D&C 56

I have certain scriptures that are pivotal to me - of critical importance and I use them to judge or evaluate other scriptures.

Moses 7 is one such pivotal scripture and John 3:17 is another.

In Moses 7 we find God weeping and when Enoch asks how and why God weepsiphon the short answer he is weeping because of how mankind is treating one another "wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing the shall suffer?"

God is angry because of their choices but his response is too weak because he knows their choices cause suffering!

John 3:17 follows the beloved verse God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Then comes the qualifier - the pivotal verse:

For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.

The following verses in John chapter 3 explain that those who reject light suffer through their choices. Condemnation is the natural site of bad choices. Jesus came to save us from these bad choices - to show us a better way.

Using these verses as my standard I reject scripture that portrays God is wrathful, punishing the center. The God I love knows we cause our own suffering and he is sad for us but is hopeful that his perfect plan will allow us to learn from our mistakes and come home where he is waiting, longing for our return.

D&C 54:5

We could do without passages like this - that language that was so prevalent in the 1800s:. And whoa to him by whom this offense [ breaking a covenant] for it had been better for him that he had been drowned in the depths of the sea.

People have the right to change their minds about their membership in the church without being condemned, harassed,

The same holds for those who choose to join the church. They don't deserve condemnation by their friends and family. Respecting the agency of others does not equal tolerating choices I disagree with. Respect in these circumstances means to show regard or consideration for, to refrain from intruding a pond, or interfering with. The opposite of respect is criticism or disdain.

We can appreciate that choices have consequences. When Lehman Copley changed his mind it affected a lot of people. But no, it would not have been better that he had been drowned in the depth of the sea.

He is still a beloved Son of heavenly parents who love him as much as anyone else.

Today we know better and should not be judgmental of the choices of others.

D&C 52:15-17

Dr Julie Hanks posted on Instagram the following:: how do I counter harmful narratives my kids receive at church?

Answer: the same way you counter harmful narratives at school, through the news, or other media. Have meaningful discussions and help them to fill up critical thinking skills and to develop their intuition. Debrief after church. Ask questions like:

What did you learn?

 How do you feel about that?

What are other ways to think or feel about that?

Who benefits from this belief/ teaching?

Who does this teaching hurt?

I believe these verses in section 52 gives us permission to do just exactly what Dr Hanks is talking about. It sets some parameters for us:

IF

We are faithfully living the gospel and are contrite and meek (not bashing the church or others with whom we may disagree)

We are using a defined language, seeking to build faith and testimony

We are staying close to the Lord and seeking his help and strength

THEN

We may explore ideas and doctrines, practices and what others say -seeking Truth for ourselves and by so doing we may "bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom."

D&C 51: 3, 9

Wherefore, let my servant Edward partridge, and those whom he has chosen, in whom I am well please, a point unto this people their portions, every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs.

Let every man deal honestly and be alike among this people, and receive a like, that you may be one, even as I commanded you.

As the early saints became a community and gathered together they had to deal with the realities of every day - housing, food, clothing being the basic needs. Many were immigrants arriving with very little. Some were disowned by their families as they embrace this new religion.

The Lord asked them to take care of each other, to love their neighbor as they love themselves. They were called upon to be faithful, just, and wise Stewart's.

What does this mean for us, the law of consecration as they lived was abandoned a long time ago. But I also have consecrated all I have to the lord. I made that promise in a holy Temple and I take it seriously. Just recently Lynn and I rededicated our home. We wanted to be a place where all who enter feel loved and where all the things we own are used to bless others. We each pray during that we dedication - a lovely experience to share as husband and wife.

D&C 49;20

But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world life in sin.

This is the great sin of our day. If the wealth of America which amounted in 2019 to 92.4 trillion dollars - if this money was equally distributed to all Americans it would be $343,000 per person.

But the reality is that the top 20% own 77% of the wealth. And in that group the top 1% on 29% of the total wealth. Think about those numbers and then look at these statistics

9.2% of the world or $689 million people live on $1.90 or less a day.

In 2020 the covid pandemic added $120 million people to the numbers living in poverty

Who are the poor? Four out of five of them live in rural areas. Half our children. Women represent a majority. 70% of the global poor aged 15 and over have no schooling or only some basic education

Half of the global poor live in sub-Saharan Africa in nigeria, the drc, tanzania, Ethiopia and madagascar.

