Doctrine and Covenants 6-9: "This is the Spirit of Revelation"

This week's study from the Come Follow Me manual covered:

Doctrine and Covenants 6 - Response to Olivier Cowdery - what greater witness can you have than that of God?

Doctrine and Covenants 7 - A translation from the parchment of John the disciple

Doctrine and Covenants 8 -  Response to Oliver Cowdery about the Spirit of Revelation

Doctrine and Covenants 9 -  Response to Oliver Cowdery about the calling of translating the Book of Mormon

In each of these sections, Joseph Smith went to the Lord with very specific questions, many on behalf of Oliver Cowdery. The Lord responded.

One of the things I have felt very aware of over the last couple of years is the emphasis that President Russell M. Nelson has placed on our ability and responsibility to seek personal revelation. He has shared many personal experiences with seeking revelation and he has made it clear that personal revelation is available to everyone.

In April 2018, he said:

"One of the things the Spirit has repeatedly impressed upon my mind since my new calling as President of the Church is how willing the Lord is to revel His mind and will. The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His Children." ("Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives," Russell M. Nelson, April 2018 General Conference)

The prophet is emphasizing something that is certainly not new. Prophets have been recording the Lord's guidance on this since the beginning of the earth, and that the Lord has re-stated this to Joseph Smith in modern revelation: 

The Come Follow Me guide for Sunday School Teachers asks these questions:

1. How does the Holy Ghost speak to us?

2. How can we recognize personal revelation?

3. How can we prepare ourselves to receive personal revelation?

4. What experiences have you had with recognizing personal revelation?

5. What if it feels like the Lord isn't answering your prayers and providing personal revelation?

Each of these questions can be an entire lesson (or blog post) but I went through and looked for the answers to these questions and have some brief thoughts on each, for you to take forward in a more comprehensive personal study.

1. How does the Holy Ghost speak to us?

For those of us raised in the gospel, we learn from the time we are children that the Holy Ghost often speaks to us in a "still, small voice." Often, this can be a feeling, or a prompting, and it can be easy to doubt or ignore. 

I had this experience many years ago when a woman's name came into my mind out of the blue, with no real direction. I knew this woman but we had had very little personal interaction other in recent years. I had taught one of her children as a Primary teacher many years ago and she had worked with me in a previous calling, but I doubt if we had talked to each other more than once or twice in over a year simply because we hadn't seen each other or even passed one another in the hallways at church (I was always in the Primary room). Therefore, due to lack of recent interaction, it was a surprising name to have pop into my mind. This happened maybe twice that week. I thought, "Hm, maybe this is a prompting. I'll do something nice for her soon." The following Sunday, I learned in church that she was very ill, and when I did, I also knew exactly what I could do for her. I had a specific skill set that was unique that I was able to use in a small and simple way, that she appreciated. I have always felt honored that I was given that task by the Lord.

The thing about that example, for those that feel like they never get any revelation, is that it was quite subtle, just a simple name popping into my mind with no other direction. Her name though, did dwell on my heart.

I'm currently reading, "Silent Souls Weeping," by Jane Clayson Johnson, in which she shares a story about a woman who was dealing with a period of depression and feelings of failure, when during prayer asking for help she was prompted to serve someone else. This woman said, "I was also a little angry. How could that be the answer when I was already feeling overwhelmed?" In the morning, she followed a prompting to knock on a woman's door, and the woman, answering said that when she had prayed, the Lord said, "Hang in there; Sue Clark will call in the morning." This isn't an example about doing more than you feel capable of, it's about listening to quiet feelings and impressions. The Lord understands things that we don't and helping Sue Clark helped her.

2. How can we recognize personal revelation?

In the same General Conference talk I referenced earlier, President Nelson said (click to make larger):

Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives

I love that guidance that we can grow into the principle of revelation as we practice listening and writing down the thoughts that come to our mind.

I keep a notebook just for writing down promptings. As I study scriptures, prayer, and ponder, I write down thoughts that come to my mind. Sometimes I wake up in the morning from a dream or have a thought right when I wake up, or as I'm falling asleep, and I keep my notebook nearby to write those down too. Not all thoughts are promptings to do something but as I practice this principle, I like knowing that I am "growing in the principle of revelation."

