges for the Year Ahead (pamphlet, 1974), 4–5; reprinted in “Things They’re Saying,” New Era, Feb. 1974, 18.] 

(Elder Dallin H Oaks. General Conference, April 2005)

Jacob 2:12-16 Let not this pride of your heart destroy your souls

“First of all, Jacob said the men had begun spending more and more time searching for gold and silver and other precious ores which abound in this land so plentifully. In these mining adventures, the men had been blessed with remarkable success. However, some had obtained more riches than others and thought this made them somehow superior to those with less. Therefore they were lifted up in pride and wore stiff necks as they smugly strutted about showing off the costliness of their fine apparel. They even began to abuse or persecute the more humble brethren who had not been quite so fortunate.

Jacob challenged them. They stood condemned by Almighty God and unless they repented of this stupid sense of pride and false superiority, Jacob predicted the judgment of God would descend on them speedily. At the rate things were going, Jacob felt the sooner something happened to these men, the better it would be. Jacob wished they could realise that with a single glance of his eye, God could smite them in to the dust. Jacob longed to have something happen to them so that their silly pride would not destroy their souls.” (Cleon Skousen, Treasures from the Book of Mormon)

Jacob 2:19 Ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them

“The Lord expects us when he blesses us with the good things of this earth to remember those who are not so fortunate. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, comfort those who mourn, and minister unto those who are poor and needy, and thus become of that class to whom the Lord, when he shall come, shall say: ‘Come, ye blessed of the Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” (George F Richards, Conference Reports, Oct. 1939, p. 109)

Jacob 2:22-23 Because of the things which were written concerning David

“At this point Jacob said he had presented all he intended to say about pride. In fact, he said he would rejoice if that was all the admonishing that he was required to give them during this conference. Unfortunately, however, he said it was now necessary to speak of the grosser crimes being committed among the people. This is the part of his sermon which Jacob was most reluctant to cover. The admonition on pride would not have been like daggers to the souls of the women and children, but this next part of his sermon would be.

Jacob said that what the Lord had revealed to him concerning their grosser crimes was a great burden to him. He said he had learned that they were beginning to commit whoredoms (in secret, apparently) and justifying themselves by quoting from the brass plates concerning David and Solomon.” (Cleon Skousen, Treasures from the Book of Mormon)

Jacob 2:28 Chastity

“God requires chastity. We stand for a life of cleanliness. From childhood through youth and to the grave, we proclaim the wickedness of sexual life of any kind before marriage, and we proclaim that everyone in marriage should hold himself or herself to the covenants that were made.

“In other words, as we have frequently said, there should be total chastity of men and women before marriage and total fidelity in marriage. The fact that so-called sex revolutionists would change the order and change the status is repugnant to us. We abhor, with all our power, pornography, permissiveness, and the so-called freedom of the sexes, and we fear that those who have supported, taught, and encouraged the permissiveness that brings about this immoral behavior will someday come to a sad reckoning with him who has established the standards…

“Chastity is of great value. Chastity and virtue are ‘most dear and precious above all things’ (Moroni 9:9), more valuable than rubies or diamonds, than herds and flocks, than gold and silver, or than automobiles and land. But, sadly, in many cases they are on sale at the cheapest shops and at the cheapest prices.” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 264-5)

Jacob 2:31-35 Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives

“Months ago, I received a heartbreaking letter from a dear sister. She wrote: “[My daughters and I] feel we are in fierce competition for our husbands’ and sons’ undivided attention, with 24/7 sports updates, video games, stock market updates, [and] endless analysing and watching of games of every [conceivable] sport. It feels like we’re losing our front-row seats with our husbands and sons because of their permanent front-row seats with [sports and games].” [Letter received Feb. 4, 2019.]

Brethren, your first and foremost duty as a bearer of the priesthood is to love and care for your wife. Become one with her. Be her partner. Make it easy for her to want to be yours. No other interest in life should take priority over building an eternal relationship with her. Nothing on TV, a mobile device, or a computer is more important than her well-being. Take an inventory of how you spend your time and where you devote your energy. That will tell you where your heart is. Pray to have your heart attuned to your wife’s heart. Seek to bring her joy. Seek her counsel, and listen. Her input will improve your output.

If you have a need to repent because of the way you have treated the women closest to you, begin now. And remember that it is your responsibility to help the women in your life receive the blessings that derive from living the Lord’s law of chastity. Never be the reason that a woman is unable to receive her temple blessings.

Brethren, we all need to repent. We need to get up off the couch, put down the remote, and wake up from our spiritual slumber. It is time to put on the full armour of God so we can engage in the most important work on earth. It is time to “thrust in [our] sickles, and reap with all [our] might, mind, and strength.”  Doctrine and Covenants 33:7 The forces of evil have never raged more forcefully than they do today. As servants of the Lord, we cannot be asleep while this battle rages.” (Elder Russell M Nelson, General Conference, April 2019)