7/26/2017 - Section 56:1-20

July 26, 2017

Section 56:1-20

Agency, Lord’s Guidance, Repentance and Its Effects, Grudges Beware, Selfishness Rewards Of, Obedience, Follow Me, Loving Father, Hurt Feelings, Get Over It,

The section came from Ezra Thayre not making preparations to go to Missouri with Thomas B Marsh, his appointed companion. When Thomas couldn’t leave because of Ezra’s not getting ready, Thomas went to Joseph and asked what he should do. It is said that Ezra “lost the spirit of his assignment because of the problems at Thompson, Ohio and was slow in making preparations to go on his mission”( p 117) Ezra Thayre was involved with Leman Copely who had promised land to the saints from Colesville, and then had gotten upset for some reason after the contracts had been completed, and said he would not longer let them stay on the land he had contracted with them to have in Thompson Ohio. Section 54 explains those problems. There were bad feelings on both sides of this. Leman and Ezra appear to have been on the wrong side of this disagreement. And now, Ezra is holding onto those bad feelings which are hindering him in doing the Lord’s bidding. The Lord realizes that the things He asks us to do are sometimes difficult for us. Those difficulties sometimes come from the heaviness of the calling, and sometimes they come from the unrest we have in our spiritual lives. In my opinion, Ezra was called and thus given an opportunity to work through his upset feelings. The Lord accepts Ezra’s agency to delay his obedience, but He warns Ezra in v’s 8-10 “ And again, verily (truly) I say unto you, that my servant Ezra Thayre must repent of his pride and of his selfishness, and obey the former commandment which I have given him concerning the place upon which he lives. And if we will do this…he shall be appointed still to go to the Land of Missouri. Otherwise he shall receive the money which he has paid, and shall leave the place, and shall be cut off out of my church, saith the Lord God of hosts.”

P 117, Bruce R McConkie wrote: “Selfishness consists in caring unduly or supremely for oneself; it is one of the lusts of the flesh which must be overcome by those who gain salvation. A selfish person clings to his own comfort, advantage, or position at the expense of others. Men are commanded to repent of their pride and selfishness (D&C 56:8)”

After speaking directly about Ezra, the Lord then warns us all of the consequences of not living up to His commandments. He knows the way back to His presence, He gives us the commandments that will take us there, and He is trying to persuade all of us to come back to Him. He is trying to help us correct our course, and He gives us the why’s and the wherefore’s: v 14-15 “Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people—you have many things to do and to repent of; for behold, your sins have come up unto me, and are not pardoned, because you seek to counsel in your own ways.   And your hearts are not satisfied. And ye obey not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness.” In the next verses He gives the problems that different groups of people (namely the rich, but also the poor) face and what they can do to overcome those bad tendencies. Then immediately after his harsh warnings, he explains what we SHOULD be doing: v18-20 “But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance….For behold, the Lord shall come, and his recompense shall be with him, and he shall reward every man, and the poor shall rejoice. And their generations shall inherit the earth from generation to generation, forever and ever. And now I make an end of speaking unto you. Even so, Amen”

The Lord watches over us. He sees our mistakes, but He responds to those mistakes by putting before us experiences in which we might bring ourselves to right our course. He knows we have the right to choose our course. He reinforces the commandments that will keep us on that course. He tells us the wonders of our ultimate destination, and he tells us the sorrows that we will experience if we choose not to follow Him. The final decision is ours. He is directing us. He is rooting for us. He delights to reward us. He stands with His arms outstretched. He answers when we call. He comforts when we ask. He is our loving Father.

5/22/2021 – D&C 56

The Lord continues to call men to leave their homes and do missionary work. Ezra Thayre had joined the Church in New York. He had moved to Kirtland Ohio when the Saints were commanded to leave New York for their safety. In Kirtland, Ezra had been instructed to live and work with Joseph Smith Sr on Frederick G William s farm, as Frederick was serving a mission. Then on June 5, 1931 Ezra was called on a mission to Missouri along with Thomas B Marsh. But nine days later, when all those who had been called to go to Missouri were ready to go, Ezra was not. 

Evidently, as they Saints tried to follow the law of consecration, Ezra had helped to pay Frederick William’s dept on his farm, and now Ezra didn’t want to go on his mission until he was given a legal title to a portion of Frederick William’s farm. 

Joseph was among the group going to Missouri. When he discovered that Ezra Thayre was not going, as he had earlier committed to, Joseph went to the Lord—who answered “…I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants Thomas B Marsh and Ezra Thayre, and give a new commandment unto my servant Thomas, that he shall take up his journey speedily in the land of Missouri, and my servant Selah J Griffin shall also go with him.” (v 5)

Then the Lord turns His attention to Ezra. He tells Ezra that he “must repent of his pride, and of his selfishness, and obey the former commandment which I have given him concerning the place upon which he lives.” (v 8)  If Ezra does that, all will be good. 

The Lord continues speaking to Ezra in the ‘if, then’ type of scripture which He often uses to help us understand the whole of what he is trying to get us to learn. He explains “And if he will do this, as there shall be no divisions made upon the land, he shall be appointed still to go to the Land of Missouri”. (v 9)

The very next verse (10) is the ‘then’ part of His ‘if – then’ teaching: “Otherwise he shall receive the money which he has paid, and shall leave the place, and shall be cut off out of my church, saith the Lord God of Hosts;”

V 13 explains how the Lord tries to help us take the higher path: “For according to that which they do they shall receive…”

The Saints have indeed followed commandments that have been quite difficult. It’s as if they think “I will do this one hard thing, and then I will sit back and rest. I should be rewarded for I put forth much effort” The Lord then continues with His teachings: “ Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people –you have many things to do and to repent of; for behold, your sins have come up unto me, and are not pardoned , because you seek to counsel in your own ways. And your hearts are not satisfied. And he obey not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness” (v 14-15) Many of the saints had committed to the law of consecration, but they were more interested in enriching themselves financially, rather than working to help the entire group to succeed.

In v 18, the Lord tries to explain the growth that is important to them: “But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God…” Our thoughts and prayers and actions should not be just for ourselves. We need to open our eyes and look around us and see what we can do to help not just ourselves, but also to help lift others. That is what opens our hearts and multiplies happiness. That is the high road.