David Journal

Category: Scripture Notes

  • Emma’s role

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    David
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    I have always noticed the instructions for Emma to compile a book of hymns and to be a comfort to Joseph in his allocations but have paid less attention to her calling to expound the scriptures to those in the church according to the Spirit of God – that is no less than what Oliver…

  • Not blessed in temporal labors

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    David
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    While I can’t know how Joseph felt about it, I can see obvious reasons why it might be discouraging to be told he was not blessed in temporal labors but I can also see how it could be comforting to know that. Having been told that he was not blessed in temporal labors could have…

  • Gone astray

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    David
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    It seems incredible that even while the people were being led day by day by the Lord they would turn aide to the idols of the land where they journeyed. Perhaps some of them feared to upset the people – surely others just wanted to cut loose because they didn’t honestly believe in anything. The…

  • Israel was not aggressive

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    David
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    Notice how multiple times Israel openly asked permission to cross the land, offering to pay if they drank water from the wells and it was only after the rollers of those land choose to come out in battle rather than allow them to cross the land that Israel was commanded to slay them and their…

  • Why death as punishment?

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    David
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    Starting with the man gathering sticks in the sabbath it is natural today to wonder why he was put to death. Why not banished from among the people? I don’t think the Lord would make such a harsh example just for gathering since sticks. I suspect that his disobedience was blatant – an act of…

  • A trusted servant

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    David
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    The Lord let the church know that He trusted Joseph with the work. They were to listen to Joseph because he had proven faithful. The Lord promised to bless Joseph’s works. No get the feeling that He would first help Joseph to know what he needed and that He would confirm Joseph’s words, backing up…

  • All things in order

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    David
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    I never before thought about the significance of these rules about keeping records of the members of the church joining or leaving as well as having certificates of membership when moving to a different branch of the church. Our records now are centralized and electronic but the same purposes were fulfilled before this technology was…

  • Moroni revisited

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    David
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    So much of what is contained in Doctrine and Covenants Section 20 must have been learned it heavily influenced by the Book of Mormon. In fact, a good portion of it seems to be compiling the instructions on the first six chapters of the book of Moroni detailing the basic functions of the church.

  • Intro to the world

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    David
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    This revelation was given at the finding of the church and I find it interesting that it starts with a very brief introduction to how the work came about – that it wasn’t something conceived by Joseph Smith but rather something that was assigned to him unexpectedly.

  • Two faithful

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    David
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    If those sent to spy out the land only two reported that they could take the land. All twelve reported a fruitful land but only Caleb of Judah and Joshua of Ephraim had faith that the Lord would give them the land.