11/14/2018 - Section 124:1-20

November 14, 2018

Section 124:1-20

Attributes of Christ, What the Lord Looks For, Draw Near Unto Me, Lean on the Lord, Character Traits the Lord Loves,

By October 1838, the saints were finding places to resettle after having been driven out of Missouri. People in Quincy Illinois and near Commerce Illinois and some in Iowa were kind and receptive to the saints. The gathering began again. This was a time of rest and recuperation and rebuilding for the saints. Smith and Sjodahl: “The scattered saints were gathering, and the settlements in Illinois were growing rapidly. The mission in Great Britain was highly successful. Such were the general conditions when this revelation was given. The Church had a moment’s rest. There was calm before the next storm.” That’s a very good thing for me to remember as I continue my journey through life…There’s no predicting the weather. So we just have to be prepared for cold, hot, rainy, drought, or tornados, and maybe sometimes calm and beautiful days.

I love v 4 & 5 as I see it applying to me: “Let it be written in the spirit of meekness and by the power of the Holy Ghost, which shall be in you at the time of the writing of the same.   For it shall be given you by the Holy Ghost…” This was in the instructions given to Joseph in his task to write a solemn proclamation to all the nations. But I need to ask for this when I prepare to give a talk; when I prepare to teach (now facilitate) a lesson (now discussion); when I simply speak to others about the Church. That is a gift I haven’t prayed for.

In v’s 15 - 20 the Lord tells us WHY he is pleased with Hyrum Smith “because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me” and John C Bennett because he stood by Joseph “in the hour of affliction..and for his love he shall be great”, and Lyman Wight is to “continue preaching for Zion, in the spirit of meekness, confessing me before the world; and I will bear him up as on eagles wings; and he shall beget glory and to himself and unto my name.” and George Miller who “is without guile; he may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart; and for the love which he has to my testimony I, the Lord, love him.” The Lord knows our hearts and our efforts, and what is wonderfully amazing, if we ask, he will do all he can to help us grow in our efforts and our journeys.

10/22/2021 -D&C 124:1-55

This section is given to Joseph in January of 1841. The saints were forced to leave everything they had in Missouri. They found temporary safety in Illinois and Iowa Territory, but things were certainly not easy. Now, after almost two years of difficult living, they have established themselves in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Nauvoo began as a settlement called Commerce. It is just across the river from Quincy Illinois where so many of the saints had found help and comfort and refuge. Commerce was basically a swamp wilderness with only a few simple buildings. Joseph purchased large parcels of land there. For the next several years, the saints worked hard to drain the land and build their homes. They turned the swamps in the city of Nauvoo, whose name is Hebrew and means “beauty”. It is at this time that this revelation was received.

As the Lord states much of what He wants Joseph to accomplish, He also gives the saints the “how’s” of accomplishing all that He has asked of them. “Let it be written in the spirit of meekness and by the power of the Holy Ghost, which shall be in you at the time of the writing of the same; For it shall be given you by the Holy Ghost to know my will….” (v’s 4-5) My attempts in following these instructions in this day, and in my own life is something I pray for the Lord to help me with.

V 10 stands out to me: “For the day of my visitation cometh speedily in an hour when ye think not of…” The Lord is trying to tell us that even when we see the signs of the times, we will be surprised at His coming. My basic plan is to work to live each day doing the things the Lord has asked for us to do—certainly within our family, but also with all our dealings with those outside our family. He gives us further help in v 13 as He gives instructions to Robert Thompson: “Let him, therefore, hearken to your counsel, and I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings; let him be faithful and true in all things from henceforth, and he shall be great in mine eyes;” That promise can apply to us, as we follow the counsel of our current prophet.

The Lord then speaks of Hyrum Smith, who can be another example to us: “…for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me…” (v 15).  Elder Joseph B Wirthlin “To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more importantly, in our thoughts and in our hearts. Personal integrity implies such trustworthiness and incorruptibility that we are incapable of being false to a trust or covenant”

Then in v 18 He speaks to Lyman Wight who is to “continue in preaching for Zion, in the spirit of meekness, confessing me before the world; and I will bear him up as on eagles’ wings…That when he shall finish his work I may receive him unto myself…”

In v 20 He speaks to George Miller who “is without guile; he may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart; and for the love which he has to my testimony I, the Lord, love him.”

In v’s 28-44, he Lord then speaks of the great importance of having a temple, and participating in temple work…for ourselves, and for our dead, and in v 55 promises “that you may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life.”

Joseph Smith: “And the communications I made to this council were of things spiritual, and to be received only by the spiritually minded: and there was nothing made known to these men but what will be made known to all the Saints of the last days, so soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them … ; therefore let the Saints be diligent in building the Temple, and all houses which they have been, or shall hereafter be, commanded of God to build” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 414).