3/30/2017 - Section 10:1-5

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 disobedience. And he continued pacing back and forth, meantime weeping and grieving, until about sunset, when, by persuasion he took a little nourishment.    The next morning, he set out for home. We parted with heavy hearts, for it now appeared that all which we had so fondly anticipated, and which had been the source of so much secret gratification, had in a moment fled, and fled forever.” (History of Joseph Smith p 129)

Joseph Smith wrote: “After I had obtained the above revelation [D&C 3], both the plates and the Urim and Thummim were taken from me again but in a few days they were returned to me, when I inquired of the Lord, and the Lord said thus unto me: [D&C 10].”

This dark time-- that was for Joseph’s spiritual education—lasted only 3 days…which had to be so very difficult. In v’s 3-5 the Lord gives loving, and probably very necessary advice that is good for us all to note: “Nevertheless, it (the gift of translation) is not restored unto you again; therefore see that you are faithful and continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation as you have begun.   Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end. Pray always, that you may come off conqueror….”

From the student manual p 22: Similar counsel was given by King Benjamin just after reminding his people of the importance of basing their lives and actions on the attributes of Christ: “And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order, for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order. (Mosiah 4:27) In the Lord’s counsel to the Prophet Joseph Smith and in King Benjamin’s to the Nephites, the emphasis is on diligence and direction rather than on speed in climbing the path to exaltation (D&C 84:43 And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.) Overzealous effort without wisdom and patience leads to errors.”

Brother Kline, Regional Representative living in Wallsburg, us to tell us that life is not a competition between us and others. It is a picture of our progress or lack thereof. As long as we are on an upward climb, we are moving closer to the Lord. It’s when we stop moving in His direction, or start sliding backwards that our lives need to be examined and adjusted—the quicker the better...the quicker the easier.

P 22 on Pray Always: “Sometimes prayer is thought of only as vocal petitions to God. President Joseph F. Smith counseled: ‘It is not the words we use particularly that constitute prayer. Prayer does not consist of words, altogether. True, faithful, earnest prayer consists more in the feeling that rises from the heart and from the inward desire of our spirits to supplicate the Lord in humility and in faith, that we may receive his blessings (Gospel Doctrine p 219)   Because prayer involves one’s feelings toward God would not the command to ‘pray always’ involve a condition of feeling that one has for God? The Apostle Paul wrote: ‘Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks.” (1 Thess 5:17-18) Could not a feeling of gratitude and love for Heavenly Father and a constant yearning to live to please Him be considered a way to pray always? Amulek gave similar counsel when he said, ‘Let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you’(Alma 34:27)”