5/16/2017 - Section 29:1-8

May 16, 2017

Section 29:1-8

As A Hen Gathereth Her Chickens, Safety, Missionaries Calling Blessings & Power, Elect, Gathering the Saints,

V 2 is one that uses the sweet and easy to understand imagery of His promise that He will “gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings”. It is after that sentence that He explains the responsibilities of the chicks who will be saved: 1)Hearken (Hear and do!) to my voice; 2) humble themselves before Christ; 3) call upon me in mighty prayer.  Those three things bring us into the safety of His arms—that makes our efforts of hearkening, humbling and praying actually small things for such an unbelievable reward.

V 4 was written to the leaders of a young church…just 6 months old….to whom fell the task of growing that church. I would think they felt much as missionaries do today: sometimes unsure, sometimes worried if this was really what they should be doing, worried about their abilities to live up to this calling, always realizing the challenges that face them each day. But this is what Christ said to them specifically: “Verily, I say unto you that ye are chosen out of the world to declare my gospel…” And then He goes on in the following verses to tell them just how to do this work: “Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst” --what an amazing promise.  “Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer…ye shall receive.” –there is great power readily available to us IF we ask for it. 

V 7: “the elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts” P 60 gives good insight to the designation of ‘elect’: Bruce R McConkie“The ‘elect of God’ …[those] who are striving with all their hearts to keep the fullness of the gospel law in this life so that they can become inheritors of the fullness of gospel rewards in the life to come.” Elder George Q Cannon: “where people are pure and chaste in their thoughts and actions, the spirit of God has such power with them that they readily perceive and comprehend the truth. It is by this means that the best among the children of God are being gathered out from the various nations. Truth cleaves to truth, light to light and purity to purity. The gospel gathers with its influence those who love it’s principles; and if any should be gathered in who cannot abide its requirements, they pass off and mingle with the elements that are congenial to the spirit they possess.”  (Millennial Star, 14 Mar 1863.

V 8 speaks of gathering together. Harold B Lee explained this principle in the Apr 1948 Gen Conf: “The spirit of gathering has been with the Church from the days of that restoration. Those who are of the blood of Israel, have a righteous desire after they are baptized, to gather together with the body of the Saints at the designated place… The Lord has placed the responsibility for directing the work of gathering in the hands of the leaders of the church to whom he will reveal his will where and when such gatherings would take place in the future. It would be well—before the frightening events concerning the fulfillment of all God’s promises and predictions are upon us, that the Saints in every land prepare themselves and look forward to the instruction that shall come to them from the First Presidency of the Church as to where they shall be gathered and not be disturbed in their feelings until such instruction is given to them as it is revealed by the Lord to proper authority.” And then the manual “the Saints must look to the First Presidency and gather at whatever time and in whatever manner they prescribe.”

3/22/2021 - D&C 29:1-9

I love the beginning of this section. I call it “The Responsibility of the Chicks” because it reminds me of the wonderful lesson I experienced while riding on the neck of a very large elephant belonging to one of the Hill Tribes in the jungles of Northern Thailand. I was certainly familiar with the Lord’s scriptural promise that He would gather and protect us “as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.” But this was the day I experienced the certainty and reality of that verse. We were on a small trail nearing the end of our trip, and that multi ton elephant knew it. He was speeding -- he knew we were nearing the river where he could find a cooling rest in the waters and he was racing to get there, and then there was me, loving the ride and loving the speed, until I looked ahead and saw several chicks scattered on that narrow trail…chicks who would soon be just wet spots in the dirt. I did everything I could think of in attempting to slow the elephant, but none of my efforts had any effect. He wanted to get to the cool river, much more than he wanted to pay attention to me. I felt true panic. Those chicks could be the only food source for one of the Hill Tribe families living nearby. As we closed in on them my heart sank—they were doomed. But suddenly I saw all their little necks stretch up, their heads turned away from the elephant and they all scampered, towards a huge tree at side of the trail, and then into the maze of its roots and then right under the raised wings of their small brown mother hen. They had heard her clucks, and they had reacted immediately and they were safely under her wings as the huge elephant passed within inches of their protected area. That’s when I really understood that scripture. And at that moment I determined to try to always be at the ready to respond to any prompting I feel from the Lord.

It is within the first few verses of his chapter that the Lord gives us instructions as to how to do just that:                1) “hearken to my voice”, 2) humble yourselves before me,  3) “call upon me in mighty prayer”. And then in v 5 He reminds us that if we follow His instructions then we can “Lift up your hearts and be glad for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father…” It is not all that difficult to make sure WE are in good company!  And then in v 6 He reminds us of the great power that is available to us: “And, as it is written---Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.” He is happy to answer our questions.

I think one of the important keys to all this in found in v 7: “…for mine elect (those who work to follow His commandments) hear my voice and harden not their hearts.” The Lord has given us detailed instructions on how to live our lives, and He has given us wonderful promises if we follow those instructions…BUT He also works to help us grow in faith—and that means that we need to have patience. He answers our prayers, but we must understand that He answers them when it is the best time for our growth and our understanding.

Elder George Q. Cannon explained: “Where people are pure and chaste in their thoughts and actions, the Spirit of God has such power with them that they readily perceive and comprehend the truth. It is by this means that the best among the children of God are being gathered out from the various nations. Truth cleaves to truth, light to light and purity to purity. The gospel gathers with its influence those who love its principles; and if any should be gathered in who cannot abide its requirements, they pass off and mingle with the elements that are congenial to the spirit they possess.”