Come, Follow Me Feb 16, 2025 "That You May Come Off Conqueror"

 

Come, Follow Me - D&C 10-11

Also some of Sections 6,8,9

Feb 16, 2025

 

B [Associated with D&C 6:9]

Joseph Fielding Smith explains:

“We must not infer from this expression that those who went forth to preach were limited in their teachings so that all they could say was “repent for your sins,” but in teaching the principles of the gospel, they should do so with the desire to teach repentance to the people and bring them in humility to a realization of the need for remission of sense. . . That was the burden of John’s message as he went forth to prepare the way of the Lord, “repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” he declared to the people, but he also taught them the necessity of baptism and officiated in the ordinance for all who repented of their sins.” (Church History and Modern Revelation 1:39-40)

C [Associated with D&C 8:2-3]

Elder Richard G Scott: The Holy Ghost communicates to us through these two sense's. However there is a difference between the two.

·         The “heart” deals with general feelings and impressions,

·         Whereas “mind” refers to specific thoughts and instruction.

In other words, “heart” is general, and “mind” is specific. . . Impressions to the heart when followed will lead to more specific instruction in the mind.

 

D [Associated with D&C 9:7-8]

Elder Dallin H Oaks spoke about this burning in the bosom:

“What does a ‘burning in the bosom’ mean? Does it need to be a feeling of caloric heat, like the burning produced by combustion? If that is the meaning, I have never had a burning in the bosom. Surely, the word ‘burning’ in this scripture signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity. That is the witness many receive. That is the way revelation works.” (“Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, March 1997, 13)

E [Associated with D&C 10:3-5]

Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained how the Lord’s mortal servants should labor in the work:

“The Lord wants us to be diligent but prudent. We are not to give our cross a hurried heft merely to see if we can lift it and then put it down—we are to carry it for the balance of our lives. And pace matters very much. …

“Running faster than we have strength ‘is not requisite.’ Doing things diligently but ‘in wisdom and order’ is, in fact, necessary if one is to ‘win the prize.” [Mosiah 4:27.] This balance between pace and diligence is a high and demanding exercise in the use of our time, talent, and agency. …

“… When our pace exceeds our strength and means, the result is prostration instead of sustained dedication. Directions on such matters can be and are given to us through the process of private inspiration.

“Pace, which requires diligent, sustained effort, is not the way of those who fling themselves into a single task and quickly become depleted and, therefore, cannot help again for a season” (Notwithstanding My Weakness [1981], 4, 6–7).

F [Associated with D&C 10:3-5]

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency highlighted one reason why the Lord gave the commandment to pray always:

“You may have wondered, as have I, why He used the word always, given the nature of mortality as it weighs upon us. You know from experience how hard it is to think of anything consciously all the time. Even in service to God, you will not be consciously praying always. So why does the Master exhort us to ‘pray always’?

“I am not wise enough to know all of His purposes in giving us a covenant to always remember Him and in warning us to pray always lest we be overcome. But I know one. It is because He knows perfectly the powerful forces that influence us and also what it means to be human. …

“… He knows what it is like to have the cares of life press upon us. … And He knows that both the trials we face and our human powers to deal with them ebb and flow.

“He knows the mistake we can so easily make: to underestimate the forces working for us and to rely too much on our human powers. And so He offers us the covenant to ‘always remember Him’ and the warning to ‘pray always’ so that we will place our reliance on Him, our only safety. It is not hard to know what to do. The very difficulty of remembering always and praying always is a needed spur to try harder. The danger lies in delay or drift” (“Always,” Ensign, Oct. 1999, 8–9).

G [Associated with D&C 10:45]

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how Nephi’s second record is an example of God’s infinite wisdom and how it blesses us today:

“At least six times in the Book of Mormon, the phrase ‘for a wise purpose’ is used in reference to the making, writing, and preserving of the small plates of Nephi (see 1 Ne. 9:5; [Words of Mormon] 1:7; Alma 37:2, 12, 14, 18). We know one such wise purpose—the most obvious one—was to compensate for the future loss of 116 pages of manuscript translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith from the first part of the Book of Mormon (see D&C 3; 10).

