Lynne's Scripture Journal D&C

May 29, 2017 Section 33:1-18 Missionary Instructions, Missionary Rewards, Gates of Hell, Spiritual Backup Disk, Both Ezra Thayne and Northop Sweet are very recent converts—they still have much to learn about the gospel. They are called to be missionaries, and the first instruction that are given is to “ open ye your ears and hearken to the voice of the Lord your God…”   (v 1) We can’t go wrong when we do that, but we must realize that opening our ears and hearkening to the voice of the Lord –if we are not used to doing this—is a learning experience that takes dedication, effort, pondering, prayer and action. As long as we are working to do as He says, He will aid our efforts. As I read this chapter I see it as an instruction manual to missionaries 1)     open ye your ears and hearken to the voice of the Lord (v1) 2)     lift up your voices…to declare my gospel (v2) 3)     thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your ...

April 25, 2017 Section 19:13-41 Atonement Christ’s Statement Of, Repentance, Missionary Instructions, Live Happy, Prayer, Draw Near Unto Me, In v’s 15-20, Christ is speaking directly to Martin Harris, who has come to Joseph “ seeking further assurance in relation to his standing before the Lord, being sorely troubled in spirit because of his transgression.” ( Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith) In the Oct 1947 Gen Conf, President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “ We get into the habit of thinking, I suppose, that his great suffering was when he was nailed to the cross by his hands and his feet [ and his wrists] and was left there to suffer until he died. As excruciating as that pain was, that was not the greatest suffering that he had to undergo, for in some way which I cannot understand, but which I accept on faith, and which you must accept on faith, he carried on his back the burden of the sins of the whole world. It is hard enough for me to carry my own sins. How is it with you? ...

April 21, 2017 Section 18:22-47 Plan of Salvation Simplicity, Desires Importance Of, Missionary Instructions, Testimony Our Part in Gaining, Priorities, Scriptures Power Of, I always feel like there is so much to be done in my church callings and in my efforts to listen and to respond to the Holy Ghost. But when I read the scriptures, it all seems so much simpler. V 22 seems to allow us lots of latitude as we work to return to Heavenly Father: “And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” It IS simple. But it IS busy, for there is much to be done here on the earth. The best thing about it is that when I’m trying my best and trying to hear and follow promptings—that’s when I really am the happiest and most serene. I just need to remember to take a deep, spiritual breath, and let the Lord help me in determining priorities. People are important. Relationships are important. And love is the most importa...

April 19, 2017 Section 18:1-21 Personal Revelation, Desire, Faith, Action, Spirit Manifestations Of, Gates of Hell, Keep the Commandments, Repentance, Missionary Instructions, Contention None, This section reinforces the Lord’s instructions of ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. The student manual points out that since receiving Section 13 (May 15,1829—and in that visit John the Baptist had said there would also be a restoration of a higher priesthood-- that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery “ now became anxious to have that promise realized, which the angel that conferred upon us, viz., that provided we continued faithful, we should also have the Melchizedek Priesthood, which hold the authority of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. We had for some time made this matter a subject of humble prayer, and at length we got together   in the chamber of Mr. Whitmer’s house, in order more particularly...