D&C Section Thirty Three

Without doubt, the Lord wants us to fearless in taking the gospel to the rest of the world. In three straight verses, he says open your mouths. In Section 60, he says that he is not pleased with some because they will not open their mouths because of their fear of men. I think there are several ways that we can "open our mouths." Obviously, we should be prepared and unafraid to talk to others about the gospel. So many people are interested and we assume they aren't. Before I was a member, I would have been willing to listen had someone approached me about it. There were some who said they prayed about talking to me but felt impressed to wait and that is probably why I didn't hear the gospel until the time that I did. Often it's just as important to live the gospel as best we can and through our examples we "open our mouths." And almost as important in my mind is to love all people and be accepting of them. Love is a very powerful way of "opening our mouths." It has been cheapened in the world and seems to only have reference to sex anymore. Trust, commitment and devotion have become the exception rather than the norm. But when people experience our love and see the love in our relationships, they will want to experience something deeper. It is important that they experience the Savior's love through us.

In the end of this section, the Lord says we should always have our lamps trimmed and burning. If the wick of a lamp is trimmed, it burns brighter. If our lives are disciplined in the gospel, the Spirit will shine brighter in our countenances. What other people see will be the very thing they are seeking in their own lives.

Ezra Thayer, who this revelation is directed to, came into the church having experienced some miracles including the appearance of an angel. He was faithful, though struggled from time to time, and demonstrated his faith through serving missions and being a member of Zion's Camp. He was the person assigned to purchase land in Kirtland, Ohio and purchased the land the Kirtland Temple was built on. In 1835, his membership was suspended for impropriety, we do not know what happened, and he eventually settled in Rochester, New York and then Michigan where he later become a high priest in the reorganized church.