Our last Come Follow Me study covers Doctrine and Covenants 30-36. During these six sections, the Lord delivered messages to twelve different men through Joseph Smith (including Joseph Smith). The most dominant theme was the title of this study, "Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ," as all of these men were called to teach the gospel.
I researched a little bit about each of the eleven men (excluded Joseph Smith) as it helped to learn about the revelations given in context of the men to whom they were given. I made a little overview chart (click to expand) but I will highlight some of the things I recorded in the chart in more detail below.
Some of these individuals that received revelations through Joseph Smith, like David Whitmer, were chastised and later excommunicated, so it is important to remember that the Lord chastises because he loves them. David Whitmer had the opportunity to choose differently. Others were reminded, like Edward Partridge in Section 36 that "you shall receive my Spirit." I have chosen not to focus on Thomas B. Marsh this time, as he gets another revelation later in the Doctrine and Covenants, but I will say, his story shows how willing the Lord is to forgive. He stepped so far away from the gospel of Jesus Christ that he helped get 15,000 Saints evicted from the state of Missouri. Some died. Yet Thomas B. Marsh was welcomed back into the church when he repented 19 years later.
As I was studying these individuals, some passages struck me, like this one:
Saints then, like Saints now, came in all sorts. Some knew from the beginning the dimension of the commitment that they were making, others recognized only the sweet, strong taste of the truth and, hungering for more, followed where the search led them, step by step. (Challenge to Greatness: The Nineteenth-Century Saints in New York, by Lavina Fielding Andersen)
Some of these twelve men were faithful throughout their live though, like Joseph, they often faced great sacrifice. Some of them left for a time and then were re-baptized, and some were excommunicated and never returned, often after having made great contributions to the furthering of the gospel, like Sidney Rigdon.
One of the things that really struck me as I studied was a realization of how angry and divided the world around them was at the time over religion, and how hard it must have been to hold to their beliefs in the face of so much anger and mob mentality. Take the many signifiant and angry issues that are affecting us today, and then remember that this is what they were facing at the time, over religion. We have a small inkling of what the climate was at the time. And, while the bullying done via social media today can be pretty terrible, back then, many faithful followers of God literally died when they were kicked out of their homes by a massive extermination order of 15,000 Saints from Missouri, as they traveled to new places to build a new home.
I couldn't help but compare the anger of that time period to the fear that Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's family faced when he was a young boy living in World War II, and having to flee their homes twice before he was twelve. He shared in our last General Conference session, on Easter weekend:
Back then .. I often wondered, 'Is there any hope left in the world?' As I pondered this question, I thought about our young American missionaries who served among us during those years. They had left the safety of their homes half a world away and traveled to Germany - land of their recent enemies - to offer divine hope to our people. They came not to blame, lecture, or shame. They willingly gave of their young lives without thought of earthly gain, wanting only to help others to find the joy and peace they had experienced.
To me, these young men and women were perfect. I am sure they had flaws, but not to me. I will always think of them as being bigger than life - angels of light and glory, ministers of compassion, goodness, and truth.
While the world was drowning in cynicism, bitterness, hatred, and fear, the example and teachings of these young people filled me with hope. The gospel message they offered transcended politics, history, grudges, grievances, and personal agendas. It gave divine answers to important questions we had during those difficult times.
("God among Us," Dieter F. Uchtdorf, General Conference April 2021)
The missionaries during the time period immediately following World War II, were to Elder Uchtdorf, angels. Think about that. I have quoted Carlos A. Godoy several times already so I won't repeat again from my last few posts but, we can be angels on earth. That is the importance of missionary work, especially when you realize the incredible sacrifice of many of the missionaries.
One incident that shows what life was like for the early saints was shared about the faithful man, Edward Partridge, to which Section 36 was written. Emily and Eliza were some of Partridge's children:
Emily and her thirteen-year-old sister, Eliza, had just gone to a nearby spring for water, when a large body of armed men came and took her father away on 20 July 1833. She remembered anxiously listening to the yelling and shouts from the village square. Then, frightened, she saw an acquaintance, Albert Jackman, carrying a hat, coat, and vest, accompanied by a grotesque looking individual. Fearful, Emily ran upstairs to hide. It was actually her father, covered with tar and feathers. (See “Incidents,” pp. 25–26.) ("Steadfastness and Patient Endurance": The Legacy of Edward Partridge," by Dean Jessee)
While these stories are upsetting, it's powerful to realize that Edward, once he had the true gospel of Christ in his life, was unwilling to turn away from God.
He had been a successful hatter with five children to feed, but he and his wife willingly gave up their wealth, home, were rejected by some of their family, were imprisoned, and were separated as Partridge went years without seeing his wife and children as he faithfully obeyed the instruction from the Lord to serve a mission. ("Steadfastness and Patient Endurance": The Legacy of Edward Partridge," by Dean Jessee). Yet, while his life was full of trials, in Doctrine and Covenants 36:1, "thus saith the Lord God, the Mighty One of Israel: Behold, I say unto you, my servant Edward, that you are blessed." In church history, we also have this accounting:
“Behold, I am well pleased with my servant Isaac Morley [Edward’s last companion] and my servant Edward Partridge, because of the integrity of their hearts. … Verily I say unto you their sins are forgiven them; therefore say unto them in my name, that it is my will that they should tarry for a little season, and attend the school, and also the solemn assembly, for a wise purpose in me.” (History of the Church, 2:302–3.)
Another great men, who was faithful to the gospel of his days, was Orson Pratt, who, at age 19, heard the gospel from his older brother, Parley P. Pratt. Orson was key to the conversion of many people, and also to many of the changes to the Book of Mormon text that makes it easier to read, including adding cross-references to the Book of Mormon.
Orson Pratt held a lifelong conviction that the Book of Mormon was one of mankind’s greatest treasures. “And yet,” he lamented, “how many there are of the Latter-day Saints who suffer this book to remain upon their shelves, week after week, without ever reading a page of these precious things.” (Orson Pratt: Early Advocate of the Book of Mormon)
In Doctrine and Covenants 34:4, the Lord revealed to Pratt, "And blessed are you because you have believed; And more blessed are you because you are called of me to preach my gospel."
Ezra Thayre was extremely skeptical of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, as Joseph Smith and his brother and father had worked for Thayre, and Thayre knew the extent to which Joseph Smith was uneducated. Yet, when he was finally convinced to go hear the Smiths speak, he knew that what he was hearing was true. Of Thayre, it is said:
Because of the deeply spiritual experiences that led to his conversion, Thayer acted on the revelation’s call to share his belief in spite of risks to his reputation and livelihood. He later wrote, “When God shows a man such a thing by the power of the Holy Ghost he knows it is true. He cannot doubt it.” ("Ezra Thayer: From Skeptic to Believer," by Matthew McBride)
Thayre was true to the gospel to the end of his life, heading the revelation given to him in Doctrine and Covenants 33:17-18: "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. For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly. Even so. Amen."
I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for these men and women who came before us and sacrificed so greatly to carry the work of the Lord forward, I talked about the men and their missionary work but their wives supported them in making these great sacrifices, in particularly, Joseph's wife, Emma Smith, Edward Partridge's wife, Lydia Partridge.
Reading these scriptures this week made me more appreciate of all of the "knights in shining armor" that contributed in these latter-days to making this book available to us. It makes me think about the reminder from the Lord that we need to "harken and hear ... the Lord God" (Doctrine and Covenants 34:1) and be faithful because, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I come quickly." (Doctrine and Covenants 34:12).
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