D&C 115:5-19

115:5 – The Lord tells the Church “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.” The IM has a very interesting commentary given “in the early years of World War II” by Elder John A. Widtsoe saying, “What is our mission to the world? I have turned to the scriptures to get the answer, and have found the answer, both in ancient and modern scriptures. It is that the Church of Christ at all times must be a standard to the nations, a standard to which all nations, all people, all men may turn as they seek safety, peace, and happiness. It is our great mission… to be a standard to all the world, and we say without hesitation that those who obey and comply with that standard will find that which men most desire in life. It is a bold declaration, tremendously bold, that a small people in the valleys of these mountains, misunderstood, often harassed by persecution, may become the standard by which all mankind may be led to peace and happiness; but so it is. I am not saying it. It is the word of the Lord, both in ancient and modern days. If this standard would be accepted by the world the things we pray and hope for would soon come. Let me say that the Church of itself cannot be this standard. Since the Church is made up of individuals, it becomes an individual responsibility to make the Church a standard for the nations. I must be a standard in my life. I must do conduct myself that I may be a standard worthy of being followed by those who seek the greater joy in life.”

115:6 – Being the standard goes into verse 6 “and that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.” The IM says, “Some Latter-day Saints have wondered if they should leave their homes and move to Salt Lake City, Utah, or Jackson County, Missouri. They have heard that Zion will be the place of safety in times of tribulation, and they wonder if members not living near the headquarters of the Church will be safe. Here the Lord states that Zion and her stakes provide defense and refuge form the storm. Church leaders have counseled that the Saints in this time are to gather to their local congregations in their own land until they can become stakes and strong places of spiritual defense. Elder Harold B. Less pointed out: ‘After designating certain places in that day where the Saints were to gather, the Lord said this: ‘Until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them; and then I have other places which I will appoint unto them.’ Thus, clearly, 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 his will where and when such gatherings would take place in the future. It would be well- before the frightening events concerning the fulfilment of all God’s promises and predictions are upon us, that the Saints in every land prepare themselves and look forward to the instruction that shall come to them from the First Presidency of this Church as to where they shall be gathered and not be disturbed in their feelings until such instruction is given them as it is revealed by the Lord to the proper authority.’” I’ve talked before about my upbringing with “the world will end before you’re old enough to have kids” ideas taught to me over and over again, and this is very comforting to me. The Lord will let us know what he wants us to do and how we can remain safe before we are in grave danger.

115:7-19 – The Lord now turns his attention to Far West, Missouri, where he commands a temple to be built and gives the Saints a sense of urgency about it telling them to start “on the fourth day of July next; and from that time forth let my people labor diligently to build a house unto my name.” He commands Joseph and Hyrum Smith and Sidney Rigdon to not “get in debt any more for the building of a house unto my name.” To me this implies that he’s going to provide the means with which they can build the temple. The IM comments on the fact that there was never a temple built in Far West and why the Lord might have changed his tone from “don’t all rush to Zion” to “let’s get building.” The IM says, “Smith and Sjodahl explained why this commandment was not fulfilled: ‘At this time there were about 150 houses at Far West, and among them were stores, hotels, and a fine school house. The City had sprung up, as by magic, in the midst of a rolling prairie. It might have been a large center of population today, into which would have been poured the wealth of continents, instead of a spot in a desert, but for the bigotry and strange madness of the neighbors. The corner stones of the Temple were laid on the 4^th of July, 1838. The excavation, one historian says, 120 by 80 feet in area, and 5 feet in depth was completed in half a day, more than 500 men being employed in the work. Little else was done, however, for the storm of persecution broke loose in all its fury, and the Saints at that place went into exile again.’ In earlier revelations the Lord had directed the Saints not to gather in haste. Not he encouraged them to gather speedily to Far West. Smith and Sjodahl suggested a possible reason for the change: ‘It is quite probable that if the Saints had gathered in greater numbers and built up their Stakes and cities more rapidly, the enemies would have had less power to execute their designs. That they did not do their duty in this respect may be inferred from Section 117:1-6.’” That’s an interesting perspective that I hadn’t considered before. I know that one of the theories behind why the Saints were so unwelcome in Missouri is because they were law abiding, anti-slavery Yankees and Missouri at that time was pro-slavery and considered the Wild West. Interesting.