Doctrine and Covenants 14-17 - Stand as a Witness

Doctrine and Covenants 14-17 all takes place in June 1829, when Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and Emma Smith have moved in with the Whitmer family.

I taught adult Sunday School, and two of the participants in class talked about visiting the Whitmer home and being a little surprised to see the reality of how small it was to be housing extra guests. This reminder brings home some of the great sacrifices that the Whitmer family made because they believed that what Joseph Smith was doing was the work of the Lord. Keep in mind that there were three Whitmer sons, a Whitmer daughter, and the parents living in the home at the time, and then Joseph, Oliver, and Emma joined them. This was notably a great strain on Mary Whitmer, the mother, as it increased her workload when she already had quite a lot to do. They also of course, now had extra mouths to feed.

There are so many excellent sources about this time in history that I don't want to re-tell something that can be told elsewhere. Here are a few relevant points for today, and then I will recommend some places for great additional insight.

Mini-summary of background to Doctrine and Covenants 14-17

• Joseph Smith was translating the scriptures, with Oliver Cowdery as scribe, in Harmony, Pennsylvania (with some financial backing from Joseph Knight, Sr.) 
• The locals in Harmony had become hostile and Oliver and Joseph were concerned about their safety. 
• Oliver Cowdery wrote to David Whitmer to ask if he, Joseph, and Emma could move in with them. Oliver asked his father for permission, and after a miracle where the field had been plowed overnight (angels), Peter Whitmer, Sr. said yes, and willingly met with and brought them into their home.
• As Joseph and Oliver were translating the scriptures, some of the Whitmers express concern about what they should be doing, and Joseph, praying on their behalf, received individual revelation fro David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and Peter Whitmer, Jr.

There's so much more between the lines here but the point is the great faith of the Whitmer family, and that with all they were already doing to advance the work of the Lord, that they still wanted to know what else they could. Just as the Lord had replied to Joseph Knight Senior in Doctrine and Covenant 12, he did the same for David Whitmer (D&C14), John Whitmer (D&C14), and Peter Whitmer, Jr. (D&C 16). 

(Click to zoom in/expand)

I think it's meaningful that the Lord responded to these Whitmers separately as every individual is of great worth, but it's also important because the Lord, throughout the scriptures, has emphasized important things through repetition. So, what kind of things does he repeat? He tells all of them the importance of missionary work and bringing souls unto him. The Lord repeatedly reminds us, 

"For behold the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he my treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God." (Doctrine and Covenants 14:3 ... but similar scriptures in D&C 4, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16). 

Behold the Field is White Already to Harvest
I found a little visual lesson in the April 2015 New Era Magazine called, "Thrust in Your Sickle." It talks about how a sickle is a tool, sharp, common, and personal, and what those qualities mean. I am sharing it as I feel like it's a great visual took for a conversation with your family. I talks about how we have many tools, like social media, to open our mouths. One of the reminders is that a sickle is sharp. Elder Kevin R. Duncan, quoted in this visual, talks about how, "we kept a file on hand to sharpen our sickle every day. In missionary work and indeed in all areas of life, we need to keep our spiritual sickles sharp so that we can achieve our own best potential."  (This quote was from his article, "Abandoned Seeds in Rocky Places," New Era, July 14, 18).

Witnesses
Several of these men became witnesses to the gold plates. This is significant because the Lord has said repeatedly throughout the scriptures that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." (Doctrine and Covenants 6:28). 

Dallin H. Oaks said, 

Witnesses and witnessing are vital in God’s plan for the salvation of His children. In the Godhead, the function of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of the Father and the Son (see 2 Ne. 31:18). The Father has borne witness of the Son (see Matt. 3:17; Matt. 17:5; John 5:31–39), and the Son has borne witness of the Father (see John 17). The Lord has commanded His servants to testify of Him (see Isa. 43:10; Mosiah 18:9; D&C 84:62), and all of the prophets have borne witness of Jesus Christ (see Acts 10:43; Rev. 19:10). ("The Witness: Martin Harris," Dallin H. Oaks, May 1999)

So how do we remain true to what we know? I'd like to share some quotes from church leaders over the years.

Ezra Taft Benson on sharing our witness of the Book of Mormon said:

“The Book of Mormon is the instrument that God designed to ‘sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out [His] elect.’ (Moses 7:62.) This sacred volume of scripture needs to become more central in our preaching, our teaching, and our missionary work.

“… In this age of the electronic media and the mass distribution of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way.

“We have the Book of Mormon, we have the members, we have the missionaries, we have the resources, and the world has the need. The time is now!

“My beloved brothers and sisters, we hardly fathom the power of the Book of Mormon, nor the divine role it must play, nor the extent to which it must be moved” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson [2014], 143–44). (Quote from the Come Follow Me Sunday School manual.)

