Thursday, March 31, 2011
D&C Section Forty Four
This section directs the church to have another conference. This will be the fourth general conference of the church, the first one to be held in Ohio. The previous three were held in Fayette, New York. In this revelation, the Lord tells them that purpose of this conference is to organize themselves according to the laws of the land. Everywhere the church settled, they did this and it enabled them to go about building temples, publishing revelations and conducting other church business without fear of being legally challenged successfully. With their numbers, the church was able to influence voting issues that would have hampered their efforts to function. As a result, since the people in their vicinity couldn't do anything legal against them, the always resorted to mob violence. This happened in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. At this conference, Section 52 was received. This has become the practice of the church ever since. They always operate within the laws of the land. Even in communist East Germany, where religious practices were severely controlled, the church was able to build a temple because it had become so well respected by the communist leaders. Eventually, the Berlin wall came down and East and West Berlin were united in freedom. Then the church was able to send more missionaries and operate more freely under the German democracy. The Lord always seems to work from the inside out whether it's with a person, a city, or a nation.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
D&C Section Forty Three
A woman whose last name was Hubble began to profess she was a prophetess and claimed to know the Book of Mormon was true. She demanded that she should be a teacher in the church. Most saw through her hypocrisy, but a few members became her followers. John Whitmer described her as being very sanctimonious. As a result, this revelation was given which clarifies even further the manner in which the Lord will give revelation to the church.
The message is, the Lord will only give revelations to the church through the person who holds the keys to receive them. If they should be come unworthy, the Lord will replace them with another who holds the keys. The Lord says, "There is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments... And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments; And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me."
Then the Lord makes what I feel is the most important message of the section: "For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before." In other words, there is only one way, the Lord's way, that a person becomes a prophet and the one authorized to receive revelation for the church. Common sense sees the wisdom of this. It is a protection to the church against those that would usurp authority. If more people were aware of this revelation, they would not be sucked into groups that break away from the church claiming that they are now the ones the Lord is giving revelation to guide the church.
The message is, the Lord will only give revelations to the church through the person who holds the keys to receive them. If they should be come unworthy, the Lord will replace them with another who holds the keys. The Lord says, "There is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments... And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments; And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me."
Then the Lord makes what I feel is the most important message of the section: "For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before." In other words, there is only one way, the Lord's way, that a person becomes a prophet and the one authorized to receive revelation for the church. Common sense sees the wisdom of this. It is a protection to the church against those that would usurp authority. If more people were aware of this revelation, they would not be sucked into groups that break away from the church claiming that they are now the ones the Lord is giving revelation to guide the church.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
D&C Section Forty Two
What we tend to forget is that everything the church does, is based on the revelations of the Doctrine and Covenants. This is one reason that the church is so successful. All actions, whether spiritual or business, are based on the principles found in the Doctrine and Covenants. It contains the rules by which the church is governed. Because these principles are divinely inspired, the church will not fail as long as it continues in this manner. The same is true of the members. If they live their lives by the principles and ordinances found in this book, they will not fail. This is why some people in the church will fail, but the church will not. Joseph is still 24 years old and to come up with, on his own, a revelation like this, would have been impossible without divine inspiration. It is too timeless. This section, as well as the others, have stood the test of time and will continue to do so and there is much in them that is yet to be fulfilled. Plus, they are timeless in that they will always be applicable to the church and how it conducts its business.
Verses 1-17 deal with missionary work. The Lord instructs the church to send missionaries. They are to go west two by two. In those days, missionaries were called to go to certain regions of the world, but not specific places. They were simply told to follow the Spirit as to what cities and towns they should go to. And they continued their missions until the Spirit told them to come home or the church notified them their mission was over. Often the missions were a matter of months. Sometimes though, they lasted for years like we will see when they go to Europe and England. There are three important laws given concerning missionary work. One is, no one is to preach the gospel who has not been called and ordained by the authorities of the church. The second is, only the principles of the gospel are to be taught. And third, the only teaching that can take place is that which is done under the power of the Spirit. Since it is the Holy Ghost that testifies of truth, no one can teach the gospel without this power; a person could say all that they wanted about the gospel, but it would be meaningless in the lives of those they taught. It isn't the convincing of men that must take place; it is the convincing of power of God. It is this witness that changes the lives and hearts of people.
