Jacob 4

(Below is a list of questions and quotes that help me think about each verse as I read it. The numbers represent the verses in the chapter.)

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be filled with hope and reconcile ourselves with God.

1-2. Why do you keep a journal? What do you write about?

"We hope you will begin [keeping a journal] as of this date. If you have not already commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a good book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to look upon. Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives." - Spencer W Kimball, ensign, December 1980

3. How did Jacob and those who kept records on the plates of gold feel about their record keeping efforts? How do they hope these things will be received? How do you feel about your efforts to keep a journal? How do you hope your life's story will be received?

3-4. What do these verses tell us Jacob wanted his children to know about him? What would you like your posterity to know about you?

5. Why did the Nephites keep the law of Moses? What law do we live in our day that replaced the law of Mosees?

6. What else does Jacob say his people did so that their faith became unshaken? How would searching the words of the prophets help your faith grow stronger? What did Jacob say he was able to do with his unshakeable faith? If you truly worshipped God in the name of Christ, kept his commandments, and did all the other things Jacob mentions here, what do you think you could do with your unshakeable faith?

7. How does this verse help you feel grateful for your weaknesses? What does the Lord bless you with so that you have power to act with you unshakeable faith?

8. How does Jacob advise us to feel about the revelations of God? How do you personally feel about the scriptures? About the words of the prophets in general conference and other meetings? 

9.  How does Jacob describe the power of God? How does this make you feel?

10. What does it men to counsel the Lord?

"In my view, seeking to counsel the Lord generally means disregarding the Lord's counsel, either knowingly or unknowingly, and in place thereof substituting our own counsel or the persuasion of men." Marion G Romney, Ensign, August 1985

13. How does the Spirit speak? Why can you always trust in the things that come from the Spirit?

14. What does stiffnecked mean? How did the Jews despise the words of plainness? Do you know people in your day that also despise words of plainness?  How do these things cause them to stumble and lose their way from the gospel path? 

14. What do you think it means to look beyond the mark? How well do you think people would do in archery if they never looked at the target, or mark, while they were shooting or if they looked beyond the mark? What characteristics would the people who 'looked beyond the mark' have? What attitudes and actions in this verse blinded the Jews and prevented them from accepting Jesus Christ? What might be some examples of looking beyond the mark, or failing to focus on the Savior, today?

"The mark is Christ." - Neal A Maxwell, GC, April 1976

"The Jews were looking for something other than Jesus Christ to save them. Jacob prophesied that teh Jews would reject he Messiah, the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation. He then referred to scriptures that say He would still become their only sure foundation. If we do not build on Jesus Christ, we will not receive the promised eternal joy with Him." -Book of Mormon Student Study Guide [2000]

15-16. What is the stone that you can build upon to have a safe and sure foundation? What blessings come to those who build upon Christ as a sure foundation (See Helaman 5:12)? What did the Jews do instead of building upon a sure foundation? What can you do to build upon the Savior and escape the fate of the Jews?