Plain Teachings

If given the choice between advanced, complex spiritual teachings, and simple, plain spiritual teachings, we would be wise to choose the simple, plain teachings. Teachings that help us know where to go and what to do and that almost anyone could understand. Jacob shares this principle in Jacob 4:13

Wherefore, because of their ^eblindness, which ^fblindness came by looking beyond the ^gmark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they ^hcannot understand, because they desired it.

When we seek for complex things we apparently can get lost in points that aren't critical. I have certainly seen that in some people. Focusing on timing of certain church events or leaders' positions, geographical evidence of the Book of Mormon, or other speculation often doesn't lead anywhere productive when the key questions are how to follow the Savior and help other people. It appears that the Jews often wondered how they would be dominant and have a Savior that would redeem them politically. This missed the mark in that the Savior was principally someone who would redeem them spiritually as that is what's most important. Jacob's teachings in this chapter focus on that:

11 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be ^areconciled unto him through the ^batonement of Christ, his ^cOnly Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a ^dresurrection, according to the ^epower of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the ^ffirst-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.

12 And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not ^aspeak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?