Category: Scripture Notes

  • Tireless

    When ye are weary he waketh morning by morning. 2 Nephi 7:4 This is so telling—I loved it when Elder Kearon said that the Lord relentlessly pursues His children trying to reclaim them. This is the same idea, while we may get exhausted by mortality the Lord keeps going in pursuing His work and His…

  • Follow the prophet

    For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. Doctrine & Covenants 21:5 The instruction to receive the words of the prophet as if they had come from the Lord is not about the prophet being infallible. Obedience to the Lord’s duly appointed servant is a demonstration…

  • It’s not complicated

    If it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved. 2 Nephi 6:12 Jacob says this of the gentiles but it applies to everyone, both Jew and Gentle.

  • 366 Days

    I never realized before that Joseph Smith met Oliver Cowdery exactly 366 days before organizing the church with him. They met on April 5, 1829 and organized the church on April 6, 1830.

  • Twin revelations

    Why did John Witmer and Peter Wither receive identical revelations? And why were both included in the Doctrine and Covenants? It seems redundant to include both.

  • Awake, my soul

    Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will…

  • The first general handbook

    Reading through Section 20 of the Doctrine & Covenants I realized that it is literally the first version of the General Handbook of Instruction. While the handbook has expanded into many other topics in the succeeding two centuries the directions here remain essentially unchanged.

  • Hedging his bets

    I think Joseph was young enough that Lehi had hope that he would follow Nephi but that he was also young enough that Lehi couldn’t be sure yet. He blessed Joseph with the promise that his seed would not be utterly destroyed, as he would bless the children of Laman and Lemuel, in case Joseph…

  • Martin’s thorn

    It sounds like Martin Harris had a hard time giving himself fully to the work and letting go of how the world would prescribe him and his actions

  • Look to the good examples

    Behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed…