Blogging Through the Book of Mormon

64:5-8 - The Lord speaks specifically about Joseph Smith saying that "the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from my servant... inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances." The Lord reminds that Joseph Smith is not perfect, but that He "forgives sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death." The IM quotes Elder Bruce R. McConkie as explaining" those who turn from the light and truth of the gospel; who give themselves up to Satan; who enlist in his cause, supporting and sustaining it; and who thereby become his children- by such a course sin unto death. For them there is neither repentance, forgiveness, nor any hope whatever of salvation of any kind. As children of Satan, they are sons of perdition." I struggle to understand the concept of sons of perdition, or sinning unto death. It's one of those things that I just don't understand well. In comparing the saints then to his ...

64:1-4 - DJR reminds us to "feel the tenderness and compassion of the Savior in verses 1-4 as He forgives sins and encourages efforts to improve and do better." It's always amazing to me that DJR can always take anything said or done by the Savior and only see it as completely merciful and loving. I don't know why I struggle with that concept as much as I do, but I think I'm going to try to make a more concerted effort to see everything that same way. The Lord says that he wants the elders, any I assume by extension, us, to "overcome the world; wherefore I will have compassion upon you." I love the IM's explanation of this phrase which quotes Smith and Sjodahl as noting, "John, in his First Epistle, says: 'Whatever is born of God overcometh the world,'; and, 'who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?' What he wants to say is that as long as we follow our desires to conform to the hab...

The IM gives background information for section 64 saying, “Because of interference and because he needed a quiet place in which to work, the Prophet on September 12, 1831, moved to the home of John Johnson in the township of Hiram. This was in Portage County, Ohio, about thirty miles southeast of Kirtland. From the time he moved until early in October, the Prophet spent most of his spare time preparing for the continuation of the translation of the Bible. By translation is meant a revision of the Bible by inspiration or revelation as the Lord had commanded him, and which was commenced as early as June 1830. Sidney Rigdon continued to write for the Prophet in the work of revision. The day before the Prophet moved from Kirtland he received an important revelation, Section 64, as it now appears in the Doctrine and Covenants.” DJR also gave some background concerning Ezra Booth which will apparently be useful knowledge later and it’s interesting and, quite frankly, tragic. He says, “He w...

63:24-64 - I’m feeling a little bit better tonight, not as tired. Verse 24 has an interesting idea then the Lord tells the brethren to “assemble themselves together unto the land of Zion, not in haste, lest there should be confusion, which bringeth pestilence.” DJR asserts that this “pestilence” means “all kinds of trouble.” If I remember correctly, Missouri is the first place where we see that a sudden influx of “different” people, northerners, abolitionists, religious “zealots” even, in a lawless, back roads place is a recipe for disaster. The IM quotes President Joseph Fielding Smith as explaining “that land in Zion was to be purchased. ‘This fact was taught the early members. They were warned against creating antagonism among their neighbors, many of whom were extremely bitter towards the members of the Church. The Lord said the land could not be obtained by the shedding of blood. Those who had the privilege of assembling there should not go up to Zion in haste, but gradually. The...

63:20-22 - No we get to an interesting concept, that of the transfiguration of the earth. There’s a lot that I don’t understand about this but the IM teaches, “The earth will pass through two changes which might be called transfigurations: 1. At the beginning of the Millennium, it will be raised from its present telestial to a terrestrial state, and only the righteous will have a place on earth at that time. 2. After the thousand years are ended, the earth will be celestialized and the faithful who are worthy of that glory will receive their permanent inheritance thereon.” The fact that the earth will be restored to it’s perfect, glorious condition is really comforting to me because I live in a place with a lot of pollution and I like to think that one day I will be able to see what this place really was intended to look. I also sometimes think “I wonder what this place looked like to the very first person who ever saw it,” and it’s exciting to think that one day I will be able see al...

Section 63 is longer than 62 and has many different themes. The IM gives background information as follows: “On 27 August 1831 Joseph Smith and his party returned to Kirtland, Ohio, from their first trip to Zion, bringing news that the center place of Zion was now known. ‘When the report spread among the members of the Church that the Lord had revealed definitely where the city New Jerusalem was to be built, naturally there was rejoicing and many expressed the desire to know what they were to do in order to obtain inheritances. The Lord has given instruction repeatedly that all who go to Zion shall obey His law- the celestial law on which Zion was to be built. Those who were weak in the faith, or indifferent to the commandments, were warned that they would not be made welcome in that land unless they repented. ‘Hearken, O ye people, and open your hearts and give ear from afar; and listen, you that call yourselves the people of the Lord, and hear the word of the Lord and his will conce...

Section 62 is short, but comforting, DJR says, “This is a short section that contains sweet insights into the Savior’s personal attention and care for His humble followers here on earth.” I like that very much. The IM gives background information as follows: “While the Prophet and his party were on their way home from Missouri during August 1831, they met some of the elders who were going to Missouri. Joseph Smith wrote: ‘On the 13 th (of August) I met several of the Elders on their way to the land of Zion, and after the joyful salutations with which brethren meet each other, who are actually ‘contending for the faith once delivered to the Saints,’ I received the following: (D&C 62).’ The elders were not identified in the Prophet’s history, but Reynolds Cahoon named them as follows: Hyrum Smith, John Murdock, Harvey Whitlock, and David Whitmer.” Hyrum Smith is Joseph Smith’s brother, and they were/are very close, and John Murdock is the one who gave Joseph and Emma his twin babie...