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, March 26, 2013

D&C 59

In this revelation, the Lord stresses two commandments that bring great blessings.  First being, so -

"...that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
12 But remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:9 - 12)

I note that in verse 9 that the Lord said "thou shalt" got to Church on Sunday.  Some have reasoned that going to nature brings peace and the Spirit.  That may be so, but that is to be done as suggested in verse 11 on other days of the week.  I also note in my mind that oblations could be offerings of service in participating in Sunday meetings in administration, ministering, teaching, and support.

For -

"...on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.
14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:13 - 14)

I would even suggest that by "fasting" would be keeping the Sabbath day holy in that "thou shalt do none other things" would be fasting from the labors of the week and performing labors or oblations to God.

The blessings associated to this commandment include -

"...that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:16 - 20)

The second significant commandment is -

"Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:7)

I note again..."thou shalt.  In conjunction to this commandment, the Lord teaches -

"...in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:21)

Again, with such, the blessings are -

"...that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come."  )Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:23)

Works of righteousness always brings its rewards.