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Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants illustrates some important principles of scripture study--practices that I wish I had been more engaged in earlier in my life: pondering and writing.

Verse 19 reads: "And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about." This verse connects meditation with understanding by the spirit, and receiving more of God's glory.

I have always known it was important to ponder, but I guess it wasn't often a part of my study. For one I didn't often think to take time to ponder, and when I did my mind would often wander (instead of delve). One of the answers to this dilemma lies in verse 113: "we were commanded to write while we were yet in the spirit."

On my mission when I started to use a study journal in my scipture study, and write insights and impressions and goals, I started to ponder more than I ever had! What I have found is that writing facilitates pondering. Just like in section 76, if we write and we meditate while in the spirit, we will have our minds enlightened and we will receive of His glory.

Tags: Meaningful Scripture Study

I never fully comprehended the significance of Doctrine and Covenants 76, or the new perspective it gave on exaltation. Learning today about how we can BECOME the sons and daughters of God again (Spiritual first-borns) made so much sense to me, in contrast by simply being adopted unto salvation by Christ.

THIS is one of the most significant plain and precious truths that has been lost to the world for millenia--what happens AFTER life after death! This is the ONLY church on the earth capable of bringing  God's children to a Celestial level. Only through his authorized church can we FULLY access the Atonement to be TRULY reconciled to God.

How could be completely reconciled to Him without reestablishing our sonship/daughtership?

This is amazing!!!

Tags: Exaltation

I was reading the 71st section of the Doctrine and Covenants this afternoon, and in the first verse the Lord is speaking to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon about missionary work. He instructs them that "the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel." The section heading also tells us that they were directed by the Lord to temporarily lay aside the work of translating the Bible while they fulfilled the instruction to share the gospel and "allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of some newspaper articles by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized."

I started pondering upon this situation, and the responsiblity to both magnify our callings and share the gospel. Now, as I ponder about my pondering of this verse (and the D&C in general), I was thinking about how I liken the scriptures to myself. I really feel that with the Doctrine & Covenants it is particularly easy to apply the verses to our own personal lives; these scriptures were revealed in THIS dispensation, to men in the modern world. It is just a different feel from reading ancient words of prophets that have been dead for millenia (not that we can't liken THEIR words unto ourselves), like I can relate more. What a blessing!

Tags: Personal Application

One neat part of Professor Holzapfel's presentation of the Doctrine and Covenants is his constant focus on the importance of understanding context. I can definitely say that this has been one of the most interesting and enlightening aspect of this wonderful class.

A perfect example is found in the 59th section, in verse 21, which reads:
"And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."
Now I have always heard this verse used in reference to the general principles of gratitude and obedience (and that is definitely a valid way to interpret this verse).

In the previous verses however, the Lord speaks about our stewardship over his creations (the earth, the animals, the plants, etc). In reference to His creations, He also states that they were "made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion" (v.20). So in the context of these verses, verse 21 is in large part the Lord describing how His wrath is kindled against those who are not grateful for His creations, and who do not care for them.

Pretty neat insight! We need to be more concerned with context.

Tags: Scriptural Context

Again we were talking about the Law of Consecration in Doctrine and Covenants class today. Dr. Holzapfel brought up the interesting point that some of our consecration is to our families--its not all just giving away to the church or to those we don't know (which is pretty much how I have always viewed it).

I received the distinct impression that my education has everything to do with consecration. Before my mission I did a year at BYU. I essentially coasted through all of my classes, ending up with a 3.5 GPA. While this is a decent GPA, if I would have put in real effort to study and excel in my classes (all of which were pretty easy), I could have gotten a 4.0.

I really regret that I didn't put in that effort. On my mission I resolved to do better, and to really take my studies seriously. My goal was to prioritize my academics, and get straight A's. The semester is now over half-way done, and I am solidly on track to achieve that goal--it has been miraculous! It just feels like time after time the Lord has made me equal to the tasks at hand; through His grace and mercy I am achieving my sacred goals.

