D&C 29

There was a common phrase made popular years ago by Flip Wilson - "the devil made me do it."    In modern revelation we learn some of the limits of his power or ability to tempt.  In this revelation we learn -

"...that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;
47 Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me..."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 29:46 - 47)

That is Satan cannot tempt little children.  We know that little children become accountable around eight years of age -

"For all men must repent and be baptized, and not only men, but women, and children who have arrived at the years of accountability."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 18:42)

And -

"...children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 68:27)

We also know that Satan cannot know our thoughts for there is -

"...none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 6:16)

D&C 29

The Lord taught in the presence of several elders -

"...the devil...rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power..."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 29:36)

We read in other verses in scripture that honor and power are related.  In this case the Lord is suggesting that the honor given Him is His power.  He teaches much the same principle to the priesthood as they -

"Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly..."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 121:45)

As they do, among other consequences, He teaches -

"...thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 121:46)

Isn't that what honor is where individuals with agency or without compulsory means.  Honor is one of His sources of power.

D&C 28

The Lord instructed Oliver Cowdery -

"...no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 28:2)

In relationship to these revelations and commandments as well as men called of God, the Lord taught a new doctrine -

"For all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 28:13)

Some may suggest that common consent allows the saints to vote whether to accept and individual or a doctrine.  But this is not the case nor the purpose.  "Common consent" allows the saints to exercise their agency to sustain the individual and/or the doctrine or not.  Common consent does not allow voting in some sort of democracy to determine its acceptance.  When revelations or callings are extended by those that hold priesthood keys -

"...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:38)

We are always given the opportunity to visibly sustain with our own agnecy such revelations.  It is the order of the Celestial kingdom in following the Savior.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained -

"Administrative affairs of the Church are handled in accordance with the law of common consent. This law is that in God's earthly kingdom, the King counsels what should be done, but then he allows his subjects to accept or reject his proposals. Unless the principle of free agency is operated in righteousness men do not progress to ultimate salvation in the heavenly kingdom hereafter. Accordingly, church officers are selected by the spirit of revelation in those appointed to choose them, but before the officers may serve in their positions, they must receive a formal sustaining vote of the people over whom they are to preside. (D&C 20:60-67; 26:2; 28; 38:34, 35; 41:9-11; 42:11; 102:9; 124:124-145.)" (Bruce R. McConkie, MD, pp. 149-50.)



Charles Penrose also wrote -

"It was designed by the Almighty in the organization of this Church, that the voice of the people should respond to the voice of the Lord. It is the voice of the Lord and the voice of the people together in this Church that sanctions all things therein. [Sec. 20:63-66.] In the rise of the Church the Lord gave a revelation which said that 'all things shall be done by common consent.' And the Lord designs that every individual member shall take an interest therein, shall bear a part of the responsibility, and shall take upon him or her the spirit of the Church, and be an active living member of the body." (Charles W. Penrose, JD 21:45-46.)

D&C 27

In this revelation, the Lord emphasizes the importance of keys of priesthood as He recounts all the keys that will be dispensed by different individuals in this, the dispensation of the fullness of times saying -

"...Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim..."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 27:5)

"...Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days..."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 27:6)

"...John I have sent unto you...to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron..."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 27:8)

"...also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse..."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 27:9)

"...also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain;
11 And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days..."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 27:10 - 11)

"...with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them..."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 27:12)

And it was to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Lord clear -

"Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth..."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 27:13)

It is these keys to administer and authorize that all saints should come to an understanding of and possess a firm testimony of.

D&C 25

This coming Sunday, the stake is holding an annual bishopric training meeting.  The wives are also invited to participate in their own meeting later in the morning under the direction of stake leadership wives.  As I read this morning, the counsel of the Lord to Emma Smith seemed to catch my attention as He said -

"Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:4)

In this case, I'm sure the Lord was referring to the fact that Emma had not been given the privilege to see the plates or some other artifacts.  But this holds true to many of the wives of bishops today as they serve as Judges in Israel on confidential matters.  The Lord counsels Emma -

"...the office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., thy husband, in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:5)

And when appropriate -

"...thou shalt go with him at the time of his going..."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:6)

