D&C 64

After having given much instruction and commandments, the Lord follows -

"These things remain to overcome through patience..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:66)

Which suggests to me that we don't necessarily overcome our weaknesses all at once but "here a little and there a little".

One more thing I found interesting today was two differing individual commandments for differing purposes where the Lord said -

"...that my servant Isaac Morley may not be tempted above that which he is able to bear, and counsel wrongfully to your hurt, I gave commandment that his farm should be sold.
21 I will not that my servant Frederick G. Williams should sell his farm, for I, the Lord, will to retain a strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years, in the which I will not overthrow the wicked, that thereby I may save some."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 64:20 - 21)

Each instruction for a specific purpose and benefit of the individual.

D&C 63

In Kirtland, the Lord said -

"...I will that my saints should be assembled upon the land of Zion..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:36)

Adding -

 "...that every man should take righteousness in his hands and faithfulness upon his loins..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:37)

In my mind, the "land of Zion" would include stakes of Zion.  Much of our work with be that those that live within stake boundaries are gathered and "assembled" (sacrament meeting) in the stake.

D&C 63

Speaking of His grace, the Savior says -

"Who buildeth up at his own will and pleasure..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:4)

For -

"...signs [or blessings] come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God.
11 Yea, signs come by faith, unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleaseth God..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:10 - 11)

For -

"...he that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:20)


And to the unbelieving or faithless, the Lord states concerning His will and grace -

"...behold, I, the Lord, say unto you that ye are not justified..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:19)

Basically, His will and pleasure is that we keep His commandments.

D&C 62

After having met some of the brethren in route to Missouri on the Prophet's return home, and after the Lord reveals His will concerning them, He adds -

"These things remain with you to do according to judgment and the directions of the Spirit."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 62:8)

Which suggests to me that following the directions of the Lord in scripture and priesthood counsel, much is left for us to be guided by the Spirit.

D&C 61

My blog this morning is nothing spiritual.  I learned something new.  As I read the Section 61 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord said -

"...now, concerning my servants, Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, let them come not again upon the waters, save it be upon the canal, while journeying unto their homes..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 61:23)

To be honest, I had no idea of what canal He was referring to until I googled Ohio canals and learned of the Ohio-Erie Canal that connected lake Erie and the Ohio River...I never new that.

D&C 60

The Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and Sidney Rigdon were told by the Savior -

"...For I am able to make you holy..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 60:7)

...which suggests, by the power of the atonement which is His grace, He can sanctify.

D&C 59

After stating some "thou shalt" commandments, the follows up with -

"And 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.
22 Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets; wherefore, trouble me no more concerning this matter."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:21 - 22)

In summary, God is offended when we fail to express gratitude for  his commandments and blessings and do not keep these commandments.  The very purpose of this life is to -

"...learn 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)

D&C 59

With the ten commandments, in our day, the Savior adds -

"Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
8 Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:7 - 8)

"Thou shalt" seems as strong of a commandment as others.

D&C 58

This is unusual...two blogs in the same day.  Something else that I was pondering this morning was the Lord's words given in Zion -

"For, behold, they shall push the people together from the ends of the earth."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:45)

This is much like -

"...let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."  (Old Testament | Deuteronomy 33:16 - 17)

I kept thinking of those that herd animals where they a herded or gathered to a corral for protection.  In my mind, the work of Ephraim and Manasseh in the last days is to push or herd the saints to the corral or in my mind, sacrament meeting.

D&C 58

This morning, I note two warnings the Lord gave to Martin Harris and W.W. Phelps, respectively -

"...let him repent of his sins, for he seeketh the praise of the world."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:39)

And -

"...I, the Lord, am not well pleased with him, for he seeketh to excel, and he is not sufficiently meek before me."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:41)

I should listen to this counsel and I like the scriptures unto myself.

D&C 58

As I read the instruction and counsel given by the revelation to Joseph Smith in Independence, Missouri, what struck me this morning -

"...he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:29)

...or in other words, their progress is slowed or stopped.

I felt somewhat accountable and guilty, in a small degree, with this instruction and sensed a need to repent.  There have been times when my direct priesthood leader has given me a "commandment" and I have felt that so called commandment somewhat unnecessary, not applicable, or inappropriate and have ignored it or been quite slothful.

D&C 56

We are regularly instructed to care for the poor and the needy.  Yet at the same time, the Lord also warns -

"Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men's goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!"  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 56:17)

This is part of the Church's welfare doctrine and self-reliance.

