D&C 101:3-8

101:3- - One thing that I find interesting in this section is the back and forth between “the afflictions are because of your unrighteousness,” and “you’re being wronged, you should seek redress from the government.” I don’t believe that this is a contradictory statement even though it kind of seems like that. Let’s look at it from another point of view. Take the Nephites and the Lamanites for instance. The Nephites were destroyed because they were wicked, but did that mean that it was ok for the Lamanites to attack them? No, both parties were in the wrong. Applying that to this situation, The Lord allowed the Saints to be afflicted because of their transgressions, but does that mean that those in the mob destroying or harassing them were in the right? Not at all. I don’t know enough about the Saints in Missouri to know what kind of unrighteousness was going on there, but the more I think about it and read about it, it seems like Zion, as far as Missouri is concerned seems like an almost millennial state of being and if that’s the case then of course the Saints at that time weren’t righteous enough to sustain it, the Saints NOW aren’t righteous enough to sustain it. It makes me wonder, why tell the Saints about Zion in Missouri at that time anyway, I don’t understand the purpose that it served. Maybe it was to let them try, because if the Lord said “well celestial law is of consecration and brotherhood in Zion, but you’re not ready for it” then that kind of takes away their agency because it doesn’t really give them a chance to try. Similarly, when Adam and Eve were in the garden, the Lord couldn’t force them out to live in a fallen world because that would have negated their agency, it would have taken away their ability to choose, and while it’s not exactly the same thing here, it seems very similar to me. He gave them the chance and it didn’t work out because they weren’t ready, and it seems like that is similar to us today, we just aren’t ready, even though most of us are trying our best, we just aren’t there yet, thus we live in our own personal circumstances. So even though the Saints are being afflicted because of their “transgressions; Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels. Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.” I want to note that the Lord cites their “transgressions” here and not their “sins” or “wickedness.” This goes back to the Adam and Eve concept. Eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is cited as a “transgression” not a “sin,” meaning that, while yes doing it went against the command of God, it wasn’t inherently evil in nature. That seems to be the case here as well, it wasn’t that they were actively being wicked, it might be that they just couldn’t keep every statute put forth by the Lord, just like none of us can because we are a fallen people in a fallen world. I’ve always looked at the early pioneers as some sort of heroes, well, all “pioneers” because of what they do to find and embrace the gospel, but in this instance, the early pioneers are spiritual giants to me and I think “if THEY weren’t righteous enough to live in Zion, then how am I supposed to build Zion where I live?! If they can’t abide it, then surely I can’t either!” But thinking about it this way gives me clarity on this issue, it’s not that they were wicked and therefore punished by being cast out, it’s that they weren’t ready and the fallen world wasn’t either, they had to go and build Zion where they lived, and so am I. The IM quotes The Prophet Joseph Smith as teaching why the Saints were driven from Zion, saying, “I cannot learn from any communicate by the Spirit to me, that Zion has forfeited her claim to a celestial crown, notwithstanding the Lord has caused her to be thus afflicted, except it may be some individuals, who have walked in disobedience, and forsaken the new covenant; all such will be made manifest by their works in due time. I have always expected that Zion would suffer some affliction, from what I could learn from the commandments which have been given. But I would remind you of a certain clause in one which says, that after much tribulation cometh the blessing. By this, and also others, and also one received of late, I know that Zion, in the due time of the Lord, will be redeemed; but how many will be the days of her purification, tribulation, and affliction, the Lord has kept hid from my eyes and when I inquire concerning this subject, that voice of the Lord is: Be still, and know that I am God; all those who suffer for my name shall reign with me, and he that layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again. Now, there are two things of which I am ignorant; and the Lord will not show them unto me, perhaps for a wise purpose in Himself- I mean in some respects- and they are these: Why God has suffered so great a calamity to come upon Zion, and what the great moving cause of this great affliction is; and again, by what means He will return her back to her inheritance, with sons of everlasting joy upon her head. These two things, brethren, are in part kept back that they are not plainly shown unto me; but there are some things that are plainly manifest which have incurred the displeasure of the Almighty.” It’s not necessarily that all are wicked, it’s that some are disobedient, just like now and at all times, and there are many who are righteous, but for the Lord’s work to go forward, the people need to be at a certain state spiritually, and it’s not just that they aren’t there yet, but it seems that none of us will be at that stage for a long time. That makes more sense. The IM continues, “All who desire exaltation must be tested and tried to be proven in all things. President Harold B. Lee said: ‘Some of us have been tried and have been tested until our very heart strings would seem to break. I have heard of persons dying with a broken heard, and I thought that was just a sort of poetic expression, but I learned that it could be a very real experience. I came near to that thing; but when I began to think of my own troubles, I thought of what the apostles Paul said of the Master, ‘Though he were s Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.’ Don’t be afraid of the testing and trials of life. Sometimes when you are going through the most severe tests, you will be nearer to God than you have any idea, for like the experience of the Master himself in the temptation on the mount, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross at Calvary, the scriptures record, ‘And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.’ Sometimes that may happen to you in the midst of your trials.’ The scriptures teach the following about chastening:

1.       Chastening is a cleansing process.

2.       Chastening may lead to forgiveness of sins.

3.       Chastening teaches us obedience.

4.       Chastening refines us as pure gold.”

I’ve always really struggled with the idea that we need trials to grow closer to the Savior, because I would like to think that I try to grow spiritually regardless of the types of things I have going on in my life. I’m coming to now understand that it’s part of the process and that we are rewarded with growth that we couldn’t have if we lived lives of constant peace and serenity. The IM asks, “Why was Missouri called a Land of Inheritance for the Saints?” and answers, “Anciently the Lord blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob, with the blessings of Abraham, which included a land of promise for his posterity. His descendants were to receive an inheritance in the land of America. Commenting on the rights of heirs, President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: ‘Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen lineage, of Abraham’s children through Isaac and Jacob unto whom the promises were made. The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs.’ The Church, with its large numbers of descendants of Joseph, inherits the blessings promised to Joseph’s posterity. That is why the Lord has promised the latter-day Church an inheritance in the land promised to Joseph’s posterity, with its ‘center place’ in Missouri.” That’s pretty complicated for me so I’m just going to leave that right here.

101:6-8 - The Lord calls the saints out who are being disobedient saying, “Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me.” Maybe I am that way and I just don’t see it. I have to ask myself, am I the type of person who only seeks the Lord when I’m in trouble? I would like to think that I’m not, but it’s possible that I am guilty of that. The IM asks, “Why is God sometimes slow to hear his children?” and answers, “One of the great problems recorded in scripture in mankind’s indifference to God in times of prosperity. Too often they forget their Creator, who is the giver of all good things. In times of trouble, however, they remember God and turn to Him for mercy and help in their afflictions, but He is slow to help them. These verses show that the Saints were guilty of this offense. Therefore, the Lord did not support them in their day of affliction. He will not support any who claim His promises but do not keep their covenants.” I don’t really know how to think about this because, again, I would like to think that I personally don’t forget God when things are going well because really, I feel like times are always good and always bad. I feel like there are pros and cons happening at any time and the purpose is to learn to be spiritually independent of outside circumstances, to always be learning and growing, to always have a personal growth agenda. I’m going to have to think about that.