and this is not all

I love Jacob the prophet. I get the feeling that when I finally get to meet him that the two of us will get along. I like the way his mind seems to work. He uses a lot of logic, but he teaches with his soul. He's plainspoken, doesn't beat around the bush, and one of the most powerful teachers we have in ancient scripture. I really love reading his words both in the book of 2 Nephi and in the book of Jacob.

Today I was especially struck by some amazing verses. Having just forged my way (happily) through the amazing and mind-blowing allegory of the olive tree in chapter 5 and some great review in chapter 6, we change course by the time we get to chapter 7. Chapter 7 tells the story of  Sherem, a man who 'labored diligently' to teach the Nephites that there is not and would never be any Christ. This guy had some guts and sought to go toe to toe with Jacob himself, which he finally did.

Their conversation was pretty short.

6 And 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.

 7 And 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.

 8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.

 9 And 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.

 10 And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.

 11 And 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.

Sherem uses the classic "How could you possibly know this?" argument used by so many people in the face of modern revelation. Denial of a living God who speaks to servants in the present day is certainly not new to most of us.

But of course Jacob lays down the best argument ever used against someone who claims they believe the scriptures. I try to imagine his face when he said this. I imagine it was patient and prophet-like, but part of me hopes there was a little dumbfounded irony in there somewhere. "Believest thou the scriptures?...Then ye do not understand them." BAM. How many times do we have prophets point out that the scriptures everyone knows and loves are CONSTANTLY testifying of Christ, His ultimate sacrifice, and the plan to save all of us? It never gets old.

But it was the next verse that really got to me as I read this account today:

 12 And 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.

This was so meaningful for me. Jacob bears his own testimony to Sherem; "for I have heard and seen". He teaches him of the power of the Holy Ghost and then says the amazing words "I know" as he testifies of Jesus Christ. But this is nothing new, right? We know that Jacob has 'heard and seen'.

What I love so much though is the phrase right at the beginning of the verse: "And this is not all". Jacob first cites the testimony of ancient and revered prophets and then places his own testimony on the same level as theirs. "And this is not all." His own witness was just as important to this conversation. What an amazing concept! Jacob knew that his testimony was just as true and valid as those written in the scriptures.

Is mine? Is yours?

Yes.

It may not seem like it to me at this moment, but my testimony is just as valid and just as important as anyone else's. I too can say that the Holy Ghost has 'made things manifest' to me. I certainly can't deny it. I have also 'heard and seen' a lot of wonderful, true evidences of the Atonement's power and the love that Heavenly Father has for us.

I think we tend to devalue the importance of our own strongly-held beliefs because of our 'common' status in the church and on the planet. We're not Bishops, Stake Presidents, or General Authorities of any kind. Most of us have no fame or scholarly 'authority.' We don't write scripture and we all have so much to learn.

But from now on I am going to do my best to follow Jacob's example and recognize my hard-won convictions for what they are: as meaningful and as true as those held by anyone else, no matter who they are. The Holy Ghost will testify the truth of my testimony just as powerfully as He would a testimony written in sacred scripture or spoken over a pulpit a General Conference. The question is, how often do I really give Him the opportunity to do so?

Well, here's one: I can say that I know Jacob's words above are true. Without Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, we'd all be lost forever. Jesus Christ died and was resurrected and I know he paid the ultimate price so that I can do my best, repent when I screw up, and eventually return to Him and to Heavenly Father. I can never deny these things because the Holy Ghost testifies of their truth to me all the time. ALL the time.

This video was released today as a beautiful beginning of the Christmas season. This atonement I speak of, this great sacrifice, all began with the Gift of the Savior's birth. I'm so grateful we get to celebrate it.

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