8/3/2017 - Section 58:30-43

August 3, 2017

Section 58:30-43

Obedience, Obedience & the Blessings Which Follow, Disobedience, Agency, Sacrifice and Hard Work, Repentance, Forgiveness, Heavenly Forgetfulness,

In v’s 30-33 Christ reminds us that it is He who created man, and that He is the God of the Old Testament and He rules this earth. The plan is that we obey His commands. The scriptures are full of the blessings that will come to us if we follow that plan. But all men  have agency, and in 32 & 33 the Lord delineates what happens when we choose NOT to follow the plan: “32. I command and men obey not; I revoke and they receive not the blessing. 33. Then they say in their hearts: This is not the work of the Lord, for his promises are not fulfilled. But who unto such for their reward lurketh beneath, and not from above.” The way we use our agency affects our faith. The formula has always been simple: if we desire greater faith, keep the commandments…including the ones that tell us to call upon the Lord often and in humility.

The Smith and Sjodahl Commentary, p 340, explains this in detail: “The Saints sometimes fail to do their duty and to keep the commandments of God. But they expect Him to make good to them the promises He has given to the faithful. If He does not, they complain. They neglect their prayers; they absent themselves from their meetings; they break the Word of Wisdom; they withhold their tithing; but when sickness comes and falls like a dark, terrifying shadow across their path, they expect immediate Divine interference in their behalf, through the administration of the Elders. If their expectations are not realized, they say, in a rebellious spirit, ‘His promises are not fulfilled.’ The reply of the Lord to that is, ‘Their reward lurketh beneath.’ They must look ‘beneath’ for their reward; they have not claim on heaven.”

Immediately after having given these truly thought provoking verses, Christ goes on and reminds them what they SHOULD be doing, and He explains exactly what He is doing in v34: “And now I give unto you further directions concerning this land.”  The things we are asked by the Lord to do are usually not easy—for they will always be growth experiences for us and growth always includes some uncomfortable stretching of our abilities and our spirit—but that stretching is the way we gain strength and wisdom.

As the Lord goes on and speaks specifically to Martin Harris and W W Phelps (v’s 35-43), and those verses remind me that personal sacrifice is not a one time event. And do we just look at our sacrifice as beneficial for the Church, or do we look harder to see how it also benefits ourselves?

The Lord understands that He gives us commandments that are hard—that is why we are here on earth. Every year in school is more difficult, but also more enlightening. That’s the way it is for each year we spend here on this earth undergoing the Lord’s schooling. And the most wonderful news of the Lord’s schooling is that “…he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.” (v 42-43)

The Lord’s forgiveness comes to those who truly repent. Elder Kimball…said that “Those who heed the call, whether members or nonmembers of the Church, can be partakers of the miracle of forgiveness. God will wipe away from their eyes the tears of anguish, and remorse, and consternation, and fear, and guilt. Dry eyes will replace the wet one, and smiles of satisfaction will replace the worried, anxious look.   What relief! What comfort! What joy! Those laden with transgressions and sorrows and sin may be forgiven and cleansed and purified if they will return to their Lord, learn of him, and keep his commandments. And all of us needing to repent of day-to-day follies and weaknesses can likewise share in this miracle. (Miracle of Forgiveness, p 367-68)