10/30/2018 - Section 122:1-9

October 30, 2018

Section 122:1-9

Trials and Tribulations, Endure to the End, Atonement, Lord’s Closeness to Us,

This is the second revelation that was received over a 5 day period when Joseph was in Liberty Jail. This is how one description that went right to my heart: “The five months of imprisonment, abuse, malnutrition, and separation that the Prophet Joseph Smith and his friends suffered in Liberty Jail in Missouri contrast starkly with the sublime communication sent by the Prophet to the suffering Saints.”

V 1 speaks of the harsh experiences that Joseph Smith will receive from men and from hell. President Kimball said, besides fulfilling prophecy, this negative attention is in one way a good sign: “We can…tell that we are making progress by the attention we get from the adversary….This has been the lot of the Lord’s people from the beginning, and it will be no different in our time.” April 1980 Gen Conf

In verses 4-7 the Lord details various, and horribly difficult circumstances—some of which had already happened, others which were to come. But in the midst that those terrifying descriptions, the Lord pauses and says “…and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.” And then the Lord follows these descriptions with: “…know thou, my son, that all these things shall give the experience, and shall be for thy good.”  Orson F Whitney said of these verses: “There is the reason. It is for our development, our purification, our growth, our education and advancement, that we buffet the fierce waves of sorrow and misfortune; and we shall be all the stronger and better when we have swum the flood and stand upon the farther shore.”  My deep hope is that when I go through my most difficult times—and my fear is that could be the time when Bob is gone and I must go on without him—but I remind myself that hope is so much better than despair. I know that I can plead for help from my Father, and that help will come. If I ask for it, and work for it, He will come to my aid with the very things that will lift me up and sustain me and help me to grow deeper and fuller. I know this from the Lord’s promises of the atonement. And I know this from having gone through difficult times, and asking and working for help, comfort, and direction, and feeling the strength and calmness and love fill my mind and my soul. The Lord has told us we are to endure to the end. I want my endurance to be thoroughly laced with hope and with faith in my Father’s plan for the world as a whole, and for me individually.

10/20/2021 – D&C 122

 One of Joseph’s most difficult times came in the days and months that he was imprisoned in Liberty Jail.  Not only was this a horrendous imprisonment, but he was locked away from all the saints who were also going through some of their most difficult times, and while in jail, he was able to do very little to help them. 

 

This revelation came to Joseph during those times. It was March 1839 and he had been in Liberty Jail for months.

The Lord reminds Joseph of what he had been told before: that his name would be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues. In v 1 He says: “The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee.” But He immediately follows that with v 2 & 3: “While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand. And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors.”

The Lord continues by describing the difficult times he may still have before him, but He finishes that description with the surety that “thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.” (v 4)

In v 6 the Lord goes on with to describe an amazing list of terrible situations one might have to live through, and many of the very difficult things He speaks of DID happen to Joseph later in his life. But he ended this horrendous list with: “…know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” 

And then the Lord finishes with words that let us know that He knows all about us—about our beginnings and about our ends: “Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less: therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.” After a promise like that, how can WE not got forward into every one of our days and endure with faith and hope and a daily closeness with our Lord. 

We are here on earth for our ‘earthly schooling’. We had a premortal life, and we fought for the privilege of coming to earth to gain a body and to grow in many different ways. We also have an eternal post-death future. 

My college days were wonderful and exciting, but also difficult and demoralizing at times. But oh what I learned. And I find I remember the brilliant times much more often than the difficult times. 

President Kimball put it much better than I could ever manage: “Is there not wisdom in God giving us trials that we might rise above them, responsibilities that we might achieve, work to harden our muscles, sorrows to try our souls? Are we not exposed to temptations to test our strength, sickness that we might learn patience, death that we might be immortalized and glorified? …Should all prayers be immediately answered according to our selfish desires and our limited understanding, then there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death, and if these were not, there would also be no joy, success, resurrection, nor eternal life and godhood. …Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery.” But no matter where we are in that description, the Lord can ALWAYS be with us. All we have to do is to talk with Him, and do our best to follow His advice.