040124, Monday, Journal Entry

 Vitals: Wt. 224.8

Journal Entry 

Yesterday was Easter Sunday and we spent the whole day at home reading and watching TV. I had recorded the old movie, The Ten Commandments, featuring Charlton Heston. By recording it we were able to skip through the numerous commercial breaks. I had seen it before but actually enjoyed watching it again. I was able to get outside and walk my 7500+ steps and I concentrated on eating healthy resulting in this morning's weight of 224.8 lbs. We enjoyed our Come Follow Me lesson and basically enjoyed being home. The weather was cold and sometimes rainy so Cathy didn't join me for my walk but she will join me today, probably at one of the malls because it's still cold outside.

Come Follow Me 

Jacob chapter 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. 16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride. 17 Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord. 18 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi. 19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.

Sometimes, as we grow older and closer to God, the Spirit moves us to say things we wouldn't otherwise say, and maybe even that we would rather not say. In such cases, however, one must be confident that one's errand truly is from the Lord. The last thing the Lord needs is for members of his kingdom to go forth, without his errand, and unjustly, untactfully, or inappropriately reprove others, whether their faults are real or only perceived.

I think the right way to approach giving reproof is modeled very well here by Jacob. He may have never said anything like this before to these people. If he was just a younger brother to Nephi and kind of tucked away in the temple a lot of the time and all of a sudden he comes out, this possibly was really out of character for him. I suspect his people were really quite startled. We don't know what the outcome was. Jacob doesn't say, but at least he did his job. That seems to be the important message. He did his job, and not only were his people warned, but we get the same warning today because Jacob recorded this important speech.