Blogging Through the Book of Mormon

Section 31 introduces a new character, at least I think he’s new, I can’t remember that far back, Thomas B. Marsh. He is an interesting man and his story is pretty interesting as well, lots of lessons and insights and counsel for ourselves, he is, it seems, a man much like the rest of us. DJR gives an introduction as Brother Marsh as follows: “Born on November 1, 1799, Thomas left his parents’ home at age 14, and then wandered for many years from city to city, and finally tried to find success in the grocery business, but failed. During this time, he joined the Methodist Church, but it never did seem to ‘take’ in his soul. In the course of events, he ended up in western New York, where he heard of Joseph Smith. He pursued his interest in Joseph Smith and his ‘golden book’ and finally ended up at E.B. Grandin’s printing shop in Palmyra, New York, where the Book of Mormon was in the process of being printed. He met Martin Harris there, who gave him proof sheets of the first sixteen print...

Section 30 is similar to something that we’ve seen before, in that this section is a compilation of 3 separate revelations received. The Prophet JS gives the background information as follows: “At length our conference assembled . The subject of the stone previously mentioned was discussed, and after considerable investigation, Brother Page, as well as the whole Church who were present, renounced the said stone, and all things connected therewith, much to our mutual satisfaction and happiness. We now partook of the Sacrament, confirmed and ordained many, and attended to a great variety of Church business on the first and the two following days of the conference, during which time we had much of the power of God manifested amongst us; the Holy Ghost came upon us, and filled us with joy unspeakable; and peace; and faith, and hope, and charity abounded in our midst. Before we separated we received the following: (D&C 30-31).” What I think is kind of crazy is that these revelations, pu...

29:26-29 - Here we have more information on the Millennium and the resurrection. The Lord says that “before the earth shall pass away, Michael, mine archangel, shall sound his trump, and then shall all the dead awake, for their graves shall be opened, and they shall come forth- yea, even all.” Concerning Michael sounding his trump, the IM teaches, “Michael, who is Adam, holds the keys of salvation for the human family, under the direction and counsel of Jesus Christ, who is the Holy One of Zion. Adam will, when the earth is cleansed and purified and becomes a celestial globe, preside over the children of men, who are of his posterity. He is Adam, ‘the prince, the arch-angel.’ In the eternities before this earth was formed he was the arch-angel. He became Adam when he came to this earth to be the father of the human family. The Prophet Joseph Smith said of Adam: ‘Commencing with Adam, who was the first man, who is spoken of is Daniel as the ‘Ancient of Days,’ or in other words, the firs...

29:12-13 - The Lord continues His explanation of what’s going to happen in the future by stating that “the Twelve which were with me in my ministry at Jerusalem… to judge the whole house of Israel, even as many as have loved me and kept my commandments, and none else.” When I was first blogging through the Book of Mormon, this part threw me for a loop because I was barely beginning to know and trust Jesus, that I didn’t want some “apostle” telling me that I was wrong or anything, I only wanted to be judged by the Jesus that I know and love. Here, we get the same information, but there is much more to lend towards our understanding, and this makes so much more sense. DJR quotes Elder Bruce R. McConkie as teaching, “Be it remembered that the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, who were with the Lord in his ministry un Jerusalem, shall judge the whole house of Israel, meaning that portion of Israel who have kept the commandments, ‘and none else.’ There will be a great hierarchy of judges in that...

29:8-11 - The Lord gives a rundown of what is coming and commands that the Saints “shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.” The IM teaches, “In the time of Joseph Smith, the Saints were commanded to gather in the land of Missouri to build the city of Zion. The Saints still look forward to the building of Zion in the originally designated spot, but today the gathering is taking place in wards an s takes all over the globe. Elder Harold B. Lee explained: ‘The spirit of gathering has been with the Church from the days of that restoration. Those who are of the blood of Israel, have a righteous desire after they are baptized, to gather together with the body of the Saints at the designated place… The Lord has placed the responsibility for directing the work of gathering in the hands of the leaders of the Church to whom he will reveal h...

Section 29 is pretty interesting, I have to be honest, I’m not quite sure about some of it, or to what it is referencing some times. The best explanation that I can find is given by DJR when he says, “This revelation was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith at Fayette, New York, in September 1830, some days before the conference mentioned in section 28, verse 10. This next conference would be the second conference of the Church, since its organization on April 6, 1830, and was to be held in the Whitmer home. It would last for three days. As already mentioned, this revelation, known now as section 29, was given some days prior to the conference. It was given through the Prophet in the presence of six elders, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Samuel H. Smith, and Thomas B. Marsh. It is filled with specific doctrines of the gospel. Perhaps you remember that the Lord showed Nephi in vision that he was going to restore many ‘plain and precious things’ through ‘ot...

28:8 - Now we get to an interesting part of the revelation, the Lord calls OC on a mission to the Lamanites, saying, “And now, behold, I say unto you that you shall go unto the Lamanites and preach my gospel unto them; and inasmuch as they receive thy teachings thou shalt cause my church to be established among them.” The IM teaches, “The Lamanite mission was a very important movement of the young but vigorous Church. Oliver Cowdery was the first-appointed member of the part. Peter Whitmer, Jr., was added by Revelation; and then Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson. Soon after the Conference the little party set out on the perilous journey of about 1,500 miles. They started on foot, trusting in the Lord to open the way. Near Buffalo they visited the Catteragus Indians and left the Book of Mormon with them. Then they proceeded to Kirtland, Ohio. Here they visited Sidney Rigdon, then a popular Campbellite minister. He and some of his friends joined the Church. Night and day, for some time, ...

Section 28 is interesting both historically and from a current point of view. DJR gives background as follows: “Hiram page, who was born is 1800, who studied medicine and traveled widely practicing it, and who was baptized into the Church on April 11, 1830 (five days after its organization), had found a certain stone which he considered to give him powers to receive revelations. He began using it and convinced others, including some members of the Whitmer family and Oliver Cowdery that he was receiving revelations for the Church including the location of Zion and the proper order of the Church. It is also helpful to know a bit about Hiram and Oliver and the Whitmer family. Hiram had married Catherine Whitmer, the oldest daughter of Peter Whitmer, Sr., and Oliver had married her sister, Elizabeth Ann. So, they were all part of the same family.” Good to know about the family set up because when I read who all was involved, it didn’t make sense to me because it seemed so random, but knowi...

While studying D&C 27:16 I came across an interesting concept, that of the relationship between chastity and truth. The following are some of the reflections that I have as a 33 year old single woman based on my life experiences and what I've learned: Concerning the armor of God, the IM quotes Elder Harold B. Lee as giving excellent explanation saying, “We have the four parts of the body that… (are) the most vulnerable to the powers of darkness. The loins, typifying virtue, chastity. The heart typifying our conduct. Our feet, our goals or objectives in life and finally our head, our thoughts… We should have our loins girt about with truth. What is truth? Truth, the Lord said, was knowledge of things as they are, things as they were and things as they are to come…’ Our loins shall be girt about with truth,’ the prophet said.” I was really confused about this, how are chastity and truth related? How are immorality and lies related? The truth about chastity as it is? Our society...