D&C 95:1-2
Section 95 is the same size as 94, 17 verses, but it's content heavy, so that will be fun. We just learned that the Lord commanded the people to build several buildings, the first being the temple. The IM gives the historical background as follows: "The commandment to build a temple was first given in December 1832. The Prophet Joseph Smith reprted that when Doctrine and Covenants 95 was given, 'great preparations were making to commence a house of the Lord, but 'the Church was poor' and the work lagged. On 1 June 1833 the temple committee, composed of Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahood, and Jared Carter, sent a circular to all the members, encouraging them to assist spiritually and temporally in building the temple. On the same day the Propeht Joseph Smith recieved section 95, in which the Lord reproved the Saints for neglecting the commandment to build a temple." Listening to all this made me wonder, just how much the Lord expects from us because as far as I understand the saints were passively working on the temple and using their limited resources. I guess if we can be doing better then the Lord will tell us, just like he is doing here. He knew that they could be doing more so he asked them to do so.
95:1-2 - The whole tone of this section is really interesting because the Lord rebukes the people but there's no feeling of disappointment or shame or anything like that becasue he starts out, again in my favorite way saying, "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you." The IM teaches, "If we love someone in the highest sense of the word, we are deeply concerned for that person's eternal as well as temporal welfare. Sometimes a leader or a parent sees that correction is necessary for a person to progress. President Spencer W. Kimball, counseling priesthood leaders, said: 'We are concerned that too many times the interviewing leader in his personal symphaties for the transgressor, and in his love perhaps for the family of the transgressor, is inclined to waive the disciple which that transgressor demands. Too often a transgressor is forgiven and all penalties waived when that person should ahve been disfellowshipped or excommunicated. Too often a sinner is disfellowshipped when he or she should have been excommunicated... Do you remember what was said by the prophet Alma? 'Now,' he said, 'repentance could not have come unto men except there were a punishment.' Ponder on that for a moment. Have you realized that? there can be no forgiveness without read and total repentance, and there can be no repentance without punishment. This is as eternal as is the soul... Please remember these things when somebody comes before you who has broken the laws of God. It is so easy to let our sympathies carry us out of proportion; and when a man has committed sin, he must suffer. It's an absolute requirement- not by the bishop- but it's a requirement by nature and by the very part of a man.' Sometimes chastening is the only way to bring about obedience and the happiness that results. 'Whom I love I also chasten,' The Lord said. President Brigham Young said: 'At times I may to many of the brethren appear to be severe. I sometimes chasten them; but it is because I wish them to do live that the power of God, like a flame of fire, will dwell within them and be round about them. These are my feelings and desires.'" When I was reading about the atonement, one of the topics that I thought about was, if we are able to suffer for our own sins, why can't we live in the celestial kingdom? The answer is that, while yes, our sins can be suffered for on our own, we can not be made holy with the repentance process.
95:1-2 - The whole tone of this section is really interesting because the Lord rebukes the people but there's no feeling of disappointment or shame or anything like that becasue he starts out, again in my favorite way saying, "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you." The IM teaches, "If we love someone in the highest sense of the word, we are deeply concerned for that person's eternal as well as temporal welfare. Sometimes a leader or a parent sees that correction is necessary for a person to progress. President Spencer W. Kimball, counseling priesthood leaders, said: 'We are concerned that too many times the interviewing leader in his personal symphaties for the transgressor, and in his love perhaps for the family of the transgressor, is inclined to waive the disciple which that transgressor demands. Too often a transgressor is forgiven and all penalties waived when that person should ahve been disfellowshipped or excommunicated. Too often a sinner is disfellowshipped when he or she should have been excommunicated... Do you remember what was said by the prophet Alma? 'Now,' he said, 'repentance could not have come unto men except there were a punishment.' Ponder on that for a moment. Have you realized that? there can be no forgiveness without read and total repentance, and there can be no repentance without punishment. This is as eternal as is the soul... Please remember these things when somebody comes before you who has broken the laws of God. It is so easy to let our sympathies carry us out of proportion; and when a man has committed sin, he must suffer. It's an absolute requirement- not by the bishop- but it's a requirement by nature and by the very part of a man.' Sometimes chastening is the only way to bring about obedience and the happiness that results. 'Whom I love I also chasten,' The Lord said. President Brigham Young said: 'At times I may to many of the brethren appear to be severe. I sometimes chasten them; but it is because I wish them to do live that the power of God, like a flame of fire, will dwell within them and be round about them. These are my feelings and desires.'" When I was reading about the atonement, one of the topics that I thought about was, if we are able to suffer for our own sins, why can't we live in the celestial kingdom? The answer is that, while yes, our sins can be suffered for on our own, we can not be made holy with the repentance process.
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