VOCABULARY TIPS AND REVIEW

Jacob - Words of Mormon

Vocabulary Tips and Review

Jacob-Words of Mormon

Jacob, Chapter 1

Head has many definitions. The most appropriate meaning for the context in verse 4 is, “principal, main, or chief (substance).”  Jacob and successive members of his line would be required to engrave on the metal Plates, and they would be limited in space. Nephi instructed Jacob to write the main orprincipal substance of sacred teachings—and then to expand on them as much as possible.

Sake means, “end or purpose.” It also means, “for advantage or good.”  The most sacred words of Christ would be written to fulfill His end or purposes (which is to bring about the immortality and Eternal Life of man [Moses 1:39]). In conjunction with this purpose, the Plates would be written for the advantage of the people who would benefit by these sacred words. This includes people of our time as well as those of Nephi and Jacob’s time.

Anxiety in verse 5 means, “fearful concern and interest.”  

These two prophet brothers were terribly concerned about the Eternal fate of their people; they could see the general behavior of the people was contrary to God’s will, and they knew the consequences of wicked actions.  

The visions of the future spurred both Nephi and Jacob to great diligence as they preached righteousness or, “God’s commandments.”

The Spirit of revelation and prophecy: An angel told John that the Spirit of prophecy is, “The testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelations 19:10). This testimony comes through the Holy Spirit. It refers to, “the Holy Spirit revealing—or witnessing—that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior and Redeemer of the world—and that only by coming unto Him may all be saved in the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit also reveals Christ’s holy word” (D&C 8:2 & 3). 

Joseph Smith said, “God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them…The Spirit of revelation is in connection with these blessings. A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the Spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon…those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 149). In another instance, Wilford Woodruff quoted Joseph Smith in President Woodruff’s Discourses pp. 45-46 (Referenced in Gerald N. Lund Hearing the Voice of the Lord, Principles  and Patterns of Personal Revelation, p. 65) “What is revelation? It is the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to man. Joseph Smith said to Brother John Taylor in his day: ‘Brother Taylor, you watch the impression of the Spirit of God, you watch the whisperings of the Spirit to you; you carry them out in your life, and [this] will become a principle of revelation in you, and you will know and understand this spirit and power.’ This is the key, the foundation stone of all revelation…In my own experience I have endeavored to get acquainted with that Spirit, and to learn its operations.’ ”

Jacob said to suffer His cross. Suffer has multiple (but often related) meanings in scriptures, including, “to allow, to endure—sometimes in pain, even horrible pain, death, or distress, and it can also mean to command and to obey.” It is important to look at the context of the rest of the sentences or verses to discern which meaning is intended.

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Because Jesus died for us on the cross, to suffer the cross of Christ is a metaphor for, “afflictions and commitment that those who come to Christ promise to allow themselves to endure.  These include(but are not limited to) “…the cross of service and consecration and the cross of devotion and obedience.”  (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 173)

Progenitor means, “an ancestor in the direct line.”

A concubine is often referred to as, “a woman living with a man to whom she is not married.” However, in ancient days, a concubine was, “a wife less in authority than other wives.”

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Condone means, “to pardon or overlook.”

Two meanings of lust are, “to have an intense desire or need” and an “uncontrolled sexual desire.” In this sermon, Jacob condemns the Nephites for giving in to both their unrighteous desires for riches and for their “uncontrolled sexual desires.”

One meaning of magnify is, “to make larger.” When we magnify our offices or callings to the Lord we are expanding them through prayer and works. Another meaning of magnify means, “to cause something or someone to be held in greater reverence, respect, or esteem.” Through our efforts, as we labor in the Lord’s Kingdom, helping bring souls unto Him, we help magnify the Lord, or contribute to having Him “held in greater reverence, respect, and esteem” by others, and thus take part in His glory. How thankful we should be to our great God for this privilege!

Jacob, Chapter 2

Rid my garments of your sins is a metaphor Jacob used that compared, “doing everything possible to call people to repentance 

so he, as God’s servant not contribute to the cause of their sins 

from his own negligence, to washing stains out of an unclean garment.”

Greatness is a word with many meanings, both positive and negative. In verse 10 it means, “overwhelming and difficult.”

A strict commandment is not unusually harsh. Calling it strict reminded the Jacob’s people (and us)that, “God absolutely will never condone sin.”

Pure in heart is an illustration of hypostatization that gives the heart a human characteristic. Its literal meaning is, “those whose thoughts and feelings dwell on goodness.”

Broken heart is an illustration of hypostatization. It gives the heart a human characteristic. It literallymeans, “sorrow for sins and openness to and desire for repentance.”

