“But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction. O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.”

I love the phrase that Jacob repeats twice in this passage: He twice speaks of “firmness of mind/if your minds are firm.” Many today think that faith is blind or effortless and mock believers as weak. But Jacob understood that enduring faith requires great firmness of mind. Dedicated discipleship is not effortless or painless–quite the contrary. Those with such a faith will endure afflictions. Those with such a faith will have those who seek for their destruction. But there is a promise that if they can stay firm in faith they will receive compensatory blessings and great comfort from a loving father in heaven.

If we feast upon Christ’s pleasing word, we can have confidence that he will be there throughout the trials that come in life. He will stand by our side, console us, and plead our case.

Discipleship requires great effort, both mental and physical. But it is worth the cost.