3. How can we prepare ourselves to receive personal revelation?

The Lord reveals his answer to Oliver Cowdery through Joseph Smith. When I read this, I think of the phrase, "Faith without works is dead." A little analogy: I once had someone tell me about how they prayed that the Lord would wake them up at a certain time before laying down to take a nap. While this faith is commendable, I think the Lord would have appreciated it if they set their alarm clock, too!

(Click to enlarge)

The advice the Lord gives Oliver Cowdery on answer to pray is actually quite similar to what we learn in more advanced careers in the work field. A junior person might say, "Hey manager, there's a problem. How will you fix it for me?" (They are not going to get promoted anytime soon this way.) In an advanced field, with advanced skill sets, the employee would say, "Hey manager, there's a problem. I have looked at the possible solutions, and there are three. I will present them to you all here. I believe that solution C is the best approach. Do you agree/support me?" See the difference? If there's only one right way to do things, the Lord may "cause that your bosom shall burn within you" when you correctly choose "C." If all the answers are good, he may leave you to it to decide which solution you recommend. It may be as simple as that you don't get a bad feeling about any of the possible solutions. This is just my own little analogy but the point is, that we have to prepare. 

As President Nelson mentioned in the quote earlier, that means also finding a quiet place, humbling ourselves, and sincerely talking to the Lord.

4. What experiences have you had with recognizing personal revelation

I've already shared one of my experiences so I'll leave it that for now but I do want to re-state this question so you can think about it. I know this can be a sensitive topic for some that don't feel like they hear personal revelation as clearly as others but it may be more about recognizing it, sometimes, which is a skill that you work on!

President Nelson said, "I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that 'if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peacable things - that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal."  ("Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives," Russell M. Nelson, April 2018 General Conference)

Sheri Dew, then the second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, and speaking at a Women's session of General Conference said:

"It is vital that we, the sisters of Relief Society, learn to hear the voice of the Lord. Yet I worry that too often we fail to seek the guidance of the Spirit. Perhaps we don’t know how and haven’t made it a priority to learn. Or we’re so aware of our personal failings that we don’t feel worthy, don’t really believe the Lord will talk to us, and therefore don’t seek revelation. Or we’ve allowed the distractions and pace of our lives to crowd out the Spirit. What a tragedy! For the Holy Ghost blesses us with optimism and wisdom at times of challenge that we simply cannot muster on our own." ("We are Not Alone," Sheri Dew, November 1998 General Conference)

5. What if it feels like the Lord isn't answering your prayers / providing personal revelation?

(Again, click to enlargen). 

I wish I could put all of the thoughts I have about revelation into this post but I think the thing I want to end with is that it is available to everyone, everywhere. You don't have to be a baptized member of my faith. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ started with Joseph Smith reading James 1:5, and learning that he had the privilege of praying to Heavenly Father. We grow in our abilities to talk to the Lord and hear the Lord's responses as we faithfully practice and develop our relationship with him. I'm so grateful for a Father in Heaven that wants to hear from us and wants to help us!

Doctrine and Covenant 3-5: "My Work Shall Go Forth"

This week's Come Follow Me Study covered Doctrine and Covenants 3-5. 

A brief summary of each section:

• D&C 3 - The Lord chastises but also encourages Joseph Smith after Martin Harris loses the 116 pages of manuscript that Joseph had translated.
• D&C 4 - The Lord tells Joseph Smith's father what he can do now (missionary work).
• D&C 5 - The Lord chastises and teaches Martin Harris about faith.

What themes came to mind for you as you studied these scriptures? 

I  had several scriptures that stood out to me:

D&C 3:4 is one that I have been thinking about a lot because I recently read a wonderful, thought-provoking talk by President Dallin H. Oaks (before he was in the first presidency), called "Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall," from 1992. He said: (click to enlarge quote)

The interesting thing about President Oaks caution and the reprimand given to Joseph Smith is that Joseph Smith was quite a humble and obedient man. The Lord was unhappy with him because he had already said, "no" to allowing Joseph to give Martin Harris the pages 116 pages of the manuscript to take home to his doubting wife and family, but Joseph kept asking. In some ways, I admire the deep relationship that Joseph Smith had with the Lord that like a child to a father (for isn't that what he was?) he heard "no" and asked again and again. However, the Lord reminds Joseph that as our Heavenly Father:

