7/11/2017 - Section 48:1-5

July 11, 2017

Section 48:1-5

Bloom Where You Are Planted, New Jerusalem, Follow the Prophets, Kirtland Gathering,

The members of the Church, obedient to the Lord’s commands in Section 37:1-3 (“Herein is given the first commandment concerning a gathering in this dispensation”) and 45:64 (Wherefore I, the Lord, have said, gather ye out of the eastern lands, assemble ye yourselves together ye elders of my church; go ye forth into the western countries, call upon the inhabitants to repent, and inasmuch as they do repent, build up churches unto me.”) The lesson manual titles this as “Ohio: A Temporary Abode” 

P 103: “  ‘Zion!’ The very word stirred the emotions of the early Saints. But where was the city of the New Jerusalem to be built? It appears that many of the Saints in 1831 thought that the command to move to Ohio was an indication that the New Jerusalem would be there. John Whitmer spoke of this feeling when he wrote: “The time drew near for the brethren from the state of New York to arrive at Kirtland, Ohio. And some had supposed that it was the place of gathering, even the place of the New Jerusalem spoken of in the Book of Mormon, according to the visions and revelations received in the last days.” (Church History, Journal of History, Jan 1908 p 53)  The spirit of gathering was truly upon the Saints. Yet the gathering to Ohio raised many questions. Where would the newcomers be housed? Should land be purchased for them to settle on? Should they plan to remain permanently in Ohio? “  This section was given in answer to these and other of their questions.

President Harold B Lee said: “The Lord has clearly placed the responsibility for directing the work of gathering in the hands of the leaders of the Church, to whom He will reveal His will where and when such gatherings would take place in the future. It would be well, before the frightening events concerning the fulfillment of all God’s promises and predictions are upon us, that the Saints in every land prepare themselves and look forward to the instruction that shall come to them from the First Presidency of this church as to where they shall be gathered. They should not be disturbed in their feelings until such instruction is given to them as it is revealed by the Lord to the proper authority.” (Ye Are the Light of the World, p 167)

The Lord always knows the beginnings from the ends. He always knows what will further His work. Our job is to do the work He asks us to do. From the time Christ told his apostles that He would come again in glory, believers have been looking forward to that time. We are told that that time is known only to God himself. So I see my role as following the commandments that are written and explained in all the scriptures, and paying strict attention to the current prophet of the Church. V 5 gives no timeline, but it emphatically says that when the time comes: “…then shall ye begin to be gathered with your families, every man according to his family, according to his circumstances, and as is appointed to him by the presidency and the bishop of the church, according to the laws and commandments which ye have received, and which ye shall hereafter receive. Even so, Amen.” The Lord uses the phrase “present time” three times in this section. He is focusing the Saints’ attention on what needs to be done now. If the angels in heaven do no know the timeline, then I shall not know the timeline until it occurs. Thus I will bloom where I am planted. Since 2013, Bob and I have not had a permanent home. This is sometimes a bit unsettling and it has created a lot of inconvenience for us. But it is our choice! We want to serve missions for our Lord. And when we become too feeble for that, we still want to serve! We will move the work forward one talk at a time, one lesson at a time, one act of service at a time, one act of loving compassion at a time. In doing this we will continue to learn and grow, and hopefully those around us will do the same. Isn’t that the very thing we have come to this earth to accomplish?

5/6/2021 – D&C 48

We’ve seen how the residents of Kirtland have become concerned about the flood of church members that is filling their town. Joseph is also concerned, but for a very different reason. Many of the Saints were not able to sell their homes in New York, but they made their way to Ohio as the Lord had commanded. Joseph “inquired of the Lord as to the mode of procedure in procuring lands for the settlement of the saints”.  The Lord uses very particular language in His answer: “It is necessary that ye should remain for the present time in your places of abode, as it shall be suitable to your circumstances.” He uses the phrase “present time” 3 times in this short revelation. He commanded them to leave New York for their safety…and they followed His direction. Now he tells them Ohio is suitable for the present time, and then He explains how they will be able to manage the influx of people. They are to save their money for the future…Ohio is not Zion. But more people are coming and must have a place to live. The Lord addresses that problem: “Inasmuch as ye have lands, ye shall impart them to eastern brethren” (v 2). That seems to me to follow His commandments of the New Testament: “Love the Lord thy God, and love thy neighbor as thyself”.

