8/21/2017 - Section 63:38-66

August 21, 2017

Section 63:38-66

Eclipse, Tithing, What We Give to the Lord, Lord’s Pattern of Living, Best Work for Lord, Missionary Helps,

We’re here in Bend Oregon on the morning of a total eclipse. Bend is just barely outside the full total eclipse area. We are hiking to the top of Pilot Butte to be just a little closer to the action. But first things first—I’ve missed my scripture reading for a couple of days and I thought I’d better get back to good patterns.

I’ve always loved v 40. The Lord is speaking about gathering monies to purchase land in and around Independence MO—but I think it is a significant statement about tithing: “And let all the moneys which can be spared, it mattereth not unto me whether it be little or much, be sent up unto the land of Zion, unto them whom I have appointed to receive,” It is the DESIRE of giving and the ACT of giving that is important. Someone living under the poverty level who tithes receives the same magnificent blessings as a millionaire who tithes. And those two people can feel the same peace, and communicate easily about the law of tithing. Remembering Christ’s example in the New Testament about the widow’s mite—it could be that the tithe payer living in poverty knows much, much more about tithing than the millionaire has been able to learn.

As the Saints make their gradual move from Kirtland to Missouri—the Lord reveals much of His grand plans, “enables” (v 41) Joseph Smith with greater ability to discern by the Spirit, and then tells all to act on our own accord within His parameters: “Behold, these things are in his own hands [referring to Newel K Whitney and his store in Kirtland], let him do according to wisdom.” (v 44) That is what He wants us all to do throughout our lives:

Stay in close communication with Him.

Live every day so that the Holy Ghost can be with us.

Listen and act promptly on all impressions received.

Seek answers in our prayers.

Use our own wisdom in doing, in helping, in thinking, and in loving.

This is the Lord’s simple mode of living that works for every occasion.

V 47 plainly state the two important keys we must have, and even more importantly, that we must use. “He that is (1) faithful and (2) endureth shall overcome the world.

V 48 says to me that we will never regret doing our best work for the Lord: “He…shall receive an inheritance in this world, and his works shall follow him, and also a reward in the world to come.”

V’s 55 and 57 work off of each other. In V 55, Sidney Rigdon was to write a description of the Land of Zion. He did that, but it was not acceptable to the Lord. Sidney knew that he had been too proud to accept counsel from others. The important thing is that he was given another chance...and this time his efforts were pronounced acceptable.  Then follow that with v 57 where Christ says: “And again, verily I say unto you, those who desire in their hearts, in meekness, to warn sinners to repentance, let them be ordained unto this power.” This applies to everyone, but I feel it so vitally important to missionaries!

The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes available to us after we are baptized. V 63 tells us how to access that gift and tells us what happens if we fail to access that gift. “…and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore, without this there remaineth condemnation.” I think of it this way: if we received a gift, and shoved it into the back of our closet, leaving it there for the rest of our life---wouldn’t we kick ourselves at the end of our life when we suddenly discovered the amazingly great value and power of that gift and how it could have helped us through every day, every situation, every learning experience, every loving experience, etc.?

6/9/2021 – D&C 63:36-48

The Lord has been trying to help ALL the saints to straighten up and fly right. He has pointed out their errors, and he has shown them better ways. And now he speaks to all of us with a simple flight plan for us: “…every man should take righteousness in his hands and faithfulness upon his loins, and lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth…” (v 37). We are to live in such a way that we help ourselves and help others.

As a group, the saints are not wealthy at all. The Lord has them sharing (hopefully with their money and their help and their love). He then tells them: “And let all the moneys which can be spared, it mattereth not unto me whether it be little or much, be sent up unto the land of Zion, unto them whom I have appointed to receive.” I see that as His teaching us that it doesn’t matter how much we are able to give—but that we give of what we have.”  The Lord is not having everyone going to Zion at once. Some are called to go and some are called to stay. But all are asked to follow His directions from v 37. Basically, we are asked to lift where we stand. 

