1/31/2019 - Section 136:12-42

January 31, 2019

Section 136:12-42

Obedience, Lord’s Rules for Living, Keep the Commandments, Unity, Draw Near Unto Me, Satan’s Efforts,

Smith and Sjodahl summarize verses 18-27 beautifully: “the members of the Church had been disappointed, if not discouraged, because Zion had not been redeemed. No doubt it was trying to the faith of some to be on the way to the unknown region of the Rocky Mountains. All that they had heard of this territory was discouraging and the redemption of Zion seemed farther away than ever from fulfillment. Now they were to take courage, for the Lord had not forgotten Zion, and it should be redeemed in the due time of the Lord. It was well, therefore, for the members to obey counsel and not seek to build themselves at the expense of others; should this be done they would lose the reward. The Lord would lead them as he led the children of Israel, and he was just as mindful of the Saints today as he was then. Every man should respect the rights and property of the rest, and all should be wise stewards.”

The verses that I love are:

V  17: “Go thy way and do as I have told you, and fear not thine enemies; for they shall not have power to stop my work.” To me that is simply saying: Do it!

V 19:”And if any man shall seek to build up himself, and seeketh not my counsel, he shall have no power, and his folly shall be made manifest.”  To me that is saying Do the Lord’s work for His sake.

V 20: “Seek ye; and keep all your pledges one with another; and covet not that which is they brother’s.”  We need to appreciate one another, and work to build each other.

V 22 “…my arm is stretched out in the last days to save my people….” But it’s up to me to reach out to Him. He stands at the door, but I must knock and ask for, and then recognize His help.

And then my favorite one is v 28-29: “If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.    If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication that your soul may be joyful.”

And then there v 32-33: “Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear;    For my Spirit is sent forth unto the world to enlighten the humble and contrite…”

These verses are the Lord’s instructions to his people as they begin a long and difficult trip—but one in which we may find growth and happiness. Isn’t that very similar to our life journey?

This section ends with v 42, the Lord’s final words to Brigham Young and the saints: “Be diligent in keeping all my commandments, lest judgments come upon you and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you.” I would think that one of the greatest of those enemies is Satan. He has such subtle ways to pull us away from Heavenly Father’s plans. But the Lord reminds us continually of the ways in which He has promised to protect us—one of the greatest ways is for us to simply keep His commandments.

11/25/2021 – D&C 136: 21-42

I love v 22 as Christ assures the saints that “I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; and my arm is stretched out in the last days to save my people Israel.” I am of the house of Ephrem, which means He is speaking to me. His arm is stretched out to me, all I have to do is to reach out to Him.

The Lord then tells us the things we need to do to bring happiness to ourselves and others: 

Cease drunkenness (v 24)

Let your words edify others (v 24)

If you borrow from others, restore at full value (v 25)

Return lost items to those who lost them (v 26)

Take good care of what we have (27)

Praise the Lord in multiple ways (v 28)

Know that in our difficult times, we are to “call on the Lord…with supplications, that your souls may be joyful 

             (v 29)

Fear not our enemies, the Lord will take care of them in due time (V30)

Realize that this earth education requires for us to “be tried in all things, that [we] may be prepared to receive 

the glory that I have for [you]  (v31)

Learn wisdom by humbling [ourselves], and calling upon the Lord…that [our] eyes may be opened that [we] 

may see, and …ears opened that [we] may hear. (v 32)

His “Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite (v33)

“marvel not at these things, for ye are not yet pure; ye cannot yet bear my glory; but ye shall behold it if ye

are faithful in keeping all my words that I have given you from the days of Adam” (37)

Christ ends this wonderful section with v 42 “Be diligent in keeping all my commandments, lest judgments come upon you, and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you.” Our protection and His help come from our simply keeping His commandments.