Teach Me to Walk

 This is such a beautiful video. 

"Teach Me to Walk in the Light," by Tadpole River
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImmRvNnF2ng

Doctrine and Covenants 41-44 - Assemble Yourselves Together

Sometimes when I teach adult Sunday School, we have a great conversation with a lot of participation. Sometimes, and I'm grateful to say this is more rare, very few people participate. I can talk for the entire length of the lesson, and I believe, people will walk away edified. Yet, if the collective group brings to the room their spirit, their thoughts, what inspired as they met and studied at home, we can all walk away that much more edified. 

Visually, I think of it as a rainbow. I can bring blue. And to most, the blue will be vibrant and beautiful, and fun to look at, so some will enjoy looking at that color of the rainbow. However, maybe someone's entire house is blue. So when they come, and stare at more blue, they don't really get much out of it. Now imagine someone brings with them the red. And someone else brings the orange. And someone else brings yellow, etc. Now everyone benefits, no matter what color is dominant in their home. 

Why do I share this analogy? By the time we reach Doctrine and Covenants 41, the church has many new members, and the Lord has given the guidance that they need to move to Ohio. There is now a great gathering of new members in Ohio that are trying to live the way Christ would have them live. However, at the heart of all this, is a group of religious God-loving people who came from a number of other religions, trying to find God, and trying to figure out their interpretations of the Bible and how best to follow His example. 

In Doctrine and Covenants 41:1-6, the Lord provides guidance around this. He says, 

"Hearken, O ye elders of my church whom I have called, behold I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall assemble yourselves together to agree upon my word; And by the prayer of your faith ye shall receive my law, that ye may know how to govern my church and have all things right before me. And I will be your ruler when I come; and behold, I come quickly." (Doctrine and Covenants 41:2-4).

One of the principles here is assembly.

Why do we assemble, and how does that help us? 

We are reminded in Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

We learned from last week's study that gathering today looks different than gathering back then. We can gather in our different countries, and in our homes. For families separated by distance and for other reasons, we can gather via Internet chat rooms or by telephone. The point is though, that we can bring our collective thoughts and inspirations and edify one another.

In General Conference, Jan E. Newman said, "I invite leaders and teachers in every organization of the Church to counsel together with parents and youth in order to dramatically improve teaching at every level—in stakes, in wards, and in homes. This will be achieved by teaching the doctrine and inviting Spirit-filled discussion about the truths the Holy Ghost has taught us in the quiet moments of our personal study." "Teaching in the Savior's Way," Jan E. Newman, April 2021 General Conference

There is a lot to "unpack" in that statement but one of the things I love is that we can dramatical improve teaching at every level. We do this as we teach and share what we learned in our own personal study. How powerful are those words! 

What it means to "be one" (Doctrine and Covenants 37-40)

In December 1830, the Lord asked the members of the church to move to Ohio. This was a big deal. They would be leaving behind their farms and all they had done to build up their livelihoods. It took a great act of faith to do this, and many suffered from significant financial loss for their great show of faith. Yet, they did it because they trusted the Lord and his greater knowledge. 

And, in fact, learn in "Gathered In Saints: The Story of The Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, Volume 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815-1846," that “I hold forth and deign to give unto you greater riches, even a land of promise,” the Lord declared, “and I will give it unto you for the land of your inheritance, if you seek it with all your hearts.” 

The Lord was gathering his saints to protect them from the wicked, and as he did so, he asked them to "be one."

In Doctrine and Covenants 38:26, the Savior asks, "For what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto the one: Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other: Be though clothed in rags and sit thou there - and looketh upon his sons and saith I am just?" 

Or, in other words, what kind of father treats one son like a king and another so poorly, and can call himself a fair man?

He then says, in verse 27, "Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one, and if ye are not one ye are not mine." 

We are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. That means we are all brothers are sisters. We are HIS. So if we are one, we are treating each other as if we are not HIS, and therefore, acting as though Jesus Christ is not our brother. 

I love the way that William K. Jackson says it, in his October 2020 talk, "The Culture of Christ:"

This culture is grounded in the testimony that our Heavenly Father exists, that He is real and loves each one of us individually. We are His “work and [His] glory.”¹ This culture espouses the concept of equal worth. There is no recognition of caste or class. We are, after all, brothers and sisters, spirit children of our heavenly parents—literally. There is no prejudice or “us versus them” mentality in the greatest of all cultures. We are all “us.” We are all “them.” We believe that we are responsible and accountable for ourselves, one another, the Church, and our world. Responsibility and accountability are important factors in our growth.

Charity, true Christlike caring, is the bedrock of this culture. We feel real concern for the needs of our fellowman, temporal and spiritual, and act on those feelings. This dispels prejudice and hatred.

President Russell N. Nelson said it very profoundly way back in 1978, in a talk called, "Building Bridges" that was re-shared in 2018 at the "Be One" celebration as shared here.

Ultimately, we realize that only the comprehension of the true Fatherhood of God can bring full appreciation of the true brotherhood of men and the true sisterhood of women. That understanding inspires us with passionate desire to build bridges of cooperation instead of walls of segregation.

It is my prayer and blessing that I leave upon all who are listening that we may overcome any burdens of prejudice and walk uprightly with God — and with one another — in perfect peace and harmony. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

How do we live "in perfect peace and harmony?" In his talk, "All Nations, Kindreds, Tongues," from October 2020 General Conference, Gerrit W. Gong explains:

In the household of faith there are to be no strangers, no foreigners,⁷ no rich and poor,⁸ no outside “others.” As “fellowcitizens with the saints,”⁹ we are invited to change the world for the better, from the inside out, one person, one family, one neighborhood at a time.