Even -

"...be unto him for a scribe, while there is no one to be a scribe for him..."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 25:6)

The counsels concludes with -

"...lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.
14 Continue in the spirit of meekness, and beware of pride. Let thy soul delight in thy husband, and the glory which shall come upon him."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:13 - 14)

D&C 24

The Lord instructed the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to -

"Magnify thine office...  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 24:3)

Regarding the meaning of magnifying ones office, President Joseph Fielding Smith said -

"Sometimes we speak loosely of magnifying our priesthood, but what the revelations speak of is magnifying our callings in the priesthood, as elders, seventies, high priests, patriarchs, and apostles.

The priesthood held by man is the power and authority of God delegated to man on earth to act in all things for the salvation of mankind. Priesthood offices or callings are ministerial assignments to perform specially assigned service in the priesthood. And the way to magnify these callings is to do the work designed to be performed by those who hold the particular office involved.

It does not matter what office we hold as long as we are true and faithful to our obligations. One office is not greater than another, although for administrative reasons one priesthood holder may be called to preside over and direct the labors of another. . .
We are called upon to magnify our callings in the priesthood and to do the work which goes with the office we receive. And so the Lord says, in the revelation on priesthood: 'Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; . . . that the system may be kept perfect.' (D&C 84:109-110.)

This is one of the great goals toward which we are working in the priesthood program of the Church, to have elders do the work of elders, seventies the work of seventies, high priests the work of high priests, and so on, so that all priesthood holders may magnify their own callings and reap the rich blessings promised from such a course." (Joseph Fielding Smith, CR, October 1970, pp. 90-92.)

In magnifying ones office, the Lord said -

"Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and against deadly poisons...."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 24:13)

Our priesthood office is not require miracles of the Lord, that is His choice.  But he does provide exceptions specifically in regards to giving blessings, healing the physically and spiritually sick.  But even then, the Lord counsels -

"And these things ye shall not do, except it be required of you by them who desire it..."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 24:14)

The priesthood should always request the permission on request of the individual.

D&C 23

This morning I read a brief revelation given to several members of the Church who desired to know their respective duties. What seemed to catch my attention was that portion directed to Hyrum Smith -

"...I speak unto you, Hyrum, a few words; for thou also art under no condemnation, and thy heart is opened, and thy tongue loosed; and thy calling is to exhortation, and to strengthen the church continually. Wherefore thy duty is unto the church forever, and this because of thy family." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 23:3)

What caught my attention was the words "thy duty is unto the church forever, and this because of thy family". With all the duties given to the over members, to him was specifically given the words "because of thy family". I'm sure the general opinion of the purpose of these words may have been in regards to the office of patriarch that his father held and of which Hyrum would eventually hold, and many of his posterity.

But my thoughts seemed to go beyond that. I personally know and love a descendant of Hyrum Smith, Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr., a grandson of President Joseph Fielding Smith. President Smith was a descendant of President Joseph F. Smith. And there were many more. I had feelings this morning that the Lord knew that Hyrum would have a great posterity of righteous and valiant individuals. The Prophet Joseph Smith and Hyrum may have never realized the prophecy of these great words.

D&C 22

In the closing words of the Book of Judges we learn -

"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
(Old Testament Judges 21:25)

With the organization of the Church there were some that thought that they had already complied with the ordinance of Baptism. In ignorance, they thought that which was done was "right in his own eyes" which seems so prevelant today. The Lord responded -

"...all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing; and this is a new and an everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning.
2 Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works.
3 For it is because of your dead works that I have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me, even as in days of old.
4 Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 22:1 - 4)

In parable, the Lord had already taught -

"...He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (New Testament John 10:1)

It is the Lord, the Good Sheperd, that determines the door, not us. The Lord made it very clear that we are to follow his commandments and do what He deems as right, not what we think is right in our own eyes.