"God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that he he hath said, therefore, his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round." (Doctrine and Covenants 3:2)

Joseph was not the first, and likely not the last, prophet to be reprimanded by the Lord for letting his mortal fears get the best of him. I was really touched by the additional perspective about Joseph Smith and Martin Harris that was given in the "Come Follow Me - For Individuals and Families" manual:

Early in Joseph Smith’s ministry, good friends were hard to come by—especially friends like Martin Harris, a respected, prosperous man, who was in a position to provide valuable support. And Martin willingly supported Joseph, even though it cost him the respect of his peers and required financial sacrifice.

So it’s easy to see why Joseph wanted to honor Martin’s request to take the first portion of the Book of Mormon translation to show his wife, who doubted the truth of the Book of Mormon. Joseph continued to ask the Lord about this request, even when He forbade it, until finally, after Joseph asked a third time, the Lord said yes. Tragically, the manuscript was lost while it was in Martin’s possession, and Joseph and Martin were sharply chastised by the Lord (see Saints, 1:51–53).

As well as by: See also “The Contributions of Martin Harris,” Revelations in Context, 1–9, history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

It's easy to see someone's mistake in hindsight, but doesn't this personalize things so much more? How much more can you relate to losing these manuscripts now that you see that Joseph DID ask and wait to get a "yes" but he asked persistently because he so badly wanted to help Martin Harris. I identify with this experience so much. In a previous calling, I had a Martin Harris, which is to say, like Martin Harris, this individual was a very good person that did a lot of selfless things in the name of the Lord. I made a decision that I thought would benefit my "Martin Harris" because I loved this person and wanted to reassure this person about their self-worth. However, my desires, though they came from a good place, were maybe not as in line with the Lord's as I thought they would be, and I experienced my own loss of manuscripts, essentially. It was a pivotal moment in my scripture study this week to read this perspective about Martin Harris and Joseph Smith, and look at it from the context of my own devastating experience.

The Lord goes on to remind Joseph that he should not have feared man more than God. It's a powerful reminder that "fear" does not have to mean sheer terror. The point is that the Lord will support us and be with us if we will rely in him. I think this advice could be extended to Martin Harris, that Joseph could have felt that Martin's problems would eventually be resolved without the need to take home the 116 pages of the manuscript.

I shared this quote because President Nelson reminds us that not only do we need not fear with God in our life, but we should turn to the Lord for revelations so that we can have increased direction in our life.

It's also to remember that the Lord has said he chastises whom he loves. God is merciful:

There are so many scriptures to ponder and discuss here but I'll settle on just one more:

First, this reminds of Neil L. Anderson's talk, "We Talk of Christ." that was quoted in sacrament by an outgoing missionary today:

I promise you that as you prepare yourselves, as President Nelson did, you too will be different, thinking more about the Savior, speaking of Him more frequently and with less hesitation. As you come to know and love Him even more deeply, your words will flow more comfortably, as they do when you speak of one of your children or of a dear friend. Those listening to you will feel less like debating or dismissing you and more like learning from you.

Second, I think one valuable way to read this scripture as a family is to have each family member pick one of the qualities listed for doing the Lord's work and have each person share what they picked and why. Or, pick one a day and spend some time studying each of those qualities. 

I picked three qualities above and have three quotes to share:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/a-return-to-virtue?lang=eng

Here's his story about the semi-truck losing its tire:

"A few years ago, I was driving home from work when a large semitruck, traveling in the opposite direction, lost one of its dual tires. The tire flew over the median separating our lanes. It came bouncing down my side of the freeway. Cars were swerving in both directions, drivers not knowing which direction the tire would bounce next. I dodged left when I should have dodged right, and the tire took its final bounce right on the corner of my windshield.

A friend called my wife to inform her of the accident. She told me later that her first thought was of lacerations from shattered glass. Indeed, I was covered with beads of broken glass but did not suffer a single scratch. It was definitely not because of my driving skills; rather, it was because the windshield of my little car was made of tempered glass."

