4/20,2018 - Section 90:18-37

April 20, 2018

Section 90:18-37

House of Order, Cleanliness Next to Godliness, Priorities, Commandments Encapsulated, Charity Calls For Wisdom and Spirit, Handmaid, Peace Does Not Mean Idleness, Be Actively Engaged,

Ha! V 18 is perfect for this morning. I already told Bob that I absolutely have to get the shower floor scrubbed clean today…this month there has only been time to scrub the toilet … and that was done only because I was worried about siting down on it. “Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and uncleanness far from you.” It’s busy on this mission. I am learning to order my work, but I must also pay attention to keep order in my house. And probably even more important to give time to Bob and me together.

V 24 may be one of my favorite verses because it encapsulates all commandments: “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.”

V 25 is a good tidbit provided by the D&C. It tells the church leaders to “Let your families be small…as pertaining to those who do not belong to your families”  The student manual clarifies that there were many “visitors and hangers-on who had a tendency to take advantage of the brethren’s open houses and open hearts” We need to use wisdom, and prayer, as we strive to reach out and help those who NEED help. Then in v 26 the Lord clarifies is: “that those things that are provided for you, to bring to pass my work, be not taken from you and given to those that are not worthy. And thereby you be hindered in accomplishing those things which I have commanded you.”

Another ‘tidbit’ in 28-31 is about Vienna Jaques. The first thing it does is give her the title of ‘Handmaid’. That word is also in one of my favorite verses: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word.” I treasure that verse because that is the attitude I want as hard things come into my life. At that moment Mary had a glimpse of what was to come, but had no idea of the difficulty and heartache it would bring into her life, as her son completed the mission he was sent here to do.

But back to Vienna Jaques: She had done much to help many, and now, after this revelation, funds were provided Vienna to be able to go to Jackson County, but she was to wait until she went being protected and safe. And then the final verse to her (v 31) “That she may settle down in peace inasmuch as she is faithful, and not be idle in her days from henceforth.”

Repentance is given new depth in v 34. I always think of repentance as a solitary struggle—but it looks like we might have company: “Behold I say unto you that your brethren in Zion begin to repent, and the angels rejoice over them”