Pride, Riches and bad examples

Because Jacob has been ordained with his brother Joseph by Nephi to become teachers and preachers to his people, they were diligent in carrying out their callings.  Jacob at this point is very weary because the Nephites has established themselves a king and have grown prideful and wicked, desiring that which Solomon and David of old desired.  Concubines and more wives. Jacob has no choice but to be harsh in reprimanding them for their sins.
Jacob 2:7 And also it grieveth me that I must use so much ^aboldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and ^bchaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God;

These parents were not being good influence to their young children and so the Lord commanded Jacob that he should speak to them:
Jacob 2:9 Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to ^aadmonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

There were great many things that was going on among the Nephites.  Those who were rich were persecuting the poor because of their lowly circumstances.  Jacob declared:
17 Think of your ^abrethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your ^bsubstance, that ^cthey may be rich like unto you.

 18 But ^abefore ye seek for ^briches, seek ye for the ^ckingdom of God.

 19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to ^ado good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

A familiar pattern comes to mind when the Israelites were being led out of bondage by Moses.  The Lord blesses them, they prosper  and then they become prideful and start departing from the ways of the Lord.  The Lord sends out his prophets and messengers to cry repentance to the people.  They warn, chastise and cry repentance and when all that is done, and still the people failed to obey, then the Lord turns around in His anger and destroy them.

At this point in time, the Nephites has become more wicked then the Lamanites

35 Behold, ye have done ^agreater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the ^bstrictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.

I believe that these records that has been compiled in the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible, have been preserved  especially for our days to teach us and warn us of the things which we should and shouldn't do.  As parents when we fail to teach our children through good examples, we bring upon us the wrath of God.  It is our responsibility to lead and teach them the ways of the Lord and to live it so ourselves.  Action does speak louder then words.  We are responsible for not only the physical welfare of our children but also their spiritual nourishment.