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Come, Follow Me Week 31 – Doctrine and Covenants 84

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Priesthood Power

by Wendy Ulrich

Doctrine and Covenants Section 84 is designated by Joseph Smith as a revelation on priesthood. Although several sections of the Doctrine and Covenants discuss priesthood administration, offices, organization, and ordinances, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes priesthood, in its fullest sense, is the very power of God, “without beginning of days or end of years” (v. 17).

God authorizes men and women throughout the Church to lead, teach, minister, and perform ordinances in a variety of ways, using priesthood authority that is delegated and extended through callings, assignments, recommends, or ordinances. Men holding priesthood keys oversee the use of priesthood authority in a given area and for a specific purpose that includes administering priesthood ordinances. [1]

As described in Section 84, however, priesthood authority and ordinances have a purpose beyond administration or even salvation. They are intended to make the power of godliness manifest in our lives, to hold the key to the mysteries and knowledge of God, and to make that knowledge available to all God’s covenant people (Doctrine and Covenants 84:19-21). [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 31 – Doctrine and Covenants 84

Come, Follow Me Week 29 – Doctrine and Covenants 77-80

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“A Place in the Celestial World”

By David W. Smith

In the early 1830s, Joseph Smith strove diligently to help the Saints build Zion. In one of the revelations given on how to build Zion, the Lord taught Joseph Smith and all the Saints: “For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.”[1]

There are three points I would like to address from this scripture: [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 29 – Doctrine and Covenants 77-80

Come, Follow Me Week 28 – Doctrine and Covenants 76

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by Cassandra Hedelius

By Joseph Smith’s time, much of Christendom was floundering with a badly truncated understanding of God’s judgment and humanity’s destination in the next life. Many believed, as many still do today, that all people will eternally fall on one side or the other of a single line: those who did good and receive the resurrection of the just, and those who did evil and receive the resurrection of damnation. There are obvious practical issues with that scheme, starting with the fact that cheating on homework and committing genocide are both sinful, but it feels unjust and illogical to consign their perpetrators to being undifferentiated roommates in hell.

The Bible does contain hints of a more complex judgment. It teaches that Christ shall reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27); converts are like seeds that bring forth a hundredfold or sixtyfold or thirtyfold (Matthew 13:8); Paul compared resurrected bodies to the differing glory of the sun, moon, and stars (1 Corinthians 15:41). But this isn’t enough to build a case countering the most obvious interpretation of the Bible’s teachings–at the final judgment people will be designated good or evil, and receive their final assignment to heaven or hell. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 28 – Doctrine and Covenants 76

Come, Follow Me Week 27 – Doctrine and Covenants 71-75

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Repenting is Ascending

By Jeff Markham

3 Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you.

4 Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.

5 Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;

6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power. (Doctrine & Covenants 71)

These verses from Section 71 stand as a powerful reminder of the true purpose of missionary work. We are not called to provide overwhelming proof of the truthfulness of the Gospel, nor are we called to impress others with our deep knowledge of the scriptures. Rather, we are to:  [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 27 – Doctrine and Covenants 71-75

Come, Follow Me Week 26 – Doctrine and Covenants 67-70

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D&C 67: Four Steps to Rend the Veil and See God

By Jasmin Gimenez Rappleye

Doctrine and Covenants 67 addresses the printing of Joseph Smith’s revelations, but it more fundamentally narrows in on the source of the revelations: the presence of God. In November 1831, while discussing the printing of the Book of Commandments, some of the elders questioned the unpolished and sometimes abrasive language of the revelations. Joseph Smith promised the elders that they could receive a testimony of the revelations for themselves. When the elders tried to receive this revelation and failed, the Lord taught them how to rend the veil and approach God. Joseph had predicted that if the Saints could all “come together with one heart and one mind in perfect faith the vail might as well be rent to day as next week or any other time.” [1] [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 26 – Doctrine and Covenants 67-70

Come, Follow Me Week 25 – Doctrine and Covenants 64-66

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Forgiving 

by Wendy Ulrich

Think of someone you might need to forgive. It could be something recent or long past, serious or trivial, that happened over and over again or only once. 

Got it? 

Sometimes, forgiving is straightforward and relatively easy. 

Sometimes, forgiving eludes us despite good intentions and persistent effort. 

Sometimes, we don’t even want to forgive and can’t imagine why or how we would. 

Given just how much some offenses cost us, the Lord’s teaching about forgiveness in Doctrine and Covenants 64:8-10 can feel pretty harsh: [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 25 – Doctrine and Covenants 64-66

Come, Follow Me Week 24 – Doctrine and Covenants 63

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Adultery, Agency, and Innocence

by Jennifer Roach

“The two carried on an affair that spanned 3 years.”  I was as shocked as anyone to see it in print, and to hear it put that way. An affair? I felt like I was reading about someone else – some couple who knew the boundaries, and willingly broke them. These were people to be punished and kicked out of the church. And then I realized it was talking about me. 