40% of the poor live in economies affected by fragility, conflict and violence. That number is expected to rise to 67% in the next decade.

132 million people live in areas with high flood risk

Poverty in the United States in 2020 was 9.2%. By group, flights have 6.6% poverty rate, blocks have 15.2% in Hispanics 13.8%

If you look at the poverty guidelines in the United States in 2021 by size of household those numbers are:

One person $12,880

Two persons $17,420

Three persons $21,960

Four-person household $26,500

Five person $31,040

This means that a person earning that amount of money or less is considered poor. But the reality of that means that if your household income is $12,880 and you were working full-time you would have earned $6.19 per hour. Likewise the two person would be earning $8.37, the three person is earning $10.29, four person is earning $12.77, and for the family of five that person is earning $15 an hour.  

These are the rates at which you qualify for help. These are also the rates or the incomes that come with no benefits too much of the time.

Say you have a mother and a father with three children making $31,000. If only one of those parents were working then that person would be earning approximately $15 per hour but if both parents in that family are working the reality is they are only earning and average of seven dollars and 50 cents per hour.

Income inequality is the Hot topic right now and you can see why. It reflects a spiritual deficiency because huge amounts of wealth do not bring happiness. But alternatively poverty is a great cause of sorrow, anxiety and depression.

There is a middle ground where basic needs are met and the daily worry over bills is gone. That is where the human spirit is free to grow, to create, to enjoy life. Everyone deserves that.

EACH EVERY ALL

'As we strive to lift those around us it is helpful to see each individual as a child of god. The word humanity is at the root of the word humanitarian. This means that as humanitarians, we work to see each individual as a child of god. Every person deserves a chance to have a happy and productive life.

Weather globally or in our backyard, we recognize a person's humanity when we

One. See individuals as God sees them

Two. Seek to understand their experiences

Part of having humanitarian eyes is seeing that the place that all humanity lives on hyphen our earth - is also taken care of. We are agents to act in valuing all of God's creation. "Facebook post on Latter-Day Saint charities May 15th 2021

D&C 50:24

That that which is of God is light and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

The symbols of light and darkness are used a lot in the scriptures. It is an analogy that we know and understand well.

I personally love the summer months when the days are long. I thrive in the light. It allows me to be outside - in nature - in God's world of creation.

But winter always comes. There is a melancholy that surrounds me as the days grow shorter and the dark hours come.

The lights of Christmas get me through december. Then I must consciously create a plan for january. By February you can feel the change has begun. Just the few little minutes more of light each day hold the promise of long summer days to come.

So it is with spiritual light. Jesus said in John 8:12 I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but she'll have the light of life.

During The Long Winter days our home is filled with light. Modern life has made this easy, we walk into a dark room and turn on a switch and there it is.

Life is often filled with darkness - dark moments of doubt, despair, desperation.

I have found the light I needed to navigate those times in the words and teachings of jesus. He has lighted my way through many dark nights. His words echoed through my mind so many times.

Forgive 70 times 70 

Love one another

I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live.

Peace I live with you, my peace I give unto you

Come unto me, I'll eat that labor and are heavy laden

Bless them that curse you

For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

As much as I crave the long days of summer, I seek equally and earnestly the light of the world.

D&C 46 Gifts of the Spirit ( Also 1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Verses 11-12:

. . .  to EVERY man is given a gift by the spirit of god. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

. The gifts of the Spirit are given universally to all. My mother had the gift of being able to connect to other people. She could start a conversation with the person and the line at the grocery store and make a new friend.

Lynn has a similar gift. He is curious about people. He just starts asking questions and soon knows so much about whoever he is with.

I am more introspective. I like to do what I am doing right now - reading and studying and thinking about what I read.

We each have different gifts and to the extent we are open to others - all others - we are blessed by their gifts.

Think about how when you are on a committee you see that work. Someone will automatically start taking notes. Someone else will lead the discussion. Someone will start creating a plan. It's amazing how those gifts work together.

As you continue to read this section through you may be left wondering what it is talking about.

Differences in administration

Diversities of operations

The gift of tongues

The word of wisdom

This is a good example of looking for the principal being taught and then using common sense to apply this to your own experiences and understanding.

In the February 2002 conference elder Robert D Hales suggests the following:

The gift to ponder, looking to God for direction.

