7/8/2018 - Section 101:75-101

July 8, 2018

Section 101:75-101

Unity of Saints, Obedience, Constitution, Act On Our Beliefs, Prayer, Prayer Leaders of our Country,

Christ is speaking to the church members in v 75…to the church members who have packed everything up and moved to Jackson County Missouri and have worked to settle in to their new surroundings. They are members of the Lord’s church. They have felt the power of His spirit, for they joined this foundling church…but it is in this verse that Christ identifies their problem: “There is even now already in store sufficient, yea, even an abundance, to redeem Zion and establish her waste places, no more to be thrown down were the churches, who call themselves after my name, willing to hearken to my voice.” He’s basically telling His people that if all those who call themselves Saints would only follow His counsels, they would have sufficient resources to redeem the land and to establish Zion. I can look back at the histories of that time and pinpoint some of the attitudes and behaviors of the Saints there that caused great delay in the blessings the Lord was able to give them. Then I look at myself:  I love the Lord. I love to read and ponder His scriptures. I pray for charity and to be able to see others as the Lord sees them, and then I focus on all the ways people irritate me—and of course, never pay attention to the ways I might irritate them. I need to turn my thoughts into actions—not just occasionally, but continually, every day.

Next the Lord speaks of the importance of the laws of this land—America, and states that He “established the Constitution of this land by the hands of wise men whom I raised up into this very purpose…” (v 80) President Charles W Penrose said “…The principles of that great instrument are to go forth to the nations, and the time will come when they will prevail, just as sure as the sun shines even when it appears to be in darkness and the clouds are over it.” Apr 1917 Gen Conf

There is purpose in this life for us, and for all those who come to this earth. The Lord has given us commandments and has promised us success in our earthly journey if we simply follow those commandments. The phrase in v 81 says much to me: “for men ought always to pray and not to faint.” I feel there are two parts—no maybe three-parts to effective prayer. 1) simply communicating with the Father 2) listening to the Father 3) acting on what we know and what we feel.

In v’s 81-95 the Lord speaks of how we should approach our government—the government he helped to establish. It was v 92 that struck me as I worry every day about President Trump. The Lord is speaking about the leaders of our towns and of our country: “Pray ye, therefore, that their ears may be opened unto your cries.…” I will now  pray for the man I feel is an evil man. I will pray that his ears might be open, and I will add that his eyes might be open to the cruel things he is doing in his office as president of the United States.

9/11/2021 – D&C 101:65-101

In v’s 67-75 the Lord teaches the people about how to better observe His commandments. They are certainly to do as the Lord says, but they should not be in such a hurry that they are not prepared, and thus become a problem that other people will need to help. Instead they are to prepare, and then make their journey. In D&C 63:24 He also taught: “and now, behold, this is the will of the Lord your God concerning his saints, that they should assemble themselves together unto the land of Zion, not in haste, lest there should be confusion, which bringeth pestilence.” My deep feeling is that the road I want to follow is to keep the commandments in my thoughts, in my actions, and in my heart—for that is always the safest way.

In v’s 76-79 the Lord speaks to “those who have been scatter by their enemies” (v76). He reminds them of the Constitution of the United States “which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;” (v 77). President Charles W. Penrose explained how the Constitution benefits all people: “In section 101 the Lord speaks about the constitution of this land. He says it was framed by wise men whom he raised up for that very purpose. What for? To maintain the rights and privileges ‘of all flesh.’ Not alone the people of this land. The principles of that great instrument are to go forth to the nations, and the time will come when they will prevail, just as sure as the sun shines even when it appears to be in darkness and the clouds are over it.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1917, p. 20.)

In v 81 the Lord likens what has happened to the Saints is “Liken unto the parable of the woman and the unjust judge” and then he goes on to encourage the Saints “for men ought always to pray and not to faint…” He explains that parable, He then speaks the Saints current problems as a parable. But in v 89 He tells them what will happen if the Saints do as He says and still find no help: “And if the president heed them not, then will the Lord arise and come forth out of his hiding place, and in his fury vex the nation:” The Civil War came some years later…when the Saints were safely in Utah.

In v 92 He says: “Pray ye, therefore, that their ears may be opened unto your cries; that I may be merciful unto them, that these things may not come upon them.” 

This is when praying for our enemies becomes important, not just in their lives, but in our lives too.