D&C 88:117-141

 88:117-120 - One of the things that I keep forgetting is that I’m studying this whole section at once, as one document, but that’s not how it was received, it came as multiple revelations received throughout a few days, that’s why it makes more sense when the transition from verse 116 to 117 is a little bit awkward. The topic goes from the events that are going to happen in the last days, the resurrection, the second coming, the Millennium, and other future events to establishing the school of the prophets. The Lord tells them to gather together, teach each other, “organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” I think that there are very specific applications for this commandment, such as specifically the school of the prophets, but I think that it also applies to us and tells us the manner in which we are to organize our families. The IM commented on the organization of the school of the Prophets saying, “The school of the Prophets founded by the lord was organized in February 1833. The Prophet and the Apostles and other elders were to ‘teach one another words of wisdom… out of the best books… by study and also by faith.’ Those who attended ‘had many manifestations of the presence of the Spirit of the Lord,’ including speaking in foreign tongues. President Brigham Young said that ‘the members of that school were but few at first, and the Prophet commenced to teach them in doctrine to prepare them to go out into the world to preach the gospel unto all people, and gather the select from the four quarters of the Earth, as the prophets anciently have spoken. While this instruction prepared the Elders to administer in word and doctrine, it did not supply the teachings necessary to govern their private, or temporal, lives; it did not say whether they should be merchants, farmers, mechanics, or money-changers. The Prophet began to instruct them how to live, that they might be better prepared to perform the great work they were called to accomplish.’ A ‘school in Zion’ was organized in Independence, Missouri, in August 1833 with Parley P. Pratt as its instructor, and Brigham Young patterned a school of elders after these early school when the Church moved to Utah. In later verses of Doctrine and Covenants 88, wrote Smith and Sjodahl, ‘rules are given for the conduct of the School of the Prophets. This school was to be established for the benefit of all who were called to the ministry of the Church. Note the order and etiquette to be observed in everything pertaining to the school. It was to be a house of God and to be respected as such.’ Though the rules of order and conduct in these verses were given specifically for the School of the Prophets, many have universal applications.”

88:121 - The first rule given is “cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings.” This is a concept that I really struggle with because I love to laugh, I love to make jokes and laugh, and it took me a while to come to a place where I could both be myself and follow this counsel.  I’m not confident that I doing it right all the time but I’ve found that if I ask and listen, then the Holy Ghost will let me know when I’m getting close to the line. I also think that the source of the laughter is important to consider too because most people laugh at dirty jokes or other people’s misfortune and those are not ok things to laugh at. It is possible to be funny in ways that affirm others and make them feel worthwhile. I know a woman who laughs to sharp and pronounced that it jars everyone within 100 feet of her, and I think that perhaps that isn’t appropriate for me, she’s great, I just think that the Holy Ghost will let me know when I’m ok. The IM teaches, “Joyful laughter meets with divine approval, and when properly engaged in, it is wholesome and edifying. Incident to the normal experiences of mortality, there is ‘a time to weep, and a time to laugh.’… Our Lord’s ministers, however, are commanded: ‘Cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you.’ Their main concerns should be centered around ‘the solemnities of eternity,’ with laughter being reserved for occasional needed diversion. Laughter on the Sabbath day is expressly curtailed, and while worshiping and studying in the school of the prophets, the elders were commanded to abstain ‘from all laughter’ this same abstinence should prevail in sacrament meetings and in all solemn assemblies.’ Though laughter at the appropriate time is not a sin, it must be governed. President Brigham Young said: ‘I like to be pleased myself; I like to be filled with joy, but if I cannot be filled with joy and gladness that is full of meat and marrow, or, in other words, full of meaning and sense, I would rather retain my gravity. There is but one step between life and death, between faithfulness and apostasy, between the sublime and the ridiculous… Never give way to vain laughter.’ President Joseph F. Smith taught: ‘The Lord has called upon us to be a sober-minded people, not given to much laughter, frivolity and light-mindedness, but to consider thoughtfully and thoroughly the things of his kingdom that we may be prepared in all things to understand the glorious truths of the gospel, and be prepared for blessings to come… I believe that it is necessary for the Saints to have amusement, but it must be of the proper kind. I do not believe the Lord intends and desires that we should pull a long face and look sanctimonious and hypocritical. I think he expects us to be happy and of a cheerful countenance, but he does not expect of us the indulgence in boisterous and unseemly conduct and the seeking after the vain and foolish things which amuse and entertain the world. He has commanded us to the contrary for our own good and eternal welfare.’ The Prophet Joseph Smith said: ‘The things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! If thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search unto and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity- thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! None but fools will trifle with the souls of men. How vain and trifling have been our spirits, our conferences, our councils, our meetings, our private as well as public conversations- too low, too mean, too vulgar, too condescending for the dignified characters of the called and chosen of God, according to the purposes of his will, from before the foundation of the world!’ The Prophet instructed the elders of ‘walk before the Lord in soberness and righteousness,’ and ‘do away with lightmindedness.’” What we find funny speaks volumes about us to other people who are watching. I remember one time talking with some of the other moms at my kids’ school and one of them said something really dirty and everyone except me laughed, and the one who had said the funny thing got really offended by my not laughing and said, “oh come on, we’re all adults here. Do you want your diaper, baby!” and went on about it like that until I just left, but ever since then, they won’t talk about that kind of stuff around me, because I’ll just leave. But it’s an excellent story that I told my kids about being made fun of for doing the right thing. To this day if you ask them why I got called a diaper baby they will be able to tell you.