“But it strikes me that there is a ‘wiser purpose’ than that, or perhaps more accurately, a ‘wiser purpose’ in that. The key to such a suggestion is in D&C 10:45. As the Lord instructs Joseph Smith on the procedure for translating and inserting the material from the small plates into what had been begun as the translation of the abridged large plates, he says, ‘Behold, there are many things engraven upon the [small] plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel.’

“So clearly this was not a quid pro quo in the development of the final Book of Mormon product. It was not tit for tat, this for that—116 pages of manuscript for 142 pages of printed text. Not so. We got back more than we lost. And it was known from the beginning that it would be so. We do not know exactly what we have missed in the 116 pages, but we do know that what we received on the small plates was the personal declarations of the three great witnesses [Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah], three of the great doctrinal voices of the Book of Mormon, testifying that Jesus is the Christ” (“For a Wise Purpose,” Ensign, Jan. 1996, 13–14).

H [Associated with D&C 11:2]

Elder Orson Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the imagery of the sword and how it illustrates the power of the word of God:

“A message of simple truth, when sent from God—when published by divine authority, through divinely inspired men, penetrates the mind like a sharp two-edged sword, and cuts asunder the deeply-rooted prejudices, the iron-bound sinews of ancient error and tradition, made sacred by age and rendered popular by human wisdom. It severs with undeviating exactness between truth and falsehood—between the doctrine of Christ and the doctrines of men; it levels with the most perfect ease every argument that human learning may array against it. Opinions, creeds invented by uninspired men, and doctrines originated in schools of divinity, all vanish like the morning dew—all sink into insignificance when compared with a message direct from heaven” (“Divine Authority—or Was Joseph Smith Sent of God?” Orson Pratt’s Works on the Doctrines of the Gospel [1945], 1:1).

 

I [Associated with D&C 11:10]

President Joseph Fielding Smith sheds light upon Hyrum’s gift:

“The great gift which he possessed was that of a tender, sympathetic heart; a merciful spirit. The Lord on a later occasion said: ‘blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, sayeth the Lord.’ (D&C 124:15) This great gift was manifest in his jealous watch care over the Prophet lest some harm come to him.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:57)

 

Additional Information Not Used In Lesson

 

Section 10 – Issues with 116 pages

Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy gave the following description of Joseph’s experience:

“Young Joseph Smith was disciplined with a four-year probation before obtaining the golden plates, ‘because you have not kept the commandments of the Lord’ [in The Joseph Smith Papers, Volume 1: Joseph Smith Histories, 1832–1844, ed. Karen Lynn Davidson and others (2012), 83]. Later, when Joseph lost the 116 manuscript pages, he was disciplined again. Though Joseph was truly remorseful, the Lord still withdrew his privileges for a short season because ‘whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven’ (D&C 95:1).

“Joseph said, ‘The angel was rejoiced when he gave me back the Urim and Thummim and said that God was pleased with my faithfulness and humility, and loved me for my penitence and diligence in prayer’ [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 71; emphasis added]. Because the Lord wanted to teach Joseph a heart-changing lesson, He required a heartrending sacrifice of him—sacrifice being an essential part of discipline” (“The Righteous Judge,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 97).

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Doctrine and Covenants 10:20–29. “He stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work”

Satan influenced corrupt men to persecute the Prophet Joseph Smith and try to destroy the Book of Mormon. He deceived and flattered the wicked and told them that “it is no sin to lie” and destroy that which is good (D&C 10:25).

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “The devil has great power to deceive; he will so transform things as to make one gape at those who are doing the will of God” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 72).

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There continues to be those today who are stirred up to anger against God’s work. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles cautioned members of the Church:

“No one of us is immune from the influences of the world. The Lord’s counsel keeps us on guard. …

“As we follow the Savior, without question there will be challenges that confront us. Approached with faith, these refining experiences bring a deeper conversion of the Savior’s reality. Approached in a worldly way, these same experiences cloud our view and weaken our resolve. Some we love and admire slip from the strait and narrow path and ‘[walk] no more with him’ [John 6:66]. …

“Will we be astonished at times to see the anger a few feel toward the Lord’s Church and their efforts to steal the struggling faith of the weak? Yes. But this will not deter the growth or destiny of the Church, nor need it impede the spiritual progress of each of us as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ” (“Never Leave Him,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 39, 41).

