Back to the Sunday School curriculum: Jacob 7 narrates the encounter between Jacob, Nephi's brother and the keeper of the holy record, and Sherem, the first of three Antichrists featured in the Book of Mormon.
As you recall, Sherem just showed up and started "to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ" (v. 2). He was smart and a smooth talker, and "he could use . . . much power of speech, according to the power of the devil" (v. 4). Jacob stood firm against Sherem's arguments, his convictions secured by his own supernatural experiences of seeing angels and hearing the actual voice of the Lord from time to time (v. 5).
After unsuccessfully confronting Jacob, Sherem asks for a sign, whereupon Jacob suggests that God smite him, which immediately occurs (v. 13-15). After being in a coma for several days (or perhaps weeks), Sherem awakens, confesses Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost, admits he had been deceived by the power of the devil and that he was going straight to hell, then promptly dies (v. 15-20). Following this miraculous death, the people are overcome with astonishment and become much more attentive in reading their scriptures, which was mightily pleasing unto Jacob (v. 21-23).
This story is presented in the hightly edited Book of Mormon not as entertainment, but for edification. It is there to teach us something related to the gospel of Jesus Christ. So here's the question:
Question: What exactly are we supposed to learn from the events narrated in Jacob 7:1-23? What lesson, principle, or doctrine is this intended to teach the attentive, pondering reader?
Short essay (even one sentence), easy grading, clever or insightful answers get bonus points. No plagairizing from places like this, this, or this. You can do better.
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