5/20/2018 - Section 98:5-15

May 20, 2018

Section 98:5-15

Constitution The, In the Strength of the Lord, Surviving Turbulent Times, Healing Power of God, Comfort and Peace,

Verses 6-12 speak of the constitution, and its importance to our country, and to the religion. They are beautiful and instructive verses. And the student manual gives wonderful thoughts and quotes on the importance of the constitution and our duty in upholding the constitution. (see pages 231-232) Our participation as individual citizens is vital in this process. V 9: “When the wicked rule, the people mourn.” We need not just the constitution, but strong and good men and women who will uphold that document and protect that document. Anthony Ivins spoke in Oct 1928 gen conf, saying: “Without beneficent laws, righteously administered, the foundations of civilization crumble, anarchy reigns, decay and dissolution follow,” My hope today—as far as the United States of America is concerned-- is that I can be of help-as one citizen- in getting President Trump: immoral, crooked, law breaking, profoundly self-centered, dishonest racist man without compassion, concern, or intelligence—out of the office of president of the United States and into one of our jails. For under his ‘leadership’ people do mourn, and the wicked do rejoice.

The worst did happened in Missouri. People have were killed, people were hurt ad maimed, women were raped in the vilest ways, children were hunted and hurt, homes and crops were destroyed. And yet the Lord’s advice is to “forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God. For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept, and I will try you and prove you herewith….therefore, be not afraid of your enemies for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.” (v 11, 12, 14)

I think it good to end with a quote from President Joseph F Smith. This is from the Improvement Era of July 1917 (this is around the time of the dreadful flu epidemic that killed so many people around the world, and the time of the first World War. “We hear about living in perilous times. We are in perilous times, but I do not feel the pangs of that terror. It is not upon me. I propose to live so that it will not rest upon me. I propose to live so that I shall be immune from the perils of the world, [I believe he is not immune from the perils, but he can be immune from the spiritual effects of moral and emotional and physical damage] I propose to live so that I shall be immune from the perils fo the world, if it be possible for me to so live, by obedience to the commandments of God and to his laws revealed for my guidance. No matter what may come to me if I am only in the line of my duty, if I am in fellowship with God, if I am worthy of the fellowship of my brethren, if I can stand spotless before the world, without blemish, without transgression of the laws of God, what does it matter to me what may happen to me? I am always ready, if I am in this frame of understanding, mind, and conduct. It does not matter at all. Therefore, I borrow no trouble nor feel the pangs of fear.” (The Gospel as a Shield from Terror)

This isn’t impossible: “11. And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live y every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God. 12 For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.”

I have lived through, and grown through, difficult times: financial concerns, serious medical problems, and deepest worries for my loved ones. But in my pain and sorrow and times of fearfulness, I have found relief by searching for, and asking for, understanding and direction—and then receiving an unbelievable blanket of comfort and peace from my Father. I want to continue, line upon line, precept upon precept to become stronger in faith and in the practice of my faith, so that I might withstand hardships that may come to me in the future.

9/7/2021 – D&C 98

The synopsis of this section certainly helps us to better understand the conditions in Missouri: “This revelation came in consequence of the persecution upon the saints in Missouri. It is natural that the saints in Missouri, having suffered physically and also having lost property, should feel an inclination toward retaliation and revenge. Therefore the Lord gave this revelation.” The Prophet wrote of these days: “July, which once dawned upon the virtue and independence of the United States, now dawned upon the savage barbarity and mobocracy of Missouri” (History of the Church, 1:372)

This was the situation: On 20 July 1833 a mob had gathered at the courthouse in Independence, they called in the leaders of the Church in Missouri and demanded that they prepare to leave Jackson County. The leaders asked for three months to consider their requests. When that request was denied, they asked for ten days. The mob refused and granted them only fifteen minutes. When the elders did not accept the mob’s illegal and unreasonable demands, the mob determined to destroy the offices of the Evening and Morning Star immediately. The printing shop and the residence of W. W. Phelps were completely demolished, as was the store run by Sidney Gilbert (see D&C 57:8–9). Even this destruction was not sufficient to satisfy these men: “They broke into the houses of the Saints, searching for the leading elders. Men, women, and children ran in all directions, not knowing what would befall them. They caught Bishop Partridge and Charles Allen and dragged them a half mile to the public square, where they were given two alternatives: deny the Book of Mormon or consent to leave the county. The Book of Mormon they would not deny, nor would they consent to leave the county. Bishop Partridge was granted permission to speak. “His words were drowned by the tumultuous crowd, many of whom were shouting, ‘Call on your God to deliver you and your pretty Jesus you worship!’ The mob stripped Partridge and Allen of their clothing, smeared their bodies with tar mixed with pearl ash, a flesh-eating acid, and emptied a pillow of feathers over them. This indignity was endured with such resignation and meekness that the mob became ashamed; their sympathies touched, they permitted the two abused men to retire in silence....On July 23, 1833, five hundred men rushed into Independence waving a red flag and brandishing guns, dirks, whips, and clubs. With oaths and curses they searched for the leading elders of the Church, threatening to whip the ones they captured with from fifty to five hundred lashes. Negroes owned by members of the mob laid waste the crops of the Saints. Dwellings were demolished by the mob as they threatened ‘We will rid Jackson county of the “Mormons,” peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must. If they will not go without, we will whip and kill the men; we will destroy their children, and ravish their women.’ “To save the lives of the Saints, Edward Partridge, William Phelps, Isaac Morley, A. Sidney Gilbert, John Whitmer, and John Corrill offered themselves as a ransom for the lives of their brethren, to be scourged or put to death if need be. For this noble gesture their names will be remembered forever in the annals of the Church. But the mob, insensible to this noble manifestation of love, scoffed at the six leaders and with brutal imprecations swore they would flog every man, woman, and child until the Mormons agreed to leave the county. ‘Leave the county or die’ was the demand.” (Barrett, Joseph Smith, pp. 251–52, 255–56.) 

