Lynne's Scripture Journal D&C

August 29, 2017 Section 67: 1-14 Missionary Advice, Missionaries Help Is So Near, Missionaries Build Each Other Up, Missionaries Press Forward With Faith, Faith Stronger Than Fear, Missionaries Don’t Focus on Imperfections, Missionary Promises, The very first verses applies to all of us who work together in the church, and as we prepare for our mission to the Philippines, I strongly feel its application to missionaries: “ Behold and hearken [ listen and do! ], O ye elders [ and sisters ] of my church, who have assembled yourselves together, whose prayers I have heard, and whose hearts I know, and whose desires have come up before me.    Behold and lo mine eyes are upon you, and the heavens and the earth are in mine hands, and the riches of eternity are mine to give.” (v 1&2)   I need to remember that He is near to us, and ready to step closer to us, and we need to step closer to Him. And then in v 3 he teaches us how to draw closer: “ Ye endeavored to believe...

August 28, 2017 Section 66:1-13 Journal, Mission Call, Missionary Advice, Missionary Blessings, Lord’s Guidance Seek, Lord’s Guidance Follow, Missionary Companions, Missions & Posterity, We got our mission call yesterday: Philippines Manila Mission! Reporting to the MTC December 4 th .   Now that we actually have a place to plan for, and a firm date by which to have everything completed, my mind shut down last night. Luckily I found a sweet movie to get me to bedtime. And today, let the lists begin!!!!   Actually, we were asked to read the Book of Mormon before arriving at the MTC, so this may be my last D&C entry for a while. Section 66 was given to William E McLellin, at his request of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It has a lot to do with missionary work, so what an appropriate section for me this day! Once again, the section synopsis seems like a wonderful reminder list for me: “ 1-4, The everlasting covenant is the fullness of the gospel; 5-8, Elders are...

May 7, 2017 Section 23:1-7 Pride, Patriarchal Blessings, Missionary Advice, Missionary Promise, Prayer Personal Family & Public, Take Up the Cross, When the Lord speaks to Oliver Cowdery in v 1, He lets him know that all is well in his spiritual life, BUT He gives Oliver a ‘heads-up’ to “ beware of pride, lest thou shouldst enter into temptation.” Oliver had this revelation given to him. Remembering this small sentence later during the difficult days in Kirtland, he would not have forfeited his membership in the church and his life, then and forever, would have been very different. We have our patriarchal blessings. There are small sentences in those blessings that we should pay more particular attention to, for by heeding those one sentence warnings, we can avoid our hardest problems before they ever develop. V 2 can be applied to all missionaries: “ Make known thy calling unto the church, and also before the world, and thy heart shall be opened to preach the truth fr...

March 30, 2017 Section 10:1-5 Obedience Value Of, Gift of Translation, Repentance, Lord’s Tutoring, Do Not Run Faster, Best Our Best, Progress is Determined by Our Direction, Pray Always, Missionary Advice, Failure Then Get Going, This section was given just 3 days after Joseph had returned the Urim & Thummin to Moroni. For those 3 days the Lord had taken Joseph’s gift of translation away. Joseph truly felt the agony of his failure in this grand job the Lord had given him. He felt profoundly the reality that “ your mind became darkened ” (v 2) Lucy Mack Smith described this time: “ I besought him not to mourn to, for perhaps the Lord would forgive him, after a short season of humiliation and repentance. But what could I do to comfort him, when he saw all the family in the same situation of mind as himself; for sobs and groans, and the most bitter lamentations filled the house. However, Joseph was more distressed than the rest, as he better understood the consequences of di...