Lynne's Scripture Journal D&C

April 22, 2018 Section 91:1-6 Apocrypha, Scripture Study, I didn’t know the scope of the Apocrypha until I read something by Bruce R McConkie: It consists of ‘scriptures’ from ancient times that “are not held equal to the sacred scriptures” due to doubtful authenticity or even of a spurious nature.. In some editions of the Bible they have been included because they were thought to be “useful and good for reading ” “ They are generally accepted to be: 1 st & 2 nd Esdras (sometimes called 3 rd and 4 th Esdras, because in the Douay Bible, Ezra is 1st Esdas, and Nehemiah, 2 nd Esdras); Tobit; Judith; the rest of the chapters of Esther; Wisdom of Solomon; Wisdom of Jesus the son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus; Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremiah; additional parts of Daniel, including the Song of the Three Holy Children, the History os Susanna, and the History of the Destrution of Bel and the Dragon; Prayer of Manasses; 1 st and 2 nd Machebess).” WHEW! ...

April 17, 2018 Section 90:1-5 Repentance Continual, Scripture Study, Spiritual Health and Energy, There was a lovely conference talk in this past conference encouraging us to have what I remember as ‘continual repentance’. Too often I save repentance for my really big blunders. As far as my normal, daily blunders—I just try to do better on my own. But in this conference talk, he spoke about being aware of your efforts to be just a little better. I’m going to have to go back and read that talk now, because the first verse of this section reminded me of that when it says “I say unto you my son, thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears. I always think of the gospel as simple. Commandments are simple: Love the Lord God with all thy heart, might, mind and strength, and the second is like unto it Love thy neighbor as thyself. Those two basic statements include just about eve...

April 15, 2018 Section 89:1-3 Draw Neat Unto Me, My Deepest Hopes, Word of Wisdom, Scripture Study, When I read the scriptures, I really try to apply each morsel I read to my life. I may read just a few verses each day—but if those few verses allow me to inch forward in living the gospel more fully (which also means in experiencing more happiness and deeper peace) then what a wonderful time this is each day. And along with putting these morsels into use in my daily life…I’m afraid I also spread out and connect these treasures of truth to those I deeply love. And today, while reading the beginning of the Word of Wisdom that came as “ greeting; not by commandment or constraint…in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days ” (v2), my thoughts turned to Alex. I would so love to have Alex and Payton, Riley and Whit happily involved in the Mormon Church. But I have seen her at New Hope where she has been introduced to the scriptures in a way that touched he...

January 7, 2018 Section 76:11-19 Scripture Study, Pondering, Holy Ghost, Philippine Manila Mission, Mission Nurse, Journal,  Joseph gives a description of their (Joseph’s & Sidney’s) vision and the circumstances that preceded it. It is in v 19 that he explains “ And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.” Nephi described similar circumstances in 1 Nephi 11:1. He says he was ‘ pondering in mine heart’ the things of his father’s dream when he was ‘ caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea into an exceedingly high mountain’. And President Joseph F. Smith said that he received his vision of the spirit world as he sat in his room ‘ pondering over the scriptures; and reflecting’ ( D&C 138-1-2). President David O McKay taught: : I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion….” And one last quote—from President Marion...