Jacob didn’t neglect the pure in heart, who in many cases were hurt because of the bad choices of others, particularly of the husbands and fathers in this growing community. I appreciate here that Jacob leads the pure in heart to lean on Heavenly Father. It is so easy to get wrapped up in your hurt and want to react and be mean back. Yet, as Jesus repeatedly taught and demonstrated in the New Testament, that isn’t the way to happiness. Jesus taught that we should love our enemies and that we must forgive to be forgiven. Put it in the Lord’s hands and there will be justice.
It is noteworthy that in chapter 2, Jacob talks repeatedly about the thoughts and hearts of those who are setting out to do the wrong things, and then in chapter 3:1–2, Jacob follows up by addressing the hearts and minds of the righteous. I love the expression firmness of mind. It takes a lot of exertion to hang in there when no one around you is. Righteous resolve begins with firmness of mind. And the promises here are great. You can just feel the Lord’s love and strengthening power that is available to the righteous. What does Jacob tell them to do?
Jacob mentions the pure in heart. Are we ever completely pure or not pure? Not until we stop being fallen people, right? Fortunately, the Lord will console you in your afflictions, including in those sins that you’re trying to forsake, and he will plead your cause. What is "the pleasing word of God"? It is the Atonement of Christ, the message that you can be forgiven. So, "feast upon his love." How do you think they felt, those of them who needed to change (as we all do, but some more than others)? There is love for every one of God’s children, and the pleasing word of God "healeth the wounded soul" (Jacob 2:8). Is Jacob just talking about the people who are hurt or suffering from the sins of their husbands or fathers? No. Everyone is spiritually wounded to some extent, and therefore everyone needs divine healing. The Lord is merciful, the Lord is kind, and what better place to talk about these things than at the temple where we are taught more about the Atonement of Christ than any other place. So in essence, Jacob’s message is that sin is real, and we should call it what it is. But his message is also that the Lord can heal those wounds caused by sin and bring reconciliation between those who have caused or received harm.
I think that we sometimes unnecessarily separate the choices in our ordinary lives from our covenants. We sort of place our covenants on a shelf when in reality they apply to our choices throughout every day of our lives. I love temple recommend interviews for that reason. It gives us an opportunity to connect those dots. Every single one of those questions points toward a covenant. Live this way, keep these covenants, and blessings will naturally follow.