I missed last week’s insights (124) due to being sick, so I combined them with these weeks (125-128) I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come, Follow Me for Doctrine and Covenants 124-128. If you missed the last insights I did, for Doctrine and Covenants 121-123 click here for it. Please share this with your friends or use this picture to save this pin to read later:
Hyrum Smith was a prophet as well as Joseph.
“And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph”
Doctrine and Covenants 124:94
Of all the details least understood about the Restoration is the role of Hyrum Smith. Besides being one of the Eight Witnesses, he was a member of the Bishopric in Ohio, he was part of the first high council, he was called as the First Presidency, in conjunction with Doctrine and Covenants 124:94-95 on January 25th, 1841 Joseph Smith ordained Hyrum an Apostle and as the Assistant President of the Church.
To explain his role I refer to President Joseph Fielding Smith’s explanation. “The Prophet Joseph Smith conferred upon Hyrum Smith all the keys, authority and gifts of the priesthood which he, the Prophet, held, and which were formerly held by Oliver Cowdery. The Lord also revealed to Hyrum Smith all that was necessary to make him completely and to the full degree, a witness with his brother Joseph, as a prophet, seer, revelator and president of the Church, and to stand through all time and eternity at the head of this dispensation with his brother Joseph, a witness for Jesus Christ … Thus, we see, Hyrum Smith became a president of the Church with Joseph Smith” (Teachings of the Presidents of The Church, Joseph Fielding Smith)
I love Hyrum, I think that his example, and the example of his wife, Mary Fielding Smith, are examples that all Latter-day Saints should seek to emulate. His role is one of the least talked about aspects of the restoration. I did not learn this until I was studying Hyrum’s life for an article I wrote. (For more about Hyrum Smith the article, 5 Things You Did Not Know About Hyrum Smith The Patriarch)
A different way to gather.
“And let all those who come from the east, and the west, and the north, and the south, that have desires to dwell therein, take up their inheritance in the same, as well as in the city of Nashville, or in the city of Nauvoo, and in all the stakes which I have appointed, saith the Lord.”
Doctrine and Covenants 125:4
When the Saints were gathering in Jackson County Missouri the Lord was very strict in Doctrine and Covenants 72 that only those who had a recommendation from their bishop were to move to Missouri, this recommendation was proof that they were living the law of consecration and had entered into the United Order. But after Saints came to Zion without recommends, and without entering into the United Order by covenant to live the law of consecration the Saints were driven out of Zion. In Doctrine and Covenants 105:34, the Lord has suspended the United Order until Zion was redeemed.
When the Saints were regathering in Nauvoo and the surrounding lands the Lord gave them new directions, the Lord details that in Nauvoo one merely needs to have desires to live with the Saints to come, no recommendations were needed.
After the Nauvoo era all faithful Saints were expected to migrate to Utah over 50 years that was the standing command to the Church, and then finally, in the early 1900s, the church took another change on how we were to gather together, they flat out said stop coming to Utah, rather gather together in bodies in your home countries and build up the Churches there.
Why does this all matter? The programs of the Church are founded in principles, but they are not set like doctrines. The commandment to gather in Utah for the Saints in the 1800s was not the right thing to do for the Saints in the 1900s. The Lord calls prophets in our day and age to give us directions on how He wants us to do things currently. And whereas the doctrines are unchanging, the programs are always changing and adapting to local circumstances,
Acceptable unto the Lord.
“Dear and well-beloved brother, Brigham Young, verily thus saith the Lord unto you: My servant Brigham, it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me.”
Doctrine and Covenants 126:1
One of the most glorious and comforting doctrines of the gospel is that we believe that our sacrifices can be accepted by the Lord while still in mortality. IE, the Lord is willing to move up judgment day either partially, or fully for us. When the Lord tells us that it is enough, we have been proved faithful, and our sacrifice is acceptable it is known as making one’s calling and election sure. This is also referred to as being “Accepted by the Lord” (See this amazing Ensign article by that same name).
This verse shows us that the Lord is willing to judge us early either partially or fully and tell us that our sacrifices are acceptable to Him. As Latter-day Saints, our goal is that our sacrifices in our callings will be acceptable to the Lord, but ultimately that our life itself will be acceptable. Ezra Taft Benson taught that this should be our goal, he said: “Now there is a lifetime goal—to walk in his steps, to perfect ourselves in every virtue as he has done, to seek his face, and to work to make our calling and election sure.”
For more about making one’s calling and election sure and being acceptable to the Lord see “13 quotes from general authorities about the nature of making your calling and election sure” as well as the Ensign article “Accepted of the Lord: The Doctrine of Making Your Calling and Election Sure” and this video:
Redoubling Our Commitment To The Temple.
“And again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled…”
Doctrine and Covenants 127:4
In Doctrine and Covenants section 127, the Lord commands the saints to focus on building the Nauvoo Temple and doing temple work. He specifically commands them to “redouble” their efforts. As I read this verse I thought to myself how are my efforts with the temple? Can I redouble? Can I be more diligent and patient in family history and temple work? In the words of Howard W. Hunter, “Let us make the temple, with temple worship and temple covenants and temple marriage, our ultimate earthly goal and the supreme mortal experience.”
The Work of Salvation is the great cause of our God.
“Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! …” D&C 128:22
How often do you stop and think about the cause we are working towards? We are literally acting as saviors on mount Zion. We are working shoulder to shoulder with Jesus Christ Himself in saving and exalting the sons and daughters of God! We are fighting a war against Satan!
Let us take courage at the words of Joseph Smith and go forward! The war is almost o’er and victory in Christ is within sight! So the question is where will you be, who’s side will your actions lead you to?
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good pick up new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last-days, foreordained mission?” (“In His Steps” [Brigham Young University fireside, Mar. 4, 1979], 1, speeches.byu.edu).