5 principles to live by…

1. Preach the Gospel: It seems like in almost every single section of the D&C that we read this semester it was mentioned somewhere in the section how important spreading the gospel is and how missionaries are so important to the work. This early emphasis on sharing the gospel is surely important and the Lord made it clear that it was something that the Lord thought to be very important. I have learned from the prophets and apostles, as well as multiple member of the faculty during religion classes that any time something is repeated in the scriptures, it is something that should be paid attention to, and the Lord repeated more than once to more than one person how important the spreading of the gospel is to Him. (42:48)

2. The other thing is the early teachings of how the Lord is constantly warning the saints of Pride. Let me be clear, I am not suggesting right now that we as members of the Church are pride-less, but because of the constant admonition from the Lord, I think in general we can be relatively humble. I think it may have something to do with the fact that the early members of the church were literally beaten into humility, but it was nonetheless something that was very important to the Lord that we be humble. (23:1)

3. I noticed in the sections studied that the Lord mentions how important the family is. We have been taught that no matter what the success we have outside our home, it will never make up for the failure we may have inside the home. We know that Satan is attacking our families on every angle and that if he can successfully destroy a temple marriage or a family then he has pretty well won. The Lord even wanted the early saints to make sure that they tending to their families and making sure they were taken care of spiritually and temporally. Families also are an enormous part of the success of the church today. Our emphasis on the family sets us apart from many other religions is how important the family is in the gospel. As an eternal unit it leads us to do good and as we do good, we set a good example for those around us which inevitably proliferates our message of happiness and love. (20:47)

4. One thing that has absolutely made clear is that we need to pray. I don’t know that any other single aspect of the gospel has contributed more to the growth of the church. We are commanded to pray always, to carry a prayer in our heart and to communicate constantly with the Lord. At the end of the Book of Mormon there is the challenge that has come to be known as ‘Moroni’s Challenge’ where he asks those who read the Book of Mormon to ask in the name of the Lord if it isn’t true and if they as with sincere intent they will receive an answer. (10:5)

5. The last thing I would mention is faith. So much of what we preach and ask those who are new to the church to have is faith. We ask them to have faith in our words and then to pray about them so they can receive a witness of their own. Faith is also mentioned in the early church so many times as even after those saints had received a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel they still had to exercise faith that the Lord would guide them to Zion and that they would be safe, healthy, protected etc. The D&C proves how rough a time the early saints had in their quest for peace and safety and while members of the church don’t face such rough persecution anymore we still need to exercise faith in our leadership as they guide us with inspiration and have faith that we can endure to the end. (8:10)

Week 10 Assignment

1. If we do not repent of sign-seeking (without faith) and lusting our fate is sealed.

2. Sign-seeking as well as lust both start off in thought and then move subsequently to actions and a way of life

3. Both of these stem from our own weakness and lack of strength. If we do not have faith enough to believe without a sign then chances are that even with a sign we wouldn’t change our ways and with lust we allow temptation into our lives and give place for the destroyer to move us.

4. As we learn from Matthew, it is a wicked and adulterous generation that seeks after signs which is a very similar description to those that lust after things; they feel that they have to have ‘it’ now and that they shouldn’t have to wait to be happy or satisfied.

5. Neither one of these sins disqualifies you from the Kingdom of our Father. The fact is both of these can be repented of and the presence of the Spirit can once again be felt if they take the steps needed to feel the Spirit.

First off let me say that Holland is incredible and I officially feel like I have so much to repent for. As for the question as to what sign seeking and lusting have in common I think there is a lot to think about here. This talk was absolutely amazing! I love how Elder Holland can make you feel so humble while giving you such great hope that you can accomplish what the Lord has told you to do. One thing that he said that really stuck out to me is ‘True love means permanence’. The fact is this has everything to do with sign-seeking as well. I honestly believe that there are signs to be seen every single day when it comes to the Gospel, but they are very, very rarely obvious ones that are big and flashy. In order to recognize these signs of love you need to stick around a while so you can recognize them when they happen.

