The hurt and sorrow of the wives of the adulterers bring another warning of “a sore curse, even to destruction” that will follow unless there is repentance (vv. 31–33). Jacob addresses his brethren, probably the priesthood holders, who were responsible not only to set a good example, but to teach the law of chastity to their families and other church members. Lehi had given the same laws of morality to them as cited by Jacob, making them not only accountable for their sins, but more responsible because of their knowing of the seriousness of such sins (v. 34). The adulterers had failed in their stewardship as husbands. Their sins were greater than the Lamanites (v. 35), who, because as Alma later said, “have not kept the commandments of God, they have been cut off from the presence of the Lord … Nevertheless I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for them in the day of judgment than for you, if ye remain in your sins, yea, and even more tolerable for them in this life than for you, except ye repent” (Alma 9:14–15). In the day of judgement it shall also be more tolerable for those who never embraced the gospel than for an unrepentant member of Christ’s Church.
Another sin of these husbands is the loss of their children’s confidence. A father should be a good role model, but it seems that their immorality is well known among the Nephite people. The sobbings of the hearts of the children have ascended to God, and because of the embarrassment and shame “many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds” (Jacob 2:35).
The sin of immorality is a sin against the two great commandments:
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. [Matthew 22:36–40]
When we break the law of chastity we sin against God, as proclaimed by Joseph of Egypt who was tempted by Potiphar’s wife: “how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9). Immorali ty breaks the hearts of spouses and wounds the children, who are our closest and dearest neighbors. It also affects our friends and other neighbors in similar ways, thus sinning against them. Furthermore, immorality is a sin against ourselves. As a child of God, we are born with “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:8–9); “For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil” (Moroni 7:16). As a member of the Church: “He that is baptized in [Christ’s] name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost” (2 Nephi 31:12; see also Acts 2:37–39). As Paul taught, “He that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God” (1 Corinthians 6:18–19; see also 3:16–17). The Light of Christ nor the Holy Ghost “doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God” (Alma 7:21). Therefore we sin against our own bodies when, through immorality, we deprive it of the light of Christ and of the Holy Ghost.