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Doctrine and Covenants 10:53–56, 67. “My church”

Doctrine and Covenants 10:53–56 contains one of the earliest indications from the Lord that He was preparing to establish His Church again on the earth (see also D&C 5:14; 6:1; 11:16). The Lord promised that those who belong to His Church “need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven” (D&C 10:55). Some suppose that membership in the Lord’s restored Church guarantees salvation. To understand the Lord’s doctrine on this point, we need to understand what belonging to the Lord’s Church means. The Lord stated that those who belong to the Church are not just those who are baptized and have their names on the records of the Church but those who “repenteth and cometh unto me” (D&C 10:67). The Lord also added that those members of His Church who endure to the end will prevail against the gates of hell (see D&C 10:69). [D&C Institute Student Manual, Chapter 3]

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The Work of Translation

Emma Smith

“When my husband was translating the Book of Mormon, I wrote a part of it, as he dictated each sentence, word for word, and when he came to proper names he could not pronounce, or long words, he spelled them out, and while I was writing them, if I made any mistake in spelling, he would stop me and correct my spelling although it was impossible for him to see how I was writing them down at the time. Even the word Sarah he could not pronounce at first, but had to spell it, and I would pronounce it for him.” (quoted by Russell M Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” Ensign, July 1993. 62)

“The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth, which I had given him to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book. …

“My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it. I am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired; for, when acting as his scribe, [Joseph] would dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. This was a usual thing for him to do. It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible.” (“Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” Saints’ Herald, Oct. 1, 1879. 290)

Oliver Cowdery

“I wrote with my own pen the entire Book of Mormon (save a few pages) as it fell from the lips of the prophet, as he translated it by the gift and power of God, by means of the Urim and Thummim, or, as it is called by the book, holy interpreters. I beheld with my eyes, and handled with my hands, the gold plates from which it was translated. I also beheld the interpreters.” (in Reuben Miller journal, Oct. 21, 1848, Church History Library)

The above was from Come, Follow Me “Voices of the Restoration”

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Doctrine and Covenants 11:6–8. “You shall be the means of doing much good in this generation”

The Lord promised Hyrum Smith that if he kept the commandments, he would be the means of doing much good in his lifetime.

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pointed out some of Hyrum Smith’s significant accomplishments:

“[Hyrum] assisted and served his brother, Joseph the Prophet, throughout the long and arduous process of the Restoration. Ultimately, he joined Joseph and other martyrs of past gospel dispensations. His blood was shed as his final testimony to the world. …

“Hyrum gave unfailing service to the Church. In 1829 he was among a handful of individuals who were allowed to view the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, and for the rest of his life he testified to the divine nature of the Book of Mormon as one of the Eight Witnesses who ‘had seen the plates with his eyes and handled them with his hands’ [quoted in Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses [1981], 158–59]. … At age thirty, he was the oldest of the six men chosen in 1830 to formally organize The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints. … As chairman of the temple committee, Hyrum rallied the Church to perform the seemingly impossible task of building the Kirtland Temple when most Church members literally had nothing to give to the cause. A few years later he repeated this service with the building of the Nauvoo Temple.

“Hyrum served in the Ohio bishopric, on the first high council, as Patriarch, counselor in the First Presidency, and finally as one of only two men ever to hold the office of Assistant President of the Church. …

“Clearly, Hyrum Smith was one of the firm pillars of the Restoration. But sadly, many Church members know little about him except that he was martyred with his brother in Carthage Jail. That is significant, but he did far more. Indeed, Joseph Smith himself once suggested that his followers would do well to pattern their lives after Hyrum’s [see History of the Church, 5:108]” (“Hyrum Smith: ‘Firm as the Pillars of Heaven,’” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 6–7).

