Lynne's Scripture Journal D&C

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 t...

December 31, 2018 Section 132:1-33 Marriage Eternal, Marriage Plural, Concubines, Obedience, Eternal Weight of Glory, Celestial Kingdom, Spiritual Growth, Man’s Laws/God’s Laws, Repentance Importance Of, The history is quite interesting here. “ The Prophet knew the Lord’s will on plural marriage within the new and everlasting covenant probably as early as 1831. (see history of the church, 5:xxix)I March 1843 he spoke to William Clayton of eternal marriage. In July of that year, he was discussing the doctrine with his brother Hyrum in William Clayton’s presence when Hyrum said, “If you will write the revelation on celestial marriage, I will take it and read it to Emma, and I believe I can convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter have peace” (History of the Church, 5:xxxii) The Prophet consented and told William Clayton to get some paper to write; but to his brother’s ‘urgent request’ that the Prophet use the Urim and Thummin to recall the exact revela...

December 27, 2018 Section 130:1-23 Correction in the Church, Time Earth VS Eternity, Intelligence Gaining, Learning, Earthly Lessons Available, Obedience, Gospel Promises, Thy Ways My Ways, This section and the next section contain ”items of instruction”. I feel that the way these section came about may be as important as the information contained within these verses. “ On the 2 nd of April, 1843, the Prophet Joseph attended a meeting at which Orson Hyde spoke and, alluding to the coming of the Savior said, ‘when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, etc. He will appear on a white horse as a warrior, and may be we shall have some of the same spirit. Our God is a warrior. It is our privilege to have the Father and Son dwelling in our hearts.’   Now, this is the great lesson: “ At dinner time the Prophet called the attention of Orson Hyde to these statements and told him that he would offer some corrections. Orson Hyde replied that they would be thank...

December 3, 2018 Section 125:1-4 Obedience, Growth, Progression, Revelation Seeking, Prayer, Room for All, This section is directed to the saints who settled in Iowa, just across the Mississippi river from Nauvoo when they were all fleeing Missouri. Here’s the history: “One of the first to suggest that the Saints locate in Iowa was Dr. Isaac Galland, the man who had sold the land on which Nauvoo was build. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith wrote that ‘Mr. Galland in a communication to David W Rogers, suggested that the Saints locate in Iowa, which was a territory; for he thought they would be more likely to receive protection from mobs under the jurisdiction of the United States, than they would be in a state of the Union, ‘where murder, rapine and robbery are admirable (!) traits in the character of a demagogue; and where the greatest villains often reach the highest offices.’ He also wrote to Governor Robert Lucas of Iowa, who had known the Mormon people in  ...