12/19/2017 - Section 69:1-8

December 19, 20107 

Section 69:1-8

Lord’s Watchful Care, Prayers Answered, Journal, 

The Book of Commandments (the original name of the D&C) has been compiled by Joseph, and in verse 1, Oliver Cowdery is appointed to take the manuscript to Independence, Missouri for printing. But the Lord says that he should be accompanied by someone “who will be true and faithful”. In the very next verse, that someone is identified as John Whitmer. They were to be traveling to the far west where settlers were beginning to settle, and where outlaws were congregating due to the reduced law enforcement there. I love it that the Lord was careful to suggest the things that would help to protect Oliver, the manuscript, and the funds of the church that he would be carrying.

My answers to prayer do not come in the form of scriptures written to me, but I do have thoughts that will suddenly come to my mind during my prayers, or in quiet times after my prayers. I need to treat those thoughts as Joseph treated his answers to prayers. Joseph made sure that Oliver was accompanied by someone who was true and faithful. They suffered no assault on that trip, I hope that they expressed their thanks for that safety to Heavenly Father. But more than that, I hope that I express my thanks to Heavenly Father for days in which all is well for me—especially when I have put into actions those thoughts that came to my mind in prayer.

The remainder of this section has to do with the Lord asking all of “his servants abroad in the earth” (v 4) to make of record of their experiences which shall be “for the rising generations that shall grow up on the land of Zion, to posses it from generation to generation, forever and ever.”

One of the reasons I have started keeping these ‘scripture journals’ of mine, is that while I try to write about the feelings and impressions I have while reading the scriptures, I find that more thoughts and insights come to me when I’m trying to type my first feelings. The Lord blesses us most when we are actively trying to follow the commandments He has given us. By trying to formulate these quick thoughts that come to me into understandable script, I find I get even more of thoughts and impressions and insights.

Spencer W. Kimball said: “Your own private journal should record the way you face up to challenges that beset you. Do not suppose life changes so much that your experiences will not be interesting to our posterity. Experiences of work, relations with people, and an awareness of the rightness and wrongness of actions will always be relevant.   Your own journal, like most others, will tell of problems as old as the world and how you dealt with them.   Your journal should contain your true self rather than a picture of you when you are ‘made up’ for a public performance….What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?   Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity. ….Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies.” (New Era, Oct 1975, pp.4=5 The Angels May Quote from It”)

And that is what I am trying to do. Maybe I should include more of my daily things in this ‘scripture study journey’ that I love.

And so—yesterday Bob and I put a deposit down on, what for us, is an expensive house. It is not yet built, but we have secured the land and the plans—at least for the next 10 days. After that we must give the developer a non-refundable $3000, and the building approval and actual process will then proceed. The final price is right around $400,000.00. It is at the very top of what Brian says we can afford. We have looked at so many houses that would allow us to live protected from bad weather, and which had enough—and sometimes more than enough—rooms for the activities we want to pursue: kitchen, bedroom, bathrooms, living room, office, and one extra multipurpose room for hobbies and/or overnight guests BUT those houses have been adequately functional and so drab. The space and the rooms and the design of this house are invigorating as well as so entirely comfortable. I’m so anxious to see what our final decision will be on our December 27^th deadline for action.  While we know this is a decision that will affect only us (meaning no one else in the entire world), the truth is IT WILL EFFECT US—and possibly for the next decade of our lives. We would like to live in such an inspiring atmosphere. We have the money saved that we can make this purchase with only a few budget tightenings. I tell myself that the Church goes to great lengths to make our temples places that lift up and inspire our hearts and our spirits. And, in our younger years, we had to have a larger savings to include all the possible expenses that could arise in carry for and educating six children. They are now all on their own. If we go through with this, we are hoping it will be life lifting just as travel, and concerts, and fine restaurants with friends can be. If you are the slightest bit interested in the decision we’re finally going to make, can you imagine how I feel??  More later…at least more later if I can keep this journal stuff up…. 

6/23/2021 – D&C 69

The synopsis of this section tells us that the compilation of the revelations that Joseph had received had been made. Oliver Cowdery had been asked to take the manuscript, along with the moneys that had been contributed for the building up of the church in Missouri. But before Oliver left, Joseph received a revelation in which the Lord stated: “It is not wisdom in me that he should be entrusted with the commandments and the moneys which he shall carry unto the land of Zion, except one go with him who will be true and faithful.” (v1) 

It was the Lord himself who selected John Whitmer should accompany Oliver. (v 2) I would have been thrilled to be selected by the Lord and be spoken of as “one who will be faithful and true”.  It’s in v 3 that we learn that Oliver is to take this long, difficult trip to Missouri and back, and at the same time he is to continue with his job of being the Church historian—a job that was described as his responsibility to document the history of the Church by collecting and recording “all the important things” that transpired among the Saints (D&C 69:3). The purpose for keeping such a history is “for the good of the church, and for the rising generations” (D&C 69:8).

 And then it is in v 4 that the Lord tells John that Oliver will be with him on this this journey, and in the midst of doing his work as the historian. John is also told that he is to “receive counsel and assistance from my servant Oliver Cowdery and others.” None of us stand alone. We should be ready to receive help from others, and to give help to others, and most certainly, to listen to, and then more importantly, to obey the promptings from the Lord.

John receives even more information as to how the Lord wants him to proceed. John is to “travel many times from place to place, and from church to church, that he may the more easily obtain knowledge—Preaching and expounding, writing, copying, selecting, and obtaining all things which shall be for the good of the church, and for the rising generations…” (v’s 7-8).  

Maybe this is why I feel so compelled to compile our “Waits Family Lifetime Correspondence”—for I find in those letters situations, feelings, and stories that can be so helpful… not just to those of us who lived through those times, but also for those who will follow in our paths.