The gift to hear and respond to the spirit

The gift to be calm, to curb anger

The gift of charity

I find my own gifts mentioned in my patriarchal blessing. But I also have spent a lifetime coming to understand myself, to know how I respond to life and how my heart reacts and how my mind thinks. I see my gifts in those moments.

Now here is the best quote I have read about gifts of the Spirit!

"Spiritual gifts are traces in us of our divine natures, aspects of ourselves in which we more fully reflect our Heavenly Parents . . . I have seen how drawing on these unique gifts can bring us closer to god, perhaps because they call on parts of ourselves that are closer to God already."  BYU magazine spring 2021 page 24

Talk about expansive thinking! I think about my own gifts - my search for knowledge and understanding and peacemaking. Those are attributes of my Heavenly Parents! Wow! I share that with them.

Further in the same article, the author talks about ways we may feel the Spirit. It is the first talk that I have heard/read that made me happy and hopeful that the Spirit indeed touches my life.

"Forget for a moment receiving some great answer to prayer. Have you felt the spirit even a little as you have sought the Lord in prayer? Have you felt the spirit convey to you that God loves you or that he understands you, or that he has great hopes for you or that he sorrows with you or that he rejoices with you, or that he appreciates your gratitude to him or your kind deed for someone else? Have you felt the Spirit open your mind to help you learn something new, or turn you to something good, or inspire you to perceive something beautiful or reassure you that things will be okay, that you aren't lost, that God knows exactly where you are? If you have ever had any of these experiences or myriad others like them, you have effectively experienced our Father's plan of salvation in a grain of sand.

You have been shown that God is real, that your life has a purpose and that Christ atonement is making it possible for you to feel God's presence a little more fully.

What does spiritual thriving mean to me? Very simply, it means seeking, recognizing, and enjoying experiences with the Spirit of God. It means being mindful of the breasts of ways the Spirit moves us and then being responsive to its inspiration, perhaps by drawing on our unique spiritual gifts and perhaps by learning to perceive God's presence even when we are preoccupied by other concerns.

My conviction is that if you have experiences with the Spirit, even ones that are only still and small, that God is choosing to abide with you."

D&C 38:24-27

And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice virtue and holiness before me.

And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself.

For what man among you having 12 sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently and he sayeth unto the one: Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other: Be thou clothed in rags and sit thou there - and looketh upon his sons and saith I am just?

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.

This is the scripture that precipitated the Personal Storehouse Project (PSP), a welfare project in our stake. Our stake leaders realized they have members clothed in robes and some in rags and they needed to address that problem.

I wish lawmakers on every level would do the same. No law should benefit one group over another and cause or support inequality. The job of the government is to create opportunities for ALL. 

Liberty and justice for ALL. 

ONE nation, under God indivisible -undivided. 

ONE.

D&C 38:24-27

And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice virtue and Holiness before me. And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself.

For what man among you having 12 sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently and he say it unto the one: Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other: Be thou clothed in rags and sit thou there - and looketh upon his sons and sayeth I am just?

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.

This is the scripture that precipitated the Personal Storehouse Project (PSP). Our stake realized they have members clothed in robes and other members and rags and they needed to address that problem.

I wish lawmakers on every level would do the same. No law should benefit one group over another and cause or support inequality. The job of the government is to create opportunities for ALL. Liberty and justice for all. One nation, under God, indivisible - undivided, ONE.

(The Personal Storehouse Project was a welfare initiative in SE Michigan where mentors worked with struggling families to teach them the principles of self-reliance.)

D&C 33:6

And even so will I gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as will believe in me, and harken unto my voice.

Dictionary: Elect (noun)

1. Carefully selected - chosen

    Chosen for salvation through divine mercy

2. A select or exclusive group of people that have privilege that other people do not have

I find these two definitions interesting because number one is inclusive and can include everyone but number two is exclusive and suggest some are better than others. So what you read in this verse depends completely on how you define the word elect.

As a church we have used that second definition and I'm not sure it even makes sense to do so. Every person who has ever lived upon the Earth is a son or daughter of God - loved and cherished, with the same divine potential.

Yes, some people hear the message of the restored gospel and join the church. Perhaps we could say that these who are chose these are they who are chosen to do the work of family history and Temple work, the gathering of God's family. There is a job for them to do here that is meaningful in God's plan for his family.

