3/26/2017 - Section 6:16-37

March 26, 2017

Section 6:16-37

Lord Knows Our Thoughts, Progress in the Gospel, Revelation, Revelation of Peace, Peace, God’s Love for Us,   

V 16 was surprising to me—it is Heavenly Father’s ‘privacy clause’.  “Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.”  Then there is the quote from Bruce R McConkie in Mormon Doctrine p 670: “Men’s thoughts are secret and cannot be pried into by other men, or for that matter by devils.” I know that God knows the desires of my heart whether I tell Him or not in my prayers. I also know that as I talk to Him in my prayers, and discuss my failures, my triumphs, my joys, my thankfulness, my worries and my concerns—that He can literally guide my thoughts, and there have been times when He has literally directed my thoughts to conclusions I would never have come up with on my own. I also know that when I stand at the judgment bar of Christ that my entire life will be laid out, and I will remember all and know without a doubt of the rightness of that judgment—that grand and final exam of our schooling in mortality. I am happy to learn that neither Satan—nor his minions—have power to know my thoughts. They can watch me and learn much by the things I do and don’t do—but their power is limited and the Lord’s power is greater than them all.

This verse (16) is spoken directly to Oliver Cowdery, who has had a difficult time in deciding whether these marvelous findings and pronouncements of Joseph are the absolute truth. Oliver has spoken of the impact that Joseph’s story and journey have upon him. I feel these strong feelings Oliver described were verifications of his questions. But it is in v 17 that Heavenly Father answers him powerfully, and leaves no room for doubt: “I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee—that the words or the work which thou hast been writing are true.” And then He goes on to teach Oliver exactly how to follow-up on these now certain truths. V 18-20 “Therefore be diligent; stand by my servant Joseph, faithfully in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the word’s sake.   Admonish him in his faults, and also receive admonition of him. Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity.    Behold, thou are Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of they desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.”  The scriptures are applicable to us all. This instruction is applicable to me. It is not only true for the Lord’s teachings that lead us forward in the gospel and in our lives, but the things spoken of in those last 3 verses will also help any relationship I have: namely my marriage partnership with Bob, those few, but wonderful, deep friendships I have and the wonderful connection I have with my sister, and—hopefully—my relationship with each of my wonderful, adult children. 

V’s 22 & 23 are the verses we hear quoted so often: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.    Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?” But the student manual presents a quote from Joseph Smith recorded in History of the Church 1:35, which I had never heard: “After we had received this revelation (D&C 6), Oliver Cowdery stated to me that after he had gone to my father’s to board, and after the family had communicated to him concerning my having obtained the plates, that one night after he had retired to bed he called upon the Lord to know if these things were so, and the Lord manifested to him that they were true, but he had kept the circumstance entirely secret, and had mentioned it to no one; so that after this revelation was given, he knew that the work was true, because no being living knew of the thing alluded to in the revelation, but God and himself.”

One more quote from the student manual on revelation: “Revelation can come in many ways and in various degrees of directness. In some cases God Himself may appear to a person; in other cases He may send an angel, show a vision, or speak though the whisperings of the still, small voice. Here the Lord bore witness to Oliver Cowdery of one way of giving revelation—a feeling of peace. When one is torn with despair or confusion, the sweet feeling of peace conveyed by the Comforter can instantly dispel the turmoil that reigned in the soul previously. Such a feeling is a real, definable experience, and as much a revelation as a vision, though more subtle and less direct in the way it is given.”

I can’t close out this section of the D&C without repeating the beautiful & final instructions that Christ closes this revelation with:  v’s 32-27 “Verily, Verily, I say unto you as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you. (potential of our family) (these next words surround me with the huge truth and reality of God’s love)   Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; …..Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin (sin=do something imperfect “miss the target”) Look unto me in every thought; (with an eye single) doubt not, fear not. …. (1) be faithful, (2) keep my commandments; and (3) ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen

How could I ever had felt this book of scripture was harsh???? The Lord simply wants to get our attention, so that we can—one step at a time—come closer to Him.