7/10/2018 - Section 103:1-4

July 10, 2018

Section 103:1-4

Trials, Obedience Exact, Heart Might Mind and Strength, Growth,

This section covers the deliberations of the leaders of the church, and the revelations from the Lord, as the saints worked to re-establish themselves after being forced from their homes, and re-establish their commitments in living the commandments. This terribly hard time –as to the loss of their homes, and the loss of peoples’ lives, and the terror they must have felt—is explained by the Lord as occurring 1) that their enemies “might fill up the measure of their iniquities” (v 2) and 2) that the Saints or “those who call themselves after my name might be chastened for a little season with a sore and grievous chastisement, because they did not hearken altogether unto the precepts ad commandments which I gave unto them”. This is a time that clearly reinforces D&C 82:3 which says “of him unto whom much is given much is required.” What a reminder to me when I go to the Lord asking for comfort and support, but allow myself to be irritated with the missionaries (those young people just trying to do what the Lord has asked) because they call me with “silly sicknesses”. Isn’t that exactly what I do in my prayers to the Lord when I ask help with  “silly worries”. As I work to grow into charity, I need to remember this is not just a mental journey, it is a doing journey, and an opening-of-my-eyes” journey. I am so grateful when the Lord leads me gently forward with what to Him must be the smallest baby steps. I need to gently lead these missionaries forward. I need to help them understand what to worry about and what are just minor discomforts of life, and while I do that I must teach them health AND gospel principles. In short, I need to listen in love, and act in love. And for me right now, that amounts to “of whom much is given much is required.” Hopefully, with daily reminders within His scriptures, and my prayers at morning and at night being more humble, more ready to learn, more earnest—then I might continue with faster steps that will lead me to a fuller, softer heart.