Something else I noticed is that Elder Holland mentioned the story where he and his wife met three women at the airport and how they were all divorced because their husbands did something that ruined or hurt their marriage. Sign seeking in and of itself is the same as these sins that were committed in that I think it breeds a lack of self-worth and value. It is hard to be happy if every little thing you do requires physical/tangible proof. If everything has to be shown what will you do if something true or wonderful is available without said proof, you would miss out on a beautiful opportunity to be a part of something wonderful.

I was reminded of another similarity when Elder Holland mentioned using the computer to do good things. Sometimes signs are given and they are wonderful spiritual experiences for those that are there to witness it, that being said sometimes these things are misunderstood or when there is a lack of faith and someone does not see a sign they assume it is because there is no God. It is amazing how wonderful things (like signs, or technology) can be such wonderful things and things that are used against the work of God at the same time.

Week 9 Student Choice

John Murdock: Was at one point bound by the devil but it was cast out by Joseph. He was also ordained to be a high priest by Joseph. This was also the man that gave Joseph and Emma twins to raise after his wife died during child-birth.

Lyman Wight: Was told by the prophet that he would meet and see the Lord. He also received a blessing from the prophet Joseph. Cast out the devil at Joseph’s request. After being ordained a high priest, he was filled with the spirit and prophesied. He was bold, strong, “fearless”. He left the Church after Joseph died and moved to Texas.

John Corrill – Nothing on him in the book.

Ezra Thayre: Was to be the traveling companion of Thomas Marsh. He was not as diligent in preparation as Marsh was. He later served as a member of the 70.

Isaac Morley: Accompanied by Ezra Booth to Missouri but quickly changed his mind and ended up fighting against the church.

Thomas B. Marsh: Was to serve a mission with Ezra Thayre. Thomas fulfilled a mission when Newel Knight could not. He was quick to put his affairs in order upon receiving his mission call and ended asking Joseph for help.

Harvey Whitlock: Was ordained a High Priest by Joseph directly after Joseph had a vision of the Father and the Son. He also had a devil cast out of him.

Zebedee Coltrin: He served his mission to the Hoosiers! He established a few strong branches out there. Due to the infection of Levi’s feet, Coltrin ended up continuing his mission by himself.

Levi W. Hancock: He was Coltrin’s mission companion to Indiana, but was unable to continue with Zebedee because of a foot infection. He accepted his mission call without hesitation even though it meant much travel on foot.

Heman Basset: This man was deceived by other spirits. He was ordained an elder of the church but only three days after that had lost his mission call. His call was given to Simonds Ryder.

I learned from these folks mentioned in the D&C that they really aren't all that different than us. There are those that received their calls, took them and worked hard to make sure that they did everything that the prophet wanted them to do. There are also those that received calls and wandered off without having made their calling and elections made sure. I find it incredibly interesting that while there were more devils cast out literally, back then, the saints face the same challenges now that the early saints did then. Persecution, intolerance, being taken out of context, indifference, misunderstanding and these things all happen in and outside of the church! It is saddening to me that the Lord has blessed these generations of saints with incredible things to help us return to him but we are, essentially, still fighting the same battles with each other that saints were 200 years ago. It is no surprise to me thinking about it now that whenever we go to conference we are still taught to have faith, repent, be baptized and seek the spirit. I suspect when we start making progress and progress in these areas we will start to receive further revelation.

Week 8's Student Choice Assignment

Answer the following questions:

• What are some of the “red flags” that you should be careful about regarding what this person is doing?

• How does D&C 43:2, 5–6 help us discern and act towards this individual?

• What are some reasons Latter-day Saints buy into revelations and commandments that come from other sources besides the president of the Church and how do Elder Oaks’ remarks help us to avoid such a mistake?

• Why do we gather? (43:8–14) Please give three meaningful answers.

• What three additional principles would God like you to understand about the gathering from 43:15–35?

1. First of all, after watching the video, this person is basically taking away the two-way communication. He is saying that he is receiving revelation on behalf of other people when it is revelation/communication that each person should have for himself or herself. It is also important because he is saying that he received the revelation and was given authority to share it when in truth that comes from people with authority.

2. Well first of all in verse 2, we are told that we will receive revelation from those that the Lord calls, not just from anyone. I also love how in these verses the Lord gives us the ways that we can recognize when someone is and equally as important, isn’t from the Lord giving us revelation.

3. a. We are to instruct one another: Teaching each other is so important because it can add perspective to the principles that we are already familiar with.

b. We are to edify one another: Helping each other to feel the spirit and build testimony is so important as it allows us to grow closer as members of a ward and closer to our heavenly Father.

c. We are to help each other purge evil out from among us: Purging evil and iniquity from among us is important because it lessens the influence of the destroyer on us. Lessening his influence will indeed make the other two points more effective. We will have a great abundance of the Spirit.

4. a. v. 35: This is really simple council from the Lord. Be Sober. This doesn’t mean that we aren’t allowed to have a sense of humor, have fun or enjoy each other’s company, but we have to do what the Lord needs us to do without hesitation and in the right places.

b. v. 29: The Lord is coming, but no one doesn’t know when he is coming, and something that is also applicable to this lesson. We know that the Lord will only reveal his secrets to his servants the Prophets.

c. v. 32: Those that live righteously will be blessed for their righteousness by being changed in the twinking of an eye when the Lord comes again.

The law of Consecration

I will be honest, when I saw the introduction of this film, I really thought it was going to be one that I wasn’t going to enjoy that I just wanted to watch it and get through it. I’m not sure why I was in this mood but I didn’t want to enjoy it.

I think one of the biggest things I learned is that the quicker I learn what is actually important in this world, the happier I will be. I feel like John Tanner learned this lesson far faster than the average person and maybe because of the situation he was looking at before joining the church but he learned quickly that if you can’t take it with you out of this world than it isn’t worth worrying about.

The John Tanner film taught me that it is possible to live the law of consecration. The film said that all in all he probably invested more than $50,000 to help the saints and the early church to make it. Because of his generosity, he allowed the church to make it but ended up having to beg for the well being of his family. This is something I don’t know that I could do. I would like to sit here and say that I know I could do the same thing that he did and I would like to think that if the Lord needed me to do that I could but I don’t think it would be easy. Literally being reduced from riches to rags would be so difficult, but I think it says a lot about his wife that she was willing to do what she had to her husband to answer the calls that were issued.

I know in my heart of hearts, I would do the same things he did. I have been through the temple and made covenants with the Lord to do so. The law of consecration requires so much faith. We discussed in our group meeting this morning how we already live so many different laws that almost, collectively, make the law of consecration. We are taught that the law of consecration is being able and willing to give/donate of your time, talents, abilities and resources to the Church of Jesus Christ. We already pay tithing (which is admittedly only 10% of what the law of consecration requires), we hold callings (which is definitely consecrating our time and resources), we (if you own a house…) allow missionaries to live in them and we have the opportunity to share our talents in church meetings.

Daniel, the young man in my group brought up a good point this morning; He said that even though we are not currently required to live the law of consecration, those of us who have been in the temple have already covenanted with the Lord to live it when the time comes. From what I understand, this means that I need to be living the law of consecration spiritually now so that when the time comes to live it temporally I am ready to do what needs to be done.

Words: 521

Week 6

10 Things Sections 30-40 have in common.:

1. The thing that I notice first is simple and it is something that 98% the sections in the D&C have, but the first part is in the introduction and summaries of the sections. They are all revelations given through the prophet Joseph. This may seem trivial because it is something shared by most of the sections in the D&C, but I think this is a significant thing. If it weren’t significant, why would the prophet put it in every time that it was a revelation from Joseph? The other important aspect is that Joseph wasn’t just a prophet of the modern days; he is our dispensation head. He is our restorer.

2. The next thing I noticed was how all of these revelations are directly for someone or about someone. I think this would have been such a wonderful thing to be able to take part of. While these are different than patriarchal blessings, it would be incredible to have the prophet receive a revelation just for you.

3. In most of these sections, the Lord asks those reading/listening to go out and preach the gospel. We can learn how important missionary work is to the Lord by reading the D&C. He wants us to share with those around us that which is most important to him and us. The Lord wants the Gospel shared as much as possible and with as many of His children as possible.

4. A theme that is slightly less common theme is the fact that the Lord wants us (and those that are mentioned specifically) to have faith in him, in the plan and in our Leaders (or in the case of these sections in Joseph). As I mentioned before in one of my journals, the set up of the Church is perfect, the church leaders are called under perfect revelation that however, does NOT mean that the leaders that are called are perfect, but we have to exercise faith that they will make the best decision possible based on the revelation they are given.

5. Another one of the themes I noticed was baptism. So many of the revelations given are to those that are on the edge of joining the church or to those that are about to go serve a mission. Much like Point #4, the Lord wants the Gospel shared and his children brought to the gates of baptism where they can be washed clean of their sins and start making covenants with their heavenly Father.

6. Repentance. This is funny; I hadn’t realized that the last three sound a lot like the 4^th article of faith. The Lord does want us to repent of our sins, trespasses and shortcomings. The other thing is I think its important for Church leaders to hear from the Lord occasionally that they aren’t perfect and that they need to repent of their sins as well.

7. A few of these sections are related to location. At this time the Lord needed his Saints together (safety and strength in numbers). The Church was establishing Zion where the Saints were. While there was a lot of persecution at the time, the Saints needed to help each other using their specific skills. Location was more important then. Back then in order for a leader to communicate with all of those he lead, it would take longer to communicate with 500 people in his city than it takes for me to communicate with thousands of people that live on the other side of the world.

8. Chastening is a common theme in these sections. I kind of danced around this one a little bit in the other parts of this, but the D&C seems to have a lot of sections devoted to the Lord Chastening his disciples.

9. Many of these sections are also dedicated or partially dedicated to testifying of the divine calling of Joseph. This was specifically important back in the early days of the Church. Joseph had so many people that seemed to be skeptical of his divine calling and the Lord often needed to assure his children and followers of the diving calling of their leader. This wasn’t an easy time for the saints for the saints or for Joseph.

10. The other thing that these sections have in common and teaches me is that they testify as to how personally the Lord knows his children. The fact that the Lord can teach each of us so personally and know us on such a manner that makes us trust him more than anyone else in the world shows me how much he loves us.

Student Choice #3 Week 5

Creation:

29:25: And not one hair, neither mote, shall be lost, for it is the workmanship of mine hand.

The connection here to this is at the very root of the creation. It isn’t just the creation of the world but the creation (physical and spiritual) of us, His children. We are known to him and as this scripture says, not one part of our body shall pass without him knowing. I think this scripture also applies to the atonement.

29:31: For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal-

This lets us know of our divine origin and how we were created by our Heavenly Father both spiritually and temporally. We are his Children. I know a little better than I did 6 weeks ago the love our Heavenly Father has for us. He wants us to succeed.

Fall:

29:35: Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself; and I gave unto him commandment, but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments are spiritual; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual.

This verse is talking about the first doctrine of the gospel. It refers how the Lord gave Adam (and all men) agency. Agency brought the fall and because of the fall we have the ability to be here. Before agency and the fall we weren’t here.

29:43: And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation—that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe;

This gives us more information as to what our goal is here on earth (through the fall). It is a time for us to learn, grow and to enjoy immortality as we do what we need to, to make it back to heaven with our Heavenly Father

Atonement:

29:47 Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;

This is one of my very favorite scriptures. This doctrine makes differentiates our church from many others and I think it is one of the sweetest, most tender scriptures in the entire standard works. The fact of the matter is the Lord loves all of his children and that includes babies that haven’t reached the age of accountability.

29:49:

And, again, I say unto you, that whoso having knowledge, have I not commanded to repent?

This is how the atonement works. The Lord provided us away to make it back to the Celestial Kingdom provided we do our part. We need to live the best way we can and then repent when we fall short of perfection (every time…)