I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come, Follow Me for Doctrine and Covenants 115-120. If you missed last week’s insight, for Doctrine and Covenants 111-114 click here for it. Please share this with your friends or use this picture to save this pin to read later:
Refuge from the coming storm.
“And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.”
Doctrine and Covenants 115:6
One of the purposes of the church establishing stakes throughout the world is to establish places of defense and refuge from the coming storm. Elder Bruce D. Porter taught: “The Church stands as a bulwark of safety for its members. Though conditions in the world may become very vexing at times, faithful Latter-day Saints will find sanctuary in the stakes of Zion.”
God can use you right now.
“Let them repent of all their sins, and of all their covetous desires, before me, saith the Lord; for what is property unto me? saith the Lord.”
Doctrine and Covenants 117:4
We often think in order to be of service to the Lord we need to be more than we currently are. We think, “I need more education”, or “I need to be married”, or “I need more money.” This is a lie from Satan. The Lord does not need the wealthy, well to do, or perfect. The Lord wants the willing.
Jesus Christ did not call the rich Sadducees to the Holy Apostleship but lowly fishermen! So stop thinking you need to be more to be used by God. He does not call the qualified but the willing. Enoch, Moses, Noah, Samuel, David, Joseph Smith, all have one thing in common, they were NOT qualified. But they were willing to accept the call. Thomas S. Monson has taught, “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” So have faith and be willing, you are enough!
Being converted to the Lord.
“Let my servant John Taylor, and also my servant John E. Page, and also my servant Wilford Woodruff, and also my servant Willard Richards, be appointed to fill the places of those who have fallen, and be officially notified of their appointment.”
Doctrine and Covenants 118:6
A part of Church History that is less known is how many of the early apostles apostatized. More than eight of the twelve were excommunicated or removed from the quorum at one point or another during the early years of the church! Including Thomas B. Marsh the President of the Quorum!
Orson Pratt and Orson Hyde both left but returned and were reinstated as Apostles.
Thomas B. Marsh, Luke Johnson both left and returned but were not reinstated as Apostles.
William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton, Lyman E. Johnson never returned.
And William Smith left, returned, and left again to join the RLDS church.
Why Do I share this? Well, we must understand that in our day, just as in the days of Christ the Apostles sometimes lose their way, IE Judas Iscariot. We must be disciples of the Master, not disciples of our favorite Apostle. Our testimonies must not be based on men but on the Living Christ and His Gospel. When we are moored to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Church we will find safety.
“If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.”
Ezra Taft Benson (First Presidency Message June 1981)
Tithing: What does “interest annually” mean?
“And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.”
Doctrine and Covenants 119:4
I hear people asking the question all the time. Should I tithe my gross or my net income? What does “interest annually” mean? I have heard many opinions, but I don’t want to give you an opinion. I would like to share three quotes that were given or shared at General Conference.
When asked what is a tithe? Joseph L. Wirthlin, the Presiding Bishop of the Church at the time explained: “A tithe is one-tenth of the professional man’s net income.” (Joseph L. Wirthlin, Conference Report, April 1953, p. 98.)
As quoted in General Conference, October 1974 by Elder Henry D. Taylor: Brigham Young taught us to pay like an honest man: “We do not ask anybody to pay tithing unless they are disposed to do so; but if you pretend to pay tithing, pay it like honest men.” (“Brigham Young on Tithing,” Improvement Era, May 1941, p. 282.)
And finally, the guiding principle I live by was given by President N. Eldon Tanner in the October 1973 Conference taught: “How would you like the Lord to figure out his blessings on the same basis that you do when you are figuring out your tithing? …would you want him to say, ‘Well now, just how much can I keep from giving him? How close can I figure this blessing?'”
Also see these two articles about tithing: “Why I am thankful to pay tithes and offerings during the coronavirus pandemic.” and “Stop Calling It “Your Tithing Money” Tithing Is Not Yours, It Is The LORDS!”