This morning I was in Jacob 1. Fifty-five years have passed since Lehi left Jerusalem. Nephi has died, Jacob is now the prophet, and the responsibility of preserving the sacred record rests on his shoulders.
What struck me is that Lehi's family knew the history of Israel. They had the scriptures. They knew about the repeated cycle of rebellion during Israel's wilderness journey. Because of that knowledge, Nephi and Jacob labored diligently to persuade the people not to rebel against God.
That made me stop and ask: What does rebellion against God look like today?
Often it isn't dramatic. It begins when we stop listening to prophets and begin following other voices. We allow ourselves to be led by the world, by pride, or by our own desires. Jacob's people were beginning to do exactly that. Their hearts were hardening. They were becoming preoccupied with wealth, status, and immorality.
Yet Jacob and Joseph took their responsibilities seriously. As priests and teachers, they understood they would answer before God for how faithfully they warned and taught the people. Jacob spoke of wanting to be free from the blood and sins of his generation so that he could stand spotless before God.
As I read, I couldn't help but think of temple covenants. We are not responsible for the choices others make, but by honoring our covenants and following Christ, we can stand clean before the Lord despite living in a troubled world.
Later, while reading Elder Jorge T. Becerra's conference message, "Tithing—Putting God First," I was directed to Malachi 3:10. That verse has special meaning to me.
Years ago, after spending nine years away from the path I knew I should follow, I asked my father for a priesthood blessing. It was something rarely done in our family except in cases of serious illness. During that blessing, he quoted Malachi's promise that if I continued on the course I had chosen, the Lord would open "the windows of heaven" and pour out blessings beyond my ability to receive.
Those words pierced my heart, and I have never forgotten them.
I loved Elder Becerra's insight:
"Windows allow natural light to enter into a building. In like manner, spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the windows of heaven into our lives as we honor the law of tithing."
The thought that came to me is that this principle extends far beyond tithing. Every act of obedience opens a window. Every covenant kept allows more light to enter. Every time we put God first, we receive greater spiritual perspective.
Jacob 1 shows what happens when people close those windows through pride and rebellion. Elder Becerra reminds us what happens when we open them through faith and obedience.
The Lord rarely forces us in either direction. He allows us to choose. The consequences follow naturally. We can move toward darkness, or we can open the windows and let heaven's light pour in.
The choice has always been ours.
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