Transcript

Brothers and sisters, while I was studying the Book of Mormon recently, one of the teachings of the prophet Jacob caught my attention. As you remember, Jacob was one of Father Lehi's two sons born in the wilderness after the family left Jerusalem. He was an eyewitness to miracles, and he also watched as his family was torn apart by disobedience and rebellion. Jacob knew and loved Laman and Lemuel as he knew and loved Nephi, and the dissension between them was intimate and personal. As far as Jacob was concerned, it wasn't about ideology, philosophy, or even theology. It was about family. The tender anguish of Jacob's soul is evident as he expresses grave concern that his people will "reject the words of the prophets" concerning Christ and "deny" the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, ... and make a mock of the great plan of redemption." And then, just before he bids farewell, he speaks eight simple words that are the basic text of my message this morning. Jacob's plea was "O be wise; what can I say more?" Those of you who are parents and grandparents have a sense of what Jacob must have been feeling at the time. He loved his people, partly because they were also his family. He had taught them as clearly as he could and with all the energy of his soul. He warned them in no uncertain terms what would happen if they chose not to "enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow." He couldn't think of anything else to say to warn, to urge, to inspire, to motivate. And so he, simply and profoundly, said, "O be wise; what can I say more?"

What Can I Say More?

Description
(Jacob 6:7–13) Elder M. Russell Ballard explains Jacob’s plea, “O be wise; what can I say more?”.
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