88:122-126 - The School of the Prophets is just that, a school, but the Lord’s way of administering the classes isn’t anything like the way schools are run as we know them. The Lord says, “Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege.” The Prophet Joseph Smith is the clear spiritual giant in the group but the Lord makes sure that everyone has a chance, he doesn’t want JS to just get up there and lecture, he wants the teacher and student alike to be edified and to learn, he wants it to be interactive, he wants all to be involved and speak. This gives all the participants a sense of ownership, a sense of value, and these are all important things for them and us to be spiritually edified. The Lord continues, telling them to love each other, learn and teach each other, “cease to be covetous,” “cease to:” be idle, be unclean, to find fault with each other, to sleep longer than is needful. He wants them, and us, to go to bed early and wake up early, have charity, and pray always. He concludes it with “amen” so I’m thinking that this is the end of another revelation and that when the next one starts that it’s at another time. The IM teaches, “All the instructions in this paragraph are notable. They might be included in the Word of Wisdom. Idleness is condemned: Cleanliness is inculcated. Fault finding is classed as wrong. And this rule is laid down, ‘Cease to sleep longer than is needful;’ retire early; arise early; ‘that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.’ This splendid rule is too often violated. Electric lights and late theaters have transformed night into day and deprived the people of some of their natural sleep, and at the same time of a portion of their physical and mental vigor. Note the closing injunctions, Clothe yourselves with charity ‘as with a mantle;’ not as a scanty piece of clothing, but as a generous covering; for charity is ‘the bond of perfectness and peace.’ Charity- which means brotherly affection- makes for perfection and peace. Pray always. Prayer is necessary, if we shall remain faithful till the coming of the Lord.’” This is tough for me because as a single mom and working at night and all that I didn’t get to sleep very much at all, but I know that when I am getting adequate sleep, if I’m lying in bed too much, or taking naps or something, many times it’s because I don’t want to deal with my life, it’s a way that I sort of manifest depression or being overwhelmed, but I’m doing pretty well right now.

88:127-141 – The last several verses have to do with the procedures of the school, and to be honest I don’t really understand very much of the “salute,” but apparently there is an ordinance of “the washing of feet,” and it is to be administered by “the president, or presiding elder of the church.” This is similar to when Christ washed the feet of his disciples, and I think is an excellent example of how leaders are to be servants, the least and the greatest.