D&C 76

There is so much to ponder in the 76th Section that I feel whatever I write is inadequate. As I read this morning, I would re-read verses over and over. Each time feeling more and more insight.

"...I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
6 Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
7 And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
8 Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
9 And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.
10 For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:5 - 10)

I read those verses over and over this morning. To be honest, it is very early in the morning. I have struggled with sleep. For some reason, a great deal has been on my mind and in my heart - as if I need a combination of wisdom, enlightenment, and peace. Again "For ...I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:5)

As I read and re-read, and as I "..meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of [my] understanding..."(Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:19) "By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and [my] understanding [was] enlightened, so as to see and understand [a few of the] things of God—" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:12)

The Prophet and Sidney Rigdon testified -

"..we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, ...
21 And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever.
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!
23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:20 - 24)

I was touched with "...them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:21) It is those sanctified that worship in reverence forever and ever. And what that means to me and my struggles of the evening is -

"...No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned [and] by kindness, and pure knowledge...and without guile—..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 121:41 - 42)