Jacob 3:1 - 3:5

Jacob 3:1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

To those who are carrying the weight of sorrow because of the wickedness of their husbands, Jacob says that we should look to God because he is the only one that can bring true and lasting peace to a troubled soul. The Lord will be the one to hand out retributions and do just what is required for all involved so that things will work out for our benefit even when things look impossible.

Jacob 3:2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

Those who are the innocent victims of the wickedness of others who are righteous and want to be righteous, know that God truly loves you and will care for you. Know in your minds as well as in our hearts that God will make sure the correct rewards will given to all.

Jacob 3:3 But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart, that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes; and the Lamanites, which are not filthy like unto you, nevertheless they are cursed with a sore cursing, shall scourge you even unto destruction.

For those who are wicked and will not repent of their sins, the land will be cursed so to cause them to wake up to their bad behavior and change. The Lamanites behavior which the Nephites consider a low down people are at this point not as bad as the Nephites treatment of their wives. And the Lamanites will be the instrument to hand out His rewards.

Jacob 3:4 And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among you.

Jacob prophecies that if the men do not repent of this great evil, that the Lamanites will run the Nephites out of their lands and have it for themselves. The righteous will be lead away to safety but the wicked will be destroyed by the Lamanites.

Jacob 3:5 Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.

It seems that in spite of the cursing and the primitive life style, they are more righteous than Jacob’s people. They are living by the commandment to have only one wife. They do not have any concubines nor do they engage in extra marital affairs. Their moral behavior in regards to their families makes them better than the Nephites in the eyes of the Lord.