After living through mob violence, it would take great faith and courage to listen, and then abide by, the first 3 verses of this section: “Verily (truly) I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted. Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good and to my name’s glory saith the Lord.”

In v’s 6-7, the Lord tells the Saints to go to the government and apply to for the protection which the constitution of the USA gives to all its citizens. For the Lord had watched over the men who worked to provide us the Constitution of the United States “written by the hands of wise men whom he raised up for this very purpose. It was an act of God. It was another step in establishing the free conditions under which the gospel could be restored and then taken by the believing Gentiles to all other nations…This, then is why there is a United States….”(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p147)

V 10 clearly defines some of the things that each of us are responsible for in helping our nation: “Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.”

And then He gives us strict instructions in v 11: And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.” And then the promise to us if we do this: “For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.” (v 12) “Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children.” (This is a verse that I have always felt speaks not only of our nation, but also of our homes.)

This section is not just to those Saints in Missouri, but also in Kirtland. He’s trying to help them to truly become Saints: “Behold, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with many who are in the church at Kirtland; for they do not forsake their sins, and their wicked ways, the pride of their hearts, and their covetousness, and all their detestable things, and observe the words of wisdom and eternal life which I have given unto them….And again I say unto you, if ye observe to do whatsoever I command you, I, the Lord, will turn away all wrath and indignation from you, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.” (v’s 19-20, & 22). Again, that phrase, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against you” were the same words that my mother, Nedra Lindsey Heitmann, heard repeated back to her as she read in the Book of Mormon. The words in these scriptures apply to us no matter when we were born and no matter where we live.

President Joseph F. Smith noted: “We hear about living in perilous times. We are in perilous times, but I do not feel the pangs of that terror. It is not upon me. I propose to live so that it will not rest upon me. I propose to live so that I shall be immune from the perils of the world, if it be possible for me to so live, by obedience to the commandments of God and to his laws revealed for my guidance. No matter what may come to me, if I am only in the line of my duty, if I am in fellowship with God, if I am worthy of the fellowship of my brethren, if I can stand spotless before the world, without blemish, without transgression of the laws of God, what does it matter to me what may happen to me? I am always ready, if I am in this frame of understanding, mind, and conduct. It does not matter at all. Therefore, I borrow no trouble nor feel the pangs of fear.” (“The Gospel a Shield from Terror,” Improvement Era, July 1917, p. 827.)

 

In v's 32-48, the Lord speaks of war and tells us when we should choose war and when we should not choose war. In these verses the Lord also teaches us how and when to use forgiveness.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie testified: “But the vision of the future is not all sweetness and light and peace. All that is yet to be shall go forward in the midst of greater evils and perils and desolations than have been known on earth at any time....The way ahead is dark and dreary and dreadful. There will yet be martyrs; the doors in Carthage shall again enclose the innocent. We have not been promised that the trials and evils of the world will entirely pass us by.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1980, pp. 99–100; see also Ensign, May 1980, p. 73.) In other words, the Saints may yet have cause to look to the laws of retaliation, war, and forgiveness as outlined in Section 98 to know how to respond to persecution. As the Savior himself said in another setting: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33.)

 

David Butler said, in speaking of this section: “Of all the promises and counsel in this revelation, the one I think I would have treasured the most came at the very beginning: Fear not.  ‘Fear not’ is a phrase often used by angels in the scriptures. It is a command that comes from heaven—and when heaven knows what you are facing and tells you not to fear, you can take courage. But the Lord also knows how easy it is to fear, especially in a situation like the one the Saints were in. That is why I love the word ‘LET’ in the next sentence, ‘Let your hearts be comforted.’ It is almost as if He is saying it will not feel natural to be comforted during the trouble you are facing. Fear will come again and again. So, LET your heart be comforted. Allow it to happen. Choose to believe in heaven. Choose to believe in God.”