6/19/2017 -Section 43:11-35

June 19, 2017

Section 43:11-35

Missionary Work Is Work, The Lord’s Work is Work

The student manual has some very interesting comments on verses 12-14. “The Saints were counseled that if they desired to receive the mysteries and glories of the kingdom, they should help support Joseph and his family that he might spend his time doing what only he could do—fulfilling his prophetic calling….The Saints were somewhat helpful. However, Joseph did not receive enough to support his family….The process of translation was slowed and efforts to prepare a manuscript for press were delayed. As a result he was unable to finish his translation [of the New Testament], even though the Lord had instructed that it be published….The neglect by the early Saints of this counsel was very costly in knowledge and spiritual blessings.” I wonder how many blessings I miss when I receive a prompting and then decide--based on my own reasoning-- that doing that might impose on someone else or not be so helpful after all. I need to be less fearful.

Then the Lord gives important instructions to those who are called to preach the gospel: V 19-20 “Wherefore gird up your loins [pull up your traveling robes and prepare yourself to do hard work] …Left up your voices and spare not. Call upon the nations to repent, both old and young, both bond and free….” As the Lord continues on in the next several verses repeating the things He has asked us to do so many times, and telling us again just how important it is—I wrote in the margins of my scriptures “How many times have I told you to pick up your socks???Pick up your socks!!!!” Such a simple thing that takes a little more effort than walking over them. Just pick up your socks and the household would run more smoothly and our home would be a nicer place to live in. Why are the kids so happy to live here—safe from storms, with food to eat and nice beds to sleep in, and parents who love them and watch over them—but are so determined to not do this simplest of chores that I have asked them to do?

V 25 Christ is frustrated at our obstinacy: “How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life [that’s 14 ways He has tried to reach his people]… 26. Behold, the day has come…27. Behold, verily I say unto you that these are the words of the Lord your God. 28Wherefor, labor ye, labor ye in my vineyard for the last time…”

Finally Christ ends with “Hearken [listen & obey] ye to these words, behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds. Be sober. Keep all my commandments. Even so, Amen.” (v34-35)  All He wants is for us to do our work to the best of our ability, being aware at all times that He is with us.  He doesn’t want us to run faster than we can run, but He does want us to do His work with the same love and tenderness that He shows to us. “How often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not.” (v24)

4/24/2021 – D&C 43:17-35

V’s 17-28 have been called by some as “Voices of Warning”. In v 17 the Lord reminds us that He will return to the earth, and it will be our time of reckoning, and then He gives us the following suggestions for being ready for what will be our very important “pop quiz”. He tells us to “gird up your loins” (v 19) which makes me think also that we should put on our armor to protect ourselves. He also tells us to repent! I see that as a daily, on-going effort. He wants us to grow, and to strive to be just a little bit better every day. That’s one reason I make sure that I start my day with prayer that includes both gratitude, as well as requests for help in specified areas of my life. And then at night, I take some time to simply sit and go back over my day, my behavior, and my thoughts—and that’s when I ask for His help in trying to be more thoughtful and loving, and in trying harder to hear and react to His promptings, and in asking His help as to what I most need to work on. 

V 23 starts with the words “And again….”  That sounds like the words of a parent who hasn’t been quite able to get through to their child. He then reminds us in v 24 of that wonderful mental view of His promise to gather and protect us “as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings”. Then in v 25 He proceeds to tell us all the ways He has attempted to get our attention: 1) “by the mouth of my servants”, 2)” by ministering of angels”, 3) “by mine own voice” and isn’t that His scriptures? 4) “by the voice of thunderings” which makes me think of this pandemic, of the terrible floods and tornados and fires that have covered our nation…just look at what comes next, 5) by the voice of lightnings, 6) by the voice of tempests, 7) by the voice of earthquakes, 8) and great hailstorms [hailstorms are the only thing I haven’t been aware of!], 9) by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind. And then when He DOES COME He tells us it will be 10) with the “great sound of a trump, and that will be when we hear His 11) voice of judgement, and hopefully, 12) His voice of mercy that will come to us – I feel sure that His judgements will be such that will help us in all the right ways to continue our quest to draw near unto Him.

And then in v’s 29-33, He tells us of “the great Millennium” when “Christ will reign personally upon the earth” (articles of faith 10), and when “Satan shall be bound”. Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of the blessings that will be enjoyed when Satan is bound: “Then will begin the great millennium (D&C 43:30) period of a thousand years when Satan shall be bound and the Lord shall reign over his people. Can you imagine the wonder and the beauty of that era when the adversary shall not have influence? Think of his influence upon you now and reflect on the peace of that time when you will be free from such influence. There will be quiet and goodness where now there is contention and evil” (“We Need Not Fear His Coming,” Liahona, July 1982, 3).

And then the Lord’s final plea to us in v’s 34-35: “Hearken [hear and go do] ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds. Be sober. Keep all my commandments. Even so. Amen.” When that time comes, we can’t say that we hadn’t been warned. I’m so glad that I can work on this day by day, asking always for His help in my every day decisions and actions and thoughts and prayers.