But certainly God our Heavenly parents see all their children as elect, chosen, special. None more valuable than another.

They have chosen all for salvation. Our eternal well-being is their work and glory. They sent Jesus for all mankind. We - all of us - are there elect. They have their hearts fixed upon us.

Now it is up to us. We must now choose them. Our hearts must turn to them. We need to let our work and glory be the welfare of our brothers and sisters. And we have been commanded to love all.

So I accept that some are elected and chosen to be part of the restoration. And I also believe that others are elected and chosen into other of God's fields to do the work there. All are needed. We should always be generous of heart and think inclusively. How else can we build Zion?

D&C 30:2

But your mind has been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me, your maker, and the ministry whereunto you have been called.

This has been a difficult month. First, we decided to redo our basement and ordered carpet. So we quickly had to paint and get things ready. That was a solid week of non-stop work. We were exhausted. But then the stairway was so difficult. In our old house, the walls of the back entry and staircase to the basement were so rough.  We decided to hide them under paintable wallpaper.  Just that alone took another week. (We are getting too old to hang wallpaper in a staircase)

Then we have the problem of how the rest of the basement looked after the walls were painted.  Two of the doors needed painting and new knobs.  One needed to be shortened to accommodate the new carpet. And soon the month was gone and we're still finishing the basement. The old light fixture doesn't go with the update.  One thing after another needs replacing including hiring an electrician to fix electrical problems.

We are so glad we did this but following that work another problem came.

My husband's health for the last few weeks spiralized out of control.  His doctors have been changing his meds and he got absolutely unstable - dizzy, unsteady, exhausted, and then he began talking like a drunk - you know how a drunk can get right in your face and be obnoxious. He was so in my face and then he woke up one day and could not speak coherently.

We immediately sent the doctor a message for permission to stop his new medication and go back to the previous medication.

Well, by the time the doctor replied that he could do a half dose for 3 days before stopping, he was already two days off the medicine so he was weaned quicker than he should have been. Fortunately no serious problems but it still took a week for him to be anywhere close to normal.

Wow! Time flew by. Spring arrived and we talked about taking flowers to our ministering families but didn't. Easter arrived and we didn't even think about it.

We are learning our limitations.  We still think we can do all the things we did when we were younger but we can't.  Our energy is limited and we have to begin to adjust to our age.  

Easter Lesson 2021 using scriptures from the D&C

This week's Come Follow Me Easter lesson leads us to the following scriptures in the Doctrine and Covenants:

76:22 and now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That He lives!

29:5. Lift up your hearts, and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the father, and it is his Goodwill to give you the kingdom.

38:7 But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and you cannot see me.

62:1 Behold, and hearken, O ye elders of my church, says your God, even Jesus Christ, your advocate, who knoweth the weaknesses of man and how to succor them who are tempted.

I had to stop to think about what these particular passages say to me and what some of the words used in these verses mean.

Advocate: (verb)

• To speak or write in favor of
• To support or urge by argument
• To recommend publicly

Advocate: (noun)

• One who does all the above
• One who pleads in behalf of another
• Intercessor
• Court related advocate

Synonyms for Advocate (noun)

• apostle
• backer 
• campaigner 
• champion 
• defender 
• promoter 
• proponent 
• supporter 
• upholder 

Also (but different) 

• attorney 
• counsel 
• defender 
• lawyer 
• pleader

Synonyms for Advocate (verb)

• bless 
• bolster 
• boost 
• brace up 
• build up 
• campaign for 
• defend 
• encourage 
• favor 
• go to bat for 
• promote 
• recommend 
• root for 
• support 
• uphold 

Also (but different)

• defend 
• plead for 
• speak for
• vindicate

Succor (noun) 

• help 
• relief 
• aid 
• assistance

Succor (verb)

• To help or relieve

Synonyms for succor (noun)

• support 
• sustenance 
• comfort

Synonyms for succor (verb)

• comfort 
• help 
• rescue 
• support

With:

• along 
• along with 
• beside 
• including 
• plus
• accompanied by

Because definitions are everything - because how we define words brings meaning to everything we hear or read - our understanding of scripture is based on definitions, of what we were taught words mean.

