The second chapter of the book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon contains the only explicit teaching about polygamy in the Nephite record. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me...

Reading 2 Nephi means encountering a lot of Isaiah, and Jacob’s speech is no exception. Jacob, as the newly installed high priest, gave a speech to the Nephites ( 2 Nephi 6–10 ) and quoted extensively from Isaiah 49–52 . Jacob explained that Nephi specifically asked him to preach on these passages from Isaiah ( 2 Nephi 6:4 ), meaning that Nephi felt strongly that these specific chapters...