This was not a situation in which everyone is to take care of themselves. It is a situation where everyone works to help one another. The other thing the saints do not realize is that they will be moving again, and again, and finally again. The good part of that is that the Lord knows what is ahead for us. He gives us the answers that will take care of our ‘nows’, while preparing us for our ‘futures’. In this case, they are learning the importance of caring for one another-- of giving and lifting those in need.

This reminds me of the experience Present Monson shared in the April 1986 conference. It still touches my heart every time I read it: “On a cold winter’s night in 1951, there was a knock at my door. A German brother from Ogden, Utah, announced himself and said, ‘Are you Bishop Monson?’ I answered in the affirmative. He began to weep and said, ‘My brother, his wife, and family are coming here from Germany. They are going to live in your ward. Will you come with us to see the apartment we have rented for them?’

“On the way to the apartment, he told me he had not seen his brother for many years. Through the holocaust of World War II, his brother had been faithful to the Church, once serving as a branch president before the war took him to the Russian front.

“I observed the apartment. It was cold and dreary. The paint was peeling, the wallpaper soiled, the cupboards empty. A forty-watt bulb, suspended from the living room ceiling, revealed a linoleum floor covering with a large hole in the center. I was heartsick. I thought, ‘What a dismal welcome for a family which has endured so much.’ …

“… The next morning was Sunday. In our ward welfare committee meeting, one of my counselors said, ‘Bishop, you look worried. Is something wrong?’

“I recounted to those present my experience of the night before, revealing the details of the uninviting apartment. There were a few moments of silence. Then Brother Eardley, the group leader of the high priests, said, ‘Bishop, did you say that apartment was inadequately lighted and that the kitchen appliances were in need of replacement?’ I answered in the affirmative. He continued, ‘I am an electrical contractor. Would you permit the high priests of this ward to rewire that apartment? I would also like to invite my suppliers to contribute a new stove and a new refrigerator. Do I have your permission?’ …

“Then Brother Balmforth, the seventies president, responded, ‘Bishop, as you know, I’m in the carpet business. I would like to invite my suppliers to contribute some carpet, and the seventies can easily lay it and eliminate that worn linoleum.’

“Then Brother Bowden, the president of the elders quorum, spoke up. He was a painting contractor. He said, ‘I’ll furnish the paint. May the elders paint and wallpaper that apartment?’

“Sister Miller, the Relief Society president, was next to speak. ‘We in the Relief Society cannot stand the thought of empty cupboards. May we fill them?’

“The three weeks which followed are ever to be remembered. It seemed that the entire ward joined in the project. The days passed, and at the appointed time, the family arrived from Germany. Again at my door stood the brother from Ogden. With an emotion-filled voice, he introduced to me his brother, his brother’s wife, and their family. Then he asked, ‘Could we go visit the apartment?’ As we walked up the staircase leading to the apartment, he repeated, ‘It isn’t much, but it’s more than they have had in Germany.’ Little did he know what a transformation had taken place and that many who had participated were inside waiting for our arrival.

“The door opened to reveal a newness of life. We were greeted by the aroma of freshly painted woodwork and newly papered walls. Gone was the forty-watt bulb, along with the worn linoleum it had illuminated. We stepped on carpet deep and beautiful. A walk to the kitchen presented to our view a new stove and new refrigerator. The cupboard doors were still open; however, they now revealed every shelf filled with food. As usual, the Relief Society had done its work.

“… The father, realizing that all of this was his, took me by the hand to express his thanks. His emotion was too great. …

“It was time to leave. As we walked down the stairs and out into the night air, snow was falling. Not a word was spoken. Finally, a young girl asked, ‘Bishop, I feel better than I have ever felt before. Can you tell me why?’

“I responded with the words of the Master: ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’ “ 

The name of that talk was “A Provident Plan—A Precious Promise”.