4/16/17 -Section 14:1-11

April 16, 2017

Section 14:1-11

Retirement, Keep the Commandments, Endure to the End, Plan of Salvation, Keep on Keeping On,

I find myself occasionally wishing for a ‘retirement clause’ in the church, but verse 3 explains why that would be to my detriment: “…whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.” I may work a little slower now and I may take a few naps, but I can still work well. This ‘reaping’ is not just to build up supplies for a season of plenty, but for an eternity of opportunities and growth and understanding. This work includes (v 8) keeping the commandments and enduring to the end both as my daily work and as my ultimate goal—“…which thing if ye do and are faithful, ye shall be blessed both spiritually and temporally and great shall be your reward.” (v 11) The Lord always speaks the truth and never exaggerates in explaining the good or the bad, and working for the good brings so many added benefits to me as I continue on my journey. I’m 67 years old now, and the spiritual helps and comforts I have been blessed with throughout many of those years are far too profound for me to do anything else except happily and energetically (as much as I am able) continue along this excellent course.

2/15/2021 – D&C 14

The process of translation of the Book of Mormon was moving along at a good pace, but there in Harmony PA, things were not going so well. Hostility from the neighbors was growing, and support from Emma’s family was shrinking, and both of those things indicated to Oliver and Joseph that Harmony was no longer a safe place to stay. Oliver reached out to a friend of his, David Whitmer, who had expressed interest in Joseph’s work. The Whitmer’s lived about 100 miles away from Harmony. When Oliver asked if he and Joseph could move into the Whitmer home in order to finish the translation, the Whitmore family invited them to come. In fact, they did more than invite them. David Whiter came the 100 miles to Harmony, and brought with him a two-hours wagon. Before they started their journey to the Whitmer home, David assured them that they would live there free of charge, and the Whitmer brothers would be glad to help with the writing as Joseph translated the remainder of the golden plates.

The Whitmer family had been very interested in Joseph’s work, but once Oliver and Joseph were there in their home, working on the translation daily—the Whitmer’s had more than an interest in Joseph’s work. The synopsis of this section says “Three of the Whitmer sons, each having received a testimony as to the genuineness of the work, became deeply concerned over the matter of their individual duty.”  This section, and section 15 came from Joseph’s “inquiry through the Urim and Thummim”.

In the 3rd verse, the Lord makes it clear that there is certainly a lot of work to be done, and if the Whitmer’s desire to help with that work, then they are welcomed and are promised that they “may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.” And then the Lord immediately tells them what they should do: “Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. Seek to bring forth and establish my Zion. Keep my commandments in all things.” (v’s 5-6) And then comes another promise from the Lord: “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (v 7) And then He instructs them in their next steps: “…if you shall ask the Father in my name, in faith believing, you shall receive the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance, that you may stand as a witness of the things of which you shall both hear and see, and also that you may declare repentance unto this generation.” (v 8) And finally he lets them know that if they do these things “…and are faithful, ye shall be blessed both spiritually and temporally, and great shall be your reward.” (v 11)

The Lord’s instructions to the Whitmer’s are basically instructions to us all. There was much work to be done in Joseph’s time, and there is much work to be done in our times. Doing the work is one thing. Enduring to the end is even more important. I find that enduring to the end becomes much easier when I start each day with actions that will keep me attuned to Heavenly Father, and to my ability and my desires to truly keep His commandments. When I make sure that I have daily communication with Him, I find I don’t have to struggle through too many “up’s and downs’ in my testimony, or in my actions, or in my desire to truly ‘Come unto Him’.