Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

D&C 109

In the inspired dedicatory prayer of the Prophet Joseph Smith, recounts the revelation of the Lord praying -

"...thou hast said in a revelation, given to us, calling us thy friends, saying—Call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you;
7 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith;
8 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
9 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High—" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:6 - 9)

And then the Prophet prayerfully pleads -

"...that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord's house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness.
14 And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said;
15 And that they may grow up in thee, and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost, and be organized according to thy laws..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:13 - 15)

All for the very purpose to -

"...be prepared to obtain every needful thing..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:15)

In my mind, every needful thing is all covenants, oaths, powers, sealings, and knowledge to satisfy entry and live into the presence of God. This is the purpose of the temple or His house that it -

"...may be a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory and of God, even thy house;
17 That all the incomings of thy people, into this house, may be in the name of the Lord;
18 That all their outgoings from this house may be in the name of the Lord;
19 And that all their salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with holy hands, uplifted to the Most High..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:16 - 19)

And -

"...that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:22)

And also that -

"That no weapon formed against them shall prosper; that he who diggeth a pit for them shall fall into the same himself;
26 That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:25 - 26)

He reminds us -

"...that no unclean thing shall be permitted to come into thy house to pollute it..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:20)

And because of His mercy and grace -

"...when thy people transgress, any of them, they may speedily repent and return unto thee, and find favor in thy sight, and be restored to the blessings which thou hast ordained to be poured out upon those who shall reverence thee in thy house." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:21)

What a wonderful thought that these blessings are available to all that repent and are willing to make and keep sacred covenants.