Judges 2

Can you imagine if the Prophet and all associated general authorities were taken and we were left with only stake president or bishops.  Think of the confusion and differences in administration.  In my mind this is what happened after Joshua because so many of Israel were disobedient.  We read the results -

"...there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
11 ¶ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:
12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.
13 And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth."  (Judges 2:10–13)

This was the case for some 200 years.

Joshua 23

Joshua warned Israel that they needed to complete the charge of the Lord to destroy the wicked nations and then also warned -

"Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.
12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
13 Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you."  (Joshua 23:11–13)

In my mind, don't keep one foot in Babylon.

Joshua 1

The Lord counseled Joshua as he was called to lead the children of Israel -

"...as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.'  (Joshua 1:5–8)

Great counsel to anyone that accepts a calling.

Articles of Faith

As I finished reading the Pearl of Great Price, one articles of faith reminded me of my duty -

"We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof."  Articles of Faith 1:5)

I have one secretary and two quorum teachers that need to be set apart.

Joseph Smith - History

Oliver Cowdery finished his testimony the restoration of the priesthood and baptism writing -

"...one touch with the finger of his love, yes, one ray of glory from the upper world, or one word from the mouth of the Savior, from the bosom of eternity, strikes it all into insignificance, and blots it forever from the mind. The assurance that we were in the presence of an angel, the certainty that we heard the voice of Jesus, and the truth unsullied as it flowed from a pure personage, dictated by the will of God, is to me past description, and I shall ever look upon this expression of the Savior’s goodness with wonder and thanksgiving while I am permitted to tarry; and in those mansions where perfection dwells and sin never comes, I hope to adore in that day which shall never cease.”—Messenger and Advocate, vol. 1 (October 1834), pp. 14–16.
(Joseph Smith—History, Note, 7)

In my mind, these are the feelings of being in the presence of God.

Joseph Smith - History

The impact of Martin Harris in that last days was significant.  Besides helping the Prophet Joseph Smith with financial assistance, being a scribe to the Book of Mormon, being one of the Three Witnesses, and mortgaging his farm for the printing of the book, I couldn't help but consider scriptural or prophetic references concerning his participation in with the coming forth of the Books of Mormon -

"the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed..."  (Isaiah 29:11)

Where Martin Harris visited Charles Anton in his investigation.

And -

"Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not."  (1 Nephi 9:5)

"But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."  (Words of Mormon 1:6–7)

Were as a result of disobedience with the 116 translated pages.

Joseph Smith - History

One comment by the Prophet suggests his ethics of being a hard worker saying -

"As my father’s worldly circumstances were very limited, we were under the necessity of laboring with our hands, hiring out by day’s work and otherwise, as we could get opportunity. Sometimes we were at home, and sometimes abroad, and by continuous labor were enabled to get a comfortable maintenance."  (Joseph Smith—History 1:55)

Joseph Smith - History

As the Prophet Joseph Smith relates Moroni's appearance, He states

"In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled."  (Joseph Smith—History 1:40)

The first verses of Isaiah 11 states -

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears..."  (Isaiah 11:1–3)

I believe this "rod" would include the Prophet Joseph Smith as well as all modern day prophets.

Joseph Smith - History

The Prophet Joseph Smith testified -

"...I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."  (Joseph Smith—History 1:25)

In a limited way, I feel much the same.

JS - History

The Spirit of Revelation comes in many forms and means per the Lord's will.  As the Prophet Joseph Smith read -

"...the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."  (Joseph Smith—History 1:11)

He later comments -

"Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again..."  (Joseph Smith—History 1:12)

When we are worthy and the Lord wants us to know something, revelation follows.

JST - Matthew

The Lord comments of His servants or ministering brethren -

"Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
50 Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing; and verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods."  (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:49–50)

The blessing will be to  those "so doing" or ministering.

JST - Matthew

I find it interesting that at a time when priesthood leaders encourage us to be more focused in ministering and loving our fellowman, the Lord prophesied concerning the wicked -

"...because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved."  (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:30)

I believe salvation does come from ministering.  (Mosiah 12:31)

Abraham 5

Even from the beginning, man was counseled -

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."  (Abraham 5:18)

We talk much of the doctrine of unity.  I believe this is the most important unity of all in relationship with our fellowmen.

Abraham 4

When Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, Abraham records -

"...Now I, Abraham, saw that it was after the Lord’s time, which was after the time of Kolob; for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning."  (Abraham 5:13)

Apparently, the Earth was created or organized in the presence of God.

We also read that before the sun and moon was placed in heavens -

 "...they (the Gods) said: Let there be light; and there was light.
4 And they (the Gods) comprehended the light, for it was bright; and they divided the light, or caused it to be divided, from the darkness.
5 And the Gods called the light Day, and the darkness they called Night. And it came to pass that from the evening until morning they called night; and from the morning until the evening they called day; and this was the first, or the beginning, of that which they called day and night."  (Abraham 4:3–5)

Thus, this light was not the light of the sun or moon, but a light in the presence of God.

Abraham 3

I believe the core of  what Abraham learned from the Urum and Thummim was -

 "If two things exist, and there be one above the other, there shall be greater things above them..." (Abraham 3:16)

In all things, everyone has a file leaders

Abraham 2

As Abraham is about to enter Egypt, he tells us -

"...I, Abraham, told Sarai, my wife, all that the Lord had said unto me—Therefore say unto them, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me for thy sake, and my soul shall live because of thee."  (Abraham 2:25)

I think Sarai knew this would be a great trial to save Abraham's life.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie comments -

“The Lord never sends apostles and prophets and righteous men to minister to his people without placing women of like spiritual stature at their sides. Adam stands as the great high priest, under Christ, to rule as a natural patriarch over all men of all ages, but he cannot rule alone; Eve, his wife, rules at his side, having like caliber and attainments to his own. Abraham is tested as few men have been when the Lord commands him to offer Isaac upon the altar (Gen. 22:1–19); and Sarah struggles with like problems when the Lord directs that she withhold from the Egyptians her status as Abraham's wife.… And so it goes, in all dispensations and at all times when there are holy men there are also holy women. Neither stands alone before the Lord. The exaltation of the one is dependent upon that of the other” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Vol. 3, page 302).
Ridges, David J. . The Pearl of Great Price Made Easier (The Gospel Studies Series) (Kindle Locations 3475-3481). Cedar Fort, Inc. Kindle Edition.

I feel much the same in my own life

Abraham 2

Knowing that both Jewish and Arab peoples are descendants of Abraham, I note the Lord's promise to Abraham -

"...I, Abraham, and Lot, my brother’s son, prayed unto the Lord, and the Lord appeared unto me, and said unto me: Arise, and take Lot with thee; for I have purposed to take thee away out of Haran, and to make of thee a minister to bear my name in a strange land which I will give unto thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession, when they hearken to my voice."  (Abraham 2:6)

Note the "when they hearken to my voice".