5/10/2017 - Section 25:1-6

May 10, 2017

Section 25:1-6

Emma Smith, Hymns, Elect, Marriage Partners, Keep the Commandments and Blessings that Follow, Ordain vs Setting Apart, Callings, Obedience,

Reminder from May 8, 2017: Though less than four months had elapsed since the Church was organized, persecution had become intense, and the leaders had to seek safety in partial seclusion. The following three revelations [sections 24, 25, 26] were given at this time to strengthen, encourage and instruct them.” 

See the opening paragraph of my comments on Section 24….That information made this section to Emma regarding hymns even more significant to me—for so many times in my life, it has been the hymns that have brought comfort, peace and calm to my heart and mind. And just as important, there have been times when the hymns have instructed me in the gospel--thus expanding my understanding. I love knowing that the Lord specifically provided hymns to ‘strengthen, encourage and instruct’ us.

P 50: “Historical Background. It had been just over three years since the Prophet Joseph…and Emma...had been married in the small village of South Bainbridge, New York.   The seventh of nine children born to Isaac and Elizabeth Hale, Emma was born on 10 July 1804 in Harmony, Pennsylvania. There the Prophet met and courted her while he was working for Josiah Stowell. It is reported that Emma was a beautiful woman with an attractive personality, and she had the reputation of bing a refined and dignified woman who was an excellent housekeeper and cook. Her Methodist upbringing had helped her develop a great love of music.   The first three years for the newly married coupe were indeed tense and trying ones. Eight months after their marriage Joseph received the golden plates from the angel Moroni. From that moment on their lives were punctuated with persecution and trial. Emma passed through these tying experiences with her husband. She was at his side during those agonizing months when Joseph lost the gift to translate. She served as his scribe for a while. Her heart must have ached when the Prophet was arrested on trumped-up charges again and again. She traveled with the Prophet on many of his missionary journeys and shared with him the joy and sorrow associated with preaching of the gospel. Emma was a woman of great courage and strong will. Of her the Prophet’s mother, Lucy Mack Smith, wrote: ‘I have never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal, and patience, which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had to endure…she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman.”

I find it significant that in this revelation to Emma, the first thing the Lord tells her –at least, after He has indicated that these blessing will come as she is “faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me” (v2). He tells her to “murmur not because of the things which thou has not seen” (v 3) and to be a companion and help and “a comfort unto thy husband…with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness”.

In History of the Church 4:552-53, when recording the organizing of the Relief Society, Joseph “showed that the elect meant to be elected to a certain work, etc., and that the revelation was then fulfilled by Sister Emma’s election to the Presidency of the Society, she having previously been ordained to expound the Scriptures.” That gives additional explanation of the scriptures which speak of the “elect” as well as the phrase “calling and election made sure”.  I have always thought that having one’s calling and election made sure is for people doing very significant things for the Lord, and because of that I never worry about having that happen to me. What I work for is the faith and perseverance to continue to be obedient to all the Lord’s commandments—for that is where I find peace. And the second thing I desire is to always work hard to work at my callings to the very best of my abilities—for many of my great growth periods have come from callings I have had, and just as sweet have been the friendships that have come from the working within the callings I have had.

3/10/2021 – D&C 25

The Study Manual has a wonderful forward to this chapter: “It had been just over three years since the Prophet Joseph Smith and Emma Hale were married in the small village of South Bainbridge, New York. Joseph was now twenty-five years of age and Emma twenty-six.

Emma was the seventh of nine children born to Isaac and Elizabeth Hale. She was born on 10 July 1804 in Harmony, Pennsylvania. That’s where the Prophet met and courted her while he was working for Josiah Stowell. It’s reported that Emma was a beautiful woman with an attractive personality, and she had the reputation of being a refined and dignified woman who was an excellent housekeeper and cook. Her Methodist upbringing had helped her develop a great love of music.

The first three years for the newly married couple were tense and trying ones. Eight months after their marriage Joseph received the golden plates from the angel Moroni. From that moment on their lives were littered with persecution and trial. Emma passed through these trying experiences with her husband. She was at his side during those agonizing months when Joseph lost the gift to translate. She served as his scribe for a while. Her heart must have ached when the Prophet was arrested on trumped-up charges again and again. (See Historical Background for D&C 24.) She traveled with the Prophet on many of his missionary journeys and shared, with him, the joy and sorrow associated with the preaching of the gospel. Emma was a woman of great courage and strong will. Of her the Prophet’s mother, Lucy Mack Smith, wrote: “I have never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal, and patience, which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had to endure … she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman.” (History of Joseph Smith, pp. 190–91.)

Now, in July of 1830, the Lord directed to Emma a revelation: section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

I think of the first 3 years of marriage Emma lived through. I would assume there would have been wonderful times, but also extremely stressful times. The stresses included being shunned from much of the community, being actively protested against, having the weight of protecting the plates and of helping the work of translating the plates. So often they are living in houses where they are the guests—that’s another stress in itself. They were usually lacking in funds, and living off the kindness of others, which is difficult to accept for long periods of time unless you are amazingly humble and loving. The protests against them meant that they had to move several times. This is how they started their lives together: so often with little privacy, so often with insufficient funds. The demands of translating the BofM were strenuous both spiritually and mentally, and required time that might otherwise have been used for Joseph to work and bring in money, or for the couple to be together and grow together as a couple. But through this all Emma has been supportive to Joseph. And after all of this the Lord speaks directly to Emma and calls her “my daughter” (v 1). 

He tells her what He tells to us all: “If thou are faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me…thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.” ( 2)

He tells her that she is “an elect lady whom I have called”. Her life is to be changed forever, and will be nothing like she might have imagined it would be. She is so involved with Joseph’s work, and yet she has not been able to see the plates as others have been. But the Lord’s guidance is “murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come.” (v 4)

Then after explaining what she won’t have, He explains her calling that she “shall be for a comfort unto my Servant, Joseph Smith, Jun. …in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness.” She is also told that she is to be Joseph’s scribe now, for the Lord has other things that he wants Oliver Cowdery to do. The Lord also says she will “expound the scriptures, and exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.” (v7) And in the following verses the Lord tells her that Joseph will support her. What a good definition of marriage: both people are involved in serious assignments, but both people are supporting each other. They are both to “…lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made. Continue in the spirit of meekness and beware of pride. Let thy soul delight in thy husband…” That is counsel that is good, and healthy, and uplifting, for every one of us – in every kind of situation we find ourselves in. And the Lord knows that -- for His last words of this revelation are “And verily, verily, I say unto you that this is my voice unto all. Amen.” (v 16)  I’m thinking that whenever I come to the section in my studies, I should start with verse 16!