Blogging Through the Book of Mormon

134:8 - I think that the concept of obeying the law can be so fickle at times, just like keeping the commandments. Verse 8 is straight forward, “we believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense.” The IM quotes Elder James E. Talmage as teaching, “Now, the Lord has provided that those in his Church shall live according to the law, and he makes a distinction between the law pertaining to the Church and what we call the secular law, or the law of the land, but he requires obedience to each. My love for my brother in this Church does not mean that I am to… stand between him and righteous judgment. This Church is no organization like that of the secret combinations of old, which the Lord hath said he hates, the members of which were pledged, and bound by oath that they would cover up one another’s crimes, that they would justify one another in theft and murder and in all things that were unclean. It is no such organization at all. It woul...

134:5 - Verse 5 brings up a concept that I hadn’t considered before but it really helped put me in check. It says “We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside… and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly.” The IM quotes President David O. McKay as teaching, “The three significant words used in the 12 th Article of Faith express the proper attitude of the membership of the Church toward law. These words are- obey, honor, and sustain. They Article does not say we believe in submission to the law. Obedience implies a higher attitude than mere submission, for obedience has its root in good intent; submission may spring from selfishness or meanness of spirit. Though obedience and submission both imply restraint on one’s own will, we are obedient only from a sense of right; submissive from a sense of necessity.” I really struggle with the concept of submission,...

When I listened to the book The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage, the section that was the most impactful was the chapter that dealt with article 12 which says, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.” This was powerful for me because I am a rebel, a conspiracy theorist to the max, I do not comply, I’m a fighter, definitely not friendly to authority. But this chapter was very explicit that we need to be compliant to the laws of the land, and I thought “yeah, this country because we are the greatest on earth and our laws of just…” blah blah blah. I thought “but what about all the people in other corrupt countries? What are they supposed to do?” The section in that book that discussed this concept was very helpful in assisting with my understanding of what it means to obey the laws of the land. This section, as well as the accompanying explanations from the IM were also very informative. The IM expl...

133:54-74 - We now come to the concept of the resurrection. The Lord names several of the ancient prophets and comments “who were with Christ is his resurrection.” The IM asks, “Who was resurrected at the time the Savior was?” And answers, “Not only did Christ rise from the dead at that time, but others were seen who had risen from their graces- righteous men and women who died before Christ, and who had the privilege of rising with him. I do not believe that the resurrection then was a general one; I believe it extended to those only who, while upon earth, had proved themselves willing to do all for the kingdom of God, and to whom neither property, honor, nor life itself had been too dear to keep them from carrying out the purposes of God.” There’s an interesting phrase in verse 64 where the Lord describes his dealings with the wicked that he “shall leave them neither root nor branch.” The IM says, “This expression simply means that wicked and indifferent persons who reject the go...

133:26-45 - This next section is quite poetic and descriptive but to me that just means confusing. There is an exceptionally lengthy discourse by the IM about this part of the section, I don’t understand it at all. The IM begins by quoting Elder Bruce R. McConkie explaining “When Shalmanezer overran the Kingdom of Israel (about 721 B.C.), he carried the Ten Tribes comprising the kingdom captive into Assyria. From thence they were led into the lands of the north and have been called the Lost Tribes because they are lost to the knowledge of other people. ‘We have no knowledge of the location or condition of that part of the Ten Tribes who went into the north country.’” I have heard many theories on what “north countries” means. My mom was adamant that these lost ten tribes were taken off of the earth in space ships and that that’s how they will return. In fact when the movie Independence Day was released back in like 1997 or something she believed that it was inspired by the devil so...

Section 133 is very long again and is the Lord’s appendix to the Doctrine and Covenants. Just like when the Lord gave the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, it makes sense that he would give the end as well. The IM quotes Elder John A. Widtsoe as explaining “the ‘Appendix’ (D&C 133), supplements the introduction (D&C 1). The two sections together encompass the contents of the book in a condensed form. An appendix is something which the writer thinks should be added to amplify that which is in the book, to emphasize it, to make it stronger or to explain the contents a little more completely.” The IM also adds “Some of the major themes presented by the Lord in this revelation are summarized in the tenth article of faith.” The IM also gives interesting information saying, “The scriptures form a great latticework of gospel concepts. Rather than collect gospel concepts by topic, the Lord chose to scatter them throughout the sacred writings, here a little and there a lit...

132:51-57 - Here we are in the home stretch. The Lord now addresses Emma Smith, Joseph Smith's wife. He presents an interesting situation, commanding her "that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her, for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand by covenant and sacrifice." The IM says, "No indication is given here or elsewhere of what the Lord had commanded the Prophet Joseph to offer to his wife, but the context seems to suggest that it was a special test of faith similar to the test of Abraham's faith when the Lord commanded him to sacrifice Isaac." This makes me wonder if there are tests like that in our lives? Interesting. Emma Smith is also commanded: 1. "Receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph." I love Emma Smith because she is a ride or die chick, she's hardcore and holds it all down. As an all in, ride ...