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, in talking about Daniel being taken captive to Babylon to learn their ways, while still faithfully holding on to the God that he had been taught about and knew to be true, said:

Many of you know how it feels to defend an unpopular truth. In the Internet slang of today, we talk about getting “flamed” by those who disagree with us. But Daniel wasn’t just risking public ridicule. In Babylon, those who challenged the religious authorities understood what it means—figuratively and literally—to be “flamed.” Just ask Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.²

In the same talk he also said: 

Because of our belief, we will never hunger, never thirst.¹³ The gifts of God’s grace will enable us to be true to our faith and will fill our soul like “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”¹⁴ We will experience true and lasting joy.¹⁵

("Be Not Afraid, Only Believe," Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2015 General Conference)

Gordon B. Hinckley reminds us 

I wish that every member of this church would put those words where he might see them every morning as he begins his day. They would give us the courage to speak up, they would give us the faith to try, they would strengthen our conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that more miracles would happen over the earth.

        ("Be Not Afraid, Only Believe," Gordon B. Hinckley, First Presidency Message, February 1996) 

Sources I recommend for additional study:

The Knight and Whitmer families (This one was linked from the Come Follow Me manual)

Map showing where Joseph Knight Sr. lived in context to where Joseph Smith was translating scriptures in Harmony.

Details about the Knight family from BYU (writer William G. Hartley)

An Ensign article about how the Whitmers nourished the church.

Another Ensign article about how the Whitmers were true to the Book of Mormon

Excerpt from Saints Volume 1

I Believe in Angels (Come Follow Me - Doctrine and Covenants 12-13 and Joseph Smith History)

Doctrine and Covenants 13 is just one verse long. It says:

1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I ^aconfer the ^bPriesthood of Aaron, which holds the ^ckeys of the ministering of ^dangels, and of the gospel of ^erepentance, and of ^fbaptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the ^gsons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in ^hrighteousness.

John the Baptist Conferring the Aaronic Priesthood (The Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood), by Del Parson (62013); GAK 407; GAB 93; Primary manual 3-11; Primary manual 5-15; Primary manual 6-52; Doctrine and Covenants 13; Joseph Smith—History 1:68–73

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/aaronic-priesthood-given-to-joseph-bb88c20?lang=eng

I'd like to focus today on "the key of the ministering of angels." In the gospel of Jesus Christ, we often talk about the Holy Ghost, and in fact, this was the theme of a recent post of mine, "This is the Spirit of Revelation." We talk a little less often about angels, so it was interesting for me to study this topic a little more deeply last week and see what the Holy Ghost and angels have in common. You can go to the Guide to the Scriptures for a more technical explanation of angels. What interests me is how angels work in our lives. Just like the Holy Ghost, angels can warn, guide, and comfort.

In his 2008 General Conference talk, "The Ministry of Angels," by Jeffrey R. Holland, he gives several example of angels in the scriptures, for example, an angels visited Adam and Eve many times, an angel told Mary that she would be the earthly mother of the Savior, and an angel guided Joseph of the "coat of many colors" fame. 

Elder Holland said,

"... God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children. ... the scriptures or our own latter-day history ... are filled with accounts of angels ministering to those on earth." He then describes that angels are usually not seen, but "they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times."

In a speech given at Brigham Young University in 1974, called "Jesus Christ - Gifts and Expectations," Ezra Taft Benson said,

"God loves us, he’s watching us, he wants us to succeed, and we’ll know someday that he has not left one thing undone for the eternal welfare of each of us. If we only knew that there are heavenly hosts pulling for us—friends in heaven, whom we can’t remember now, who yearn for our victory. This is our day to show what we can do—what life and sacrifice we can daily, hourly, instantly bring to God. If we give our all, we will get his all from the greatest of all."

Let's go back to the scripture. It says the Priesthood of Aaron confers the "key of the ministering of angels." What does that mean for us? In a talk from 1982 about the Priesthood of Aaron, Gordon B. Hinckley said, 

"Think of it, my dear young brethern. This priesthood which you hold carries with it the keys of the ministering of angels. That means, as I interpret it, that if you life worthy of the priesthood, you have the right to receive and enjoy the very power of heavenly beings to guide you, to protect you, to bless you."

This does NOT mean that women are exempt from receiving this same power of heavenly beings. M Russell Ballard is one of many that have clarified this. In August 2013, at a BYU devotional he gave a talk called, "Let Us Think Straight." Elder Ballard explained that women can also receive the same access to the Lord's power, including the ministering of angels. He said,

"Our Father in Heaven is generous with His power. All men and all women have access to this power for help in our own lives. All who have made sacred covenants with the Lord and who honor those covenants are eligible to receive personal revelation, to be blessed by the ministering of angels, to commune with God, to receive the fulness of the gospel, and ultimately, to become heirs alongside Jesus Christ of all our Father has. 

Elder John A. Widtsoe explained that the priesthood is for the benefit of all members of the Church. Men have no great claim than women upon the blessings that issue from the Priesthood and accompany its possession. Woman does not hold the Priesthood, but she is a partaker of the blessings of the Priesthood.  (Priesthood and Church Government - Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1938, 83)."

What a miracle, what a blessing that we all have the ability to be blessed by the ministering of angels. (I say "all" because even if you are not a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ, the gospel is welcome to all. God loves everyone, we are all equal in his eyes, and the gospel is for everyone.) 

Moroni 7:29 says

"... have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."

