First of all, Jacob said the men had begun spending more and more time searching for gold and silver and other precious ores which abound in this land so plentifully. In these mining adventures, the men had been blessed with remarkable success. However, some had obtained more riches than others and thought this made them somehow superior to those with less. Therefore they were lifted up in pride and wore stiff necks as they smugly strutted about showing off the costliness of their fine apparel. They even began to abuse or persecute the more humble brethren who had not been quite so fortunate.
Jacob challenged them. They stood condemned by Almighty God and unless they repented of this stupid sense of pride and false superiority, Jacob predicted the judgment of God would descend on them speedily. At the rate things were going, Jacob felt the sooner something happened to these men, the better it would be. Jacob wished they could realize that with a single glance of his eye, God could smite them in to the dust. Jacob longed to have something happen to them so that their silly pride would not destroy their souls.