I was taught the word advocate when applied to Jesus meant that it was His role - as our legal representative - to plead with God the Father to not punish us because of our mistakes and failures in life. It is the old story that paints Heavenly Father as the judge, demanding that the demands of the law of justice be met. Jesus offers Himself in our place and if we believe in Him, He offers us mercy. He asks the Father to let us into heaven based on our faith in Him (Jesus).

That interpretation is a very legalistic approach to the gospel and is rooted in Augustine's teachings and Reformation or Calvinistic thought.

It is inconsistent with Restored truths that teach that God is our literal Father in Heaven. He loves us dearly and created this Earth for us and sent us here to learn to distinguish for ourselves through experience both good and evil. He knows that until we know evil we can never truly choose good. The textbook learning never does what real hands-on learning can do and we as his Spirit children had progressed as far as we could in that heavenly home.   It was time for us to have a real experience in exercising our agency.

By allowing us to exercise agency and to experience the consequences of our choices, He knew we would make mistakes that we could not undo or make right. He knew we would both hurt others and in turn be hurt by the actions of others. He knew that life would be complicated and messy, sometimes horrific. But he promised He would make it all work toward our ultimate good.

Jesus volunteered to come to Earth as the Son of God, experience all the pains of life here, so that by suffering with and for us He could draw us unto Him. When there is no one else who understands, He is there.

Using the definitions above in a non legalistic way and with the more supportive definition of Advocate, I would read this verse as follows:

Doctrine and Covenants 29:5 says Lift up your hearts and be glad. For I am in your midst [I am always available if you need me] and am I am your Advocate [I am here to cheer you on, bless, bolster, encourage, support and uphold] with the Father [he is accompanying me in this. His work and mine are the same. We love you and are here to help you through your mortal journey] and it is His goodwill to give you the kingdom [for this is my work and my glory and Father's work along with me is to do everything we can possibly do to help you along this journey!]

And if I were Jesus speaking to us I would continue with the following:

"What we can't do is remove your agency - you cannot grow into godhead by being a puppet. We cannot remove the consequences of your choices. They are your mortal teachers. Please listen to them.

We cannot manipulate your behavior or infringe upon your agency by handing out rewards whenever you choose right or punishments when you choose wrong. You must learn for yourself and you will soon see how each good choice is its own reward just as each wrong choice will bless you with the knowledge you need to choose better; to price the good if you will remain open to its lessons.

What we promise you is this - there lies before you total understanding, total healing, forgiveness and you will soon learn how important it is to forgive others.

Just remember, we have now made you the creator of the life you desire. Your final destiny - your infinite potential is to be like us and live with us and all those you love forever enjoy and eternal progressions. We hope that is what you will also choose. Will do everything we can to help you get there.

We are forever advocating for you - cheering you on. With all our love Father, Mother, Jesus, Holy Ghost AKA God."

38:7. But behold, verily, verily I say unto you that mine eyes [and my heart] are upon you [I am watching over you], I am in your midst and you cannot see me [the veil is drawn]

It is comforting to know Jesus is near, accessible, always anxious to help and support us. Come on to me, all ye who are weary. . . There are so many times when I have been weary. Take just this week. Lynn has been on a new medication and it has caused so many problems. Yesterday I just needed a break so I went shopping - just to get away for a few minutes. There's nowhere else to go in the middle of this pandemic.

Yet I remember after the divorce when I was so heartbroken. My therapist suggested it would be good to talk to someone who has been through this. I didn't know anyone who was divorced. Then one day soon after that conversation I thought of Jesus. He suffered life's woes so that He could succor us. I turned to him. I know we usually pray to the Father but this time my prayers went to Jesus -seeking the peace and comfort of my Friend. I found that comfort. Those were days when I learned how loved I was. He was with me, in my midst, and though I did not see him, I felt his presence and His healing power. I know He lives.

D&C 29

This section talks about the Savior's second coming. Scriptures referring to the second coming are always difficult because there is a mixture of reality with symbolic or figurative language.

Time: interestingly, the early saints believed the second coming was going to happen soon because of the language here in this scripture and others:

The hour is nigh

The day soon at hand

It is important to view these phrases figuratively. They are not a reference to time but to urgency.

This life is temporary. Whether at His coming here or at our own death and our arrival there - we will someday face God. If there are matters we know we need to repair,  then now is the time to ask God for help. If you had a disease that prevented you from enjoying life, wouldn't you be willing to take whatever medicine would cure that disease - and the sooner the better?

