D&C 61:13-39

61:13-39 - We now get into a really interesting concept, the blessing and cursing of the land and water at different periods of time. The IM doesn’t say much about it, but DJR asserts that it’s possible that it means that thousands of years ago the people had difficulty in raising crops but were excellent mariners, whereas today the crops are harvested in great abundance, but we are not as skilled in seafaring. The Lord continues referencing the contentions between the travelers, telling them, “”, the Lord, was angry with you yesterday, but today mine anger is turned away.” Always forgiving, always merciful to those who desire it, which makes sense because if you don’t desire to do better and be more obedient, you wouldn’t desire mercy from God, right? The IM quotes Elder B.H. Roberts as teaching, “During the three days upon the river some disagreements and ill feeling had developed among the brethren and explanations and reconciliations had become necessary; it had also been discovered that progress on their journey by the river in canoes was slow, and hence it became necessary for those who had been appointed to purchase the printing press, Sidney gilbert and William W. Phelps; and the Prophet, Disney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery, who had been commanded to hasten their return to Kirtland, found it imperative to find a more expeditious means of travel than by canoes. The greater part of the night as McIlwaine’s Bend was devoted to these matters. The brethren became reconciled at each other, and those whose affairs more especially cried haste started overland the next morning for St. Louis, and the rest of the company continued the journey via the river.” I think it’s interesting, and maybe it’s just a difficult way to use the English language, but it bothers me when the Lord says something like “I was angry with you for being angry with your brother,” that doesn’t make any sense to me. And when we think about the context of the Lord’s anger, especially in response to the anger of others, it’s difficult. I’m going to have to think about that. The Lord further commands JS, SR, and OC to preach to the “congregations of the wicked” in Cincinnati, and the rest are to take their journey and preach as they are commanded by the Spirit. The Lord finishes by giving some repeated but meaningful counsel, “Be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you; And inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom are your.”

I know that this is short, but it was a pretty specific and interesting section.