Verses 18-29 deal with basic commandments of Christian living, how we should conduct our lives and how we should treat others. These verses can be summed up by simply saying that our lives should be clean and moral. We should love each other and keep the commandments. One verse says we should not speak evil of our neighbors. I take this to mean that we should not say anything derogatory, meaning disrespectful or critical of others. Even if they never hear it, it still affects us negatively. The Lord sums these verses up saying, "If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments." That's a good measuring stick to know if we love him.
Verses 30-42 deal with the law of consecration. This is something that has been misunderstood by so many. How the the law worked was, a member would consecrate all that he has to the church, but keep all that he needed. In a sense we do this today by paying ten per cent tithing and keeping the rest for our needs. With the law of consecration, the person and the bishop discussed how much the church would keep and how much the person would keep. Those who were more wealthy, would have more excess and those who were poor would probably have need of some of that excess. This is a marvelous law. Just think of the millions and billions that are made by the sporting industries, or by lotteries, or other industries that bring in huge amounts of money. If instead of keeping all that money to themselves, they kept what they felt they needed and then gave the excess to hospitals, cancer research, creating jobs for the jobless, the wealth and health of our country would increase tremendously. I admire those that do this. With this law, all are expected to work. A person who did not work, would not receive assistance.
Verses 43-52 give principles for healing the sick and caring for them. We are to heal where it is possible and there is faith to heal, otherwise we bear each other's infirmities with love and care.
Verses 53-92 offer further explanations of the law of consecration. One important passage that we could all do a better of job of applying to our lives is in verses 88-92. If we are offended by someone, we should go to that person so the relationship can be restored to friendly terms. If the offense is serious enough, and the person who offended refuses to reconcile, then the offended person can take the matter before the church authorities. If something is done publicly that is harmful, the person who did the harm would be rebuked publicly. It was a private matter, it would be handled in a private manner.
Verses 1-17 deal with missionary work. The Lord instructs the church to send missionaries. They are to go west two by two. In those days, missionaries were called to go to certain regions of the world, but not specific places. They were simply told to follow the Spirit as to what cities and towns they should go to. And they continued their missions until the Spirit told them to come home or the church notified them their mission was over. Often the missions were a matter of months. Sometimes though, they lasted for years like we will see when they go to Europe and England. There are three important laws given concerning missionary work. One is, no one is to preach the gospel who has not been called and ordained by the authorities of the church. The second is, only the principles of the gospel are to be taught. And third, the only teaching that can take place is that which is done under the power of the Spirit. Since it is the Holy Ghost that testifies of truth, no one can teach the gospel without this power; a person could say all that they wanted about the gospel, but it would be meaningless in the lives of those they taught. It isn't the convincing of men that must take place; it is the convincing of power of God. It is this witness that changes the lives and hearts of people.
Verses 18-29 deal with basic commandments of Christian living, how we should conduct our lives and how we should treat others. These verses can be summed up by simply saying that our lives should be clean and moral. We should love each other and keep the commandments. One verse says we should not speak evil of our neighbors. I take this to mean that we should not say anything derogatory, meaning disrespectful or critical of others. Even if they never hear it, it still affects us negatively. The Lord sums these verses up saying, "If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments." That's a good measuring stick to know if we love him.
Verses 30-42 deal with the law of consecration. This is something that has been misunderstood by so many. How the the law worked was, a member would consecrate all that he has to the church, but keep all that he needed. In a sense we do this today by paying ten per cent tithing and keeping the rest for our needs. With the law of consecration, the person and the bishop discussed how much the church would keep and how much the person would keep. Those who were more wealthy, would have more excess and those who were poor would probably have need of some of that excess. This is a marvelous law. Just think of the millions and billions that are made by the sporting industries, or by lotteries, or other industries that bring in huge amounts of money. If instead of keeping all that money to themselves, they kept what they felt they needed and then gave the excess to hospitals, cancer research, creating jobs for the jobless, the wealth and health of our country would increase tremendously. I admire those that do this. With this law, all are expected to work. A person who did not work, would not receive assistance.