From my own personal experience, chemo and radiation were terrible but so worth the time dedicated to healing from cancer.

I have had other more personal issues that have prevented me from enjoying life. The time and effort to get past those was also a time of healing. I'm grateful that I can take those faults of mine to the Lord and get His help in changing me.  I like to say that we don't NEED to repent, we GET to repent.  The Lord will help us to change any personal failing that we bring to Him.

Some people like apocalyptic prophecies but not I. The interpretation of such passages is all about the way they are worded. It makes God seem vengeful in some of those prophecies. Do as I say or this is what will happen to you. It is unfortunate that we have to deal with such language and man's inability to " translate" revelation purely. It always goes through and interpretive step.

But what we know of God we must trust. He is our loving Heavenly Father. His relationship to us His literal offspring is not transactional. We don't get a gift every time we do something right nor are we punished every time we err. His plan allows consequences to naturally play out in our lives. He created a moral universe wherein we would learn our lessons.

So I choose to put the language of verses 14 to 21 through that paradigm and also through my own common sense of what I know as a resident of planet Earth

Between the time the Earth was created and when it will end there have been and will still be

days when the sun is dark - when pollutants are so thick we cannot enjoy the sun; days or nights when those same pollutants turn the moon red - we've seen this recently when volcanic ash was blown halfway around the world.

There have been and will continue to be:

Weeping and wailing of people due to hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, holocaust, mass shootings

Hailstorms - destroying crops, automobiles and buildings

Insects in men's flesh

Bodies disintegrating - think Hiroshima and Chernobyl

The Earth is and has always been filled with abominations, atrocities, horrific events.

How much of it is caused by man? That is of course up to interpretation. But two things we know: 

1. Natural disasters happen and they affect both good and bad people. They are not sent only to the "wicked".

2. Mankind has been personally responsible for many natural disasters and we know from the past that we have polluted both lakes and air.

Are we "wicked" for this? I would rather say accountable. Accountability suggests we are doing something we can change. Isn't that a basic tenant of the gospel? We humans have agency - the ability to choose our actions, evaluate the results, and change if needed.

If we are doing something that created harm and we consciously choose not to change - well that seems like the perfect definition of wickedness. Collective wickedness perhaps. We create a whole economy based on fossil fuels and change then becomes very difficult and it is hard to blame the individual. But we suffer the consequences nevertheless and some more than others as those who live on the Gulf Coast can attest.

 The Lord does not cause bad things to happen - He is the Author of all that is good.  Earth life is filled with challenges from many different sources.  We can trust that He will now, as He has always done, strengthen us and comfort us in the midst of the storm.

D&C 24:15

And in whatsoever place you shall enter, and they receive you not in my name, he shall leave a cursing instead of a blessing, by casting off the dust of your feet against them as a testimony and cleansing your feet by the wayside.

This verse is evidence of the fact that Joseph and the church would learn "precept by precept" before it (the church) would fully understand it's purpose to gather together the family of man.

This verse is probably consistent with the air of persecution felt in the early church. They were bombarded constantly and had just cause to have ill feelings towards those whose deeds were certainly evil. Religion has the ability to bring out the best and the worst in humans. Tarring and feathering someone who threatens your own religious beliefs is warped thinking on so many levels. Mankind often sets aside the teachings of Jesus in favor of the "angry God of the Old Testament."

Religion often is more a set of beliefs rather than a set of values that guide your behavior. It is best when the beliefs are coupled with teachings that guide us to be loving and compassionate human beings.

Here is a quote from "The Little Purple Book"  (Mormon Women for Ethical Government) page 31: 

"We believe that only kindness, empathy, and pure love can adequately enlarge our souls, strip us of hypocrisy, and help us become reconciled to Jesus Christ and to one another."

That is the behavior that we would expect of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

D&C 24: 8

Be patient in afflictions for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.

I do think patience has been the hardest thing for me to learn. Afflictions come but many of them (looking back with hindsight) have been blessings because they were either

1. Times I learned a lot about life and what it is to be human

2. Times I felt the Lord's hand in my life

3. Times when I learned how important a support system is

Those things were great blessings if I look at them with an eternal perspective.

But I did not endure adverse moments well and with patience while they were taking place. I've been a slow learner, a late bloomer. I'm just now starting to figure some things out.