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2009/10/being-temperate-in-all-things?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1999/04/teach-them-the-word-of-god-with-all-diligence?lang=eng

I guess I will share one more scripture. In Doctrine and Covenants 5:33-35, the Lord says, "33. And there are many that lie in wait to destroy thee from off the face of the earth; and for this cause, that thy days may be prolonged, I have given unto thee these commandments. 34. Yea, for this cause I have said: Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee. 35. And if thou art faithful in keeping my commandments, thou shalt be lifted up at the last day. Amen."

I share my testimony that I know my Heavenly Father is real and true, and that thou there may be enemies that "wait to destroy" upon this earth, our Father in Heaven loves us and has a plan for us, that we can follow by remaining faithful to his commandments.

"The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to their Fathers"

This week's Come Follow Me Study (Jan 11-17) covered Doctrine and Covenants 2 and Joseph Smith History 1:27-65. 

The Come Follow Me manual chose this line from D&C 2:2 as its topic title "... and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers." 

This really stood out to me as I read the assigned scriptures first, and then went back and looked at the manual. For context, this section of scripture study takes place after what is known as the First Vision (summary here on the church's website), when an angel of the Lord (Moroni) came to visit Joseph 3 times during the night, then 1 more time during the day, in the scripture leading up to this one.

Joseph Smith - History 1:49-50:

"The first thing that I can recollect was a voice speaking unto me, calling me by name. I looked up, and beheld the same messenger standing over my head, surrounded by light as before. He then again related unto me all that he had related to me the previous night, and commanded to me to go my father and tell him of the vision and commandments which I had received."

"I obeyed; I returned to my father in the field, and rehearsed the whole matter to him. He replied to me that it was of God, and told me to go and do as commanded by the messenger. ..."

When I was reading in Joseph Smith History, I thought it was significant and memorable that Joseph Smith was told by an angel to turn to his father and that he did, and that he listened to the guidance of his father. This obedience and respect for his father reminded me of that moment in 1 Nephi 3:7 when Nephi said to his father:

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

The next verse, 1 Nephi 3:8, says:

"And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord."

Joseph Smith and Nephi both obeyed the commandments of God and they both respected their fathers.

As a child, this phrase, "The hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers," was confusing for me. We can turn our hearts to our fathers by listening to what they taught (e.g., studying the Book of Mormon and the Bible) and doing temple work for ancestors (e.g., baptisms for the dead).

There's a great article in the October 2020 Ensign called, "Turning Our Hearts," by Margot Hovley,  where she talks about this concept. First, we turned our hearts to our fathers when Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon so that we could learn from the prophets of old. We continue to turn our hearts to our fathers as we learn about our family histories. Hovley's article has great ideas on how you can help children to explore ways to work on family history that are fun and interesting.

I have been interviewing my parents bit by bit over the years, but this year in particular,  I have been astounded by what I have learned. My parent's faith and perseverance through difficult challenges that I never knew about teaches me about how I can proceed with my own challenges. I have felt my heart turning to my ancestors as I have turned to my parents to learn their stories and as my parents have done to make sure their temple work is completed. (More on The Purpose of Temple and Family History Work can be found here.)

In recent years, our prophet has emphasized the importance of hearing the Lord in our life. 

During General Conference October 2020, President Nelson said, "... our ultimate security comes as we yoke ourselves to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! Life without God is a life filled with fear. Life with God is a life filled with peace. This is because spiritual blessings come to the faithful. Receiving personal revelation is one of the greatest of those blessings. The Lord has promised that if we will ask, we may receive 'revelation upon revelation.' I promise that as you increase your capacity to receive revelation, the Lord will bless you with increased direction for your life and with boundless gifts of the Spirit." ("Embrace the Future with Faith," President Russell M. Nelson). 

We can Hear Him in so many ways, but one of them, is in turning our hearts to our fathers. You can looked up "Hear Him" at the churchofjesuschrist.org to listen to different men and women that are close to the Lord and what they do to Hear Him in their lives. 

Joseph Smith was a man of God. Like him, we can trust in the Lord.

Last week's scripture study from the new 2021 Come Follow Me manual, covered Joseph Smith History 1:1-26.

I want to talk about two themes in this week's scripture study today:

1. Turning to the Lord
2. Trusting God over man

Turning to the Lord
This year more than ever, I could feel the tension that Joseph Smith felt as a young boy, as people he was supposed to be able to look up to fought on all sides about what was right and what was truth. We feel that tension in the world right now as science clashes with politics over the pandemic, and we feel that in politics in general.