Verses 43-52 give principles for healing the sick and caring for them. We are to heal where it is possible and there is faith to heal, otherwise we bear each other's infirmities with love and care.
Verses 53-92 offer further explanations of the law of consecration. One important passage that we could all do a better of job of applying to our lives is in verses 88-92. If we are offended by someone, we should go to that person so the relationship can be restored to friendly terms. If the offense is serious enough, and the person who offended refuses to reconcile, then the offended person can take the matter before the church authorities. If something is done publicly that is harmful, the person who did the harm would be rebuked publicly. It was a private matter, it would be handled in a private manner.
Monday, March 28, 2011
D&C Section Forty One
Section 41 is the first revelation received in Ohio. Most of the saints traveled in two large groups to Ohio while Joseph and Emma and few others came across the land in wagons. The two large groups traveled the Erie Canal to the Buffalo area and then by boat across Lake Erie. While on Lake Erie, one group was under the direction of Lucy Mack Smith, the prophet's mother. The Lake was frozen with ice and the captain of the boat refused to set out. Lucy prayed that the ice would break enough for them to be able to get through it and over night the ice did break up and they're able to move on. In this section. we learn that Edward Partridge is called as the first bishop and we see in verse nine the three steps of a calling that are always followed. A person is called by the Lord, sustained by the church (the word appointed is used here), and ordained or set apart by the bishop.
The law of consecration has been discussed a great deal and a group of the saints tried to start living it on their own. They called themselves "The Family" and the way they lived the law causing bad feelings among them. They misunderstood how the law should be lived which will be given in Section 42. They assumed there were no personal possessions, that everything was the Lord's and every possession of every person would be shared with the group. What happened is some took this as license to take whatever they wanted from others. They would walk into a home, see something, and take it for their own use. Here, the Lord tells the people that he will give them his law and instruct them on how to live it. The Lord warns the people that once the law is given, he expects them to live it. His words are pure so they should "beware how you hold them, for they are to be answered upon your souls in the day of judgment.
It is not unusual at all for zealous members to put their own interpretations on the commandments. These members will carry things to extreme. For instance, they may decide how the sabbath should be kept and try to impose that upon other members. The manner in which members keep the commandments is their own business. The only regulations that are imposed in the church are found in the questions asked at the temple recommend interview. But even then, the Lord asks us if we are living the commandment. He doesn't say how or how much. I really appreciate the fact that the Lord allows us the agency to determine the level of obedience we want to live. He will hold us responsible for what we know and do. But it is always between the Lord and that person. The only areas of exact obedience lie in those related to chastity. For example, one question asks, "Do you pay an honest tithe?" Is an honest tithe on the gross or the net? He doesn't say but leaves that up to the person. Some prefer to pay on the gross simply because of the blessings that come from the sacrifice. Another questions is, "Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?" Here, coffee, tea, drugs and alcohol are specifically indicated. But other things such as colas and other foods are left to the discretion of the member. It is the principle of living healthy and the degree to which it is lived must determined by the individual. In marriages, the couple have to determine, sometimes with compromise, what level they are going to live.
The law of consecration has been discussed a great deal and a group of the saints tried to start living it on their own. They called themselves "The Family" and the way they lived the law causing bad feelings among them. They misunderstood how the law should be lived which will be given in Section 42. They assumed there were no personal possessions, that everything was the Lord's and every possession of every person would be shared with the group. What happened is some took this as license to take whatever they wanted from others. They would walk into a home, see something, and take it for their own use. Here, the Lord tells the people that he will give them his law and instruct them on how to live it. The Lord warns the people that once the law is given, he expects them to live it. His words are pure so they should "beware how you hold them, for they are to be answered upon your souls in the day of judgment.