Under the glance of the piercing Eye of the Almighty God is a metaphor comparing, “God’s Eye to the fact that, God knows all of our thoughts, feelings, and actions.”

Wax means, “to become” or “to grow.”

Whoredoms are, “sexual sins.”

Jacob, Chapter 3

What a graphic metaphor—comparing, “God’s love to a feast! One meaning of feast is, ‘to enjoy some unusual pleasure or delight.’ There is no better delight in Eternity than God’s love.”

If your minds are firm is another way of saying, “if you endure to the end.”  The opposite of firmwould be to be wishy-washy in deciding whether or not to be on the Lord’s side.

Filthy in the context of verse 3 means, “evil through disgusting sins.”

The metaphor, their skins will be whiter than yours, is directed to internal motivations, not skin color in the literal sense. It is symbolic of purity.

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Heaped upon your heads is a metaphor, comparing, “The wicked having a weight upon their headsto their being held accountable for their own wicked actions.”

Jacob, Chapter 4

Contempt means, “derision or lack of respect.”

Our first parents are, “Adam and Eve.”

Intent is, “a reason, purpose, or plan”; the main intent for the Law of Moses was to point people toward, or get them ready for the coming of Christ.

One definition of righteousness is, “God’s commandments.” When Christ was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, He was baptized to fulfill God’s commandments.  When we are living God’s commandments, we are living righteously. The Law of Moses was sanctified because it taught obedience to God’s commandments and pointed people toward the Savior’s coming and toward a higher law. Christ Himself is Righteousness because, “He obeys and encompasses within Himself absolutely all of Heavenly Father’s commandments.”

Despise means, “regard something as negligible, worthless, or distasteful.”

First fruits of Christ is a metaphor comparing “those who will be part of the first Resurrection, which means the Resurrection of the righteous to the first good fruits of a tree.”

Being reconciled to God means, “to be back living with Him.”  We cannot enter into the Presence of our Father with our sins, because no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of God.  So the only way to become reconciled to Him is by accepting Christ’s atoning Sacrifice. Our part in accepting Christ’s Atonement is to repent of our sins and ask help in overcoming them, fervently requesting forgiveness through the Power of the Atonement and asking for alleviation of harm that our sins or weakness have caused others. It is also to ask for help in conquering weaknesses and pain through the Atonement—since our Savior has already suffered for all of these things.  Then, to show our sincerity, gratitude, love, and commitment, we can joyfully follow His path to Eternal Life by obeying His commandments.

Manifest means, “make evident or certain through witness or revelation—or by showing or explaining.”

The Mark is a metaphor comparing, “Jesus Christ to a landmark we look for to arrive at a desired destination.”

Two pertinent meanings of stumble are, “to encounter some obstacles of belief,” and, “to fall into sin or error.”

Stone is a metaphor comparing, “our Lord Jesus Christ as the solid Cornerstone of which to build our lives to the cornerstone at the foundation of a strong building.”

Head of their corner is, “a cornerstone. A cornerstone refers to, “a basic element or foundation.” In verse 17 it is a metaphor for Jesus Christ, “the only Sure Foundation on which one chooses how to live. Christ is the Cornerstone, and pursuing His well-marked path is the only basis by which to live—if we want to gain Eternal Life.”

Jacob, Chapter 5

An allegory is, “a story that includes multi-layered meanings.  It has a surface meaning, which is less important than the spiritual values and insights cloaked within its deeper level.”  It is often, “symbolic representation of truths, or generalizations about human existence, with common people, things, and ideas representing metaphorically a profound level of people, things, and ideas.”

Israel is a term with multiple-layered meanings. Israel is, “the new name with which Jacob, the father of the twelve sons from whom the ‘tribes of Israel’ originated, was blessed. Israel is, “the name for the nation that sprang from the twelve tribes of Israel. Israel is, “a place or land, promised by Lord, as an inheritance for worthy Israelites.”

Spiritual Israel means, “all of God’s worthy followers, because the righteous are adopted into Abraham and Sarah’s family lineage under the covenant originally made with Adam and Eve, father and mother of the entire human race.”

Nethermost means, “farthest down or lowest.”  In the context of verse 14, it does not necessarily refer to down, (Although we do not know where the Lord “hid” all of His “branches.”), but it does mean far away. The word “hid” in verse 14 indicates that they were put in parts of the “vineyard,” or parts of the “Earth,” far away from and unknown to the main body of Israelites.

Whither means, “wherever.”

Cumber means, “troubled, harassed, burdened, and cluttered up.”  The mother tree was now troubled, harassed, burdened, and cluttered up needlessly with all sorts of fruit.

Chronological means, “the order of events as they occurred.”

Servants, in verse 61 are, “missionaries and other followers of Christ.”

