D&C 18:5-47

18:5-9 - Verse 5 is pretty standard but DJR has an interesting take on it, the Lord says, “Wherefore, if you shall build up my church, upon the foundation of my gospel and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.” DJR comments that “Some members of the Church hesitate or decline to accept callings. What the Savior tells Oliver Cowdery next, in verse 5, applies to all of us and reminds us that if we accept and fulfilling callings, thus helping to ‘build up’ the Church, the ‘gates of hell’ will not ultimately win against us. This is a great benefit of being faithfully engaged in our church responsibilities.” I hadn’t considered it in that light before, but it makes total sense. This doesn’t just apply to the higher positions of the Church and it does just apply to people a long time ago, our efforts are working towards the kingdom of God now, no matter how insignificant we might think that our efforts are, and we are blessed and protected for our efforts. Interestingly, verses 7-8 is still addressing OC and DJR gives the doctrine as follows: “Don’t be critical of the Lord’s servants,” and comments “from the context of verses 7 and 8, next, it appears that Oliver may have had a tendency to be critical of the Prophet, Joseph, because of his imperfections. The counsel given to Oliver in verse 8 applies to all of us as we sustain our church leaders.” It was easy for me to look at these words to OC and tell myself that of course he’s doing wrong because we know from history that he eventually apostatized, but then I wonder if I myself have been at fault with this. I know I have, I’ve had really good bishops recently, and stake presidents, and I love President Monson and Uchtdorf and Eyring, I love all our church leadership. Ok that’s not true, I’ve had difficulty with a few of them, but I’m working on it. I have questions about them personally, but I try not to say anything negative to anyone, but I guess that’s not the point, the point is to not even think it in the first place, to know that they are human just like me and make mistakes but that they are servants of the Lord just like I am. The Lord tells OC, “Wherefore, as thou hast been baptized by the hands of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., according to that which I have commanded him, he hath fulfilled the things which I commanded him. And now, marvel now that I have called him unto mine own purpose, which purpose is known in me; wherefore, if he shall be diligent in keeping my commandments he shall be blessed unto eternal like; and his name if Joseph.” The IM teaches, “Attention is called to the name, because the Scriptures predict the coming of a great deliverer in the latter days, so named. Nephi says that Joseph, the Patriarch, predicted the coming forth of the House of Israel on the American continent, of a ‘righteous branch’ and a Seer, whose name, he said, ‘shall be called after me’ (Joseph), and after the name of his father.’ In Hebrew the name yasaph means ‘may God add sons.’ Great sons of God have borne this name: Joseph, the son of Jacob, inheritor of the birthright of Israel’ Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Christ; Joseph Smith Dr., the first patriarch of the Church in these last days; Joseph Smith Jr., the prophet through whom the Lord opened the last dispensation; Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, who saw the hosts of Israel in vision; and Joseph Fielding Smith, tenth President of the Church, a preacher of righteousness in the last days. Surely the Lord has added great sons to Israel through the loins of Joseph, who saw the house of Israel bow before him. Interestingly, the Lord now branches the revelation to not just be about OC but now includes David Whitmer saying, “and now, Oliver Cowdery, I speak unto you, and also unto David Whitmer, by the way of commandment; for, behold, I command all men everywhere to repent, and I speak unto you, even as Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called.” I have to be honest, I have no idea what this means. The IM teaches, “’In New Testament times, the Savior called and ordained twelve men whom he called both disciples and apostles to be special witnesses for him. Later other men, including Paul, were called and ordained as apostles. In this revelation, the Lord announces that he is going to give some men in this dispensation the same powers and authority he gave anciently to Paul.’ Brigham Young taught that Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer were the first apostles of this dispensation. To these, according to Heber C. Kimball, Martin Harris was later added. These men were instructed to find and ordain twelve others who would form the Quorum of the Twelve.” 18:10-47 - Now we come to the flagship of the section. The Lord says, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; where he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto you, on conditions of repentance.” I had a really interesting insight into the atonement. I realized that not every single person for whom the atonement was made will take advantage of it, some will deny it and refuse to be saved by it, but the Lord made it for them anyway. I think that probably the vast majority will partake of it, so those who won't will be fewer in number, but he STILL did it, knowing that they wouldn't use it. That was incredible to me to see how personal the atonement is/was for each of us. The IM quotes Elder Rudger Clawson as teaching, "And how are we to determine the value of souls? This matter has been determined for us also by revelation. The souls of men are so precious in the sight of God that He gave to the world His Only Begotten Son, that by the shedding if His blood He might draw all men unto Him. that is why the great Prophet of this dispensation, Joseph Smith, and these others, John Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and the rest, were called to bring souls unto Christ. And if one of these men should labor all his days, and bring save it be but only soul unto Christ, and that one should be his wife, what great joy he would have with his wife in heaven. Then if he should labor all his days and bring unto Christ the souls of his wife and his children, and none else perchance, how great would be his joy in heaven with his wife and children." I really liked the explanation that the one soul we need to save is our own, because it puts the ownership complete on us. But we don't necessarily have to convert our family members or others to bring them to Christ, living in a setting where you are an example of the believer, if you build each other up together spiritually, then that is bringing people to Christ, and they are doing the same for you.