D&C 33

Again, the Lord teaches His doctrine or gospel saying -

"Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.
12 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and remember that they shall have faith in me or they can in nowise be saved..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 33:11–12)

Of such, Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote -

“Sins are remitted not in the waters of baptism, as we say in speaking figuratively, but when we receive the Holy Ghost. It is the Holy Spirit of God that erases carnality and brings us into a state of righteousness. We become clean when we actually receive the fellowship and companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is then that sin and dross and evil are burned out of our souls as though by fire. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the baptism of fire” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 290).

D&C 31

As the Lord calls Thomas B. Marsh to serve a mission, He says something that I feel is significant -

"Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live."  (Doctrine and Covenants 31:5)

It is those words "wherefore, your family shall live", suggests to me that if we choose to serve the Lord according to His will, great promises are extended to our own families for on many occasions, the Lord says -

"...what I say unto one I say unto all..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 61:18)

D&C 30

As Peter Whitmer, Jr. was called to serve a mission with Oliver Cowdery to the Lamanites, the Lord provided an interesting and profound counsel to Peter concerning their companionship, instructing -

"...be you afflicted in all his afflictions, ever lifting up your heart unto me in prayer and faith, for his and your deliverance..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 30:6)

Not only is this sound counsel in missionary work to be "afflicted in all his afflictions" (empathy) but also in marriage.

D&C 29

After speaking that small children cannot sin until they are accountable, the Savior follows -

"And he that hath no understanding, it remaineth in me to do according as it is written..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 29:50)

...Suggesting much the same.  This is special to me because I have a handicap daughter.

D&C 29

Speaking of Adam, the Lord said -

"Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself; and I gave unto him commandment, but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments are spiritual; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual."  (Doctrine and Covenants 29:35)

I find it interesting that Elder John A Widtsoe taught of Adam's and Eve's life in the Garden -

"The memory of their former estates may have been dimmed, but the gospel had been taught them during their sojourn in the Garden of Eden…"  (Evidences and Reconciliations, pp.193-94)

D&C 29

In modern day, the Savior again declared -

"For the hour is nigh and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe; and all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that wickedness shall not be upon the earth..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 29:9)

Pondering the word "stubble" would suggest to me those that are left in the field ungathered.   Which would suggest they are not gathered into the garners.  I also understand that stubble can be easily burned.

Obviously, the proud and wicked want to remain as stubble in the field having no desire to be gathered.

D&C 29

As the Savior spoke of the last days, He tells us -

"Wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked."  (Doctrine and Covenants 29:8)

I believe that "one place" are the stakes of Zion.

D&C 28

As Oliver Cowdery is called to serve a mission to the Lamanites, the Lord instructs -

"... and inasmuch as they receive thy teachings thou shalt cause my church to be established among them; and thou shalt have revelations, but write them not by way of commandment."  (Doctrine and Covenants 28:8)

In my mind, we are all entitled to revelation concerning our callings and responsibilities, but not for the Church.  For it is given only to the Prophet and president of the Church -

"For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead."  (Doctrine and Covenants 28:7)

D&C 27

As the Lord introduces the whole armor of God, He first instructs -

"...lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand."  (Doctrine and Covenants 27:15)

I couldn't help but think this more that we are in the midst of "the evil day".  The only way we withstand it is to follow these instructions.

D&C 27

By one definition, "A apostle is a special witness of the name of Christ who is sent to teach the principles of salvation to others.  He is one who knows of the divinity of the Savior by personal revelation and who is appointed to bear testimony to the world of what the Lord has revealed to him..."  (Mormon Doctrine)

Because the Prophet Joseph Smith received the Melchizedek priesthood before the Church was organized, I believe this is the type of apostleship the Savior is referring to as He says -

"And also 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 27:12)

D&C 25

The Lord said to Emma Smith -

"...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.
15 Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come."  (Doctrine and Covenants 25:13–15)

I feel the Lord is suggesting that when we are related to someone that may be in callings of great importance, we should delight in it but not take pride in it but act with all meekness for the Lord concluded these instructions with -