D&C 55

What caught my attention this morning was the instruction given to W.W. Phelps -

"...you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting and writing books for schools in this church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 55:4)

I think at first that many would think of general school instruction.  But my thoughts this morning could easily be  counsel for "Primary" and "Sunday School".

D&C 53

As Sidney Gilbert is counseled in teaching the Savior's doctrine or first principles and ordinances of the gospel including being ordained to the office of Elder, the Lord follows -

"Behold, these are the first ordinances which you shall receive; and the residue shall be made known in a time to come, according to your labor in my vineyard."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 53:6)

With that, the Lord adds -

"And again, I would that ye should learn that he only is saved who endureth unto the end..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 53:7)

In my mind, the hint that there are more ordinances and covenants would be considered "enduring to the end".

D&C 52

After the Savior declared that He would give a pattern in all things, He follows with a pattern leaders should demonstrate in their callings so the people are not deceived, giving -

"Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances.
16 He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances.
17 And again, he that trembleth under my power shall be made strong, and shall bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom, according to the revelations and truths which I have given you."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 52:15 - 17)

He then adds the contrary -

"And again, he that is overcome and bringeth not forth fruits, even according to this pattern, is not of me."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 52:18)

For my own reference, I am adding some comments by David J. Ridges -

Now, we will list these seven points again, along with brief commentary on each. In effect, if a person who is trying to persuade you toward a certain conclusion, course of action, belief, or whatever, conforms to all seven points in this pattern, then you can rest assured that you will not be deceived by him or her.

(1) The person prays to God faithfully.
(2) The person humbly desires correction as needed.
(3) The person is living in harmony with the covenants he or she has made with God, including faithful church attendance, tithe paying, temple attendance, and so forth.
(4) The person’s language is gentle and pleasant, not caustic and bitter.
(5) What you are hearing edifies you—in other words, brings you peace, light, and understanding (see D&C 50:22-24).
(6) The person is humble and respects and carefully follows the leaders of the Church, through whom the Lord extends His power and authority to all the world.
(7) The person’s teachings and life is in strict harmony with the scriptures and the words of the modern prophets and Apostles.  (Ridges, David J.. Doctrine and Covenants Made Easier Volume 2)

D&C 51

Many times in modern revelation, the word "church" is in reference to "branch" or Church unit.  Recently, one of our wards in our stake was moved to another stake.  These words touched me this morning -

"...let that which belongeth to this people not be taken and given unto that of another church."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 51:10)

It suggests to me that one ward or stake does not have claim on another's finances.

D&C 50

As the Lord speaks to some elders of the Church, I sense what He says to them, He is saying to all -

"...verily I say unto you, blessed are you who are now hearing these words of mine from the mouth of my servant, for your sins are forgiven you."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 50:36)

I believer as we read this revelation, We are also hear His words.  We learn that as we do that we -

"...are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 50:40)

The process of repenting, keeping His commandments, and study or hearkening to His words, we receive His grace and knowledge.

D&C 50

Regarding those that may be deceived by false spirits, the Savior acknowledges -

"...blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 50:5)

In my mind, all will be treated fairly with the truth whether in this life or in the spirit world, and if faithful, will inherit eternal life.  Ours is not to judge.

In regards to justification and sanctification, the Lord taught -

"...no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin."   (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 50:28)

Obviously, justification and sanctification go hand in hand.

D&C 49

As the Lord teaches the "shaking quakers" His doctrine, while discussing the meat an abundance of  food for man, He states -

"But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 49:20)

As I pondered that, I noticed that this doctrine we given in the midst of a discussion of food or the necessities of life.  My thoughts this morning isn't that one man should not be more rich than another for the Lord had said -

"...the rich have I made..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 38:16)

I believe He is saying that when it comes to the necessities of life, all have an obligation to care for the poor and the needy.

D&C 46

In reading the varying gifts of the Spirit this morning, I decided to note a verse in Romans -

"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us..."  (New Testament | Romans 12:5 - 6)

In other words, gifts of the Spirit are given by the Savior's grace or enabling power of the atonement.  This follows what I recently have blogged on...that the law of justification comes by His grace and His Spirit.  Thus, gifts of the Spirit falls under being justified.

D&C 46

Two of the gifts of the Spirit are -

"...to some it is given to have faith to be healed;
20 And to others it is given to have faith to heal."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 46:19 - 20)

The gift of faith to heal is not restricted to those that hold the priesthood.  The Prophet Joseph Smith said -

“if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their tongues, and let everything roll on.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 224.)