Life is so much more complicated than I used to be able to see. That's why it's so important to be generous and give others the benefit of the doubt and never assume you understand them. It's hard enough to just figure yourself out.

So indeed "be patient" with yourself, with others, with life's challenges. Trust your Heavenly Parents' plan and put your faith in Jesus Christ who will make all things right eventually and will heal your deepest wounds.

D&C 20:29

And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the Kingdom of God.

This is not the only place where such language is used in the scriptures. It is the language of the authoritarian - do this or else. But God is not an authoritarian demanding obedience to his every word. He is the loving Parent who wants us to follow a path of living by principles that create Joy - to create a Zion of loving beings living in loving relationships.

Is it is about becoming - not doing.

Scriptures like this verse in section 20 make it possible to weaponize the gospel. You must believe as I believe or you are the "bad guy."

Change the paradigm and all those "bad guys" become the brothers and sisters you must love if you are to live in Zion.

The old paradigm was such a burden - to repent, believe, and endure or else. It was all about doing the right things and never stopping, every act counted. (Angels above us are silent notes taking of every action. . .)

The new paradigm is about what I am learning, how I am being changed by the experiences in life. How does Jesus guide me and heal me on this journey?

There are no winners and losers, and no "or else".  Just a simple "Come follow me" spoken by One whose love is fixed upon us.

D&C 20:12

This verse is referring to one of the purposes or outcomes of having translated the Book of Mormon: 

Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.

For the early saints The Book of Mormon, given the way it was both received and translated, was a sign that the heavens were open and God was once again speaking to man as He has in the past. They believde that He was the same now as He always had been.

I find it refreshing that we are reminding ourselves of that again as we reevaluate the doctrine and teachings regarding the true nature of God and how He (They) work(s) among men. We testify today that we have loving Heavenly Parents whose work and glory is to help us become like Them - to live the principles of happiness, to become fully realized as individuals. 

We see Joseph Smith grow into this understanding over the years of his life.  But it does seem as if Protestant teachings of sin and judgment have prevailed. The God portrayed in the Old Testament prevailed. In spite of the fact that we believe the Bible to be true only to the extent it has been translated correctly and acknowledging some parts Joseph felt were  so wrong that he began an "inspired translation" of the Bible - yet in Sunday School classes too often we see teachers and members  still try to justify every word.  When they are doing so they often vilify the character of God.

If we have loving Heavenly parents today, we had them 2000 years ago. At last we are seeing some of our LDS people reject the angry, vengeful god. It is about time!

Doctrine and Covenants 19:23-24

Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my spirit, and you shall have peace in me. I am Jesus Christ. I came by the will of the father, and I do his will.

So many passages of scripture lend themselves to music.  I cannot speak the Lord's Prayer after having sung Malotte's arrangement of it so many times.  I can no longer separate the words from the music.  This passage in section 19 was used by Janice Kapp Perry in the following song:

I walked today along the path of life

No more a child protected from the strife

Now I must face whatever foes may come

And fight with strength until the battles won

I trembling fear the task is far too great

On every side the tempter lies in wait.

What can I do? I plead to him above

Then hear him speak these gentle words of love:

Learn of me and listen to my words

Walk in the meekness of my light

And I will give you peace

My love will never cease

For I am Jesus Christ.

When I was yet a child so clean and pure

I doubt it not and knew God's love was sure

I knew he; for every bird and tree

By breath and leaf, were witnesses to me.

But now the world would fill my mind with doubt

And so my soul, in search of truth cries out.

How may I know? I plead to him above

Then I recall these gentle words of love.

Learn of me and listen to my words

Walk in the meekness of my light

And I will give you peace

My love will never cease

For I am Jesus Christ.

My life is blessed to have his sacred word

To feel his love and know my prayers are heard.

Within my soul his light has found a place

It leads the way as I receive his grace

The peace I feel, my joy and sacred things

Surpasses all the world could ever bring.

With humble heart I take a valiant stand

I will obey this gentle sweet command

Learn of me and listen to my words

Walk in the meekness of my light

And I will give you peace

My love will never cease

For I am Jesus Christ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT1Mm4wJcqw

D&C 18:20

Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.

1 Nephi 14:10 

And he said unto me: behold, there are safe to churches only: the one is the Church of the Lamb of God,; and the other is the church of the devil.

