Jacob 1

It's not that I don't read every day. But some days, I think I get more than others. Such is the case yesterday. I re-read Jacob 1 this morning. Why? Because yesterday I read it from my iPad and my page had not turned in my scriptures. It took me until the 7^th verse to really remember anything I'd read. This is not good!

But verse 7 got my attention this morning as I ponder my responsibility as a Stake Relief Society President. Sleep eludes me in the middle of the night and I cannot stop thinking about the sisters I serve and the responsibility I have to see that they understand the importance of visiting teaching.

Jacob said they did labor diligently that they might persuade them to come unto Christ (v7). Our Stake theme is “Come Unto Christ”. What does it mean to labor diligently? Somewhat that question is answered ten verses later in v19 – magnify my calling, being responsible, teach them the word of God. For me, that would mean teaching them as it pertains to their individual responsibilities as Relief Society sisters. How do I teach? I only have real access to the presidents who then teach their sisters. Some wards really do understand; others flounder. It is quite frustrating.

In v8 Jacob says that he wants to persuade “. . .all men [to] believe in Christ, and view his death and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world. . .” What does it mean to view his death, suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world? Does it mean that as I truly visualize the atrocities that occurred as Christ was being persecuted, unjustly judged and crucified that I too suffer? That I literally pick up his cross and bear the shame? Why do wIe need to bear the shame? I wasn't there. I didn't crack the whip that shredded his back. No, but it is for me that these things were allowed to happen. He was perfect and without sin. There was no reason for these things to happen other than he wanted to spare me the same suffering. Not all the suffering occurred at the hands of evil people. This is what needs to be remembered. The bigger portion of his pain was suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane as he suffered for each of us the sins we would commit; the cruelty that the world would impose on each other, and the things of this imperfect world that we would suffer. When it is put like that, then the shame is mine. I was instrumental in his suffering and I need to view constantly the gift that is mine in his great atonement for me. His grace and love redeemed me from an awful existence. It is real. I don't understand it, but I have experienced it. And as I diligently serve in whatever calling it is for His sake, I must labor diligently to encourage others to take up his cross as well.