We can do this as we support each other, learn about each other, show compassion and mercy for each other. In "By Union of Feeling We Obtain Power with God," Sharon Eubank says, 

Jacob 2:17 reads, “Think of your [brothers and sisters] like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.” Let’s replace the word substance with mercy—be free with your mercy that they may be rich like unto you.

We often think of substance in terms of food or money, but perhaps what we all need more of in our ministering is mercy.

And finally, in April 2021 General Conference, in the talk, "Hearts Knit Together," Gary E. Stevenson says, "

We have a primary responsibility to set a tone and be role models of kindness, inclusion, and civility—to teach Christlike behavior to the rising generation in what we say and how we act. It is especially important as we observe a marked societal shift toward division in politics, social class, and nearly every other man-made distinction.

... The Lord expects us to teach that inclusion is a positive means toward unity and that exclusion leads to division.

... As we look through a gospel lens, we recognize that we too are under the watchcare of a compassionate caregiver, who extends Himself in kindness and a nurturing spirit. 

The Good Shepherd knows each one of us by name and has a personal interest in us.¹⁹ The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep. … And I [will] lay down my life for the sheep.”²⁰

Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ - (Come Follow Me Study: Doctrine and Covenants 30-36)

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). 

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter. I'm so grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ. Last week and leading up to Easter on my instagram account @iliketocreatestuff, I've been sharing some background and relevant quotes each day. I'd like to share some of them here, as an accompaniment to all of the beautiful scriptures that Come Follow Me recommends for Easter study. I shared too many quotes to put them all into one post so I've chosen the "intro" I used for each day and tried to stick to only one or two quotes for each day I highlighted.

I also want to share my Easter Sunday message that I posted on my Instagram feed:

Happy Easter! These little juncos have become some of my favorite local birds. They have an inquisitive, gentle nature and prefer to look for their food on the ground, unlike some birds that prefer to work their way up the trunk of a tree looking for insects, or nibbling along on tender branches. I thought it would be appropriate to share my recent painting of them today as I have been pondering the week leading up to Easter Sunday.

In Christianity, we believe in the Godhead, Heavenly Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. That's one set of three, but there are also many other references that come in threes. In the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13:13, it talks about the importance of faith, hope, and charity. Dieter F. Uchtdorf called this the three-legged stool that "stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time." He said, "Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness. ... Hope is the gift of the Spirit. It is hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, we shall be raised unto life eternal and this because of our faith in in the Savior." ("The Infinite Power of Hope," Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2008).

This Easter Sunday, and every day, I'm grateful for Jesus Christ. He taught, died, and rose again, all for each and every one of us.

My thoughts with some of the accompanying quotes I used to express my thoughts about Easter this week:

The Sunday before Easter

The Monday before Easter

The Tuesday/Wednesday before Easter

The Thursday before Easter

The Friday before Easter

The day before Easter

Easter

Jesus Christ Will Gather His People (Doctrine and Covenants 29)

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. 

Doctrine and Covenants 27-28: "All Things Must be Done in Order"

 This week's Come Follow Me Study covers Doctrine and Covenants 27-28.

As a recap:

• Doctrine and Covenants 27 - Revelation given in August 1830 - The sacrament, the Armor of God
• Doctrine and Covenants 28 - Revelation given September 1830 - The living prophet is God's mouthpiece for the Church

Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18 covers the "Armor of God."

15 Wherefore, ^alift up your hearts and ^brejoice, and ^cgird up your loins, and take upon you my whole ^darmor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to ^estand.

16 Stand, therefore, having your loins ^agirt about with ^btruth, having on the ^cbreastplate of ^drighteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the ^egospel of ^fpeace, which I have sent mine ^gangels to commit unto you;

17 Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the ^afiery darts of the wicked;

18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my ^aSpirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be ^bcaught up, that where I am ye shall be ^calso. Amen.

It was reinforced to me as I read this how frequently the Lord reminds us to turn to Him and not take our eyes off the path of righteousness. If we can do this, everything else will work itself out, we can "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." The Lord also reminds us in Doctrine and Covenants 28 that Joseph Smith, as the prophet of the church, is the mouthpiece of the church.

It says in Doctrine and Covenants 28:2, 

"... on one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receveith them even as Moses." 

It says in Doctrine and Covenants 28:4-5, 

"And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the church, thou mayest do it. But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom." 

In General Conference in October 2020, our prophet President Russell M. Nelson reminded us, 

"Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul! The wording willing is crucial to this interpretation of Israel. We all have our agency. We can choose to be of Israel or not. We can choose to let God prevail in our lives, or not. We can choose to let God be the most powerful influence in our lives, or not." ("Let God Prevail," Russell M. Nelson)

We are asked to listen to the prophet, and guess what the prophet reminds us to do? Turn the Savior, always, and let God prevail in our lives. 

Today, in answer to prayer, I read these reassuring words from Jeffrey R. Holland,

"... faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf. That can be difficult in our modern world when many have come to believe that the highest good in life is to avoid all suffering, that no one should ever anguish over anything. But that belief will never us to "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

Later he adds, 

"And whether that be a short period or a long one is not always ours to say, but by the grace of God, the blessings will come to those who hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ." 

Today's message is short but I hope, reminds you that at the end of it all, we can always look toward Christ, and we can put on the Armor of God to make that path a little easier as those arrows bounce off our armor.