David Journal

Category: Scripture Notes

  • 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…

  • No doubt about God

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    David
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    One key feature of the millennium will be the death of atheism—only toward the end of the thousand years will men again begin to deny God. That doesn’t mean that everyone will have exactly the same knowledge of God for those thousand years but there will be no dispute regarding His existence and His benevolence…

  • Reconciled to Christ

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    David
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    I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat. I have charity for the Jew—I say Jew, because I mean them from whence I came. I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they…

  • The kingdom of heaven is at hand

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    David
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    Declaring to the world that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” would have had special meaning in the earliest days of the church when the temporary kingdom was first available on earth again after having been absent for centuries. I think that is still true every time someone is first exposed to the restored…

  • Acting no hypocrisy

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    David
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    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism … then cometh…

  • The story of James Covel

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    David
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    I suspect there are many like James Covel who get in the right place to say “Lord, I would follow thee” and then fear the consequences of making a massive change in their lives like the rich young man who went away sorrowing. It looks different for each individual. For James Covel he was a…

  • More nations than one

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    David
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    I have thought many times that we will eventually learn how God has been operating through among nations that aren’t primarily Christian such as those in Africa, Eastern Asia, and India. (Also ancient cultures in address that are now predominantly Christian.) At some point we will have accurate records of the hand of the Lord…

  • Wisdom vs Commandment

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    David
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    Section 28 is a hidden gem as it clearly lays the distinction between the role of the president of the church (in this case, Joseph) compared to an apostle who is likewise a prophet, seer, and revelator. (The church did not have any called apostles at this time but the role outlined for Oliver here…

  • The ultimate sacrament meeting

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    David
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    Wherefore, 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. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and…

  • Two prophecies

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    David
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    Nephi’s prophecy about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is probably much more clear to us than it was to his people. On the other hand, the prophecy that follows it explains the process by which the world has and will degrade spiritually before the return of Christ.