One more quote, from Wendy Nelson, the prophet's wife, from when she spoke at a BYU Women's conference in May 2015. According to Church News staff writer Marianne Holman Prescott, she said, 

"As we keep our covenants, we can ask for angels to help us. Literally. ... I'm not talking praying for fantasy angels with wings to magically fairy-dust our problems away. I'm not talking about praying to angels. I'm talking about praying to your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, for those on the other side to be dispatched to assit you. Perhaps a loved one or two could be sent to help you with whatever you need."

What an awesome, special thing it is to know that through our deepest trials and our greatest despair, that God is watching over us, and that his angels are watching over us. One final note. I called my thoughts today "I Believe in Angels" because I firmly do believe in angels. Not the kind with big white wings and a shiny halo, but the kind that look like translated beings, some who we get to read about in the Bible from when they were here on this earth, like Peter, or in the Book of Mormon, like Moroni. I also believe that we have the power and ability to act like earthly angels, as Carlos A. Godoy discusses in his talk, "I Believe in Angels." I believe in angels and I'm grateful for the priesthood power that brought the keys of the ministering of angels back to our earth when the gospel of Jesus Christ was once again restored to the earth.

Doctrine & Covenants 10-11: "That Ye May Come Off Conquerer"

 The Come Follow Me Study material for February 1-7 is Doctrine and Covenants 10-11.

• Doctrine and Covenants 10 - The Lord tells Joseph that they will not retranslate the lost 114 pages of the manuscript because Satan has a plan to manipulate the original manuscript to make it look like Joseph's translations are inconsistent, and therefore, not of God.
• Doctrine and Covenants 11 - The Lord responds to Joseph's questions from Hyrum and explains the functions of the Holy Spirit.

There's always so much inspiration in studying the scriptures, and I'm trying to hold back and no overwhelm, so I've picked three topics that I will touch on briefly, that aligns with topics in the Come Follow Me guide:

1. Satan seeks to destroy the work of God
One of the themes and discussion points for Doctrine and Covenants 10 is the different ways that Satan tries to destroy the work of the Lord. In learning about these ways, we see that Satan continues to use the same methods today. That means that his methods work on enough people that it's worth his effort. Isn't that a scary thought?

I've made a chart below but I'll focus on just one of the way that Satan seeks to deceive. In Doctrine and Covenants 10:7, the Lord says:

7 And for this cause I said that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted; and he has also sought to destroy your gift.

What gifts do you have today that the devil might be trying to steal away from you? I've talked about spiritual gifts many times in the past, particularly here "Moroni 10: Come Unto Christ and Be Perfected in Himk" so I won't go into detail about this again. However, I do want to share a simple chart about spiritual gifts from "Friend" magazine, March 2017, called "What Are Your Spiritual Gifts?"

One of the spiritual gifts you could be given, for example, is "showing love." Can you see how the wicked might want you to lose that gift, so that you didn't go about doing good for others? 

(Click to enlarge)

2. The Lord's "wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil."
In Doctrine and Covenants 10:43, it says:

43 I will not suffer that they shall destroy my ^awork; yea, I will show unto them that my ^bwisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.

I think one of the faith-building things about the pandemic is how much members of our church have been able to see the guidance that the Lord has given with this in mind. What examples can you think of? 

A few that come to mind for me:

• The Lord guided Moroni to abridge a second record knowing that Joseph Smith would lose the 114 translated pages of the manuscript, so that the records of these people wouldn't be lost.
• The prophet creating two-hour church and home-centered church in advance of the pandemic.
• The guidance from church leaders for decades to build up our home storage and reserves for emergencies like this one.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

There are still a lot of unknowns about this virus. But if there is one thing I do know, it is that this virus did not catch Heavenly Father by surprise. He did not have to muster additional battalions of angels, call emergency meetings, or divert resources from the world-creation division to handle an unexpected need.

My message today is that even though this pandemic is not what we wanted or expected, God has prepared His children and His Church for this time. 

"God will do Something Unimaginable," October 2020 General Conference 

 

3. If we ask of God, we will receive
I still have my seminary scriptures, from when I was a teenager, with these verses of Doctrine and Covenants 11:12-14 highlighted, with my note on the side that these are "functions of the Spirit."

12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your ^atrust in that ^bSpirit which ^cleadeth to do ^dgood—yea, to do ^ejustly, to walk ^fhumbly, to ^gjudge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall ^aenlighten your ^bmind, which shall fill your soul with ^cjoy;

14 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of ^arighteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.

What an incredible gift. When we are baptized, we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that gift, that Spirit, "leadeth to do good." I love to read the different ways that the Holy Spirit can guide us, and that if we turn to him, he can "enlighten your mind" and "fill your soul with joy."

A decade ago, President Boyd K. Packer said:

“The gift of the Holy Ghost, if you consent, will guide and protect you and even correct your actions. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought or a feeling put into your heart. … It is not expected that you go through life without making mistakes, but you will not make a major mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Spirit. This promise applies to all members of the Church.”

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 17–18.

I am so grateful that I can go through this life, and the trials that inevitably come, knowing that with God, all things are possible, and that with the gift of the Holy Ghost, and my faith in my Savior, I can "come off conquerer."

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.