But it couldn’t be – I was 14 years old. 

The document I was reading had been unearthed as part of a court case. I was suing my childhood church (I was raised outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for the sexual abuse I experienced there. If you care to know the details a quick Google search of my name will lead you to a series of articles printed on the front page of my hometown newspaper.  Taking my church to court had never been part of my plan. And I was well aware that the statute of limitations had long ran out on this crime. But over the years I had tried to get the church to take some kind of responsibility for what happened. They never would. I found a way to take them to court despite the statute of limitations being over. Everything in my experience told me that was abuse, it was not my fault. I was a victim – many people who have been through sexual abuse avoid that term, but I’m okay with it. It’s accurate. A terrible thing happened to me. I’ve done the work to heal from it. But it will always be a terrible thing that I did not ask for.  [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 24 – Doctrine and Covenants 63

Come, Follow Me Week 23 – Doctrine and Covenants 60-62

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These words sunk deep into my heart, “But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.” (D&C 60:2). Confronting the Lord’s anger in scripture can be harrowing and difficult, as it might be difficult to square that “negative” emotion with our perception of a loving God, but my mind turned to a couple other scriptures.

In the gospel of Matthew we read, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33).  Then in that same chapter, but further down, we read, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:38-39). These verses indicate that preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ allows Jesus Christ to advocate for us in heaven. God’s anger kindled against us when we do not preach Christ’s gospel will fade into obscurity when we surrender our will to the will of God’s.

Whenever I think of the anger of the Lord, my mind is drawn to these verses, “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer…For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” (Isaiah 54:7-8, 10). Although the Lord might be angry with us for a moment, the Lord’s covenant with us is to gather us and to be kind to us. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 23 – Doctrine and Covenants 60-62

Come, Follow Me Week 22 – Doctrine & Covenants 58-59

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by Amber Rothamer

Blessings Come According to God’s Timing and Our Diligence

Sanctification. Diligence. Miracles. 

Sometimes the standard practices of the world become so commonplace that as a global society we often fail to alter our ways of thinking to produce a more desirable outcome or feeling. Yes indeed, one of the truths taught in Doctrine and Covenants 58 is that peace can be found during mankind’s times of trial and struggle both on individual and global scales. However, often what happens when we discuss such truths is we allow ourselves to hyper focus on the trials instead of adjusting that focus to that of envisioning the blessing so long as we are preparing ourselves for the miracle we seek. Might we consider instead: adding upon that truth by acknowledging our very real ability to act with diligence so as to be better aligned with God’s timing for the blessings and miracles we would prefer to have on a regular basis.

Sanctification

To sanctify is to set apart for a special use or purpose. We can set our hearts and minds apart from the limited and often negative scope the world has programmed us to have in times of struggle. Rather than dwelling on the various scenarios of adversity we may have or others we know have suffered, or are still yet wrestling with, perhaps a paradigm shift can help further confirm the truths found in these verses of scripture. In fact, many spiritual teachers both within and outside christianity emphasize that it is impossible to feel good and at the same time be having negative thoughts.  [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me Week 22 – Doctrine & Covenants 58-59

“Worlds Without Number”:[1] Hugh Nibley on Science and Religion

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by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

For more information on the book, visit https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/

This is the eighth of nine weekly blog posts published in honor of the life and work of Hugh Nibley (1910–2005). The series is in honor of the new, landmark book, Hugh Nibley Observed, available in softcover, hardback, digital, and audio editions. Each week our post is accompanied by interviews and insights in pdf, audio, and video formats. (See the links at the end of this post.)

Somehow, in addition to his continual immersion in ancient records and the pressing religious and social issues of the day, Hugh Nibley managed to keep up with important new developments in an impressive range of scientific subjects: cosmology, physics, and brain science — to name but a few of his chief interests. And one of his lesser-known gems is an essay entitled “Science Fiction and the Gospel.” The expansive framework of the Restored Gospel accommodated new findings in nearly all of these fields without a hitch. However, on the subjects of death before the Fall of Adam and Eve and the origins of humankind, faithful members sometimes disagreed.[2]

Leaders and members of the Church who made statements strongly expressing the view that no death existed on earth before the Fall generally were not intrinsically unsympathetic to science, but naturally resisted any views that might be seen as compromising authoritatively expressed doctrines relating to the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. Likewise, scientifically-trained leaders and members were not typically seeking to subordinate the claims of faith to the program of science, but understandably desired to circumscribe their understanding of truth into “one great whole.”[3] [Read more…] about “Worlds Without Number”:[1] Hugh Nibley on Science and Religion