Moroni 7:5

For I remember the word of God which saith by their works you shall know them; for if that works be good, then they are good also.

Joseph Smith: [The restoration scriptures encourage us as individuals and as a church community to seek after good everywhere and make it a part of our religion.]. "The grand fundamental principle of Mormonism is to receive truth let it come from where it may. If the Methodists, Presbyterians, or others have any truth, then we should embrace it. One must get all the good in the world if one wants to come out a pure Mormon."

The church has matured a lot over the course of my lifetime. The 20th century brought a boon to the world - a boon of knowledge. That knowledge challenged old untested beliefs.

Communication has increased also. Books, the internet, the international job market and travel. We can't live in isolation anymore.

In 1964 when I joined the church it was often stated by members that the "great and abominable church" mentioned in the Book of Mormon was the Catholic church. We were arrogant. We had truth restored and we thought we had it all. 

Then DNA proved the American Indians were not of Middle Eastern origin and the church had to reexamine what they taught about the Native American tribes. We are more humble today about what "we know" and more generous in acknowledging that truth exists all around us and especially in other churches and other religions with whom we share much.

I was listening to a podcast yesterday on Faith Matters. Patrick Mason talks about the principal of "particularism" and gives the analogy of how each part of the body has a particular function and the various parts all need to do their own job for the body to function. No part is more important than any other. None can live without the others.  His belief is that as we share the gospel it is not to change everyone else and and create an empire but to share the piece of God's work that has been given to us and to add to the totality of God's work on the earth. "We do not have a monopoly on God's love, God's favor or knowledge. We are 2/10 of 1% of his children."

"God sheds His light and His love on all of His children so shouldn't we learn from them?" 

Particularism is different from relativism. There are two usual ways to view truth. 

One is exclusivism - there is one true truth. Everything else is wrong. 

Two is relativism. There are many paths and however you get there it doesn't matter.

Mason's concept of particularism is an alternative outlook. He talks about Jacob chapter 5 where the Lord calls workers to his vineyard. In our world, certain communities have special gifts but whatever your gift is it is given to you for the benefit of the whole vineyard - for all of God's children.

We in the LDS church have been asked to steward over and perform certain jobs. We haven't been asked to do everything. We have stewardship over restoration scriptures, certain kinds of priesthood, temple rituals. If we don't do it, it doesn't get done.

At the same time we can appreciate what the Muslims, the Catholics, the Hindus etc are doing. We can accept that God has given them gifts and callings as well. We all make up the body of Christ, the family of God.

We can learn from and appreciate their pieces without giving up the piece that we have been given or weaken our commitment to what God has called us to do, to restore the wholeness of the human family.

Patrick Mason is a professor of religious studies at Utah State University. He holds the Leonard J Arrington chair of Mormon history and culture at U.S.U. He is also involved in the Neil A Maxwell institute. These thoughts came come from his recent book: Restoration God's call to the 21st century.

Doctrine and Covenants 18

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of god. For behold the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men that all men might change and progress and come unto him.

From page 160 of the book All Things New by Fiona and Terryl Givens:

Love worth having is not love that is earned; our worth is not God's cup to be filled with correct words and gestures and deeds. Our worth already has the greatest validation of which the cosmos is capable. The universe's most perfect and holy being came to heal us from our wounds, redeem us from death, and shepherd us into immortality and eternal life. That was Christ's testament to our worth(iness,) and no power on earth or in hell can impugn a worth so powerfully affirmed.

The love that envelops us is not based on our worthiness. It is not our merit that brings it forth. This love, unsolicited, is the miracle that tells us we have a permanent and cherished place in the universe.

And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on condition of repentance.

He cannot do it for us. He prepared the way, he continually invites, but heaven is not a prize nor a place - it is a community of loving beings eternally connected. The Savior cannot do that for us. We can't just say sorry and be forgiven.  We have to become, to change, and be that person.

And how great is his joy in the soul that changes and grows to be like him.

Our joy is that He is there to guide us, to heal us, to shepherd us. His life and death opened the doors of eternity.  His plan created a learning environment where we begin to understand and adopt the principles of happiness. We have so much to be grateful for. His joy on the other hand is watching us figure things out for ourselves and begin to truly internalize those principles of happiness thus becoming changed, becoming more loving like He is.