As Jacob wrote on the plates his hope was that his children would “receive them with thankful hearts (Jacob 4:3).” I am grateful for Jacob’s words which came at a time when the people of Nephi were beginning to be governed by “the pride of the hearts (Jacob 2:13)” and were “not pure in heart (Jacob 3:3)” and began to indulge themselves in the “grosser crimes (Jacob 2:23)” known to Jacob.
Pride of the heart he said was the cause of their sin when they began to “persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they. (Jacob 2:13).” Impure hearts was the cause of “committing whoredoms (Jacob 2:23). Even when Jacob compares us to trees he tells of our “loftiness” and our “taking strength unto themselves” by which we have “become corrupted” (Jacob 5:48).
Jacob recognizes that before we venture to commit serious sins which are seen we will first commit sin which in unseen, we will sin in our hearts.
Only those who “with full purpose of heart… will cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you (Jacob 6:5)” are free from the impurities that can enter one’s heart.
Start with a clean heart and the whole body by and by shall be cleansed with Christ’s grace and mercy.