10 But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the strict commands of God, and tell you concerning your wickedness and abominations, in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken heart, and under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.
11 Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people.
Jacob is forthright and yet very tactful in his approach to the people. He illustrates that magnifying of a leader’s calling is much more than giving a warning. He also shows the proper use of the priesthood as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy” (D&C 121:43). “Reproving” means to rebuke, chastise, reprimand; but it also means a kindly intent to correct. “ Betimes” means to do so early, without delay. Jacob knew their thoughts “by the help of the all powerful creator” (Jacob 2:5). God “is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart;” and “there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart” (D&C 33:1; 6:16). Thus Jacob moved without delay, with a kindly intent to correct. “Sharpness” is defined as clear, well stated, with clarity. Jacob also knew “that [he] must testify unto [them] concerning the wickedness of [their] hearts” (Jacob 2:6).
Again citing his previous sermon recorded by Nephi:
47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?
48 Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin. [2 Nephi 9:47–48]
As will be seen, he clearly and specifically identifies the sins of the Nephite people. “An increase of love” assumes there has been a demonstration of love before. Jacob shows his love for the people by apologizing for the necessity of using boldness in the presence of many “whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God.”
(Jacob 2:7) His recognition of enlarging “the wounds or those who are already wounded”
(vv. 8–9) further shows his love and concern for those whose hearts were already broken
(v. 10) God also loves these people, but “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6; see also D&C 95:1), and so he sent his servant Jacob to chasten them.