Author: David
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Making extra trouble
And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one another. Doctrine & Covenants 45:33 It sounds like there will be plenty of challenges to focus on due to natural…
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Arrogant Sharem
Sharem was arrogant in his ignorance. He was so confident in what he thought he knew while being completely blind to what Jacob knew. Of course, not all who fight against the truth are that ignorant. Some of them come to the fight armed with some understanding of what faithful people may have experienced and…
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Another call to organize
What does it mean for the church to “organize yourselves according to the laws of man”? This was after the church had been formally organized according to the law in the state of New York. Did they have to incorporate in each state back then or is this about something other than a formal religious…
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Not just a story
The prophecy of Jacob after sharing Zenos’s allegory of the olive tree is to tell the people that this allegory isn’t just a parable—a story designed to convey a message or truth to learn from—but is actually a prophetic description of things that are happening from a spiritual perspective and will spiritually happen.
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All are called
I can’t decide if it only seems like all the early converts were called to preach it if that really was basically true. If it only feels like it it would because we tell stories and have scriptures for those who were called. On the other hand, with so few people to begin with every…
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Blazing a trail
I am once again struck by the fact that the early saints were blazing a new trail with no pattern to follow. They had reason to question any step they might take even when the Lord told them as possibly as possible what he wanted them to do because they were learning new concepts so…
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Not giving up
I never thought before of the fact that the tame olive tree was already old before the lord of the vineyard began his extraordinary efforts to preserve the tree. It’s another reminder of the factory of life that the Lord of the vineyard doesn’t simply say “it’s been a good run but this tree is…
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A house of order
There is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me. But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except…