D&C 60

As one ponders the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ and the law of sanctification, the Lord declared -

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

Clearly, the "power of Christ unto salvation".

D&C 59

In what may be in reference to Polly Knight, the Lord says to all -

"Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments.
2 For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them."  (Doctrine and Covenants 59:1–2)

"Come up unto this land" could also mean Zion or her stakes.  Righteous works will always follow them.

D&C 58

There is much "anti-Mormon" that suggest that the Church is not true because some prophesies were not fulfilled.  Of such, the Lord explained -

"Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?
32 I command and men obey not; I revoke and they receive not the blessing.
33 Then they say in their hearts: This is not the work of the Lord, for his promises are not fulfilled. But wo unto such, for their reward lurketh beneath, and not from above."  (Doctrine and Covenants 58:31–33)

Those authors should beware.

D&C 58

Some have wondered why the Lord revealed the land or center place of Zion to later have the land abandoned for a period.  In my mind, He reveals that answer with -

"Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."  (Doctrine and Covenants 58:3–4)

Adding -

"Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.
6 Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you—that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;
7 And also that you might be honored in laying the foundation, and in bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 58:5–7)

I sense that even though the Lord knew what would happened for a time period with Zion,  He wanted the saints to understand that it was from this center that the great work in the last days would progress.

D&C 54

Recently, I was having a discussion with some family members concerning some relatives and friends that had abandoned the sacred covenants they had made.  This morning I couldn't help but ponder the words of the Savior concerning such -

"...as the covenant which they made unto me has been broken, even so it has become void and of none effect.
5 And wo to him by whom this offense cometh, for it had been better for him that he had been drowned in the depth of the sea."  (Doctrine and Covenants 54:4–5)

Adding -

"Hearken, O ye people who profess my name, saith the Lord your God; for behold, mine anger is kindled against the rebellious, and they shall know mine arm and mine indignation, in the day of visitation and of wrath upon the nations.
2 And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.
3 Behold, I, the Lord, command; and he that will not obey shall be cut off in mine own due time, after I have commanded and the commandment is broken.
4 Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the Lord."  (Doctrine and Covenants 56:1–4)

Obviously, turning therefrom the covenants that one has made has great consequence...but His arm of mercy is still extended if they will but repent and return.

D&C 53

In answer to Sidney Gilbert's desire to concerning his "calling and election in the Church", the Lord tells him -

"Take upon you mine ordination, even that of an elder, to preach faith and repentance and remission of sins, according to my word, and the reception of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands;
4 And also to be an agent unto this church in the place which shall be appointed by the bishop, according to commandments which shall be given hereafter."  (Doctrine and Covenants 53:3–4)

What I find interesting is the follow up answer -

"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 53:6)

Obviously, there was more he would be called to do but it would be dependent upon his labor in the vineyard, or in other words, his works and faithfulness.

D&C 52

As the Lord declares that he will give unto a "a pattern in all things", in regards to teaching the gospel, he instructs -

"...let them journey from thence preaching the word by the way, saying none other things than that which the prophets and apostles have written, and that which is taught them by the Comforter through the prayer of faith."  (Doctrine and Covenants 52:9)

"...according to the revelations and truths which I have given you."  (Doctrine and Covenants 52:17)

"...declaring none other things than the prophets and apostles, that which they have seen and heard and most assuredly believe,"  (Doctrine and Covenants 52:36)

I becomes clear that the Lord wants us to teach that which is in scripture and modern day apostles and prophets.

D&C 51

Recently I attended a Sunday School class where the teacher read an early contract of inheritance with the law of consecration.  Even though it was an actual agreement it suggested an inheritance to be more rented retaining Church ownership.  The discussion proceeded suggesting that this was the law of consecration.

This was new for Bishop Edward Partridge as he strived to learn his duty.  But we learn with more instruction -

"Wherefore, let my servant Edward Partridge, and those whom he has chosen, in whom I am well pleased, appoint unto this people their portions, every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs.
4 And let my servant Edward Partridge, when he shall appoint a man his portion, give unto him a writing that shall secure unto him his portion, that he shall hold it, even this right and this inheritance in the church, until he transgresses and is not accounted worthy by the voice of the church, according to the laws and covenants of the church, to belong to the church.
5 And if he shall transgress and is not accounted worthy to belong to the church, he shall not have power to claim that portion which he has consecrated unto the bishop for the poor and needy of my church; therefore, he shall not retain the gift, but shall only have claim on that portion that is deeded unto him.
6 And thus all things shall be made sure, according to the laws of the land."  (Doctrine and Covenants 51:3–6)

Obviously, that which was given by the Church as an inheritance came in "writing" that is "deeded unto him" "according to the laws of the Land".  An integral part of the law of consecration is personal ownership of property.

