David Journal

Category: Scripture Notes

  • Another call to organize

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    David
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    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…

  • Not just a story

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    David
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    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.

  • All are called

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    David
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    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…

  • Blazing a trail

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    David
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    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…

  • Not giving up

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    David
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    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…

  • A house of order

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    David
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    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…

  • Noticing nuances

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    David
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    Somehow I had always read the words of Jacob warning his people against their pride and thought that their pride was a result of seeking for riches. I realized today that he never suggested that seeking for riches caused their pride, he said that their pride came because some of them received more assistance than…

  • Defining peaceable things

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    David
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    If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal. Doctrine & Covenants 42:61 The reason that the Lord promises revelation and knowledge is to teach “the mysteries and peaceable things” but I like how…

  • Dual records

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    David
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    Regardless of how much or little Nephi and Jacob knew of what would happen with these records they understood that there would be efforts to destroy the records and so they worked to ensure that the two sets of records would be separated. One would follow political lines of authority and the other would follow…

  • The Endowment narrative

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    David
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    I had never noticed this concise description of the narrative which underscores the temple endowment ceremony. The doctrine isn’t new but I don’t think there is any single place in scripture which declares the spiritual historic foundation that is used to give context to the covenants made in the temple endowment. It is here in…