"...verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 25:16)

D&C 26

As the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery are instructed in their duties, the Savior instructs them -

"...thou shalt take no purse nor scrip, neither staves, neither two coats, for the church shall give unto thee in the very hour what thou needest for food and for raiment, and for shoes and for money, and for scrip."  (Doctrine and Covenants 24:18)

Obviously, in their day, traveling amongst the saints took a great deal more time than today. I noted that the Lord is teaching the saints that it was the obligation of the Church, which means to me the saints or fellow members, to feed, cloth, and provide adequate funds for them to continue to carry out their duties.

D&C 24

Speaking of the Prophet Joseph Smith, I wonder how Emma felt as she heard/read the word of the Lord -

"For thou shalt devote all thy service in Zion; and in this thou shalt have strength.
8 Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.
9 And in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 24:7–9)

No question, these words would affect her life.

D&C 22

To those early saints that assumed that was not necessary to be baptized after being baptized in other faiths, the Lord said -

"...I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing; and this is a new and an everlasting covenant..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 22:1)

For -

"...you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works."  (Doctrine and Covenants 22:2)

"Dead" suggests meaningless, of no worth because it is of no avail. "Dead" works then include ordinances that maybe done with real intent are not valid.

D&C 21

Speaking of the Prophet (including current prophet), 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.
6 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 21:4–6)

What a inspiring thought that by doing so the Lord promises He will "cause the heavens to shake for your good".

D&C 20

This morning I noticed two distinct instructions to the early saints.  First concerning baptism -

"The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 20:73)

Not only is the person baptized to fully immersed in water but the person authorized shall also go down into the water.

The second is in regards to the administration of the sacrament -

"...the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 20:76)

Those words suggest to me that the recipient saints were also to kneed.  I would suspect that this was the case in the early days of the Church but as of late, that was changed by revelation.

D&C 20

After teaching the laws of justification and sanctification, the Lord follows with -

"But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God;
33 Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 20:32–33)

Obviously, even though we are justified and sanctified, we are not necessarily safe.  Yesterday we learned of a general authority that was excommunicated.  We are never out of the woods.  We must endure to the end.

D&C 20

As the Lord introduces the plan of salvation, He states -

"By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 20:17)

He then instructs that He -

"...gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship."  (Doctrine and Covenants 20:19)

In my mind, there may be some confusion here.  Some suggest that this means we only worship God the Father (Elohim), but in my mind the answer is in -

"Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 20:28)

I believe we worship all or in other words revere, respect, honor, etc.

D&C 20

Two scriptures caught my attention this morning as the Lord provides instruction for His new church. The first being in reference to the Prophet, the Lord -

"...gave unto him commandments which inspired him..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 20:7)

That is an interesting perspective that commandments inspire and bless our lives.

The second thought was in reference to the translation of the Book of Mormon which we are told -

"Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 20:10)

We learn that ministering angels are actively involved with the going forth of the Book of Mormon.

D&C 19

The Lord counsels with a greater perspective -

"Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof."  (Doctrine and Covenants 19:38)

Having His Spirit with us is far greater than the treasures of the earth for such treasures cannot buy peace and assurance.

D&C 19

I hope this doesn't sound not respectful, but I don't think the Lord is kidding when He says -

"...surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless.
5 Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand."  (Doctrine and Covenants 19:4–5)

This sounds very serious that He will not revoke judgements.

D&C 18

Speaking to His newly called apostles of modern day, the Savior says -

And now, after that you have received this, you must keep my commandments in all things;
(Doctrine and Covenants 18:43)

Adding -

"And after that you have received this, if you keep not my commandments you cannot be saved in the kingdom of my Father."  (Doctrine and Covenants 18:46)

God is no respecter of persons.  Thus the same applies to all...even His apostles

D&C 18

The Lord provided this instruction to saints that desire to be involved in reactivation and missionary work -

Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.
19 And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing."  (Doctrine and Covenants 18:18–19)

Everyone is different and we need the guidance of the Spirit as we do His work.