Lynne's Scripture Journal D&C

March 31, 2017 Section 10:6-34 God All Knowing All Seeing, 116 Pages, Crafty Men, Opposition, Anger, Satan’s Ways, Doubt What To Watch Out For, Spiritual Verifications, Starting with v 6, this revelation shows that God does know all and sees all. He made arrangements in Nephi’s time that would disrupt the evil plot in Joseph Smith’s time—the plot that is described in v’s 11-27, a plot that would have caused the world to dismiss the Book of Mormon as the work of a crafty and lying man—when in reality, those who stole the 116 pages, and altered them were the lying and crafty men—men were wicked and corrupt, men wanting glory for themselves at any price, men who listened to and followed Satan in Satan’s effort to thwart the Lord’s plan and give himself (Satan) greater power over mankind. V 24-27 “ Yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work.   Yea, he saith unto them: Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that he may destroy; behold, this is no harm. And thus he ...

March 30, 2017 Section 10:1-5 Obedience Value Of, Gift of Translation, Repentance, Lord’s Tutoring, Do Not Run Faster, Best Our Best, Progress is Determined by Our Direction, Pray Always, Missionary Advice, Failure Then Get Going, This section was given just 3 days after Joseph had returned the Urim & Thummin to Moroni. For those 3 days the Lord had taken Joseph’s gift of translation away. Joseph truly felt the agony of his failure in this grand job the Lord had given him. He felt profoundly the reality that “ your mind became darkened ” (v 2) Lucy Mack Smith described this time: “ I besought him not to mourn to, for perhaps the Lord would forgive him, after a short season of humiliation and repentance. But what could I do to comfort him, when he saw all the family in the same situation of mind as himself; for sobs and groans, and the most bitter lamentations filled the house. However, Joseph was more distressed than the rest, as he better understood the consequences of di...

March 29, 2017 Section 9:1-14 Patience, In the Lord’s Time, Revelation, Prayerful Requests, Best Our Best, I found a great truth described in the Historical Background of Section 9—one that is   often difficult to live with, but I think probably more important than we will know in our mortal life. Oliver Cowdery has expressed a desire to not just be the scribe, but to work on the translation of the plates also. “ Oliver is admonished to be patient, and is urged to be content to write, for the time being….” The Lord knows what we can handle, and what we should handle, and He also knows when we need more preparation—but He always acts for our benefit and growth: v 3, 4, 6 & 13 to Oliver who was not up to the work of translation:   3 “ Be patient, my son, for it is wisdom in me, and it is not expedient that you should translate at this present time.    4 Behold, the work which you are called to do is to write for my servant Joseph. 6   Do not murmur, m...

March 28, 2017 Section 8:1-12 Revelations, Spiritual Gifts, Faith, Faith To Act, Personal Revelation, Heavenly Father’s Reality, In section 6, both Joseph Smith & Oliver Cowdery had been given the gift to translate the records. Joseph wrote: “ Whilst continuing the work of translation, during the month of April, Oliver Cowdery became exceedingly anxious to have the power to translate bestowed upon him, and in relation to this desire the following revelations were obtained: [D&C 8-9]. The Lord is speaking directly to Oliver--and to me—“ Olive Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive a knowledge….” This concerned ‘knowledge concerning the engravings of old’ but it applies to any knowledge we desire. That’s what Joseph did when he went to the grove to pray ...