Section 25

I love D & C 25.
I read this a few weeks ago, but want to go back and write about it.
It seems I can't get here to write lately, although my studies do continue.  Some days I just get the BofM some days I just get the D&C, some days I get both... other days I get a read done in the Ensign, Thursday is always the New Testament.  Always something... not quite as disciplined as I'd like fitting both in one day... but always something! 
It keeps me centered...

This section speaks volumes...

2 A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and ^awalk in the paths of ^bvirtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an ^cinheritance in Zion.

Virtue.  It seems a fleeting characteristic these days right?  Gods law remains even today, and his reward still, for those who obey...

Anyone looking in on Emma Smith may think poor Emma, she took on a lot didn't she?  Would she have signed up, married Joseph, if she knew truly what was coming?  The road was hard for her... it was hard for Joseph.  We see her strength, but also empathize for her and her struggles.

So when the Lord tells her, first, in v3 that her sins are forgiven, then second, that she is an elect lady... at first it seems a little backwards.  Don't you lift first, reassure and tell her she's an elect lady... then tell her her sins are forgiven?

The footnote on 'sins' takes us to Matthew 9:2.  This is the story of Jesus healing the man with palsy.  In this verse he says 'be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee'.  What?  This man has a physical ailment... clearly he came to healed physically.  That is what everyone expected.

Jesus asks them
5 ^aFor whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Really, which is easier?  For our Savior probably easier to heal this man physically and send him off.  But he was trying to make a point.  He also, more importantly, has the power to cleanse us from sin.

Physical ailments may be uncomfortable for us to experience, but they ultimately won't keep us from entering into the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Sin, on the other hand... will completely keep us from Him, if we don't seek forgiveness.

Which healing are we most in need of?

Jesus wanted them to know that He has power to do both.
6 But that ye may know that the ^aSon of man hath ^bpower on earth to ^cforgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

 

Why would the Lord want Emma to know this?  Why forgive her first? 

 

I look at myself and my weakness with my own spouse.  Sometimes I judge, sometimes I get mad and impatient.  Sometimes I am selfish and just wish he'd be how I want him to be.  Sometimes I focus on me, and the things I'm missing out on, or what he's doing/not doing for me...

 

All of these things are reasons for me to seek forgiveness.  Aren't judgement, pride and selfishness reasons to seek forgiveness... Yes, they are!

 

And the Lord forgives first... before I am an elect lady.  Really that is when I am most elect isn't it?  When I've been sanctified through His atonement?

 

Next the Lord tells Emma to be a comfort to her husband.  To support him, to beware of pride, to be meek, to delight in her husband.

 

Honestly, after 15 years of marriage, I'm like, really?  Where is MY appreciation!!!

 

I watched a tender moment a few weeks ago in institute/bible study.  Our instructor (who has been married to his sweet wife for many years) told us to appreciate our husbands.  We laughed and he said what we were all thinking, you may feel that he needs to appreciate you, but appreciate them.  He admitted that men don't like to tell us that they need that, but they do. 

 

He then teared up a little and told us that no matter how many times he's told his wife, or showed her, she would never really understand how deeply he loves her... um, I cried.

 

I came home and called Matt at work and told him that I appreciate him, and why. 

 

I also told him about Leon sharing his love for his wife with us.

 

I hear my husband tell me he loves me... Why I can't hold onto that or feel it as deeply as I need to sometimes is beyond me.  I could be behaviors, it could be insecurities... blah blah... but he's told me... I know he feels it... why do I doubt that over and again?

 

We are just different creatures and I think women certainly need the reassurance more than men... and because they don't really need it, they don't really give it.

 

But, I had a moment.  It's my choice to believe.  Seeing that man tenderly speak of his wife helped me see into my own husbands heart.  It was a good thing.

 

Doesn't this wisdom, given by the Lord to Emma strengthen a marriage?  Forget yourself.  Support your partner... stop thinking of yourself... think of them.  They feel loved and whole and give back.  Wise... the Lord is wise.

 

There is much in this section, indeed.  My understanding is increased. 

 

A New Year... Doctrine and Covenants

This blog has gone unwritten for a while, surprising!
I finished the Book of Mormon last year and struggled a little to find what to study next or how to study the Book of Mormon again.  I've since started the D&C, but am not reading/studying like I want to be.

This year I want to tackle the Bible, but since we've just started D&C at church I think I'll continue and finish with my study there, then get into the Bible.  I want to study for an hour each day and see how that gets me through.  I'm not in a hurry, just committed to good study time.

I'm like 25 sections in, but now am going back.  Back in October someone left piles, boxes of books on a table at church for anyone who wanted them.  I took 3 boxes home!  Many of them are church books.  I don't spend time reading literature, but I will read this!  I will see what these two books add to my study, they are 'The Message of the Doctrine and Covenants' by John A Widtsoe and 'Prophesies and Prophetic Promises, from the D&C' by Roy W Doxey.

The book points out there are different ways to study D&C, but as you go through, realize that each section is a topic, D&C isn't in 'story' form, if you will.

So far, the piece of information that has impacted me the most is this thought... this is a book of both doctrine and covenants.  'Doctrine means information, information regarding any subject pertaining to the church... Covenant on the other hand, implies that the doctrine has a definite purpose.  It is not merely information... it has a definite purpose implying cause and effect.  A covenant means a promise of man to the Lord.  So, doctrine and covenants are really two aspects of the same thing.  We cannot have one w/o the other... They may be compared to knowledge and intelligence.  Intelligence is the use of knowledge.  In some such way doctrine and covenant  may be compared... They are studied together and not separately.  Every covenant implies a doctrine and every doctrine implies a covenant.'

This thought was with me today as we studied in Gospel Doctrine.  The doctrine of things and the covenant associated with them, and the blessings that are associated with each covenant or promise.

Section 19  (16-19) we hear the Savior speaking of his own Atonement, the only scripture where He speaks first hand of his experience.   I was impressed not only to read again of the atonement, this doctrine, but the covenants associated with it.  The Savior made a covenant with His father to do this, and he was obedient... 'I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.'  It was hard for him, we can clearly see that, but he chose to be obedient.  Not only does He receive reward for his atonement/sacrifice/obedience... but the rest of us do too... unique.

When we are baptized we promise or covenant to use the atonement.  As we keep our covenants we are blessed.  I don't just mean blessed, I mean rewarded.  As we keep the covenant to use the atonement, we are cleansed, healed, sanctified and changed.  The result of that is being able to enter into Gods' presence.  That is the reward for being obedient to the covenant. 

As we do, there is a reward.  V 23... learn, listen and walk.  These are things for us to do.  The reward is peace.

6:20 ... I will encircle the in the arms of my love... this is the blessing after we are faithful, diligent and keep the commandments of God.

Last, in 19:1-3 We read about our Savior.  I love his statement about who He is.  I think of his statement in the context of the restoration.  People have forgotten, so here is a clear reminder.  Here is a restitution of Jesus Christ.  Our God is not gone, our Savior is not forgotten.  We see in these latter days a complacency, a turning away, a neutral zone.  Does it really matter if there is a god or not?  This book of scripture is unique, the Savior revealed to Joseph Smith, in our day, that He is still there and now is the final preparation for His second coming. 

What a treasure we have.  Only now can I see that.  I'm sorry it's taken me so long!  I'm so excited to study D & C.