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

Monday, July 31, 2017

D&C 18

To Oliver Cowdery, the Lord said -

"Now, behold, because of the thing which you, my servant Oliver Cowdery, have desired to know of me, I give unto you these words:
2 Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true; wherefore you know that they are true."  (Doctrine and Covenants 18:1–2)

Even though we have a testimony, without nourishing it, it may begin to fade.  I believe if we recall and ponder our experiences with the Spirit, those same feelings will return.

Friday, July 28, 2017

D&C 17

After instructing Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris to testify according to His instructions concerning being the witnesses promised in the Book of Mormon, He promises -

"And if you do these last commandments of mine, which I have given you, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; for my grace is sufficient for you, and you shall be lifted up at the last day."  (Doctrine and Covenants 17:8)

My thoughts this morning is they did do "these last commandments" and never denied them.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

D&C 14

Something that caught my attention this morning were the word of the Lord to David Whitmer -

"...behold, thou art David, and thou art called to assist; which thing if ye do, and are faithful, ye shall be blessed both spiritually and temporally, and great shall be your reward."  (Doctrine and Covenants 14:11)

It was the instruction the David was "called to assist".  Not everyone can be a "president".  One's mission in life may be to "assist" in the work.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

D&C 12

The Lord teaches Joseph Knight, Sr. as well as everyone else how we do His work saying -

"...behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.
7 Behold, I speak unto you, and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work;
8 And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care."  (Doctrine and Covenants 12:6–8)

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

D&C 11

As the Savior taught the Nephites as He visited the Americas, He teaches Hyrum -

"Build upon my rock, which is my gospel..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 11:24)

His rock is the gospel or the doctrine of Christ.

Friday, July 21, 2017

D&C 11

In a previous revelation, the Lord teaches Oliver Cowdery -

"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3)


Now with Hyrum Smith, he teaches the same doctrine on revelation but with differing words -

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 11:13)

Again it describes the mind and heart.  Joy and peace are examples of the heart.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

D&C 10

As wicked men plotted the means by which to destroy the Prophet Joseph Smith and the work he was doing, the Lord explained their thoughts and reasoning -

"...we will do this that we may not be ashamed in the end, and that we may get glory of the world."  (Doctrine and Covenants 10:19)

The Lord then explains -

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their hearts; he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is good;
21 And their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and abominations; and they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; therefore they will not ask of me."  (Doctrine and Covenants 10:20–21)

With that, David J. Ridges comments (which I see so applicable today)-

"Satan is a master of deception. One of his strongest “tools” is that of stirring up feelings and emotions which go against and defy rational thought. For instance, as the Lord points out to Joseph, in verse 21, next, these men did not even ask God in prayer, if perhaps Joseph Smith has indeed been called as a prophet and is in fact translating ancient scripture. Because the devil has stirred up their hearts (feelings) so effectively, they haven’t even taken time to “ask of me” (verse 21). Thus, we are taught that wickedness does not promote rational thought. If Satan can get people to act according to feelings of hatred, jealousy, prejudice, etc., as he has these men, in other words, if he can stir up wicked feelings within their hearts, he can usually ruin their ability to think clearly, and thus he traps them successfully." (Ridges, David J. . The Doctrine and Covenants Made Easier, Part 1)

We see so much irrational thoughts from the media these days.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

D&C 8

After Oliver Cowdery was probably greatly disappointed when he failed to be able to translate, and then told that he should focus on writing for the Prophet, the Lord instructed Oliver - "

"Do this thing which I have commanded you, and you shall prosper. Be faithful, and yield to no temptation.
14 Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall be lifted up at the last day."  (Doctrine and Covenants 9:13–14)

We should be satisfied with the work we are called to and be diligent in doing so.  The end promises seem just the same.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

D&C 8

As the Savior teaches how revelation is received through the Holy Ghost, He adds one necessary component saying -

 "Oh, remember these words, and keep my commandments..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 8:5)

Monday, July 17, 2017

D&C 6

Sometimes you feel the Lord is speaking directly to you.  Without a lot of explanation, I was touched by the words -

"Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you."  (Doctrine and Covenants 6:35)

Friday, July 14, 2017

D&C 6

The Lord said to Oliver Cowdery -

"Behold thou hast a gift, and blessed art thou because of thy gift..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 6:10)

There is much speculation concerning the nature of this gift.  Much of the remaining revelation suggests that is it the gift of revelation.  Some have assumed it to be the gift of Aaron mentioned in following revelations.

But what thought came to me this morning was the gift to be a witness of the Book of Mormon which gift would include seeing and feeling the gold plates as well as some other items and hearing the voice of an angel testifying of its truthfulness.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

D&C 5

I find it interesting that the Savior said himself concerning the world seeing the gold plates -

"Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe you, my servant Joseph, if it were possible that you should show them all these things which I have committed unto you."  (Doctrine and Covenants 5:7)

I'm sure the world would generate much opposition and false claims if the gold plates were on display.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

D&C 4

As the Lord reveals His mind and will concerning "a marvelous work" and our desires to serve, He teaches -

"...faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.
7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."  (Doctrine and Covenants 4:5–7)

In my mind, this is how we share the gospel including to those that are less active.  I specifically note faith, patience, brotherly kindness, charity, humility and diligence as guided by the Spirit.  This is how we soften a hard heart.  President George Albert Smith said -

“It is not necessary for you to be called to go into the mission field in order to proclaim the truth. Begin on the man who lives next door by inspiring confidence in him, by inspiring love in him for you because of your righteousness, and your missionary work has already begun.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1916, pp. 50–51.)

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

D&C 3

As Moroni provides the Prophet Joseph Smith the Urim and Thummim to receive a revelation, after being chastised for the loss of 116 translated pages, the Lord said -

"But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 3:10)

Though this revelation was given in July, it is my understanding that Moroni did not return the plates and other things until September 22nd.  I can just imagine what Joseph Smith experienced during that period.  May be a good pattern as we raise our children.

Monday, July 10, 2017

D&C 2

Where it was timely for Malachi and the Savior (Americas) to say that Elijah would be sent, in my mind, it became more timely in modern day as Moroni relayed to the Prophet Joseph Smith - "

"...I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."  (Doctrine and Covenants 2:1–3)

Though I admit I do not know the meaning of all things, I believe the words "reveal unto you the Priesthood" would suggest the sealing power, or fullness of the priesthood is priesthood power and authority related to receiving exaltation.

Friday, July 07, 2017

D&C 1

Yesterday, I blogged concerning the obligations of His disciples.  The Lord now teaches -

"Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man."  (Doctrine and Covenants 1:10)

Our reward seems apparent conditioned upon our example, kindness, and service in softening the hearts of men.

Thursday, July 06, 2017

D&C 1

I am again starting the D&C over.

As the Lord teaches His doctrine of the Plan of Salvation, He says -

Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men
(Doctrine and Covenants 1:1)

For -

"...there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated."  (Doctrine and Covenants 1:2)

I specifically note  "heart that shall not be penetrated".  This would suggest to me a full understanding with no offense.  And who is to do this -

"...the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days."  (Doctrine and Covenants 1:4)

I believe our work is softening the hearts of men through kindness and service.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

PofGP - Wentworth Letter

In the Wentworth letter, after having described all the persecution, injustice, loss of property with no regress that the saints had experienced to that point in time, the Prophet Joseph Smith prophecies -

“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

This easily could be canonized scripture.

Monday, July 03, 2017

Articles of Faith

In my opinion that there may be more mixture of peoples or races than we know about, nonetheless the Prophet wrote in the Wentworth Letter concerning the people of the Book of Mormon -

"...The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country..."