D&C 50

The Savior teaches doctrine concerning calls to serve -

"He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is the least and the servant of all."  (Doctrine and Covenants 50:26)

He then teaches the consequence and blessing of being the least (humble) and servant to all -

"Wherefore, he is possessor of all things; for all things are subject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth, the life and the light, the Spirit and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son.
28 But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin.
29 And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done."  (Doctrine and Covenants 50:27–29)

In my mind, everything in modern revelation seems so logical.

D&C 50

During the Savior's ministry, it is clear that what He condemned was hypocrisy.  In the early days of the Church, He again emphasized -

"Behold, I, the Lord, have looked upon you, and have seen abominations in the church that profess my name.
5 But blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life.
6 But wo unto them that are deceivers and hypocrites, for, thus saith the Lord, I will bring them to judgment.
7 Behold, verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but behold such shall be reclaimed;
8 But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world."  (Doctrine and Covenants 50:4–8)

Obviously, in verse 7, hypocrites can have great affect in offending those whose testimony is still developing.

D&C 49

As we look forward to the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we are told -

"Wherefore, be not deceived, but continue in steadfastness, looking forth for the heavens to be shaken, and the earth to tremble and to reel to and fro as a drunken man, and for the valleys to be exalted, and for the mountains to be made low, and for the rough places to become smooth—and all this when the angel shall sound his trumpet."  (Doctrine and Covenants 49:23)

In my mind, this will be a test of faith.  But also with these signs -

"Zion shall flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled together unto the place which I have appointed."  (Doctrine and Covenants 49:25)

I believe that to be stakes of Zion.

D&C 47

Historical records suggest that John Whitmer wasn't necessarily thrilled with the call -

"And again, I say unto you that it shall be appointed unto him to keep the church record and history continually; for Oliver Cowdery I have appointed to another office."  (Doctrine and Covenants 47:3)

Just as it is today, where we are continually called for a period of service and then released, this was the case with Oliver Cowdery.  We too may not be thrilled with a calling, but we should strive to faithfully magnify that call until released and another called.

D&C 46

When it comes to testimony, I find it interesting that a gift of the Spirit is -

"To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful."  (Doctrine and Covenants 46:13–14)

Yet at the same time, the Lord encourages -

"...that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 46:8)

In my mind then , we should all seek the gift of the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

D&C 46

One of the gifts of the Spirit is -

"...it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal."  (Doctrine and Covenants 46:16)

Elder Marion G. Romney explained -

“By the statement in the revelation on spiritual gifts, ‘. . . it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, . . . and to others the discerning of spirits,’ it appears that there are some apparently supernatural manifestations which are not worked by the power of the Holy Ghost. The truth is there are many which are not. The world today is full of counterfeits. It has always been so. Away back in the days of Moses, when Aaron’s rod became a serpent, then Pharaoh’s wise men, sorcerers and magicians ‘. . . cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents. . . .’ (Ex. 7:11-12.) Isaiah warned against seeking ‘. . . unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: . . .’ (Isa. 8:19.)

“The Saints were cautioned by the Lord to walk uprightly before him, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that they might ‘. . . not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; . . .’ (D&C 47:7.)

“These citations not only sustain the proposition that there are counterfeits to the gifts of the Spirit, but they also suggest the origin of the counterfeits. However, we are not required to rely alone upon their implications, plain as they are, for the Lord states specifically that some of the counterfeits ‘. . . are of men, and others of devils.’ [D&C 46:7.]

“Some of these counterfeits are crude and easily detected, but others closely simulate true manifestations of the spirit. Consequently, people are confused and deceived by them. Without a key [such as the gift of knowing “the diversities of operations”], one cannot distinguish between the genuine and the counterfeit.” (In Conference Report, April 1956, pages 70-71.)

Obviously, Satan possesses the power and ability to perform counterfeits to these gifts.  We need to be careful.

D&C 45

As the Savior closes out His revelation concerning the signs of the times, He said -

"And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.
69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.
70 And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand."  (Doctrine and Covenants 45:68–70)

Though our first impressions may be of a physical war...which it may, I couldn't help this morning to think of it as a spiritual war much like the pre-mortal war in heaven.  Safety will only come as we flee wickedness and live according to the laws of Zion.