8/6/2017 - Section 59:1-7

August 6, 2017

Section 59:1-7

Keep the Commandments, Obedience Blessings Of; Heart Might Mind and Soul, Eye Single to My Glory, Missionaries Stand a Little Taller,

The theme the study manual gives to this section is: “That thou Mayest More Fully Keep Thyself Unspotted from the World”. That is something the early saints struggled with, and that is something that we struggle with in our day. It is a struggle that comes upon us when we enter this earthly existence. In this section, the Lord is giving all of us suggestions that will help us ‘keep ourselves unspotted from the world’ or in other words: to draw closer to Him.

V 1 tells us to keep “an eye single to my glory according to my commandments.” If we are keeping His commandments we will not be selfish, or self-centered, or overly proud, or haughty. Instead we will live as Christ lived: meek, loving, caring, teaching, accepting.

V 3 pronounces a blessing on those “whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its strength.”  We need to take a good look at where we place ourselves physically. Are we at our sacrament meetings? Are we spending time helping others who need a lift? Are we one our knees every morning and every night? And if we ARE in the right places, are our thoughts also in the right places?

In v 4 the Lord promises that when we follow His commandments we will be “crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.” The Lord is saying that His commandments really are our blessings. If we choose to follow those commandments, we WILL be blessed –and in ways we may never have expected.

And so in the very next verse (5), He gives us the commandment that includes all the commandments: “Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment say thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, with all thy might, mind and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.”

And then follows His heavenly check-list:

            Love thy neighbor as thyself (6)

            Keep the 10 commandments that were given as a path to the Israelites to

                        make their way back to Him (6)

            Thank the Lord God in ALL things (7) both good and bad, and for the

                        growth that comes from living through both the good and the bad

“ …so important is this commandment that the Latter-day Saints have had their attention called to it in a number of revelations. It is plain to be seen that on these commandments hang all the law and the prophets. If a person observes these commandments as they are given in verses 5 and 6 of this section (59) he will keep the full law of God. We cannot love our Heavenly Father, and worship him in the name of his Only Begotten Son, our Redeemer, with all our ‘heart, might, mind, and strength’ without keeping all other commandments. It naturally follows that we will love our neighbor as ourselves and have sympathy and love for all men who are the children of God. There would be no occasion for us to be constantly reminded that we should keep the Sabbath holy, or pay our honest tithes, or keep our bodies clean by observing the Word of Wisdom, or that we should not neglect our prayers, secret and in the family circle. We would observe all of these things and all else that we are instructed to do, IF we loved the Lord our God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. To the extent that members of the Church observe the laws of the Lord may their love for him be measured.” (President Joseph Fielding Smith in Church History and Modern Revelation 1:216-17)

6/1/2021 – D&C 59

I opened my scriptures and saw that just above the words “SECTION 59”, I had written “Subtitle: THAT THOU MAYEST MORE FULLY KEEP THYSELF UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD”. I’m sure that must have come from one of my institute classes, but I’m so glad I wrote it there, because it helps to me read this section with a different view which reminds me to ‘liken the scriptures to myself’. 

This section was received in the first week of August 1831. The men who had been called on missions and who were told to ‘preach by the way’ on their 1000 mile journey to Jackson County Missouri were now ready to start their journey back home. On August 2-3 the temple site there in Independence was dedicated.  The conference that Joseph had come for was on August 4th.  This section was given on August 7th.

In v 1 the Lord tells us that the saints who have come to Missouri with “an eye single to my glory-according to my commandments” are blessed by Him. I would think that ‘an eye single to my glory would include being concerned and loving within their families and for those around them, being caring and merciful. What a lovely way to start. I can check with myself and ask: Am I like that? 

 But it often helps me to read verses like this with another viewpoint, the Lord could have pointed out the opposite: telling us not to be selfish, self-centered, overly proud, haughty. It helps me to exam myself from both viewpoints.

The Lord goes further in v 3-5 essentially saying that our keeping the commandments are equated with blessings. He even lists some of those commandments: Love the Lord thy god with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and serve Him. (v 5) That make me more motivated to KNOW Him by reading His scriptures, by talking with Him each morning and night, and by working on my ability to HEAR Him by responding to those thoughts that come suddenly into my mind.

The other things He reminds us are to love our neighbors, to be true to our spouse, and to show gratitude to Him for all things. It’s easy to quickly go to him in prayer when we are hurt, or worried, or sick. We need to know that we should also go quickly to Him with good things happen, when life is as we would hope, and share our happiness and thanks with Him.

He reminds us of the importance of honoring the Sabbath and keeping the Sabbath holy – even when we’re very busy trying to set up a new home and a new life.

V 15-18: “And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances…with a glad heart...the fulness of the earth is yours….”

He ends again with the importance of keeping and honoring His commandments. “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things and obey not his commandments.” (v 21).  And then he assures us of the result of these efforts: “…he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.” (v 23) That is my goal. And the wonderful part of that goal is that I have already delt with hard times here on earth, and have felt deep peace during those times. I didn’t know how they would resolve, but I knew the Lord was with us, and that made all the difference.