6/22/2018 - Section 101:1-16

June 22, 2018

Section 101:1-16

Lord’s Jewels, Be Still and Know that I am God, Diversity, Traits to Avoid, Mistakes & Misdeeds, Joy in this Life, Joy Eternal, Obedience, Priorities, Lord's Priorities, Service,

I love verse 3 when the Lord speaks about his second coming, and all those who will be His, “in that day when I shall come to ake up my jewels.” I read that and think of all the beautiful jewels I see—in every color, every cut, every style—they are all different, all beautiful, all desired—just like people. In the Church there is not just one single type of jewel, but all are desired and admired. That’s how we should act toward all others. In v’s 6-8 he explains why he had to get their attention: “6.  Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, contentions, and envyings, and strifes, ad lustful and covetous desires among them; thereby they poluted their inheritances. 7. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore , the Lord their God is slow to hearkenunto their preayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble.  8 In the day of their peace they esteemed kightly my counsel; but in the day of their truble of necesity they feel after me.”

After he explains their mistakes and misdeeds to them, he continues on in v 9 with comfort and encuragement: “Verily (truly) I say unto you, notwithtanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards the...and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy”  As He continutes, He speaks more of the last days and then in v 16 “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God” And in other scriptures He says similar things that bear repeating. From Joseph Smith’s revelation: “Be still, and know that I am God; all those who suffer for my name shall reign with me, and he that layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again.”  I remind myself that there might be an extremely remote possibility that someday, I might literally, lay down my life for him through death. But I also remind myself that I  can—every single day-- lay down my life for Him by giving service to others, or time to others, or comfort to others. I’ve learned here on earth that joy comes from service, and from the bonds that service creates. I think that must be even more true when we head into the eternities. For just as I feel we cannot imagine the glory there, I think we cannot imagine the joy that is there.  

9/9/2021 – D&C 101:1-24

Joseph is back in Kirtland in December of 1833. “At the time the revelation was given, the Saints in Missouri had been driven from Jackson County to Clay County. Their homes destroyed and their property taken from them by the mobs in Jackson County, the Saints were suffering greatly (History of the Church, 1:426-38, 458-64) The synopsis of this section tells us that those in Missouri “had lost household furniture, clothing, livestock, and other personal property, and many of their crops had been destroyed.” It is a sad and frightening time. 

In v 2 the Lord tells the Saints in Missouri just why troubles have come upon them: “I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions.” The Lord said similar things in Jeremiah 2:19 when He said “the consequences shall reprove thee”. To these latter-day saints He teaches them—and us: “For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.” (v 5)

In v’s 6-8 He tells them exactly why these calamities have come upon them: “Behold, I say unto you there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them, therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble.  In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me.” And then He immediately tells them in v 9 “…notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy.”

In v’s 11-16 He tells us that there will be a time when “mine indignation is soon to be poured out without measure upon all nations; and this I will do when their iniquity is full”. But he closes this section with “…let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.” That is the same counsel He gave to us long ago in Psalm 46. 

He then speaks about what seems to be the end of this earth as we now know it. His advice: “Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places.” (v 22) In the next 3 verses, He tells us many of the ways in which the earth shall cleansed and changed—and that change involves us too. According to the Lords’ own definition in D&C 97:21, the Church of God is called Zion, and Zion means “the pure in heart”.