8/10/2017 - Section 61:1-6

August 10, 2017

Section 61:1-6

Alex’s Cancer, Lord Has All Power, Humble Hearts Lead to Repentance and Help, Lord Can Hold’s Us in His Hands…don’t wiggle out,

There are times when I am taught things while I am praying, and today was one of those lovely, enlightening days. I was thanking Heavenly Father, once again, for Alex’s progress over cancer. Last Tuesday the Dr Schmidt was able to announce that she was in remission. It will take another 5 years of being free from active cancer cells to be able to claim complete remission, but remission is a wonderful place to be—especially when she started out with and 8% chance of survival. I thanked Heavenly Father, also, for the blessing she received through Chad Stevenson which said that miracles would occur and that she would recover. Chad actually apologized immediately after that blessing, for he knew how serious her condition was. That blessing was a wonderful window of hope. During the 1^st six months of chemo, and the added radiation-- neither making much difference to the cancer—we remembered, each day, Chad’s blessing. We continued, on each day, with prayers and faith… and prayers for more faith. Now we are enjoying hearts full of gratitude—gratitude for the outcome, and gratitude for Chad’s blessing, and gratitude for Alex’s strength to press on regardless. But today, as Bob and I are now able to go on another mission, and settle down in a more permanent home, I asked for several things on our behalf. One of those things was for friends, and that request was my learning experience. As I asked for us to be able to enjoy the blessing of friends, I realized I was wrong, and I immediately changed my wording to asking for help to BE friends to others. The friends we have (the Kruegers) are one of the great blessings of our life, but we want to enlarge our capacities. I don’t think there is ever a limit to the amount of love we can enjoy in this life, or give in this life, and Bob and I—with our tendencies to be reclusive—can learn to give much more and thus be surrounded by much more friendship and love. This is one of the ways I want to step forward…forward in faith.

Now, to section 61, which was given just after Joseph Smith and ten elders had experienced an extremely hard and dangerous day as they traveled by canoe down the Missouri River. At that time, they saw, in vision, “the destroyer riding in power upon the face of the waters”. The next morning after prayer, Joseph received this revelation.

In v 1, after such a frightening day, and even more frightening vision, the Lord reminds these men that He “has all power, who is from everlasting to everlasting….” 

In v 2 the Lord forgives them of their sins. He reminds them that He “forgive[s] sins, and am merciful into those who confess their sins with humble hearts.”  Spreading the gospel is of utmost importance to the Lord. These men had come to do just that at some sacrifice to themselves and their families. The continued on, obeying the command they had been given, even in frightening and troubling times. Christ takes note of their of their humble hearts, they recognition of their shortcomings, and what I believe to be their accompanying prayers to do better, to be better and to go forward. That’s sincere repentance.

From v 3 I am reminded to always be aware of those around me. “…it is not needful for this whole company of mine elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief.” That is true for me, whether it is walking down the sidewalk, driving down the road, sitting on a bus, shopping in a store, and sometimes even more than we ever know—sitting in church. Hmmmm—a new goal for me!

And in v 6 he reminds us all that no matter what “all flesh is in mine hand”, and reminds them to remain faithful. That, to me, is a reminder that no matter what calamities befall us, we can—with faith—make it through those calamities whether they are large or small calamities, and whether we live or die because of those calamities. During this past year, not knowing whether Alex would live or die, not knowing how all of this would affect her children now and for the rest of their lives, we (Alex, Bob and me) simply went on—cheerfully-- each day doing our best, knowing that the Lord would give us strength enough to handle what must be handled, and give us help on just how to handle the most difficult things. Heavenly Father is always there. The Godhead is always there. Each one has a different function. Each one stands at our ready. We only need to ask in faith and then go forward in faith, and we will find ourselves supported in our most difficult times. The most wonderful blessings to me are the comfort and peace the Lord bestows on me in my most difficult times. I pray to always be aware of this most wonderful help, and never allow myself to sink or wallow in grief, or pain, or hardship. While I may –and most likely will—go through those things in the years to come, I want only to go through them with the Lord’s assistance—and that is something that will always be within my power to seek and to obtain.

6/2/2021 – D&C 61

The study manual has this introduction to this section: “On August 9, 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith and 10 elders departed Independence, Missouri, in canoes heading down the Missouri River for St. Louis. The river was difficult to navigate due to the many fallen trees submerged in the river. During the first few days of traveling, there was some conflict that arose in the group, and feelings of discord were present for a time. On the third day of the journey, a submerged tree nearly capsized the canoe that Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were in. At the Prophet’s urging, the group camped on the banks of the Missouri River at a place called McIlwaine’s Bend. After leaving the river to make camp, William W. Phelps saw in broad daylight “the Destroyer, in his most horrible power, ride upon the face of the waters” (Manuscript History of the Church, vol. A-1, page 142, josephsmithpapers.org). That evening the group discussed their difficulties, resolved their contentious feelings, and forgave one another. The next morning the Prophet received the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 61.”  

I liked the way this was written. In our homes we can have times in which “feelings of discord are present for a time”. At this particular time, along with the feelings of discord, they also experienced some frightening and worrisome times – one of which was when the submerged tree almost capsized them on their third day of travel. At that time the Missouri River was known for being dangerous. There were many accidents due to problems in navigating the waters, but there was also the danger of contracting cholera (it is commonly spread by contaminated water). At the Prophet’s urging, the group camped on the banks of the river and that evening the group discussed their difficulties. They resolved their contentious feelings. They forgave one another. Then the very next morning the Prophet received this revelation. 

V 2 gives me a wonderful hint as to how to draw closer to the Lord: “…I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts.”  I think if I, when I begin to feel ‘contentious feelings’ in my home, I should look first at myself and at my short comings. And I think that if Bob and I can find a safe and quiet time on the shores of the rapidly flowing river, then we can discuss, and adjust, and forgive. If we allow ourselves to continue to operate with contentious feelings, then our days are not filled with love and tenderness. We need to stay alert as to those disturbing feelings, as well as for submerged trees in our path. Together we can better negotiate around and through all of those things.

V 6 contains another wonderful promise: “Nevertheless, all flesh is in mine hand, and he that is faithful among you shall not perish by the waters”.  Our faith has much to do with the protection we receive from our journey through our own individual dangerous waters. And in v 10, the Lord tells us and promises that “inasmuch as they are faithful they shall be preserved, and I , the Lord, will be with them.”  I have had difficult times, and then in the middle of my worries, I have realized that the Lord IS with me, and that is the reason for the calmness I have felt I the midst of serious concerns. 

In v 18 the Lord warns us again that “lest their faith fail and they are caught in snares”. There are innumerable snares in which we might become tangled. This is where the phrase ‘keep the faith’ is so very important. When we let our faith weaken, we float further from the Lord’s extended hand. And as we go further from Him, we forget what the comfort of His nearness felt like in our lives.

The Lord gives specific information to several of the elders in this group. And then he ends with words that are important to us all: “And now, verily I say unto you and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you; And inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours. Gird up your loins and be watchful…looking forth for the coming of the Son of Man…Pray always that you enter not into temptation that you may abide the day of his coming….” (v’s 36-39) Those are words I should start and end each of my days with!