It is not unusual at all for zealous members to put their own interpretations on the commandments. These members will carry things to extreme. For instance, they may decide how the sabbath should be kept and try to impose that upon other members. The manner in which members keep the commandments is their own business. The only regulations that are imposed in the church are found in the questions asked at the temple recommend interview. But even then, the Lord asks us if we are living the commandment. He doesn't say how or how much. I really appreciate the fact that the Lord allows us the agency to determine the level of obedience we want to live. He will hold us responsible for what we know and do. But it is always between the Lord and that person. The only areas of exact obedience lie in those related to chastity. For example, one question asks, "Do you pay an honest tithe?" Is an honest tithe on the gross or the net? He doesn't say but leaves that up to the person. Some prefer to pay on the gross simply because of the blessings that come from the sacrifice. Another questions is, "Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?" Here, coffee, tea, drugs and alcohol are specifically indicated. But other things such as colas and other foods are left to the discretion of the member. It is the principle of living healthy and the degree to which it is lived must determined by the individual. In marriages, the couple have to determine, sometimes with compromise, what level they are going to live.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
D&C Section Thirty Nine and Forty
This revelation was given to James Covill on January 5th 1831. Little is known about him. He had been a Baptist minister for 40 but said he would keep any commandments the Lord gave him through the Prophet Joseph Smith. As a result, this revelation has the Lord telling him to be baptized and do missionary work. He is given great promises of power and faith and success and his first mission is to be in Ohio, not the eastern states as he seemed to think. I find it interesting the the revelation also states that in the past, he has rejected the Lord many times because of "pride and the cares of the world." And he is told, that if he rejects these things, he is rejecting the Lord. If he receives the gospel and the revelations, he is receiving the Lord.
Sometime not long after in the same month, Covill rejects the church and returns to the Baptist church. The Lord in Section 40 stated that "he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan tempted him; and the fear of persecution and the cares of the word caused him to reject the word. Wherefore he broke my covenant, and it remaineth with me to do with him as seemeth me good." It is not known if he was ever baptized.
This reminds me of the parable of the sower. Of the seeds the sower cast, some were cast on stony places. In Matthew 13, the Lord says, "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." A true gospel will always require rigorous discipleship. Our blessings must in some way result from the kind of effort that reflects an appreciation for the price that has been paid in our behalf.
Sometime not long after in the same month, Covill rejects the church and returns to the Baptist church. The Lord in Section 40 stated that "he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan tempted him; and the fear of persecution and the cares of the word caused him to reject the word. Wherefore he broke my covenant, and it remaineth with me to do with him as seemeth me good." It is not known if he was ever baptized.
This reminds me of the parable of the sower. Of the seeds the sower cast, some were cast on stony places. In Matthew 13, the Lord says, "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." A true gospel will always require rigorous discipleship. Our blessings must in some way result from the kind of effort that reflects an appreciation for the price that has been paid in our behalf.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
D&C Section Thirty Eight
During December, Joseph had finished Moses Chapters 6 and 7. These dealt with Enoch and the city of Zion in Enoch's day. Sometimes we ask "Why?" when asked to do something. Here the Lord begins by saying who is doing the asking and then why he is asking them.And what he is asking is for the saints to gather in Ohio and teaches the importance of the gathering of Israel and establishing Zion. The gathering is both a spiritual and physical gathering. The spiritual gathering is missionary work bringing people to a true and correct knowledge of Christ, his atonement and his gospel. The physical gathering is the locating of saints in one geographic area to establish Zion. Zion is characterized by people who are pure in heart, worthy of the celestial kingdom. There are twelve characteristics of a Zion people given in this section:
1. They seek Zion with all of their hearts.
2. They hear the Lord's voice and follow it.
3. The are a free people who's lives are based on the Lord's laws. When he comes, the only laws will be his.
4. They teach one another according to the offices or callings they have received.
5. Every person esteems his brother (sister) as himself.
6. They practice virtue and holiness before the Lord.
7. They are united as one, as to the doctrine of the gospel.
8. They live the law of consecration.
9. They are endowed with power from on high. This power is both priesthood keys and an outpouring of the Spirit.
10. They see to the needs of the poor.
11. They are rich in both temporal and spiritual things.
12. They are mindful of pride and shun it.
There are some great individual verses in this section. Here a few:
"They day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day."
