Jacob 3

To me, this is a chapter about the pure in heart. The Nephites seem to think they are the righteous ones. The Lamanites, not them, are the dark and filthy people. But Jacob skillfully points out that for what they know, the Lamanites are actually more righteous and if the Nephites are not careful, the Lord will destroy them, not the Lamanites, for their wickedness. The Nephites have no excuse. They have prophets, the scriptures, the knowledge, and probably all of the tools and wealth to be a highly educated and prosperous people. The Lamanites are suffering for the sins and teachings of their fathers. They don't understand and know the truth about the important things in life. He warns the Nephites that the will bring destruction on their children and all of the sins of their children will be heaped on their heads because they are the ones who started the cycle of unrighteousness in their people.

Jacob urges us to be pure in heart, be firm in our minds concerning the gospel, and pray with faith and trust in the Lord. The Lord will console us in our afflictions, he will take care of those who would be harmful to us. But he so wants us to keep our hearts and minds on him, especially he wants us to remember how much he loves us. Jacob says we should feast upon his love. That's an interesting thing to say in our day where the vast majority of people, including those who believe, have little idea of what that love is and that it's there for the taking.