5/25/2018 - Section 100:3-17

May 25, 2018

Section 100:3-17

Missionary Promises, Holy Ghost Prompter and Revelator, Lord’s Protection, Lord’s Insurance Plan, Angels Round About Us to Bear Us Up, Comfort and Peace,

These verses speak to me as a missionary. How can I amplify on what the Lord has said—except for doing what He has asked…speaking the thoughts that He puts into my heart.

“4. …I, the Lord have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls. 5. Therefore…life up your voices…speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men. 6. Or it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment what ye shall say. 7….declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness….8. And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.”

I have a pretty large portion of shyness in me, but I have realized that when I have a thought that brings me comfort or understanding and when feel my heart starts beating faster, that is the time I must take courage and not hold back or fail to speak. Where much is given—and much IS given to me while I am serving a mission—much is required (D&C82:3). Wilford Woodruff explained this much better than I can: “I will say as Paul did, ‘Woe be unto me if I preach not the Gospel’ [1 Corinthians 9:16] I will say the same for the Apostles, the High Priests, the Seventies, and the Elders, so far as they are called to declare the words of life and salvation to this generation; the judgments of God wil rest upn us if we do not do it you may as why, I answer, because a dispensation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has never been given to man I ancient days or in this age, for any other purpose than for the salvation of the human family.”

V 12 gives the best of all summaries: “Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end.” There are days I need to repeat that, and it always lifts me up and keeps me going. 

In v 14 He speaks how other missionaries—specific missionaries (John Gould & Orson Hyde—who have just heard of the increasing mob violence against the saints in Jackson County, and who had been asked by Joseph to travel from Kirtland to Missouri to advise and help the saints. This was a dangerous assignment as they would be traveling near anti-Mormon mobs) “are in my hands”. 

Just yesterday, two elders came into the mission office. They had traveled by trike, and had evidently had a very close call during their trip. The missionaries were in good spirits, and I listened as one said that he looked up and saw a huge truck coming right at the trike, and that his next thought was that this was indeed his next transfer –and that it was going to take him into the spirit world. In reality this truck managed to stop just before it hit the trike. My thought was that, once again, the Lord had lowered a celestial volleyball net and stopped what would have been a terrible accident. And, once again, D&C84:42 was in my mind: “I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up”. And I reminded myself that I need to be grateful every night, thanking Heavenly Father for all the help I have received and felt that day, and for all the miricles I was not even aware of.

There is no better advice, than the Lord’s advice in v 15: “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sactification of the church.” And I am trying, every day & reminding myself every hour if need be, of this promise. There are so many gifts that the Lord bestows on us, but a comforted heart is one that has eased my way many time, and one I treasure and hold so very dear.

9/9/2021 – D&C 100 

These are difficult times. In Missouri, enemies of the church were gathering people who had no intent of staying within the laws of this country. And now the Lord called Joseph to go on a mission. The Smith and Sjodahl commentary speaks of Joseph during this time: “And he went on this mission as far as Canada, as full of faith and hope as if there had been no storm clouds in the sky.”

Joseph wrote in his journal on 11 October 1833 (the day prior to his receiving this revelation) “I feel very well in my mind. The Lord is with us, but have much anxiety about my family.”

This is how the Lord responded: “Verily (truly), thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends Sidney and Joseph, your families are will; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power. Therefore, follow me, and listen to the counsel which I shall give unto you.” (v’s 1-2)

The Lord blesses the families of the missionaries. And v 2 Lord clearly stated the role of the missionary: follow me, and listen to the counsel which I shall give unto you.” That is a statement and a promise!

In v 4, the Lord tells us just why we are called on missions: “…I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls.” That is followed by what the missionary should be doing and how the Lord works with the missionary: “…lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.” (v’s 6-7) 

And then the Lord gives more instructions on just how this works: “But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.” (v 7). Verse 8 is the promise (so many scriptures have this ‘IF, THEN’ promise: “And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.”  The Lord goes on, telling Joseph that He will “give him power to be mighty in testimony” (v10) and “mighty in expounding all scriptures” (v 11) And then He tells Joseph how to do this: “Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end.” (v 12)

The Lord’s final suggestion in this section is in v 15: “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church.”