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Heavenly Messengers Who Appeared to Joseph Smith

Taken From:

The 34th Annual Brigham Young University Sidney B. Sperry Symposium (2005)
Joseph Smith and the Doctrinal Restoration
W. Jeffrey Marsh, Editor
Excerpts From Chapter 21 by Brian L Smith
“Taught From On High”: The Ministry of Angelic Messengers to the Prophet Joseph Smith
The following is a list of many of the personages who appeared to Joseph Smith and restored keys or delivered divine instructions.
PERSONAGE	SELECTED REFERENCES	KEYS GIVEN OR NATURE OF APPEARANCE
God the Father	JS—H 1:17; HC1:5; D&C 76:2	Opened this dispensation; introduced the Son
Jesus Christ	JS—H 1:17; HC1:5–6; D&C 76:20–24; 110:2–10	Called Joseph as a prophet; accepted the temple
Moroni	JS—H 1:30–49, 59; JD 17:374	Tutored Joseph; gave him keys of stick of Ephraim
John the Baptist	D&C 13:1; HC 1:39–42	Restored Aaronic Priesthood and its keys
Peter, James, John	D&C 27:12; 128:20; JD18:326; HC 1:40–42	Restored Melchizedek Priesthood and apostleship and keys
Moses	D&C 110:11; JD 21:65; 23:48	Restored keys of gathering and leading the ten tribes
Elias	D&C 27:6; 110:12; JD 23:48	Committed the “gospel of Abraham"
Elijah	D&C 110:13–16; JD 23:48	Conferred the sealing power
Adam (Michael)	HC2:380; 3:388; D&C 128:21; JD 18:326; 21:94; 23:48	Restored keys (perhaps of the presidency over the earth)
Noah (Gabriel)	D&C 128:21; JD 21:94; 23:48	Restored keys (perhaps of the power to preach the gospel)
Raphael	D&C 128:21	Restored keys (perhaps of the dispensation of Enoch’s day)
Various angels	D&C 128:21	Restored keys (all declaring their individual dispensation)
Lehi	JD16:265–66	Ministered to him
Nephi	JD21:161; 16:266; 17:374	Tutored Joseph; gave him keys
Mormon	JD17:374	Tutored Joseph; gave him keys
Unnamed angel	D&C 27; HC1:106	Taught concerning use of wine in the sacrament
Unnamed angel	Life of Heber C. Kimball28; Temples of the Most High29	Sent to accept dedication of the Kirtland temple
Unnamed angel	Biography and Family Records of Lorenzo Snow30	Visited Joseph three times; commanded him to practice plural marriage, as previously revealed by the Lord.
Although keys, instructions, or information may have been given by some of the personages in the following list, they are generally noted as simply having been seen by Joseph.
Abel	JD18:325; HC3:388
Seth	JD21:94; D&C 107:53–57; HC3:388
Enos	HC3:388; D&C 107:53–57
Cainan	HC3:388; D&C 107:53–57
Mahalaleel	JD18:325; D&C 107:53–57; HC3:388
Jared (Bible)	HC3:388; D&C 107:53–57
Enoch	HC3:388; D&C 107:53–57; JD21:65
Methuselah	JD18:325; D&C 107:53–57; HC3:388
Lamech	D18:325
Eve	Oliver B. Huntington diary31
Abraham	D&C 27:10; JD21:94; 23:48
Isaac	D&C 27:10 JD 21:94
Jacob	D&C 27:10 JD 21:94
Joseph, son of Jacob	D&C 27:10
Twelve Jewish Apostles (Peter, James, and John already counted above)	JD 21:94 (Names in Matthew 10:1–4, Luke 6:13–16)
Twelve Nephite Apostles (Includes the Three Nephites)	JD 21:94 (Names recorded in 3 Nephi 19:4)
Zelph the Lamanite	Times & Seasons, 6:788
Alvin Smith (Joseph’s deceased brother)	HC2:380
Paul	TPJS 180
Alma	JD 13:47
“I saw many angels”	Warren Cowdery’s account of the First Vision32
Satan and his associates	JSH 1:15–16;  D&C 128:20;  JD 3:229–30
Notes:
28. Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, An Apostle: The Father and Founder of the British Mission (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967), 91.
29. Temples of the Most High, comp. N. B. Lundwall (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968), 23.
30. Eliza R. Snow Smith, Biography and Family Records of Lorenzo Snow (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1884), 69–70.
31. Oliver B. Huntington diary, comp. H. Donl Peterson, vol. 2 (L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University), 244; see also H. Donl Peterson, Moroni: Ancient Prophet—Modern Messenger (Bountiful, UT: Horizon, 1983).
32. Milton V. Backman Jr., Joseph Smith’s First Vision, 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1980), 159.