What felt most powerful to me as I read these scripture is that with all the voices telling Joseph Smith that they were "right," Joseph, at only fourteen years old, had the wisdom to know who to turn to for direction, the Lord. Joseph never wavered in trusting the Lord and turning to the Lord to find the truth. He read James 1:5 that reminded him that he could always ask of God, and he said:

"Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again." (Joseph Smith History 1:13)

This verse struck me strongly as I read it because I remember a moment earlier this year, when I turned to the scriptures with a prayerful desire for guidance and peace after a particular incident. I felt a deep flooding of love and reassurance from the Lord as I read Mosiah 23:25-29. This was just one of many experiences this year as I've sought to Hear Him. 

Joseph Smith prioritized the Lord in his quest for wisdom by turning first to scripture and then turning to prayer when he learned about prayer from the scriptures. 

This week as I was studying talks from the last General Conference I re-read M. Russell Ballard's talk, "Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always," and I looked up the references that are listed with his talk. I was very interested to see that in the footnote for this line, "I invite you to pray always," he referenced 12 sets of scripture (where in most cases, leaders stick to one footnote reference scripture at at time), and that of those 12 sets, 3 were from the Bible, 3 were from the Book of Mormon, and 6 were from the Doctrine and Covenants. *I have listed all of those scriptures at the bottom of this post. 

Of course, we know there are other references to praying throughout all of these scriptures but I did feel like it was telling that in our modern-day revelation the Lord placed an emphasis throughout the Doctrine and Covenants that we need to pray always, and that the pivotal moment in Joseph Smith's life, and in the restoration of the gospel, began when Joseph accepted the invitation to converse with the Lord in prayer. 

President Nelson has reminded us repeatedly that we need to seek personal revelation. 

In his General Conference address at the Women's session called "Embrace the Future with Faith," President Nelson said, "The Lord has promised that if we will ask, we may receive 'revelation upon revelation.' I promise that as you increase your capacity to receive revelation, the Lord will bless you with increased direction for your life and with boundless gifts of the Spirit." 

Trusting God over man

Later, when Joseph was stunned to see leaders of other churches join together to persecute him for his experience and his desire to share wisdom with others, he made this powerful statement:

"... Who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." (Joseph Smith History 1:25)

In the General Conference address, "Let God Prevail," President Nelson reminds us "The Lord is gathering those who are willing to let God prevail in their lives. The Lord is gathering those who will choose to let God be the most important influence in our lives." 

We have to be careful not to let the most prominent leaders or news stations of our day drown out the voice of the Lord as he speaks to us through scriptures, our prophet, and inspired leaders at General Conference. In prioritizing the Lord and his commandments, we have the opportunity to push good out into the world.

In Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 the Lord tells Joseph, "Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not." As we do, we can be lifted up. We can be true to what we know and we can focus on being like the Savior.

I bear my testimony that Joseph Smith restored the true gospel of God to this earth, that Jesus Christ came and lived among us and taught us by example, and that we have a living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson here today. 

*Elder Ballard's references to praying (as discussed above):

Luke 18:1–8

New Testament

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Luke 21:36

New Testament

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Ephesians 6:18

New Testament

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

2 Nephi 32:9

Book of Mormon

9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

3 Nephi 18:15, 18–21

Book of Mormon

15 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him.

18 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.

19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;

20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

21 Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.

Doctrine and Covenants 10:5

Doctrine and Covenants

5 Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

Doctrine and Covenants 19:38

Doctrine and Covenants

38 Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof.

Doctrine and Covenants 33:17

Doctrine and Covenants

17 Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom—

Doctrine and Covenants 61:39

Doctrine and Covenants

39 Pray always that you enter not into temptation, that you may abide the day of his coming, whether in life or in death. Even so. Amen.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:126

Doctrine and Covenants

126 Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.

Doctrine and Covenants 90:24

Doctrine and Covenants

24 Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.

Learning from the Doctrine & Covenants to "Prepare Ye" in Humility and Faith (D&C 1)

I'm teaching on Sunday, the first Sunday School of the New Year!