Laboring diligently means that, “they are faithfully fulfilling missions throughout Earth.”  The missionaries and other followers of Christ are preparing the way for the Lord’s Second Coming and pointing the way, through teaching the Gospel, for all of God’s children to return to His holy Presence.  

Jacob, Chapter 6

Stiffnecked means, “rebellious and stubborn.  It is a serious state, being a characteristic of Satan. When stiffnecked is used as a metaphor in the scriptures, it compares an unbending neck to people who are unresponsive to the Spirit of God, rebellious toward God, and unyielding in attempts to get them to repent and accept God’s love.”

Gainsaying means, “prone to deny, dispute, and oppose what they are told or taught.”  In verse 4, gainsaying means, “to deny, dispute, and oppose God’s word and messengers.”

Beseech is, “to implore urgently and anxiously.”

One meaning of cleave is, “adhere or stick closely, firmly, loyally, and unwaveringly.”  

The light of day is a metaphor meaning, “in this lifetime.” It compares daylight—as opposed to the darkness of nighttime—to the chance in this Earth life to accept Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

The metaphor, harden not your hearts compares a spiritual attitude with a physical example, cautioning that, “refusing to hearken to God’s Holy Spirit is like physically making what should be a living breathing organ into a hard or lifeless rock-like attachment.”

Endless is, “another name for God.” Endless torment is, “the torment our God, Jesus Christ, suffered.”  If the wicked remain unrepentant, they will have to suffer Endless torment for their own sins—needlessly, since Jesus Christ has already suffered for these sins. but the condition of the Atonement is that people must repent.

Lake of fire and brimstone is an appropriate metaphor comparing, “the feelings of agony the unrepentant wicked will suffer to the agony of being burned in a blistering fiery lake.”

Smoke rising up forever is a metaphor comparing, “how long the suffering will seem to those who are suffering Endless torment for their own sins” to smoke rising into the air forever. Although everyone will be resurrected through Christ’s Grace, the condition of the Atonement as a way to Eternal Life is that people must repent.

Jacob, Chapter 7

Linguistics means, “relating to language.” Throughout the history of the world, people have used linguistics to teach, exult and inspire—and to deceive.

Fallacy is, “guile, trickery, and deception, often using what seems to be a reasonable argument, but instead, the disputed points are based on false inferences or premises.” Fallacious is, “using fallacyto further an argument intended to mislead or deceive.”

Sophists were, “groups of pseudo-intellectuals living about 5th century B.C. These Greeks, who were deceptively ‘clever’ when they promoted their reasoning, mostly used false premises to further their arguments.”

Sophistry is, “a type of misleading linguistic argument.” The term is derived from the Sophists. Today sophistry has evolved to mean, “subtle deceptive reasoning or argumentation.”

Propaganda is, “giving a message, deliberately hiding part of the truth.”

Blasphemy means, “insulting or showing lack of reverence for God.”

Confound means, “confuse or frustrate.”

To give up the ghost means, “to die.”

Pleased is, “to be gratified or find satisfaction in.” Although the word pleased is currently used as a mild form of appreciation, when it was used in the scriptures, it had a much stronger emotional meaning. God the Father said, when His Son Jesus Christ was baptized, and again when the Father introduced His Son to the Nephites following Christ’s Atonement (which included Christ’s volunteer death) and Resurrection (Matthew 3:17; 3 Nephi 11:7), “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This was a fervent message of honor and satisfaction.

Enos

A religious conversion means, “one or more experiences that either lead to or that cause definite and decisive adoption of religion.”

A convert is, “someone born into the Church or one who joins the Church later, experiencing a religious transformation by the Power of the Holy Ghost.”

Two appropriate meanings of wrestle in the context of verse 2 include, “engaging in deep thought, contemplation, and debate,” and “combating with some opposing tendency or force.”  Enos likely combated with opposing forces of good and evil as he deeply contemplated, and then fervently prayed.

Stiffnecked means, “rebellious and stubborn. It is a serious state, being a characteristic of Satan. When stiffnecked is used as a metaphor in the scriptures, it compares an unbending neck to people who are unresponsive to the Spirit of God, rebellious toward God, and unyielding in attempts to get them to repent and accept God’s love.”

Predicated comes from predicate which can mean, “affirm or declare logically.” It is certainly logical that a particular blessing would come by obedience to a law relating to that blessing.”

Jarom

None listed

Omni

Moon referred to, “one complete moon cycle consisting of four phases, or approximately 28 days.”

Words of Mormon

A sentence is, “a complete thought.”

A compound sentence is, “a sentence combination made of two or more complete simple sentences.”  

A complex sentence is, “a sentence made up of a main clause and subordinate clauses that support the main clause.”