Come, Follow Me Insights by Gogo Goff Doctrine and Covenants 137-138

I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come, Follow Me for Doctrine and Covenants 137-138. If you missed last week’s insight, for Doctrine and Covenants 135-136 click here for it. Please share this with your friends or use this picture to save this pin to read later:

God’s plan is more merciful than we realize.

5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept;
6 And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.
Doctrine and Covenants 137:5-6

I absolutely love Section 137. Prior to this section, many people assumed that unless you accepted the gospel in this life you were lost. That means that ALL of their loved ones who were already dead were lost. For Joseph Smith, that means that Alvin, his beloved older brother, fate was gloom. When Section 137 is revelated and Joseph catches a glimpse of the mercy of God in verse 6 he admits that he marveled at it! He knew God loves us, but even he marveled that Alvin was saved in the Celestial Kingdom.

I love that this!! This shows that God is more merciful than we can understand. We should never assume that someone is lost. We do NOT understand how deeply God loves each of us and how much effort the plan has to help reclaim every single one of us. Simply put, we should never judge someone or assume they are lost, and that includes ourselves!

“The thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.”
Jeffrey R. Holland

No blessing denied the worthy.

“Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;”
Doctrine and Covenants 137:7

I love this verse because it highlights the love of God and His mercy. It details how He is willing to give EVERYONE a chance, what constitutes a chance? We do not know. But like Nephi, when there is something we do not understand can attest, “I know that he loveth his children” (1 Nephi 11:17)

God’s promises are vast and often time we feel like they don’t apply to us. We think, “Marriage? I am still single and in my 40’s” or “Children? I am barren.” Or “Having Joy? But I struggle with Depression!” There are many miracles that God provides in this life for those who are faithful and worthy, but the comforting thing is to realize that God’s timetables are not limited to our mortal life.

NO blessing will be denied the worthy. Sometimes those blessings will come now, and others we will need to be patient and wait until the Millennium, but no blessing will be denied to those who are obedient. This is NOT just my opinion, this is doctrine that is taught by the prophets:

“No blessing, including that of eternal marriage and an eternal family, will be denied to any worthy individual. While it may take somewhat longer—perhaps even beyond this mortal life—for some to achieve this blessing, it will not be denied.”
Howard W. Hunter

Pondering is the gateway to revelations.

“On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures;
As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.”
Doctrine and Covenants 138:1,11

We often talk about ‘reading the scriptures and whereas that is vitally important, it is like pouring a bowl of cereal. Pondering the scriptures and the teachings of the prophets is like actually eating the food our Spirit needs. In 3 Nephi 17:3 Jesus commands us to “ponder upon the things” that He taught them and to “ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand,” That is the recipe of pondering it is a combination of thinking about the word and asking the Lord for more understanding so that we can apply it.

Speaking of Section 138, Joseph B. Wirthlin comments on the power of pondering. He taught, “Pondering, which means to weigh mentally, to deliberate, to meditate, can achieve the opening of the spiritual eyes of one’s understanding. Also, the Spirit of the Lord may rest upon the ponderer as described by President Smith.” Furthermore, Henry B. Eyring taught, “reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully.”

From these quotes, we learn that pondering is not simply reading, but seeking to understand and apply the gospel in our lives. When we seek understanding on how to apply the gospel in our lives we invite the Spirit of revelation so that the Lord can give us instructions and personal revelation. This is the pattern that Joseph F. Smith followed in 1918 that led to Section 138.

Mother Eve

“38 Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of all,
39 And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God.”
Doctrine and Covenants 138:38-39

Section 138 is known as the revelation on the redemption of the dead. But one of my favorite nuggets from the revelation actually deals with the description of those who have gone before and have been exalted. He names many of the most famous people from the bible.

In this list, President Joseph F. Smith states that he saw Father Adam, and “glorious Mother Eve.” In the world, most people demonize and loath Mother Eve. Many Christians blamer her for all the ills of the fall. But we, the Latter-day Saints, stand almost alone in praising her as the Mother of the human race. We respect and honor her and Adam as those from whom all flesh has come. The truths of the restoration teach us that the fall was part of the plan.

“Some Christians condemn Eve for her act, concluding that she and her daughters are somehow flawed by it. Not the Latter-day Saints! Informed by revelation, we celebrate Eve’s act and honor her wisdom and courage.”
Dallin H. Oaks