6/5/2017 - Section 37:1-4

June 5, 2017

Section 37:1-4

New York to Kirtland Ohio Move, Satan’s Tactics, Obey Quickly, Prayer Makes a Difference, Gospel Goals Preach the Gospel and Strengthen the Members, Missionary Goals, Agency,

At this time, December 1830—eight months since the official organization of the church—the church is growing: about 200 members in New York state, at least 130 people in Kirtland (at first that was very successful missionary work, but the church continued to grow there after the missionaries left). But—and maybe it is how I see mission work: when everything starts to go absolutely wrong and you know you have been doing your best, then take heart for you have been doing well enough to attract Satan’s attention. For Joseph Smith, this was being arrested a number of times on false charges. Persecution was continuing to grow. This section starts with: “Behold, I say unto you that it is not expedient in me that ye should translate any more until ye shall go to the Ohio, and this because of the enemy and for your sakes.”

At this time, the Book of Mormon had been completely translated. Joseph was now working on the revision of the Bible. Joseph suspended that work in order to promptly follow the Lord’s command.

He was given one task to do before he left: v 2 “…ye shall not go until ye have preached my gospel in those parts, and have strengthened up the church whithersoever it is found, and more especially in Colesville; for, behold, they pray unto me in much faith.” I see that now in our missionary work: yes, we are to teach all who will listen, but we are also there to ‘strength up’ the members…or in the case of non-missionary work: strengthen up our ward family.

The Lord also proves how important prayer is. He includes special attention to those in Colesville due to the fact that “they pray unto me in much faith.”

In speaking of this revelation, President Joseph Fielding Smith explained: “The call to the Ohio was for two reasons. The opposition to the Church in and around Fayette had become bitter. (I personally wonder if it there might have been attempts on peoples’ lives if they had stayed.) There had been many converts made amoung the followers of Sidney Rigdon in Kirtland, and the spirit there was friendly. The trend of the Church was ever westward; as persecution arose, and it became necessary to seek protection the church moved farther and farther west. The Lord had a design in this. The place of the City of Zion was west and it was necessary that eventually the Church be located there, although it would not be a permanent residence until Zion is redeemed. Not only were Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon commanded to go to Ohio, but this came as a command to the entire Church.”

This is a significant commandment, demanding much work and sacrifice. The Lord closes this brief section with v 4: “Behold, here is wisdom, and let every man choose for himself until I come…”  The Lord reminds us here, as well as throughout all the scriptures: We will never be forced by heavenly powers. We will always have our agency….Although those who choose a different way may change their minds when the Lord comes again.

The Lord doesn’t always tell us everything. I feel it is because sometimes we are not on a plane to understand it, and other times it might be that he wants to strengthen our ability to live by faith. But in the next section: 38:13 the Lord does reveal a bit more as to why he wants them to move to Ohio in the middle of winter: “And now I show unto you a mystery, a thing which is had in secret chambers, to bring to pass even your destruction in process of time, and ye knew it not.”  And He repeats this warning information again in 38:28. Just as our little children do not know, or do not understand why we ask them to do certain things and to abide by certain rules, I don’t think we always realize the deep significance of things the Lord asks us to do or the ways in which the Lord asks us to live, but they will always be for our good.

4/13/2021 – D&C 37

The Come Follow Me manual: “Throughout His revelations to Joseph Smith, the Lord described the Church with words like cause, Kingdom, Zion, and quite often, work.” I feel that the almost 2 centuries since the Church was restored, has made no difference in these descriptive words. And the thing that touches my heart, is that when I ‘work for the cause of the Kingdom of Zion’ with an open and willing heart, I always feel uplifted and life seems quite doable. I would think the Saints of Joseph’s time would have felt the same as I now feel. But when the Lord commanded the saints to move to Ohio – that takes another giant step on the ladder of faith. Those that made that step, were rewarded –after much work—with a temple, and the wondrous things that occurred therein. 

It is interesting that the Lord noted the importance of moving quickly when He says “…it is not expedient in me that ye should translate any more until ye shall go to the Ohio, and this because of the enemy and for your sakes.” (v 1) To me, this reinforces the importance of quickly acting on the impressions I receive. The Lord always knows what is ahead for me. It is foolish for me to think my plans are better. 

When the Lord told Joseph to stop translating now, He also told him how he should use his time: “And again, I say unto you that you shall not go until ye have preached my gospel in those parts, and have strengthened up the church withersoever it is found, and more especially in Colesville; for behold they pray unto me in much faith.” The Lord DOES hear our prayers, and when we are working to follow Him, he gives us help and prompts when needed.

The Lord knows the thing he has asked the Saints to do is no small undertaking, and so He closes this revelation with His promise: “Behold here is wisdom, and let every man choose for himself until I come.” We will never be forced by heavenly powers. We will always have our agency. Although I feel that those of us who choose a different way may change their minds when the Lord comes again. This earthly life is our schooling. We came here with two major goals: 1) receiving a body and 2) showing by the way we live and think and feel that we have faith in our Heavenly Father even when we live far away from home. I do think of my life on earth as my heavenly college experience. It’ is my goal to graduate with honors, and with many happy memories of people met and loved, and of great growth in many different areas in myself, and of greater understanding of the world—to me that includes this mortal world, as well as the heavenly world from which I came.