How Blessed Are They Who Have Labored

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

In this verse, Jacob bestows a benediction upon the servants of the Lord who have been zealous and who persevered in His service in the vineyard of our Lord. It reminds us of the words of the angel, who, in speaking for the Lord, said to Nephi, "And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the lamb; ... (1 Nephi 13:37) Those who do wickedly and refuse to obey the voice of his servants "shall be cast out into their own place!" How natural it will be for the wicked to be separated from the righteous. How true it is that the wicked cannot endure the presence of the righteous man. Neither can that which is pure and holy mingle with that which is corrupt. Man, by his own actions, casts himself out; by his own deeds he renders service to God or the evil one. This is true and may be seen in church duty where a man may make of himself a mighty servant of the Lord or an impotent "hanger on." When the separation is accomplished, "The world shall be burned with fire."

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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