D&C 21

From the beginning of the organization of the Church, the importance of priesthood keys held by the Prophet becomes very apparent as the the Lord said -

"Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:4 - 5)

And with that commandment, the Lord provides this promise -

"For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:6)

I believe that is power and authority of priesthood keys dispensed in this dispensation. The Lord continues with this promise also -

"...I will bless all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty blessing, and they shall believe on his words, which are given him through me by the Comforter, which manifesteth that Jesus was crucified by sinful men for the sins of the world, yea, for the remission of sins unto the contrite heart." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:9)

D&C 20

As the Church was being organized in its infant state, the Lord provided some basic instruction and commandments including -

"...by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:37)

I believe the commandment "...and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ..." was somewhat a new and uncomfortable concept for the members of the Church. The commandment that those wishing to become members had to demonstrate by some form of "works" or evidence that they had received the Spirit of Christ probably was not generally taught. Of this revelation, the Prophet Joseph Smith recorded -

"Whilst thus employed in the work appointed me by my Heavenly Father, I received a letter from Oliver Cowdery, the contents of which gave me both sorrow and uneasiness. Not having that letter now in my possession, I cannot of course give it here in full, but merely an extract of the most prominent parts, which I can yet, and expect long to, remember. He wrote to inform me that he had discovered an error in one of the commandments—Book of Doctrine and Covenants: "And truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto a remission of their sins."

The above quotation, he said, was erroneous, and added: "I command you in the name of God to erase those words, that no priestcraft be amongst us!"

I immediately wrote to him in reply, in which I asked him by what authority he took upon him to command me to alter or erase, to add to or dimish from, a revelation or commandment from Almighty God.

A few days afterwards I visited him and Mr. Whitmer's family, when I found the family in general of his opinion concerning the words above quoted, and it was not without both labor and perseverance that I could prevail with any of them to reason calmly on the subject. However, Christian Whitmer at length became convinced that the sentence was reasonable, and according to Scripture; and finally, with his assistance, I succeeded in bringing, not only the Whitmer family, but also Oliver Cowdery to acknowledge that they had been in error, and that the sentence in dispute was in accordance with the rest of the commandment. And thus was this error rooted out." (HC 1:104-5.)

I believe this is a doctrine not only for those wishing membership into the Church, but also all members that desire any ordinances, ordinations, or even callings in the Church. That is why we have interviews. It provides the opportunity for members to -

"...manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:37)

D&C 20

In reference to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord said -

"After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a remission of his sins, he was entangled again in the vanities of the world;
6 But after repenting, and humbling himself sincerely, through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy angel, whose countenance was as lightning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:5 - 6)

Joseph Smith also admitted in his own history -

"During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three—having been forbidden to join any of the religious sects of the day, and being of very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me—I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:28)

I find it interesting that even with the Prophet, that when his friends rejected him or provided very little support, he was left to all kinds of temptations. The word of the Lord and the Prophets history can provide a great warning and lesson for the youth of the Church as well as Church leaders. When we fail to provide the necessary support for each youth, we must realize the warning of the Prophet - which is the youth may be left to all kinds of temptations. For leaders and members of the Church, this should cause much reflection on the words of Jacob -

"...we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day." (Book of Mormon Jacob 1:19)

D&C 20

With the organization of the Church, the Lord provided a revelation on the "Church Organization and Government". Of this revelation, the Prophet recorded -

"We obtained of him [Jesus Christ] the following, by the spirit of prophecy and revelation; which not only gave us much information, but also pointed out to us the precise day upon which, according to his will and commandment, we should proceed to organize his Church once more here upon the earth." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:Heading)

As I read this revelation this morning, two verses caught my attention. The first in regards to the offices of the teacher and deacon in the Aaronic priestood -

"...neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:58)

This would suggest in my mind, that deacons and teachers have not authority to ordain or even stand in the circle with "the lay on of hands" with the ordination of other teachers or deacons.

The second verse that caught my attention was in regards to the sacrament -

"...the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:76)

I was asked the other day if it was necessary to kneel on both knees or one could kneel on one knee. The reason was the present presiding authority in the meeting required both knees. I had never heard or received any direction on the matter. I looked up the Merrian-Webster definition for kneel -

": to bend the knee : fall or rest on the knees"

Based on this definition, either would be acceptable. Until I receive any direction from my file leaders, I would thing either or would be okay. But nonetheless, if a presiding authority wants it done in a certain manner, we should always follow the instruction of the presiding authority.

The secon