# Jacob 3

*Paraphrase*

### Words to the Pure in Heart

But let me speak to those of you who are pure in heart. Look to God with steady faith and pray to him—really pray. He will comfort you in your hard times. He will fight for you and bring justice on those trying to destroy you. All of you who are pure in heart—lift your heads. Receive the good news from God and feast on his love. You can do this forever, if you stay faithful.

### Warning to the Corrupt

But you who are not pure in heart, who are corrupt before God today—listen closely: Unless you change, this land will be cursed because of you. And the Lamanites, who are not as corrupt as you are (though they’re still under a heavy curse themselves), will punish you until you’re destroyed. The time is coming fast—unless you turn back to God, they’ll take this land from you, and the Lord will lead the righteous away.

### The Lamanites Are More Righteous

Look at the Lamanites, your relatives. You hate them because of their dark skin and the curse that came on them. But they’re more righteous than you. They haven’t forgotten what the Lord commanded our ancestors: each man should have one wife. No mistresses. No sexual sin. And they’ve kept that commandment. Because they have, the Lord won’t destroy them. He’ll show them mercy. One day they’ll be blessed. Their husbands love their wives. Their wives love their husbands. And both love their children. Their hatred toward you comes from the wrongs done by their ancestors. So how are you any better than them in the eyes of your Creator? Brothers, I’m afraid that unless you turn from your sins, when you stand before God’s throne, they’ll be whiter than you.

### A Command from God

So here’s God’s command: Stop mocking them for the darkness of their skin. Stop despising them for their corruption. Remember your own corruption. And remember that theirs came because of what their fathers did. Think about your children—how you’ve broken their hearts by the example you’ve set. Remember that your corruption could destroy them, and their sins will be piled on your heads at the last day. Brothers, listen closely. Wake up your souls. Shake yourselves awake from the sleep of death. Break free from the grip of hell, so you don’t become servants of the devil and get thrown into that lake of fire and brimstone—the second death.

### Jacob Concludes

I spoke many more things to the people of Nephi that day, warning them against sexual sin, lust, and every kind of wrong—telling them the terrible consequences. I can’t write even a hundredth of what’s happening among these people, who are growing in number. Much of their history is written on the larger plates—their wars, their conflicts, the reigns of their kings. These plates are called the plates of Jacob, and Nephi made them. This is where I end my words.

---

*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/jacob/3)*
