D & C 125-128

D & C 125-128 

 

Section 125 

Given at Nauvoo Illinois, the Saints are to build cities and to gather to the Stakes of Zion.

Gather where you are. There is a need for unity and diversity. Be a real Saint whether you are a Nauvoo Saint or Zarahemla Saint which acknowledges the Book of Mormon. “The Stakes and Districts of Zion are symbolic of the holy places spoken of by the Lord where His Saints are to gather in the last days as a refuge from the storm” Ezra Talf Benson

 

Section 126

As this time, Brigham Young was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles. Brigham Young’s first wife died. He married again but was away from home most of the first five years of marriage to Mary Ann. 126: 1-3 Brigham Young was commended for his work and restrained from future travel abroad. For Brigham Young and all those who need to take a moment and think of caring for families as well as their calling. It goes in this order: God, family and work. Brigham was not to leave his family again. He needed to delegate. “Obviously, our imperfections make God’s full and final approval of our lives impossible now, but the basic course of our life can be approved. If we have that basic reassurance, we can further develop faith. Once our direction is correct, we can give attention to pace. There are various and specific duties in the course of life which go with and help us to keep the commandments. These duties are usually measurable and are quite familiar. They include partaking of the sacrament, attending meetings and temple, praying our tithes and offering, and being temporally prepared… when we perform these measurable duties properly, they produce a series of highly desirable results which are less measurable but very real. Indeed, when we have personal reinforcing spiritual experiences, they will almost always occur in the course of our carrying out the duties jus named. Further, carrying out these duties will entitle us to an ever-increasing companionship of the Holy Ghost.” Elder Maxwell

“We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God given responsibility. We counsel parents  and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform. “ handbook 2 “Remember that some of the greatest needs may be those right in front of you. Begin our service in your own homes and within our own families. These are he relationships that can b eternal. Even if and may especially if your family situation is less than perfect, you can find ways to serve, lift, and strengthen. Begin where you are, love them as they are, and prepare for the family you want to have in the future.” Bonnie Oscarson 

 

In Section 127 Joseph Smith writes a letter while he is in hiding containing on baptisms for the death. Joseph Smith glories in persecution and tribulation. Records must be kept relative for baptisms for the dead.  

He had so much happened to him since birth. Bone surgery as a child, Ridiculed and ostracized, Older brother dies, lied about, tarred and feathered, forced to restart over and over again, betrayed by his friends, six of his children died, poverty, sued unjustly, Liberty Jail, but his attitude is admirable when facing adversity. These verses are evidence that he learned so much patience from all his trials. He sees his trials as small, they have all become a second nature to him. He is used to and nothing surprises me. bring it on type of attitude. “Been there, done that” He has endured it and can endure it again because God has never disserted him. Joseph loves Paul and he feels like Paul. There are others like Joseph in the Story of Egypt or Job. Trials bring experience and good. Is in those times that we seek him. Forget about your enemies. Be optimistic. Look on the bright side of things. Be of good cheer and do not fear. There will be a reward in heaven. Nothing can destroy your faith. Matthew:  5: 10-12 (If you are being persecuted, you must be doing something right.) 

Favorite phrases: 

Turn mountains into molehills

Get accustomed to adversity

Seek strength in scripture stars 

Delight in difficulty 

Depend on God’s Deliverance 

Gladness, not grumbling 

Find peace and persecution 

Triumph with toil 

“If I were sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on me, I would hang on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top.” Joseph Smith (Like the ping pong ball that comes up on top from a jar) If we know how to swim it does not matter how deep the water is. Glad and glorious tidings are  acclaimed for the living and the dead.  

Talk on April 2007 Elder Holland.

 Section 128 ends with a plea to offer unto the Lord a book that contains the record of our dead. Local and general recorders must have certified for the fact of baptisms for the dead. Their records are binging and recorded on earth and in heaven. The baptismal font is the similitude of the grave. Elijah restored power for the baptism for the dead. All of the keys and authorities of past dispensations have been restored. 

“If there is work in all the world that demonstrates the universality of God’s love, it is the selfless work that goes in these sacred houses.” Gordon B. Hinckley.The most glorious subjects of the gospel is baptism for the dead. 128:17 vicarious temple work for the dead. 

The work of the dead must be done in a serious order for its legality. Words found in section 128. Certify, Recorder, eye witness, testified, taking accurate notes, transaction, certificates, order, judged, propia persona, authority, annulled, law, precedent, summum borum, facts. That which is bound on earth is bound in heaven. They need us but more importantly we need them. Can I do it all but neglect doing the work of our ancestors? No, we want to be together. We are welded together. Temple and family history work, makes it possible. It’s like the song Bolero that starts with a single note and continues adding more instruments until a full orchestra. It goes on and on adding voices from past to present. “It should be no surprise to us that the Lord does desire that his people be a temple-motivated people. I repeat what I have said before: it would please the Lord for every adult member to be worthily of and to carry a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it. The things that we must do and not do to be worthy of the temple recommend are the very things that ensure we will be happy as individual and as families.” President Hunter 

 My dear Uncle Franklin was a temple worker and an amazing teacher of the gospel. I know he is continuing to teach the gospel in the Spirit world. Every time I go to the temple with a name since his passing, I wonder if my uncle taught them in the Spirit world. I wonder if we are that connected. Someone my uncle taught, and I am performing the ordinance. It would not surprise me that we are that connected. 

con amor,

Vero