Then He tells us of His promises. He gives us two keys: faith and endurance. “He that is faithful and endureth  shall overcome the world.” (v 47) Which means to me, that we will finish this time of earthly education with good grades.  He explains in V 48 that our “works shall follow” us, and also lead to our reward in the world to come. Thus, we should never regret doing our best work for others and for the Lord.

6/10/2021 – D&C 63:49-66

Verse 49 then starts the information about His Second Coming, and a bit about how things will be different then. This will be the beginning of the Millennium when there will be more direct communication between those still on the earth and those who are in the spirit world. The dead who had kept to their faith in righteousness will be resurrected at the Lord’s Second Coming. The City of Zion will have been established. (61:39; 63:49; 88:96-98; 101:35) Children who are living on the earth when the Millennium begins will “grow up until they become old: and then die and be resurrected “in the twinkling of an eye” (v 51 and also Isaiah 65:20). 

This is what President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “Men on the earth will still be mortal, but a change shall come over them so that they will have power over sickness, disease and death. Death shall all but be banished from the earth, for men shall live until they are the age of a tree or one hundred years old (See [D&C] 63:50–51), and then shall die at the age of man, but this death shall come in the twinkling of an eye and mortality shall give way to immortality suddenly. There shall be no graves, and the righteous shall be caught up to a glorious resurrection” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:461).

Christ used His parable of the 10 virgins to help us all prepare for the time of His second coming. Elder Oaks spoke of this in the April 2004 Gen Conf: “While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try to influence the preparation of those around us. A parable that contains an important and challenging teaching on this subject is the parable of the ten virgins. Of this parable, the Lord said, ‘And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins’ (D&C 45:56). Given in the 25th chapter of Matthew, this parable contrasts the circumstances of the five foolish and the five wise virgins. All ten were invited to the wedding feast, but only half of them were prepared with oil in their lamps when the bridegroom came. The five who were prepared went into the marriage feast, and the door was shut. The five who had delayed their preparations came late. The door had been closed, and the Lord denied them entrance, saying, ‘I know you not’ (v. 12). ‘Watch therefore,’ the Savior concluded, ‘for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh’ (v. 13). The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came.”

I think that it really doesn’t matter to us when the Second Coming will occur. If we live our lives according to His commandments, then it doesn’t matter which period of time we lived on earth. The important thing to us is that while we were involved in this wonderful schooling that we go through here on earth, all the rules –that we accepted before we came—are still in place. It is up to us to be ready by being prepared to say ‘I have kept your commandments’ at all moments of our lives. That means that when we do fall short, we recognize that immediately and as for help in our efforts to repent.. That has two purposes: 1) we are assured we will be ready for our death and/or for the Second Coming; and 2) we will be living a happier and more productive life.

In v 55 the Lord speaks directly to an individual: Sidney Rigdon. He has done much to help establish the church. But the Lord warns him that in his heart and in his thoughts he has changed: “He exalted himself in his heart, and received not counsel, but grieved the Spirit.” And then in v 56 He gives Sidney the chance to change his ways: “Wherefore his writing is not acceptable unto the Lord, and he shall make another; and if the Lord receive it not, behold he standeth no longer in the office to which I have appointed him.”   Sidney had been asked by the Lord to write a description of the land of Zion to share with others so that funds could be raised to purchase lands in Missouri (D&C 58:50-52) Sidney had exaggerated the qualities of Jackson County Missouri. Sidney did write a second draft after this, and it was accepted. The truth will always be accepted by the Lord.

Then He gives us an example which we would be very smart to follow: “…those who desire in their hearts in meekness, to warn sinners to repentance…”—those will be the people who will do the work that pleases the Lord. (v 57) And He follows up with more advice: “Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit; and in this there is no condemnation, and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore, without this there remaineth condemnation.” (v 64)

He ends this section by telling us of our spiritual responsibilities: “These things remain to overcome [we are given challenges, and if we live up to those challenges, we will grow in His spirit] through patience, that such may receive a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, otherwise, a greater condemnation.”  (v 66)