8/16/2017 - Section 63:1-20

August 16, 2017

Section 63:1-20

Zion, The New Jerusalem, Christ’s Emphasis, Faith & Works, Fear Not = Commandment,

Joseph Smith has just returned from Missouri (August 27, 1831) and was able to tell the Saints in Kirkland that the center place of Zion was now known. He “inquired of the Lord for further information upon the gathering of the Saints, and the purchase of the Land, and other matters.” (Preface to Section 63)

In His scriptures, the Lord repeats things that are very important. The more times he repeats them, the greater is their importance. He begins in v 1: “Hearken [meaning listen and do], O ye people and open your hearts and give ear from afar; and listen, you that call yourselves the people of the Lord, and hear the word of the Lord and his will concerning you.” The Lord has told us that in order for us to inhabit Zion, we must be a righteous people (D&C58-59, 97, 101,103, 105). Joseph Smith taught the same principle “We know not what we shall be called to pass through before Zion is delivered and established; therefore, we have great need to live near to God, and always be in strict obedience to all His commandments, that we may have a conscience void of offense toward God and man. (Teachings p32)

V 9-11 give us a great lesson on faith and works: “…faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that have faith.    Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God.    Yea, signs come by faith unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleaseth God….” The student manual says: “The Lord will give confirming evidence of all gospel principles if we are will to act on the basis of faith. Imagine a person who says, ‘Before I pay my tithing, I must know for sure that it is a true principle.’  The Lord’s way is just the opposite. He says, “’First act in faith and pay your tithing, then I will give you evidence that it is a true principle.” The Savior taught this relationship during His mortal ministry: “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:17)

V 17 includes the fearful with the wicked. That made me think that the scriptural phrase “fear not” is not just a comfort to us, it is a commandment. The Lord asks us to do hard things. But He has always told us that if we do our VERY best, He will supply the rest. If we go forward, even though we worried and a little frightened, we should start looking for thoughts flowing into our mind, for words coming out of our mouths, and for a feeling of confidence or safety feeling our body. That is His promise, and His promises are always fulfilled.

And in v 20, the Lord tells us what the result will be for us when we step forward in faith—even when we are a little fearful: “…he that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come.

6/7/2021 – D&C 63:1-19

The study manual gave a brief synopsis of this section that tells that some of saints in Kirtland who, during Joseph’s absence in Independence, “had turned away from the Lord’s commandments and committed serious sins”. It is in this section that the Lord warned the saints about the consequences of wickedness and rebellion. Then the manual suggested: “Thank of the numerous opportunities you have each day to follow the Lord’s commandments or to disregard them. What helps you to choose to be faithful and follow His commandments? As you study this section, look for truths that can help you remain faithful to the Lord and the blessings that come from doing so.” I think I will do just that!  

This is what Joseph wrote as a preface to this section: “In these infant days of the Church, there was a great anxiety to obtain the word of the Lord upon every subject that in any way concerned our salvation; and as the land of Zion was now the most important temporal object in view, I inquired of the Lord for further information upon the gathering of the Saints, and the purchase of the land, and other matters.”

Verse 1 starts with the Lord essentially saying “Listen Up You Guys!!!” But He does it in a thoughtful, teaching manner as to HOW we are to Listen UP: “Harken, [this is His #1 suggestion: hear and do] O ye people and open your hearts and give ear from afar; and listen, you that call yourselves the people of the Lord, and hear the word of the Lord and his will concerning you.

The Lord is upset with those who call themselves saints, but are not behaving as saints. He reminds them that His commandments are not to be taken lightly and that those who ignore them or rebel against them will not do well. 

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Beginning in v 7, he tells them that seeking signs will not help them to increase their faith.  But He does tell them that “signs follow those that believe”. (v 9) And that “signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God.” (v 10). 

Boyd K Packer: “In a world filled with skepticism and doubt, the expression ‘seeing is believing’ promotes the attitude, ‘You show me, and I will believe.’ We want all of the proof and all of the evidence first. It seems hard to take things on faith. When will we learn that in spiritual things it works the other way about—that believing is seeing? Spiritual belief precedes spiritual knowledge. When we believe in things that are not seen but are nevertheless true, then we have faith” (“What Is Faith?” in Faith [1983], 43).

He goes on to talk to the ‘saints’ who have not kept His commandments. The Lord sees all we do and He knows the thoughts we think. He tells them that he is well aware that there are adulterers and adulteresses (v 14) and warns them to “repent speedily, lest judgment shall come upon them as a snare” (v 15).  He also knows the “liars, and whoever loveth and maketh a lie, and the whoremonger, and the sorcerer. And then in v 16 He reminds them that the Spirit comes only to the pure in heart. (v 17) And in that verse he also tells them to fear not—which is a comfort, but also a commandment.

I would think that the first 19 verses of this section would have gotten everybody’s attention as to their thoughts and their actions, and that would put us in a frame of mind to truly tune in to the things that will help and bless our lives.