Jacob 7
People in this chapter
Jacob had already said goodbye. He closed chapter 6 with I bid you farewell. Then after some years had passed away, something happened that he decided had to go on the plates (v. 1). A man named Sherem came among the Nephites preaching that there would be no Christ, and he came looking for Jacob.
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Jacob 7:1-5There Should Be No Christ
1And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem. 2And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ. 3And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me.
Sherem preaches that there should be no Christ. He leads many people away, and then he goes looking for Jacob, because Jacob is known for his faith in Christ.
4And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.
Sherem is educated and a skilled speaker. Jacob says he used much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.
5And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.
Jacob had seen angels and heard the Lord's voice. That is why he writes, I could not be shaken.
Jacob 7:6-12They Truly Testify of Christ
6And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this wise did he speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity that I might speak unto you; for I have heard and also know that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ. 7And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem contend against me. 8But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.
Sherem accuses Jacob of abandoning the law of Moses, of blasphemy, and of claiming to know the future. Jacob says the Lord poured in his Spirit into my soul, and he answered every word.
9And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who shall come? And he said: If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be. 10And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.
Jacob asks two questions. Sherem says he knows there is no Christ, and that he believes the scriptures. Jacob uses the second answer to answer the first.
11And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ. 12And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.
Jacob 7:13-20Show Me a Sign
13And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much. 14And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.
Sherem demands a sign. Jacob is reluctant to ask God for one, but he leaves it in God's hands: if God smites Sherem, that will be the sign.
15And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days. 16And it came to pass that he said unto the people: Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I shall die. 17And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude were gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels. 18And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment. 19And he said: I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God. 20And it came to pass that when he had said these words he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost.
Sherem falls to the earth, and someone cares for him for many days. Jacob uses the allegory's word: he was nourished.
Before he dies, Sherem gathers the people and takes back what he taught. He confesses the Christ, the Holy Ghost, and angels, the things he had denied. He says he lied to God and fears for his soul.
Jacob 7:21-25They Searched the Scriptures
21And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth. 22Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer. 23And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man.
The power of God comes on the people, peace returns, and they go back to the scriptures. Jacob says this is what he had prayed for.
24And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; but it all was vain, for they delighted in wars and bloodshed, and they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually. 25Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.
The Nephites try many ways to bring the Lamanites to the truth, without success for now. They defend themselves, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation.
Jacob 7:26-27Like as It Were unto Us a Dream
26And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.
Jacob, now old, says his people's lives passed like as it were unto us a dream. They were a lonesome and a solemn people, born in the wilderness, cast out from Jerusalem.
27And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu.
Jacob gives the plates to his son Enos and passes on Nephi's commands. Enos promises to obey. Jacob says farewell to his readers.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- AntichristDefines an antichrist as anyone or anything that counterfeits the gospel or opposes Christ, and lists Sherem, Nehor and Korihor together.
- Why Did Jacob Include the Case of Sherem?Scholars read the encounter as a legal case: Sherem's charges of apostasy, blasphemy and false prophecy were serious crimes under the law of Moses, and the outcome vindicated Jacob's teaching about Christ.
- Why Did Sherem Die?Drawing on John W. Welch's work on legal cases in the Book of Mormon, this connects Sherem's end to the law against false witnesses in Deuteronomy 19:16-21.
- What Do We Learn About Ministering from the Account of Sherem?Draws lessons from how personal revelation and the scriptures steadied Jacob, and from the care Sherem received after he fell (v. 15).
Where this echoes in Scripture
There Should Be No Christ
- 2 Nephi 2:4Thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory.Lehi to Jacob.
- 2 Nephi 11:3My brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him.
- Alma 30:6There came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and he was Anti-Christ.Korihor, a later anti-Christ.
- 1 John 2:22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist.
They Truly Testify of Christ
- Jacob 4:4-5For this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him.Jacob's earlier answer to Sherem's first charge.
- Luke 24:27Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
- Acts 10:43To him give all the prophets witness.
- Mosiah 13:33Even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?
- 2 Nephi 9:7It must needs be an infinite atonement.Jacob's earlier sermon on the Atonement.
Show Me a Sign
- Matthew 12:39An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.
- Luke 22:42Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.The Savior's prayer in Gethsemane.
- Alma 30:43-50If thou wilt show me a sign… This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck dumb.Korihor's demand and its answer.
- Alma 30:53The devil hath deceived me.
- D&C 63:7-9He that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation.
They Searched the Scriptures
- John 5:39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
- Enos 1:20The people of Nephi did seek diligently to restore the Lamanites unto the true faith in God. But our labors were vain.
- Helaman 5:12It is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation.
Like as It Were unto Us a Dream
- 2 Nephi 2:1-2Thou art my firstborn in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness.Lehi to Jacob.
- Enos 1:1-3Knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
- Psalm 90:9-10We spend our years as a tale that is told.
- James 4:14For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.