Jacob 1:11-19
1:11-15 - Verses 11-14 deal mostly with the naming of the peoples and the kings, etc. But what I really want to talk about it verse 15, where the IM talks about the difference between wives and concubines, which feeds into adultery and polygamy. Jacob says that after Nephi died the people "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." The IM teaches that "concubines had full protection as wives and did not violate the law of chastity when the marriages were approved by the Lord," and then references D&C 132:34-43. My understanding of the D&C verses are that the Lord gives examples of different prophets who had been commanded by him to take as multiple wives and concubines, through which to bear children. In verse 39, the Lord teaches that King David of the Old Testament had been given by the Lord wives and concubines sanctioned by Nathan the prophet, and there was no sin, but David did sin by taking Bathsheba, Uriah's wife because she was not given to David by the Lord, David took her. When the Lord commands monogamy, the line of adultery is pretty clear, but in a polygamous situation it can be easy to see how there can be some blur there. I heard a joke once that said something like "it's funny that it's socially appropriate to have girlfriends outside of marriage, but the moment you try to make a life long commitment to one, it's morally wrong." I think since we are looking back at polygamy in the Church over 100 years ago, it's easy to believe that the polygamy back then was just a free for all, but clearly from these verses, it is clearly a very well controlled system, if followed by the Lord's instructions. I had heard something like back in the early church taking additional wives was a calling, and not as many people as we think were called to live that law, and really it makes sense, if polygamy is instituted for the Lord to raise up righteous seed unto himself, he would want to choose the parents and the families to ensure the purposes were met. So it would make sense that he would hand pick the participants, and since he of course knows that it could get out of hand if given to the discretion of the general public, he makes it a highly regulated, appointed system. Because really, generalized permission to take on as many wives and girlfriends as men saw fit would result in the heart break of many many women and children, so again, as the ultimate champion for women, Jesus denounces such unless absolutely necessary, and even then only calls men with the absolute most moral integrity, to ensure that the purposes are accomplished and everyone respected. Very interesting. Really, if you think about it, polygamy isn't about sex, it's about family, about responsibility. Most men can barely handle their own wives, giving them several to care for and love, honestly seems very unappealing. It seems to me that it would be a great hardship, an enormous task, could you imagine the drama, the expense, the sheer exhaustion giving attention and love and affection to more than one woman. Most women can barely handle their own husbands and children, adding more women, more drama, and more children, seems very unhappy, but to those who understand why the Lord calls them and are obedient, they can make it work. And honestly, what woman wants to be a second, third, fourth wife or so on. We want to be the one and only, just like men do, we want to be the special ones. To those unfamiliar with God and his loving ways, being an additional wife is just as insulting as being the wife who allows her husband to take on others. Continuing in D&C 132 verse 52, the Lord asks Emma Smith to "receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me." He asks her to "receive" them, not fight with them, not start drama with them, receive them, assuming "with open arms" as the phrase continues. He also says that they will be "virtuous and pure before me" which is an interesting disclaimer on there. The Lord knows the heartache that polygamy can cause for women and he doesn't ask them to do it because he's a chauvinist woman hater, he does it to strengthen future generations for righteousness, so if a woman is righteous enough to be asked to "receive" other wives for her husband, the Lord is giving her the same assurance that the women coming to him with have the same level or commitment and faithfulness, and I believe that that's really amazing. Anyway, that's a little tangent, but I feel like I was able to make some mental connections to polygamy and the true love of God. But it appears that since polygamy was forbidden during Jacob's time, the desire for wives and concubines came out of lust, and ultimately resulted in the objectification and degradation of women, which the Lord abhors.
1:16 - Jacob continues that the people did begin "to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride." Interestingly enough, I listened to an article from the January 2012 Ensign called "My Journey from Alcoholism to Sobriety." In it he said that even though he was a returned missionary, married in the temple, in his career he "gained great popularity and became very prideful." This led to him drinking socially, and eventually decades of his life lost to alcoholism. Interesting to me that the pride and success financially is what began his fall, then through drinking, whereas Jacob's people's pride came also from success financially, then led to a downfall from immorality. It makes it very clear that pride is the "gateway sin" and we must be so very aware of our own personal attitudes so that we can remain humble and away from the edge of a prideful fall.
1:17-19 - Jacob says that he "obtained (his) errand from the Lord" before he spoke to the people in chapter 2. He had already spoken to the people at Nephi's request in 2nd Nephi, but perhaps that's like giving a sacrament meeting talk, and here he's giving a general conference talk, and teaching inspiration given directly from the Lord as the prophet. The IM teaches that "the Nephites officiated by virtue of the Melchizedek Priesthood from the days of Lehi to the days of the appearance of our Savior among them." It's always interesting to me when what we have today is linked to what they had in ancient times, like having the same Melchizedek priesthood today as they had back them is just very fulfilling for me, kind of full circle. Jacob assures us that they "did magnify our office unto the Lord." President Thomas S. Monson asked "how does one magnify a calling? Simply by performing the service that pertains to it. An elder magnifies the ordained calling of an elder by learning what his duties as an elder are and then doing them." There's nothing complex or complicated in magnifying our callings, we do what the calling entails, and that's it. There's no pressure to make elaborate plans and designs or lessons, we just do our best to do our jobs. That's all that is asked. I learned this with family home evening with my kids. I was so concerned with making spectacular lessons that I just didn't do it, so today we did family home evening after school, and we just read out of the Friend magazine and it was simple and awesome, and I'm grateful for a friend who helped me see that.
1:16 - Jacob continues that the people did begin "to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride." Interestingly enough, I listened to an article from the January 2012 Ensign called "My Journey from Alcoholism to Sobriety." In it he said that even though he was a returned missionary, married in the temple, in his career he "gained great popularity and became very prideful." This led to him drinking socially, and eventually decades of his life lost to alcoholism. Interesting to me that the pride and success financially is what began his fall, then through drinking, whereas Jacob's people's pride came also from success financially, then led to a downfall from immorality. It makes it very clear that pride is the "gateway sin" and we must be so very aware of our own personal attitudes so that we can remain humble and away from the edge of a prideful fall.
1:17-19 - Jacob says that he "obtained (his) errand from the Lord" before he spoke to the people in chapter 2. He had already spoken to the people at Nephi's request in 2nd Nephi, but perhaps that's like giving a sacrament meeting talk, and here he's giving a general conference talk, and teaching inspiration given directly from the Lord as the prophet. The IM teaches that "the Nephites officiated by virtue of the Melchizedek Priesthood from the days of Lehi to the days of the appearance of our Savior among them." It's always interesting to me when what we have today is linked to what they had in ancient times, like having the same Melchizedek priesthood today as they had back them is just very fulfilling for me, kind of full circle. Jacob assures us that they "did magnify our office unto the Lord." President Thomas S. Monson asked "how does one magnify a calling? Simply by performing the service that pertains to it. An elder magnifies the ordained calling of an elder by learning what his duties as an elder are and then doing them." There's nothing complex or complicated in magnifying our callings, we do what the calling entails, and that's it. There's no pressure to make elaborate plans and designs or lessons, we just do our best to do our jobs. That's all that is asked. I learned this with family home evening with my kids. I was so concerned with making spectacular lessons that I just didn't do it, so today we did family home evening after school, and we just read out of the Friend magazine and it was simple and awesome, and I'm grateful for a friend who helped me see that.
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