8/22/2017- Section 64:1-17

August 22, 2017

Section 64:1-17

JS Translation of the Bible, Forgiveness Required, Mercy, Charity, Love, Holding Grudges, Pride…Bridle it,

First, the student manual provides one of the best descriptions of Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible as it speaks of his preparing to move to John Johnson’s house in Hiram, about 30 miles from Kirtland: “…the prophet spent most of his spare time preparing for the continuation of the translation of the Bible. By translation is meant a revision of the Bible by inspiration or revelation as the Lord had commanded him, and which was commenced as early as June 1830.” (p136) It is now Sept 11, 1831.

Some of the saints are in Missouri, some are in Kirtland Ohio—so things are in flux. This revelation was given to Joseph the day before he left for Hiram Ohio. The student manual gives a theme to this section, which is “of you it is required to forgive all men.”

The beginning 7 verses speak of the Lord’s mercy toward the people of the church, and His forgiveness of their sins. He speaks of those who have “sought occasion against him [Joseph] without cause” (v 6) The Lord acknowledges in v 7 that Joseph has sinned—and which of us have not sinned???—and then the Lord reminds us ALL  that He will “forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness”. To me the Lord is telling us to give our leaders some slack—they are only human….and we are only human!!  Then the Lord tells us of the difficulties that His apostles in Jerusalem struggled with: “My disciples, in the days of old sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.” (v 8) 

I get irritated with people in the Church. In fact, I’ve just gone through a month of being angry, hurt, sad, attacked, remorseful, ineffective etc. because the stake relief society president didn’t like the way I presented my lessons in our ward relief society. The anger part of that lasted about a week, the other emotions lasted longer. But fortunately I was able to pray, to work harder to understand her viewpoint, and to adjust my teaching methods to be more in line with what she desired. Do I agree with her ideas—not really—I just don’t feel the importance placed on “how” you get a lesson across as opposed to “what” you get across in your lesson. BUT I know this woman takes her calling very seriously. I know that she works so hard to be close to the Lord. I know she lives her daily life in by doing things the Lord has promised will bring us closer to Him. The fact that she and I would do things different ways really doesn’t matter. She is a good person, and she is trying her best. I am a good person and am trying my best. So my decision was to support her, for at this time she is the president of our stake relief society. She is entitled to revelation for our stake and for the women in our stake. Does a particular presentation of lesson material really make a difference in the long run? No! If I let something so small affect my relationship with her, then I am a small person with a small understanding—and far too focused on myself. The adjustments in my teaching this month have taught me good lessons. I hesitate to say I was able to forgive her—for she was only doing her job, and putting her whole self into that calling. The important thing is that she is a good woman who does much good. She meant me no offense; her only goal was to help me as a teacher and thus, help the women in the class I taught. Taking and holding grudges only hardens the heart of the one who holds those grudges. And while I have learned significant lessons this month, I realize I have more to learn in loving all, and welcoming all they have to offer me, and offering them my very best efforts.

V 9: “Wherefore, I say unto you that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.” And this is even more true when there really was not trespass…just a difference of opinion as to the best way to approach something. My goodness, Bob and I never approach anything the same way—and yet we love each other dearly and cling together for comfort and support.

In v 16 the Lord is angry with those men who “condemned for evil that thing in which there was no evil….”

Forgiveness sweeps the darkness out of our hearts.

