Jacob 2:2

Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob,

according to the responsibility which I am under to God,

to magnify mine office with soberness,

and that I might rid my garments of your sins,

I come up into the temple this day

that I might declare unto you the word of God.

Jacob 2:3

And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been diligent

in the office of my calling;

but I this day am weighed down

with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls

than I have hitherto been.

Jacob 2:4

For behold, as yet, ye have been obedient

unto the word of the Lord, which I have given unto you.

Jacob 2:5

But behold, hearken ye unto me, and know

that by the help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth

I can tell you concerning your thoughts,

how that ye are beginning to labor in sin,

which sin appeareth very abominable unto me,

yea, and abominable unto God.

Jacob 2:6

Yea, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with shame

before the presence of my Maker,

that I must testify unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts.

Jacob 2:7

And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech

concerning you, before your wives and your children,

many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God,

which thing is pleasing unto God;

Jacob 2:8

And it supposeth me that they have come up hither

to hear the pleasing word of God,

yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.

Jacob 2:9

Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained,

because of the strict commandment which I have received from God,

to admonish you according to your crimes,

to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded,

instead of consoling and healing their wounds;

and those who have not been wounded,

instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God

have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

Jacob 2:10

But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task,

I must do according to the strict commands of God,

and tell you concerning your wickedness and abominations,

in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken heart,

and under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.

Jacob 2:11

Wherefore, I must tell you the truth

according to the plainness of the word of God.

For behold, as I inquired of the Lord,

thus came the word unto me, saying:

Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow,

and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people.