Sharing Insights from Jacob 7

In Jacob chapter 7, we are introduced to Sherem, the first antichrist we meet in the Book of Mormon.  Sherem’s teachings begin with “there should be no Christ (v. 2).”  He says flattering things to many.  He tells people the things they want to hear.  He wants to destroy the doctrine of Christ.  It is amazing how much time and effort he puts into his cause.  What purpose does it serve him?  All he wants is to lead away the hearts of the people from Christ.  I find it interesting that he “sought much opportunity (v. 6)” to try and debate with Jacob.  This happens today.  As the Brethren come out with a new proclamation or policy, I see many people spending much time and taking any opportunity to try and debate other members on facebook, Instagram, blogs, etc.  They are loud and persistent.  They troll all around looking for places that mentions the church and they spend countless hours debating and commenting loud in every kind of forum. 

            It is also interesting that he “was learned (v. 4).”  He was able to publically speak, using much flattery, to lead many people astray.  His next victim was Jacob.  Jacob was the brother of Nephi, the bulldog.  He was trained by the best.  Jacob “could not be shaken (v. 5)” because he had “seen angels” and “heard the voice of the Lord.”  I think it is interesting how he uses the term “Brother” Jacob, implying that they are united in some way.  He also turns things around by accusing Jacob of “perverting the right way of God (v. 7).”  When Sherem is asked if he denies Christ, he claims that he wouldn’t deny him if he were real.  He is wanting Jacob to prove there is a Christ before he will claim to believe.  Then he claims that he knows “there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be (v. 9).”  He just finished saying that no one can know the future in verse 7 by saying “no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come” yet he predicts the future himself by saying that there will never be a Christ. 

            Jacob handles Sherem in a gentle, kind way.  Jacob just testifies to him beginning with a common ground, “Believest thou the scriptures?”  Jacob says yes (common ground).  Then Jacob testifies that “none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied” except they testify of Christ. Jacob then simply testifies to Sherem about the things that he has heard and seen and testifies that his knowledge has come through the Holy Ghost.  Then Sherem asks for it….a sign.  That’s never a good thing for an antichrist to ask for.  Jacob then gives him a sign, if it is God’s will.  Sherem fell to the earth and it was many days before he died.  I read somewhere that this shows the true mercy of Heavenly Father, that Sherem was allowed in this mortal probation to feel remorse and try to correct his sin by confessing “that he had been deceived by the power of the devil (v. 18)” and that the scriptures truly testify of Christ and “I have thus lied unto God (v. 19).”  He then dies. 

            We also see that Jacob probably spent countless hours on his knees praying for his people not to be lead away by this antichrist.  He also states that he used “many means (v. 24)” to try and restore the gospel to the Lamanites.  First, Jacob tries to convert, when that doesn’t work, he fortifies his people.  Sometimes that can happen in our lives.  We want our families to be righteous, we pray, fast, and teach our family members to try and convert them to the truthfulness of the gospel.  When that doesn’t work, sometimes we just need to fortify ourselves and hope that the atonement will work in their lives through our sanctification. 

            One of my favorite books is Rescuing Wayward Children by Larry Barkdull.  The book is based on personal sanctification as the tool to rescue our wayward children.  He states:

            The highest level of sanctification comes though temple worship, and this is where we receive many of our answers.  The more we learn about covenants, the priesthood, and the ordinances of that priesthood, the more His power is infused into our lives.  Then the gospel becomes a tool rather than a culture.  The power of the temple ordinances is greater than any of us understands.  Eventually, such power will bring a wayward child home (pg. 242).

            I believe this is what Jacob was trying to do when he asked his people to fortify (sanctify) themselves after they had done all they could do with the Lamanites.  The gospel is simple.  If we heed Jacob’s example, we will look to the Savior and live (sanctification), just as the Israelites looked to the brass serpent.  Jesus taught in John 3:14-15 (King James Version) that the brass serpent represented Him.  He states: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  As we look to the Savior, we will sanctify ourselves.  “The gospel of Jesus Christ holds the spiritual solution for spiritual waywardness (Barkdull, pg. 136).”  President Boyd K. Packer stated, “Now, there are those that are lost.  We have the promise of the prophets that they are not lost permanently, that if they are sealed in the temple ordinances and if the covenants are kept (sanctification of those who made the covenants), in due time, after all the correction that’s necessary to be given, that they will not be lost (Packer, 2008, pg. 9).”

References

Barkdull, L. (2009) Rescuing wayward children. American Fork, UT: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Packer, Boyd. K. (2008, February). The proclamation on the family. Worldwide leadership training meeting: Building up a righteous posterity (pp. 4-9). Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.