P 136: “Elder Marion D Hanks spoke about the importance of forgiving others: “Someone has written: ‘…the withholding of love is the negation of the spirit of Christ, the proof that we never knew him, that for us he lived in vain. It means that he suggested nothing in all our thoughts, that we were not once near enough to him to be seized with the spell of his compassion for the world….’    What is our response when we are offended, misunderstood, unfairly or unkindly treated, or accused, passed over, hurt by those we love, our offerings rejected? Do we resent, become bitter, hold a grudge? Or do we resolve the problem if we can, forgive, and rid ourselves of the burden?   The nature of our response to such situations may well determine the nature and quality of our lives, here and eternally…. But not only our eternal salvation depends upon our willingness and capacity to forgive wrongs committed against us. Our joy and satisfaction in this life, and our true freedom, depend upon our doing so. When Christ bade us turn the other cheek, walk the second mile, give our cloak to him who takes our coat, was it to be chiefly out of consideration for the bully, the brute, the thief? Or was it to relieve the one aggrieved of the destructive burden that resentment and anger lay upon us?    Paul wrote to the Romans that nothing ‘shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Rom 8:39)    I am sure this is true. I bear testimony that this is true. But it is also true that we can separate ourselves from his spirit….    In every case of sin this is true. Envy, arrogance, unrighteous dominion—these canker the soul of one who is guilty of them. It is true also, if we fail to forgive. Even if it appears that another may be deserving of our resentment or hatred, none of us can afford to pay the price of resenting or hating, because of what it does to us. If we have felt the gnawing, mordant inroads of these emotions, we know the harm we suffer….    It is reported that President Brigham Young once said that he who takes offense when no offense was intended is a fool, and he who takes offense when offense was intended is usually a fool. It was then explained that there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system. If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it.” Oct 1973 Gen Conf

6/14/2021 – D&C 64:1-25

Joseph and many of the men who had been called to go to Missouri got back to Kirtland on August 27, 1831. As the men traveled back there were disagreements and finding fault with one another. Ezra Booth and Isaac Morley had been traveling together and they arrived in Kirtland just 4 days later. They were able to get back to Kirtland so quickly as they had decided not to do any preaching on their way home. Ezra, who had been a Methodist preacher before joining the Church in 1831, had been disappointed with the look of Independence MO, and also with the lack of converts there. He also felt that Joseph did not behave as a prophet, because Joseph had a “spirit of lightness and levity, a temper of mind easily irritated, and an habitual proneness to jesting and joking”. It was at this time that Ezra Booth wrote a series of letters that were critical of Joseph Smith, and the Church, and had them published in the Ohio Star newspaper. This is also when Joseph received section 64.

The Lord is not happy with many of the actions and thoughts of the elders who had been called to preach the gospel on their way to and from Independence. But even then, the Lord tells them that “I will have compassion upon you.” (v 2) and “I have forgiven you your sins” (v 3) and “I will be merciful unto you” (v 4). And then in v 8, the Lord tells these men that “My disciples in the days of old sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts, and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.” And then the Lord tells them how he would have them behave. He tells them they are to forgive one another, and if they don’t, then they are the ones who will be condemned by the Lord. The Lord reminds them that He is the judge, not them.

In the April 2007 General Conference, Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained why extending forgiveness is so important for our spiritual growth: “Extending forgiveness is a precondition to receiving forgiveness. For our own good, we need the moral courage to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Never is the soul nobler and more courageous than when we forgive. This includes forgiving ourselves. Each of us is under a divinely spoken obligation to reach out with pardon and mercy and to forgive one another. There is a great need for this Christlike attribute in our families, in our marriages, in our wards and stakes, in our communities, and in our nations. We will receive the joy of forgiveness in our own lives when we are willing to extend that joy freely to others. Lip service is not enough. We need to purge our hearts and minds of the feelings and thoughts of bitterness, and let the light and the love of Christ enter in. As a result, the Spirit of the Lord will fill our souls with the joy accompanying divine peace of conscience (see Mosiah 4:2–3)”

But back to Section 64: the Lord then tells them all that he was particularly unhappy with Ezra Booth and Isaac Morley because “they sought evil in their hearts” and as result of that “I, the Lord, withheld my Spirit” from them.  (v 16) The Lord continues and gives specific advice to specific people. And then- in preparation for what is to come, He says to all the Saints: “I, the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men. Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people…Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today.” (v’s 22-25)

I liked the way David Butler sees this section: “The Lord acknowledges that the saints are not perfect—and that includes Joseph Smith. But God was not requiring perfection. All He was asking of them was to give their heart and willing mind. He encouraged them to keep going because, out of their small efforts, God would be building something magnificent.”