8/28/2017 - Section 66:1-13

August 28, 2017

Section 66:1-13

Journal, Mission Call, Missionary Advice, Missionary Blessings, Lord’s Guidance Seek, Lord’s Guidance Follow, Missionary Companions, Missions & Posterity,

We got our mission call yesterday: Philippines Manila Mission! Reporting to the MTC December 4^th.  Now that we actually have a place to plan for, and a firm date by which to have everything completed, my mind shut down last night. Luckily I found a sweet movie to get me to bedtime. And today, let the lists begin!!!!  Actually, we were asked to read the Book of Mormon before arriving at the MTC, so this may be my last D&C entry for a while.

Section 66 was given to William E McLellin, at his request of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It has a lot to do with missionary work, so what an appropriate section for me this day!

Once again, the section synopsis seems like a wonderful reminder list for me: “1-4, The everlasting covenant is the fullness of the gospel; 5-8, Elders are to preach, testify, and reason with the people; 9-13, Faithful ministerial service assures an inheritance of eternal life.”

In v 4, after telling William that he is on the right path, the Lord points the way to improvement for him: “Verily I say unto you, my servant William, that you are clean, but not all; repent therefor of those things which are not pleasing in my sight, saith the Lord, for the Lord will show them unto you.” William came to request to know the will of the Lord concerning him, and that’s exactly what the Lord told him. The Lord will guide us in our efforts toward perfection, if we come to him asking in faith and following His commandments.

In v 6, the Lord instructs William in how he should proceed and then He counsels him: “otherwise, think not of thy property.” This is a very interesting instruction, as Bob and I have talked and thought and planned and worried about whether or not to purchase another home. Perhaps we’ll postpone that dilemma and try to tackle it when we return from the Philippines.

The Lord gives advice for companionships in v 8 when he says that Samuel H Smith will be his companion and William is to “forsake him not”. He further promises “he that is faithful shall be made strong in every place; and I the Lord, will go with you.” This is a promise to all missionaries!

In v 9 the Lord reminds William it will not always be easy: “Be patient in affliction. Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

And finally, v 12 seems quite meaningful to me as Bob and I begin our second mission and try to determine the time line for any future missions after this one: “Continue in these things even unto the end, and you shall have a crown of eternal life at the right hand of my Father, who is full of grace and truth.” The Lord desires good workers in his field, and he promises them good wages: that of peace and comfort here and eternal life to come. In other places He has promised help to our children and our children’s children. That is what I seek, for I can think of no better inheritance to leave with our children and their children and their children after them. We truly and happily go forward in faith, for we feel these blessings in our lives, and we pray that our children will feel them, too.

6/17/2021 – D&C 66

This section has an interesting history: “On October 29, 1831, William E. McLellin, a recent convert to the Church, went to the Lord with five questions and prayed to receive answers through the Prophet Joseph Smith. William then asked the Prophet to inquire of the Lord on his behalf. Joseph, who knew nothing concerning William’s prayer or the five questions, inquired of the Lord and received the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 66. This revelation details promised blessings and specific counsel regarding William’s spiritual standing and his call to preach the gospel.” This occurred on the first day of a conference in Ohio.  

William McLellin later recorded this event in his journal: He “went before the Lord in secret, and on knees asking [the Lord] to reveal the answer to five questions through his Prophet”.  William later wrote: “every question which I thus lodged in the ears of the Lord…were answered to my full and entire satisfaction. I desired for a testimony of Joseph’s inspiration. And I to this day consider it to me an evidence which I cannot refute.” 

In v 1, the Lord blesses William because he has “turned away from your iniquities, and have received my truths”. To me this reinforces the fact that if we work to change our thoughts and deeds to be closer to what the Lord has asked of us, He will guide us in our efforts toward perfection, and we will…one step at a time…come a bit closer to the perfection our Heavenly Father wants us to eventually achieve. And He tells us that we all can do this: “even …as many as believe on my name.” 

V 2: William is told that blessings come to him –and to us—as we receive “mine everlasting covenant, even the fulness of my gospel”. 

In v 3, the Lord lets us know that our growth takes continued effort. He tells William that he is clean, “but not all”, and to change that he is to repent of those things that are not pleasing to the Lord. And then He assures William -- and us -- “for the Lord will show them unto you.” 

The Lord tells William he is to serve a mission. He is to go with Samuel H. Smith and “forsake him not, and give him thine instructions” and then promises “he that is faithful shall be made strong in every place; and I, the Lord, will go with you.” (v 8) He then goes on to tell him to bless the sick, to be patient in affliction, to ask (and he will receive), to “seek not to be cumbered with unrighteousness” (v 10) And then He lets William know that He knows what temptations have troubled William. He sees William’s struggles and encourages William to move past those struggles, and He tells him exactly how this can happen: “Keep these sayings, for they are true and faithful (v 11). “Continue in these things even unto the end, and you shall have a crown of eternal life at the right hand of my Father, who is full of grace and truth.” (v 12) And then he reminds William exactly where this counsel came from: “Verily, thus saith the Lord your God, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen” (v 13)

He is always there to help us. Our part in this is to ask for that help, and then to follow His instructions as closely as we are able.

Neal A Maxwell has said: “The journey of discipleship is not an easy one. It has been called ‘a course of steady improvement”, and that “the Holy Ghost makes an ideal traveling companion. If we are humble and teachable, He will take us by the hand and lead us home. However, we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way. We have to ask some difficult questions, like ‘What do I need to change?’ ‘How can I improve?’ ‘What weakness needs strengthening? ’The Holy Ghost doesn’t tell us to improve everything at once. If he did, we would become discouraged and give up The Spirit works with us at our own speed, one step at a time, or as the Lord has taught, ‘line upon line, precept upon precept, …and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts…for unto him that receiveth I will give more’ [2 Nephi 28:30]. For example, if the Holy Ghost has been prompting you to say ‘thank you’ more often, and you respond to that prompting, then He may feel it’s time for you to move on to something more challenging—like learning to say, ‘I’m sorry; that was my fault. A perfect time to ask, ‘What lack I yet?’ is when we take the sacrament….” (Oct 2015 General Conference)