8/9/2018 - Section 107:1-19

August 9, 2018

Section 107:1-19

Callings in the Church, Devotion, Humility, Priesthood Power,

The historical background to this section is very interesting to me. On February 14, 1835, the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was chosen. The parts of this section that applies directly to those 12 are verses1-52 and 56-58. We know they had been meeting together and that they all planned to leave Kirtland on May 4^th to visit and strengthen the branches in the eastern states. But here is a portion of what two of the apostles (Elders Hyde and M’Lelin) wrote: “This afternoon the Twelve met in council….On reviewing our past course we are satisfied, and feel to confess also, that we have not realized the importance of our calling to that degree that we ought; we have been light-minded and vain, and in many things have done wrong. For all these things we have asked the forgiveness of our heavenly Father….We have unitedly asked God our heavenly Father to grant unto us through His Seer, a revelation of His mind and will concerning our duty [during]the coming season, even a great revelation , that will enlarge our hearts, comfort us in adversity, and brighten our hopes amidst the powers of darkness.” (History of the Church, 2:210) Are those members of the church any different than us now? Do I, when I receive a new calling, immediately go to the Lord and ask that he “enlarge our hearts, comfort us in adversity, and brighten our hopes amidst the powers of darkness”? There are times when I’ve received and acted on a calling in that way, but there are also times I have received and acted on a calling to ‘just get it done’. And those times when I’ve had the ‘just get it done’ attitude, are the times I look back to and have little memory of joys, of feelings satisfaction, of new friendships made, or of new communications to and from Heavenly Father. Every calling is important. And if I do my best, and invite the Lord’s help and counsel, I can be a part of miracles—and those miracles can be simply lifting up someone who is hurting, saying the right thing at the right time, being at the right place at the right time, bringing light to someone’s dark day.

This section really defines the organization of the priesthood. I love v 19: “To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communication and presence of God the Father , and Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant.”  While I don’t hold the priesthood, I certainly have access to priesthood power. I have felt it, and there is no doubt in my mind that I can always access that power whenever the need arises. All I have to do is keep His commandments, love one another, and spend the time and effort needed to draw near unto Him.

9/21/2021-D&C 107:1-56

In February of 1835, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was complete. Then on 12 March 1835 those 12 men had met with Joseph, who proposed that they should “take our first mission through the Easter States, to the Atlantic Ocean, and hold conferences in the vicinity of regulating all things necessary for their welfare. It was proposed that the Twelve leave Kirtland on the 4th day of May, which was unanimously agreed to.” (History of the Church, 2:209)

Elders Hyde and M’Lellin wrote about their meeting that day: “This afternoon the Twelve met in council, and had a time of general confession. On reviewing our past course we are satisfied, and feel to confess also, that we have not realized the importance of our calling to that degree that we ought; we have been light-minded and vain, and in many things have done wrong. For all these things we have asked the forgiveness of our heavenly Father; and wherein we have grieved or wounded the feelings of the Presidency, we ask their forgiveness. The time when we are about to separate is near; and when we shall meet again, God only knows; we therefore feel to ask of him whom we have acknowledged to be our Prophet and Seer, that he inquire of God for us, and obtain a revelation, (if consistent) that we may look upon it when we are separated, that our hearts may be comforted. Our worthiness has not inspired us to make this request, but our unworthiness. We have unitedly asked God our heavenly Father to grant unto us through His Seer, a revelation of His mind and will concerning our duty [during] the coming season, even a great revelation, that will enlarge our hearts, comfort us in adversity, and brighten our hopes amidst the powers of darkness.” (History of the Church, 2:209–10.) The Prophet Joseph did inquire of the Lord and on 28 March 1835 received verses 1–52, 56–58 of this section. The other verses were revealed at different times. (See History of the Church, 2:210; Smith, Teachings, pp. 38–39.)  

I love the way they pondered about their lives and their callings. It reminds me of President Nelson’s request of us all to pray at the end of each day to determine what corrections, small or large, we should make in the way we live our lives and in the way we see and treat those around us.

This section seems to me to be a syllabus on the priesthood. 

V’s 18-19 give such a good definition of the power that can be found in the priesthood: “The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” This priesthood is in our home!

V 22 has a description of what is meant by sustaining those who hold the high offices in the priesthood who are “appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church…”

I so appreciate this quote from President Spencer W. Kimball as he spoke about the Melchizedek Priesthood: 

“It is the means whereby the Lord acts through men to save souls. Without this priesthood power, men are lost. Only through this power does man ‘hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church,’ enabling him to receive ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened’ unto him (see D&C 107:18–19), enabling him to enter the new and everlasting covenant of marriage and to have his wife and children bound to him in an everlasting tie, enabling him to become a patriarch to his posterity forever, and enabling him to receive a fullness of the blessings of the Lord.” (“The Example of Abraham,” Ensign, June 1975, p. 3.)

In v 23 He tells us that “the Twelve Apostles are special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.” V 25 tells us that “the Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.”

V 30 then describes how the First Presidency, the Twelve Apostles, and the Seventies should work: “The decision of these quorums…are to be made in all righteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and long suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity;”  That’s a good description of what we all should stive for in our own lives…maybe best for me to just choose one of those attributes each month and try to grow in that direction. V 31 gives us the outcome of this work, if we choose to do it: “Because the promise is, if these things abound in them they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.”

V 39 speaks of the ordaining of “evangelical ministers, as they shall be designated unto them by revelation.” It was either from some reading I did, or most likely from an institute class, that I wrote “patriarch” beside this verse with a line drawn to the words “evangelical ministers.” 

Then we have v 44 which made me change the way I see things right now: “Enos was ordained at the age of one hundred and thirty-four years and four months by the hand of Adam.” They lived longer then—but this made me realize that there is no retirement in the church. The Lord continues to give examples of aged people being called to great work, ending with v 56 “And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.” I need to always be ready to “gird up my loins” and “fresh courage take”—because as long as we are alive, we can grow in knowledge AND in spirit!