5/11/2017 - Section 25:7-16

May 11, 2017

Section 25: 7-16

Women & the Priesthood, Holy Ghost Aides in our Callings, Relief Society, Relationships Wives & Husbands, Hymns Value & Help to Us, Hymn to Help us Do What Is Right, Credo for Living,

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.” 

V 7 promises Emma that she will “expound scriptures, and...exhort the church” and v 8 clarifies that she will do this by the power of the Holy Ghost.  There are some who bring up Paul’s words in 1 Cor 14:34-35 when he said that women are not to ‘speak’ in church. In Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible he changed that ‘speak’ to ‘rule’ in the Church, indicating that women (like all Church members) are to be directed in the Church by the priesthood. When JS spoke to the first Relief Society, he said: “You will receive instructions through the order of the Priesthood which God has established, through the medium of those appointed to lead, guide and direct the affairs of the Church in this last dispensation…this Society shall rejoice, and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time henceforth; this is the beginning of better days to the poor and needy, who shall be made to rejoice and pour forth blessings on your heads.” (History of the Church 4:607)

There is much comfort in this section: v 5 speaks of how marriage partners are to comfort one another, and that Emma need not fear as she takes on the callings of this revelation “for thy husband shall support thee” (v 11)

V 12 describes what I have experienced many times with the hymns: “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” Often I find that the words of the hymn I am singing floods into my mind and heart with special significance. Sometimes I feel I learn specific lessons, other times I feel I am being gently reminded of things I need to work on in my life, but most times the feeling that is strong enough to bring tears enough to interfere with my ability to continue singing is from the stirrings in my heart and mind of how much, and how often, the Lord loves and guides us. I remember going to the Provo Temple with a troubling problem—hoping to find a solution. As I waited in the chapel prior to the temple session, I listened to the organ. In my mind, I repeated the words of the hymn the organist was playing. Those words had nothing to do with the problem I had brought with me, but I suddenly knew all would be all right. I knew my prayer had been answered right there and then. I knew that I merely had to go forward in faith and all would work out. I bowed my head and thanked my Heavenly Father for helping me so quickly and so lovingly. Hymns can communicate so much to our hearts and minds. I have a place where I jot down things I’d like to have done at my funeral. I find the hardest thing for me is to pick a hymn that I would like to have sung—because there are so many hymns that have carried touching messages into my heart.

Boyd K Packer once gave a talk in which he admonished us to select a hymn to memorize and have in our minds. He labeled it as our emergency channel to turn to whenever  “…shady actors have slipped from the sidelines of your thoughts onto the stage of your mind…” I am not much troubled by ‘shady actors’, but I am troubled by irritation when daily life gets hectic and confused and out of hand. I will make it my goal to find my go-to channel when irritation starts to take over—for irritation only makes hectic and confused and out of hand moments so much worse. Elder Packer went on in his talk to say “The Lord, Himself, was prepared for His greatest test with [religious music] influence, for the scripture records: ‘And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”

The final verses of this section could be read every morning and every night, for they are a guide to every one of us: “Wherefore, 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….Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come. And verily, verily, [truly, truly] I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all. Amen.” (v13-16)