3/24/2017 - Section 5:11- 35

March 24, 2017

Section 5:11-35

Faith, Spirit Manifestation Of, Spiritual Help, Humility, Growth Spiritual, Repentance Process,

V 16 explains a lot about the process of communication with the Lord: “And behold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit and they shall be born of me, even of the water and of the Spirit” This verse reminds me that when I go to the scriptures, or when I pray, or when I attend sacrament meeting—if I go believing—or even desiring to believe Christ’s messages—that is when I will receive ‘the manifestation of my Spirit’. That is a beautiful promise that I have been able to feel, and to savor, so many times. In essence, the truth is Faith Brings Spiritual Help—whether it’s a confirmation of belief, or answers to questions, or comfort, or healing, or peace, or new realizations. Faith is my stabilizer. Faith is my motivator. Faith is my sure foundation.

In v’s 21-22, the Lord tells—no commands—Joseph to align his life (and what he writes to one person in the scriptures is true for us all) “And now I command you, my servant Joseph, to repent and walk more uprightly before me, and to yield to the persuasions of men no more.   And that you be firm in keeping the commandments wherewith I have commanded you; and if you do this, behold I grant unto you eternal life…”  I think it is very important to notice that the Lord calls Joseph “my servant” for Joseph is trying so hard to serve the Lord. He’s not perfect in that calling, and that’s why the Lord is tutoring him and answering his questions and explaining other things.

V 24 is written to Martin Harris. One scholar commented “Even after the loss of the 116 pages, humility came hard for Martin, though he succeeded and he finally saw the angel and the plates. (Go to History of the Church, 1:55)” V 24: “Behold, I say unto him he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then I will I grant unto him a view of these things which he desires to see.” The journey toward humility is easy for some and hard for others. It was hard for Martin Harris. But he kept working at it. As the Lord taught in v 28: he must humble himself; he must acknowledge unto the Lord the things he had done which were wrong; he must keep the commandments; he must exercise faith in Christ. The Lord helped him along, and Joseph helped him along. Both the Lord and Joseph focused not on his short-comings, or his mistakes of the past—but focused on his desires to be better and to more fully follow the Lord. And the desires of Martin’s heart were finally granted.

In v’s 30-34 the Lord explains to Joseph that he must soon pause in the great and important work of translation. The Lord gives His reasons for this delay, and then reminds Joseph “Yea, for this cause I have said: Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee.” I do not have the vision that the Lord has of the world or of my life, but I have the potential of being guided by the Spirit as long as I do the things that allow the Spirit to be with me AND as long as I seek to hear Him and then also determine to follow Him. I believe I still need tutoring in this process.

The final verse in this section is a beautiful promise to Joseph, and is my goal for each day: v 35 “And if thou are faithful in keeping my commandments, thou shalt be lifted up at the last day.

1/22/2021 – D&C 5:16-35

Regarding the gold plates, the Lord has described his plan. He will have three witnesses to see and handle the plates and “they shall know of a surety that these things are true, for from heaven will I declare it unto them.” (v 12) And then, in v 16, the Lord gives a beautiful promise to all the rest of us: “And behold whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my spirit…”

Then He calms Martin’s heart, telling him “And you must wait yet a little while, for ye are not yet ordained.” (v 17).  That’s an important verse for me to remember. There are so many times when I go to the Lord wanting immediate answers, they don’t simply appear to me. But I do know, that even if my particular question isn’t answered, I most always feel a deep comfort and peace come over me.  Sometimes the answer will come at another time and another place, and there are answers I am still waiting for. But that doesn’t bother me for I can continue to learn and grow, and it’s very easy for me to realize that the Lord knows what is most important for me.

In v 21, the Lord is now speaking directly to Joseph explaining that Joseph needs to be aware that he must “repent and walk more uprightly before me, and to yield to the persuasions of men no more.” President Nelson tells us the very same thing. He has told us to begin each day with prayer, and at the end of the day to go over the events and thoughts of that day with the Lord, and try to determine if there are things I should have done, or things I should have NOT done, or things I should have thought, or things I should NOT have thought…. The Lord encourages us to get a little bit better every day. What better way to do this, than to include the Lord in our efforts to go forward.

V 24 is written to Martin, but has important things for us to be aware of in our own lives: “Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see.” My days are always better when I run things by Heavenly Father, and then take time to listen.

The Lord then speaks lovingly and knowingly to Joseph with instructions that warn him and that will protect him. And then the Lord ends this section with the promise: “And if thou are faithful in keeping my commandments, thou shalt be lift up at the last day.”  That’s my goal each day!

We can learn how to best approach the Lord from the directions that the Lord has given to Martin…and Joseph.

1/23/2021 D&C 5

God has referred to Martin Harris has both wicked man and my servant. We really can be both those things at the same time. Martin has desired a witness at the Lord’s hand.