"Ye are clean... and there is none else with whom I am well pleased."
"I will be merciful unto your weakness."
"Hear my voice and follow me, and you shall be a free people."
"Be one; and if ye are not one, ye are not mine."
"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."
"Go out from among the wicked... Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord."
1. They seek Zion with all of their hearts.
2. They hear the Lord's voice and follow it.
3. The are a free people who's lives are based on the Lord's laws. When he comes, the only laws will be his.
4. They teach one another according to the offices or callings they have received.
5. Every person esteems his brother (sister) as himself.
6. They practice virtue and holiness before the Lord.
7. They are united as one, as to the doctrine of the gospel.
8. They live the law of consecration.
9. They are endowed with power from on high. This power is both priesthood keys and an outpouring of the Spirit.
10. They see to the needs of the poor.
11. They are rich in both temporal and spiritual things.
12. They are mindful of pride and shun it.
There are some great individual verses in this section. Here a few:
"They day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day."
"Ye are clean... and there is none else with whom I am well pleased."
"I will be merciful unto your weakness."
"Hear my voice and follow me, and you shall be a free people."
"Be one; and if ye are not one, ye are not mine."
"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."
"Go out from among the wicked... Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord."
Friday, March 25, 2011
D&C Section Thirty Seven
Section 37 serves as an introduction to Section 38. There are about 200 members of the church since it was organized 8 months ago. This is the first mention of a gathering of church members. Or in a more correct sense, the Lord is beginning to teach what the gathering of Israel is through the conversion of church members. The Lord instructs the saints that they are to relocate in Ohio after the members have been strengthened, especially those in Colesville who the Lord says have been praying with much faith. In the days of the early church, they gathered at various locations to flee persecution, but to also establish Zion. These first years, the church was fragile. Many doctrines and ordinances were not yet introduced that would later prove to be a great protection and strength to them. The leadership is being schooled by the Lord and they are young in terms of experience and knowledge. The greatest dangers to the church were physical persecution and dissension within. These two challenges would continue to be a problem until the church finally arrives in Utah.
While the church continues to face persecution from some fronts, it no longer is in physical danger as a whole. In our day, the gathering is still taking place through missionary work. But what is important for us is to recognize the threats we face as individual members. Since Satan can no longer hinder the church like he did in Joseph's time, the vast majority of his efforts are on individual members. Using the fly fisherman as an example, Elder Ballard taught how the fly fisherman creates a special lure for snagging a particular fish. The lure designed to look enticing to draw the fish in to bite. Once the fish bites, he is hooked and under the fisherman's power. Sexual immorality is so accepted in today's world that it is now considered a normal activity. Columbia University held a debate in which they voted that pornography was a societal valuable tool of communication. It is now considered an intrusion on the rights of the individual to teach that sex out of the bounds of marriage is wrong. What is ignored is the price that individuals as well as society are paying as a result. More than ever, there needs to be a Zion (a place for the pure in heart). We need to gather to the gospel, to have a place of protection against the wave of immorality and sin that is gradually engulfing our lives.
While the church continues to face persecution from some fronts, it no longer is in physical danger as a whole. In our day, the gathering is still taking place through missionary work. But what is important for us is to recognize the threats we face as individual members. Since Satan can no longer hinder the church like he did in Joseph's time, the vast majority of his efforts are on individual members. Using the fly fisherman as an example, Elder Ballard taught how the fly fisherman creates a special lure for snagging a particular fish. The lure designed to look enticing to draw the fish in to bite. Once the fish bites, he is hooked and under the fisherman's power. Sexual immorality is so accepted in today's world that it is now considered a normal activity. Columbia University held a debate in which they voted that pornography was a societal valuable tool of communication. It is now considered an intrusion on the rights of the individual to teach that sex out of the bounds of marriage is wrong. What is ignored is the price that individuals as well as society are paying as a result. More than ever, there needs to be a Zion (a place for the pure in heart). We need to gather to the gospel, to have a place of protection against the wave of immorality and sin that is gradually engulfing our lives.
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