This week's Come Follow Me Study of the Doctrine and Covenants covers Section 29. This was revelation given through Joseph Smith to the early leaders of the church on September 26, 1830. I think it's important to note this because it was new information for them. I think about how in the Old Testament, followers of God were given the Law of Moses. Then when the Savior came to earth, he gave them a new, and better law. It was hard for many people to make the switch, that there could be a "better" law when the first one was given divinely, too.
This is why it is important to listen closely to the words of our prophets and understand that modern revelation can change something that was right at the time, but there is something better, now.
In Doctrine and Covenants 29:1-8, the Lord reveals:
1 Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins;
2 Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer.
3 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that at this time your sins are forgiven you, therefore ye receive these things; but remember to sin no more, lest perils shall come upon you.
4 Verily, I say unto you that ye are chosen out of the world to declare my gospel with the sound of rejoicing, as with the voice of a trump.
5 Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom.
6 And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.
7 And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;
8 Wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.
I love this imagery of a hen gathering her chickens, or a shepherd gathering his sheep, two analogies that have been used to describe the Savior.
The Come Follow Me for Sunday School manual asks:
1. How have we experienced Christ gathering and protecting us, like a hen gathers and protects her chickens?
2. How do we gather to the Savior?
As I read those questions, I could help but reflect on the tumultuous year of 2020 and into 2021. During a year where the turmoil and despair around us was heard around the world, I also saw the Lord gathering us. How did he gather us?
1. Through the voice of the prophet
President Russell M. Nelson was awakened one night and prompted to gather the world and share a message, a "simple remedy to help us find joy in hard times - gratitude." President Nelson said,
"As the inspiration came, specific details, including when and how I should share this message, came to my mind and heart. The video message shared today was not one that came by chance; it is one that came from heaven." ("The Story behind my Global Prayer of Gratitude," Russell M. Nelson)
His Give Thanks message, on the power of gratitude, is one that many prophets and leaders of the church have shared before him. But the the Lord gathered us together, like a hen gathering her chicks, to hear this message at this time when so many of us were weighed down by doubt and despair. I think it's important to see this message in its entirety so rather than quoting from it, the previous link goes to his live message, or you can read the full transcript here.
2. Through the leadership of our General Conference
I look forward to General Conference next week, as it is an incredible blessing to have the Lord inspire so many people and for us to hear those messages. We have also been encouraged to prepare for conference by thinking in advance what our questions are, so we can hear answer to prayer and receive our own personal revelation as we listen to conference. What an incredible thing!
One of the messages I want to share, that the scripture about a hen gathering her chickens, was from M. Russell Ballard's talk "Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always." Elder Ballard said,
"During the past few months I have had the impression come to me that the best way to help the current world situation is for all people to rely more fully upon God and to turn their hearts to Him through sincere prayer. Humbling ourselves and seeking heaven's inspiration to endure or conquer what is before us will be our safest and surest way to move confidently forward through these troubling times."
3. Through service to each other
So many wonderful things have been shared about our ability to minister to each other. I had three stories from recent General Conference talks pop into my mind, as well as a fourth, personal one:
- Elder Gary E. Stevenson shared the story of a newly baptized member of the Church who suddenly felt like he no longer fit into his ward. His attendance began to decline, and he began to stray from the flock - or the hen, so to speak. A fellow ward member extended a ministering hand to him, and he returned. That man is Elder Carlos A. Godoy, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. ("Shepherding Souls," Gary E. Stevenson).
- Elder Carlos A. Godoy shared his story of people that reached out to him and made him feel part of the group. He said, "Brothers and sisters, I believe in angels! We are all here today, a giant army of angels set apart for these latter days, to minister to others as extensions of the hands of a loving Creator." ("I Believe in Angels," Carlos A. Godoy)
- A woman devastated by divorce was reluctant to attend church alone, where she would be surrounded by whole families. She prayed nobody would speak to her. A young woman looked at her during the meeting, in concern. Still, this woman hoped the young woman would leave her alone. Sister Michelle D. Craig quotes the woman in this story, "During the next hour, I noticed her looking back at me occasionally. As soon as the meeting ended, she made a beeline for me. 'Hi Rozlyn,' I whispered. She wrapped me in her arms and said, 'Sister Smith, I can tell today is a bad day for you. I'm so sorry. I love you.' As predicted, the tears came as she hugged me again. But as I walked away, I thought to myself, 'Maybe I can do this after all.' That sweet 16-year-old young woman ... found me every Sunday for the rest of that year to give me a hug and ask, 'How are you?' ... Someone cared." ("Eyes to See," Michelle D. Craig)
- When I was a young woman and stopped attending the weekday young women's activity, the young women's leader, Sue, made a special trip to my house, gave me a "return with honor" ring, and told me that she missed seeing me at the activities. Her special trip meant a lot to me (I lived in California, which, unlike Utah, meant that you had to drive to get from one member's house to another.)
How do we gather in unity?
In General Conference April 2018, Reyna I. Aburto spoke about how we are in a journey together. She quoted Doctrine and Covenants 38:27, "Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine."
She said,
"Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of unity with His Father. They are one in purpose, in love, and in works, with "the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father." ("With One Accord," Reyna I. Aburto)
She talked about how
"Miracles happen when the children of God work together guided by the Spirit to reach out to others in need."
I have seen this happen in many places this year, as individuals reach out to help and serve each other. When President Russell M. Nelson was able to get the vaccine for Covid-19 on January 19, he stated on his Instagram account @russellmnelson,
"We are thankful for the countless doctors, scientists, researchers, manufacturers, government leaders, and others who have performed the grueling work required to make this vaccine available. We have prayed often for this literal godsend. As a former surgeon and medical researcher, I know something of the effort needed to accomplish such a remarkable feat. Producing a safe, effective vaccine in less than a year is nothing short of miraculous."
This is not his full message but he concluded,
"Receiving the vaccine today was part of our personal efforts to be good global citizens in helping to eliminate Covid-19 from the world."
Wow, what a message! In sharing this message, he came back around to his earlier November message about how gratitude can help with many trials. Look at all the people he recognized and thanked. Then, look at the miracle he recognized, how amazing and incredible it is to have a vaccine available less than a year after the pandemic began to spread. Look at the unity it took among groups for that to happen.
I'm grateful to know that we, as chicks stumbling along the way, doubting when we should have faith, have the Savior that is always willing and wanting to gather us in his arms. He reminds us, in Doctrine and Covenants 29:1-2, "Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins; Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer."
This Palm Sunday, as we head into Easter week, may we remember the message of hope that has been given to us through the Savior Jesus Christ.