Since I've prepared a lesson, I'm just sharing a number of the slides that I've prepared. These are most of the slides, not all of them, and just because I have them below doesn't mean I've actually use them in class.  The slides are meant to drive discussion so I'll only add a few thoughts here and there related to what I was thinking about as a discussion point when I created the slide. As a reminder, you can click on the images below to view them full size.

The first few slides apply to starting the new year with a new scripture study area, but it also applies to the contents of Doctrine and Covenants 1, which is: How are you going to study your scriptures this year based on what you learned about yourself last year?

Referring to the known difficulties of 2020, President Nelson asked the below question. I think the way we studied our scriptures and listened to the Lord in prayer as we dealt with a difficult year will affect our answer to this question:

Image Source: Christ Walking on the Water, by Robert T. Barrett; GAK 243; Primary manual 7-17; Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45-51

Sources:

Doctrinal Mastery Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Teacher Material,Lesson 17: Matthew 14,March 25–31: Matthew 14–15; Mark 6–7; John 5–6,Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2019,Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2019,New Testament Seminary Teacher Manual,Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 4,Matthew 14,Mark 6

More specifically, think about how you can improve this year based on what you did last year?

Image Source: Joseph Smith Seeks Wisdom in the Bible (Joseph Smith Seeks Wisdom from the Bible), by Dale Kilbourn; GAK 402; GAB 89; Primary manual 3-08; Primary manual 5-04; Joseph Smith—History 1:5–13

Sources:

02: Effective Study,Lesson 140: James 1,Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young,Chapter 1: The First Vision: The Father and the Son Appear to Joseph Smith,Preach My Gospel,New Testament Seminary Teacher Manual,Chapter 43: Our Search for Truth and Personal Testimony,Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith,James 1,Joseph Smith—History 1

This text from the beginning of the Come Follow Me manual reminds us of WHY this is important:

Now, on to D&C 1! If you read the Come Follow Me guide, you have already been reminded that Doctrine and Covenants is special because it's the only book that was given as latter-day revelation instead of a translation of earlier recorded works.

I'll try to let the class steer the conversation with the above questions but I also have my own answers of some of the themes I saw, and how that influenced how I will study Doctrine and Covenants this year. For instance, these scriptures stood out to me:

Some talks and quotes that came to my mind as I studied the above scriptures:

I also have a passage from a blog post that I wrote in August 2020 about Alma 43-52, and how much it focused on Moroni and how he prepared his people.

I want to also make sure the class was aware that President Nelson talks about these things in this month's issue of the Liahona, which is linked right from the home page of www.churchofjesuschrist.org

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/54camargo?lang=ase

Here's another scripture and theme that really stood out for me:

Elder Nash, speaking to BYU-Idaho in 2019, helped the students there understand how Joseph Smith was an example of a weak thing made strong:

I had not read about how the preface to the Book of Mormon came about before, and was blown away. This was linked to from the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families guide but I'm linking to it here again because it's worth a read! It was so powerful for me to see how aware the council was of Joseph Smith's poor grammar and lack of education. I thought of so many examples of people being misjudged as weak. I have an example in here later of Tom Holdman and how the Lord made him strong in his weakness.

This is an incredible article that I have read many times. I highly recommend it. I planned to talk about this slide, but President Oaks (Elder Oaks at the time) gives a number of very specific examples of how strengths can become weaknesses, but how that doesn't mean we should hold back from using our strengths. It means we need to always have HUMILITY to make sure we are using our strengths in the right way, and not for personal glory and gain. He quotes the above Ether 12:27 to remind us the importance of humility:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1994/10/our-strengths-can-become-our-downfall?lang=eng

Quote source: 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2015/07/july-2015-friend-magazine-mormon_1479610_prt.pdf

We are reminded that we are not perfect, that we are here on earth to be tested and to try to be perfect like the Savior. To seek to become more like him, our loving Father in Heaven has given us modern-day revelation that we study, ponder, and prayer, and that we might make our weak things become strong. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. The Lord says this several times throughout the scriptures, that he is "no respecter of persons." I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that sent his beloved son, Jesus Christ, to earth to teach us how to live like him, and I'm grateful for modern revelation given to a young, imperfect prophet that was "made strong" by the Lord so that he could lead us in restoring the full gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth.