I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come, Follow Me for Doctrine and Covenants 109-110 If you missed last week’s insight, for Doctrine and Covenants 106-108 click here for it. Please share this with your friends or use this picture to save this pin to read later:
Armed with power.
“And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;”
Doctrine and Covenants 109:22
Section 109 of the Doctrine and covenants is a unique section, it was written by Joseph Smith and it is the words of the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple. I love this section because it contains the themes and principles that almost every temple dedication has had since Kirtland. Particularly, I love the idea of being armed with power.
I feel like far too often we live beneath our privileges. We live beneath our privileges when we view obedience as a burden. “I have to do my ministering, I have to pay my tithing, I have to do X Y or Z.” When we view it as an opportunity to make, keep, and honor the covenants and commandments of God that is when the power of the gospel enters our lives. In the words of President Ezra Taft Benson, “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.”
Stakes of Zion
“We ask thee to appoint unto Zion other stakes besides this one which thou hast appointed, that the gathering of thy people may roll on in great power and majesty, that thy work may be cut short in righteousness.”
Doctrine and Covenants 109:59
Another one of the common themes of temple dedications is asking that the Lord will add to the Stakes of Zion. Something that many members today take for granted is the fact that stakes now dot the land, and many nations of the world are covered by stakes either entirely or the majority are stakes compared to districts.
50 years after this prayer was given there were 28 stakes almost exclusively in the Western United States. 100 years after this prayer was given there were 115 stakes, still primarily in the Western United States, but Hawaii had a stake, a few on the East Coast of the United States, and a few in Canada/Mexico. But at 150 years there were over 1550 stakes! With dozens in South America, Europe, and the Pacific. Now, in 2021, with 7 more years until this prayer’s 200th anniversary, we stand at over 3100 stakes! Here is a cool video the Church made regarding this growth.
Apostolic Witnesses.
“Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.”
Doctrine and Covenants 110:8
One of the grand testimonies that the Book of Mormon bears is the fact the Jesus Christ appears to His servants. Nephi, Jacob, Lehi, Mormon, and Moroni to name but a few! And in this verse of D&C 110, Jesus Christ flat out says one of the purposes of building temples is so He has a place to appear to His servants.
When I was a student at UVU Elder Christofferson came and spoke at the institute. On November 4, 2016, before he spoke to the students he spoke to the Institute teachers. He was point-blank asked if he had seen Christ, his reply was straightforward. One cannot bear witness of the Resurrection and Divinity of Christ without having a witness.
When he came out and talked with the students he talked about Watergate the whole time. The talk was good, but not what I was expecting. But then as he ended he said:
“I testify of the reality of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (He then paused for a few seconds) I am a witness of the resurrection!”
As he said these words the Spirit testified to my soul “He knows, He has seen Jesus Christ, He is an Apostle.”
I find the words of Boyd K Packer amazing on this topic. In one of his final Conference addresses he said:
“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
“For we saw him” (D&C 76:22–23).
Their words are my words.
I believe and I am sure that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that He lives. He is the Only Begotten of the Father, and “by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:24).
I bear my witness that the Savior lives. I know the Lord. I am His witness. I know of His great sacrifice and eternal love for all of Heavenly Father’s children. I bear my special witness in all humility but with absolute certainty, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
The Witness By President Boyd K. Packer April 2014
I invite you to listen to General Conference this weekend and hear the Apostolic Witnesses of Christ. Men who know Christ and can testify out of knowledge. For details regarding General Conference including times and links to watch online see the Church’s official website: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/event/october-2021-general-conference