Now I know why: I have been doing my best to consecrate my education to the Lord--and for the welfare of my future family. That is why I have seen so many tender mercies in my studies! I know that my family will be my most important stewardship, and it will be my solemn responsibility to provide for them throughout my life. Consecrating my education now is one of the best ways I can prepare to fulfill that responsibility.

Tags: Consecration

In Doctrine and Covenants section 5 verse 10, as we read today in class, we learn that this dispensation has received the word of the Lord largely through the prophet Joseph Smith. I have never quite comprehended how much we actually owe to the prophet Joseph: the Book of Mormon; the Doctrine and Covenants; the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible; his translation of the records now found in the Pearl of Great Price; even the temple ordinances of exaltation. SO MUCH! We can trace almost all of our knowledge of God and His kingdom through the prophet Joseph Smith.

It is so interesting to draw a parallel between him and the ancient prophet Moses, who was similarly the head of a gospel dispensation. He revealed the law of the Lord as Joseph did. He lead the Lord's people to the promised land as Joseph did (though neither of them got to see it). Just as Moses was heavily quoted by all of the other prophets in centuries following him, Joseph Smith and the works he translated are cited by EVERYONE today.

I am so grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith. Because of him and his work, I know Jesus Christ. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have relationship with my Father in heaven, my Savior Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost. I have received the word of the Lord through him.

Tags: Through Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith's quote about how a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things cannot produce the faith require for salvation has taken on a more significant meaning to me. I am just so grateful to be a member of Christ's true church, with the law of consecration restored to it. In every dispensation where the people received and kept this law, they were blessed. The Lord wants us to sacrifice in all things so he can bless us in all things!

One of the interesting things the speaker brought up was the fact that the law of tithing is not separate from, but is an expression of, the law of consecration. The word consecrate doesn't refer to necessarily reliquishing everything you own, but setting aside something for a holy purpose. I know that as we consecrate things unto the Lord, He will consecrated them unto us for the welfare of our souls.

Really, the most important things that we are offering the Lord are our heart, and our faith.

Tags: Law Of Consecration

I have been spending a good amount of time studying D&C section 20 lately, in preparation for our D&C test. It is a long section! We used it alot on my mission, when we were teaching about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, or about the qualifications of baptism, or about the sacramental prayers.

It starts out referring to the church as "The Church of Christ," and in that context our Professor taught us that in fact it was the ONLY church up to that point, since the falling away of Christ's original church, to bear His name. I think I have heard that before, but I've never quite thought about it or even fully believe it until now. How cool is that?? The very first one to bear the name of Christ!

As I read section 20, I just thought about how incredible it would have been to be present in that room, as the one and only Church of Jesus Christ was organized upon the earth again. Nothing quite like that ihas ever happened before, or I'm sure will ever happen again. And It happened in a little LOG CABIN! There were probably less people in that little room than are in the library room I'm sitting in right now, on the north end of the top floor of the BYU library. Such humble beginnings, and now the church numbers over 13 million. What a sacred privilege to be a part of the restoration of the kingdom of God on the earth again.

Tags: Section 20

So the other day, in Dr. Holzapfel's D&C class, we learned that sections 18 and 19 of the D&C were "watershed" revelations. He talked about how from these sections, Joseph more fully realized that the Book of Mormon is not an end in itself, but a means to help us come unto Christ. As I was studying my scriptures some time after that class, and reviewing these sections, I decided to skim over all of the previous sections and see if and how the Savior refers His atonement. As I did so, I found that the Savior never directly speaks on His sacrifice until these watershed revelations--in the which he does so with powerful detail.

In the New Testiment we have the memories of others describing the Savior's sacrifice, and some few of his words on the subject. Think: when these sections of the D&C were given to the saints,  they heard directly from the Savior, speaking in this day in His own words, through a living prophet, testifying of His great atoning sacrifice. Imagine how they must have felt, how real He and His suffering must have become to them.

I have grown up my whole life knowing that the Savior speaks in these days, and that he suffered, bled, and died for us. It is too easy to take these beautiful truths for granted.

Tags: The Atonement

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