Doctrine and Covenants 64: 31-34

 

What are the things the Lord has entrusted you to be able to help bring about His "great work"?

"31 And behold, I, the Lord, declare unto you, and my words are sure and shall not fail, that they shall obtain it.

32 But all things must come to pass in their time.

33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." (Doctrine and Covenants 64: 31-34)

And here's the commentary entitled: "The Lord asks for my “heart and a willing mind.” : 

"Have you ever felt “weary” with all the “well-doing” you’re trying to accomplish? Look for the Lord’s message to you in Doctrine and Covenants 64:31–34. What does the Lord want you to do to bring about His “great work”?

Think of an object lesson that would illustrate verse 33—something large that’s made up of small things, like a mosaic or a brick building. What “small things” can you do every day to “[lay] the foundation” of God’s great work? What are some examples of the “great work” that the Lord has given you?"

There was a time I rejected a calling because I was feeling not comfortable for me to serve in such capacity at that time. I wanted some rest from teaching little children at school so I rejected the calling to teach in Primary. And at that time I was going through a spiritual trial as well. I'm so grateful that I was able to rise above that challenge eventually. The next time I was given a calling (still in Primary), I accepted it and it's now about one year since I'm serving in the Bangkok Ward Primary as a second counselor. 

 To help bring about His "great work", I think the Lord wants me to magnify my calling, and to do many things of my own free will and choice like use my skillset, my expertise in helping to build His kingdom. This means being more consistent with making the choice to intentionally take action--showing up, and doing all I can to accomplish what God wants me to do. 

One example of the "great work" that the Lord has given me is to help build families, the most important unit in God's kingdom. By doing something daily that aligns with this purpose I am helping to lay down the foundation of God's great work. 

Doctrine and Covenants 64: 1-11

 

How are we blessed when we choose to forgive one another?

"1 Behold, thus saith the Lord your God unto you, O ye elders of my church, hearken ye and hear, and receive my will concerning you.

2 For verily I say unto you, I will that ye should overcome the world; wherefore I will have compassion upon you.

3 There are those among you who have sinned; but verily I say, for this once, for mine own glory, and for the salvation of souls, I have forgiven you your sins.

4 I will be merciful unto you, for I have given unto you the kingdom.

5 And the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., through the means I have appointed, while he liveth, inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances.

6 There are those who have sought occasion against him without cause;

7 Nevertheless, he has sinned; but verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death.

8 My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.

9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.

10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

11 And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds." (Doctrine and Covenants 64: 1-11)

And here's the commentary entitled: “Forgive one another.” : 

"Consider the following as you study Doctrine and Covenants 64:1–11:

• Think about a time when the Lord forgave you. How did you feel?

• Is there someone you need to forgive? Why can forgiving others be so difficult? What helps you overcome these difficulties?

• What truths about forgiveness in Doctrine and Covenants 64:1–11 seem important to you? Why do you think the Lord commands us “to forgive all”? (verse 10).

If you struggle to forgive, consider studying Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s message “The Ministry of Reconciliation” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 77–79) or Kristin M. Yee’s message “Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness” (Liahona, Nov. 2022, 36–38). What do you learn about how Christ can help you forgive?

Family relationships can provide many opportunities to forgive. Think about your family members. Whom do you need to forgive? How are we “afflicted” (verse 8) when we don’t forgive each other? How would forgiveness affect your family relationships?"

I felt that the heavy burden of guilt was taken away when I was forgiven of the Lord. 

Looks like there are people I still need to forgive even though I see them around these days no more. Forgiving others can be so difficult sometimes because of the feeling of betrayal and because of lack of humility or having pride more than humility. By remembering that nobody is perfect, even I, myself, also have the tendency to make mistakes, and commit sins, and so, I need to be forgiven too, even by myself, remembering this is making the choice to forgive others easier. 

Doctrine and Covenants 64: 10, 34, 33; 12 After Much Tribulation Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, Volume 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846

 

How are we blessed when we choose to do what the Lord requires of us?

"10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (Doctrine and Covenants 64: 10)

"34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." (Doctrine and Covenants 64: 34)

"33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great." (Doctrine and Covenants 64: 33)

"A few days later, Polly died, praising the Lord for supporting her in her suffering. The prophet preached the funeral sermon, and her husband buried her body in a patch of woods not far from the temple site. She was the first Saint laid to rest in Zion.

The same day, Joseph received another revelation: “Blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments. For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their labors.”

Soon after the funeral, Ezra and other church elders started their journey back to Kirtland with Joseph, Oliver, and Sidney. Ezra was relieved to be returning home to Ohio. Unlike Edward, he had not had a change of heart about Joseph or the location of Zion.

The men launched canoes onto the wide Missouri River, just north of Independence, and paddled downstream. At the end of the first day of travel, they were in good spirits and enjoyed a dinner of wild turkey along the riverbank. On the following day, however, the August weather was hot and the river was wild and difficult to navigate. The men quickly grew tired and soon began criticizing each other.

“As the Lord God liveth,” Oliver finally shouted at the men, “if you do not behave better, some accident will befall you.”

Joseph took the lead in his canoe the next afternoon, but some of the elders were upset with him and Oliver and refused to paddle. At a dangerous bend in the river, they hit a submerged tree and nearly capsized. Fearing for the lives of everyone in the company, Joseph and Sidney ordered the elders off the river.

After they set up camp, Joseph, Oliver, and Sidney tried to talk to the group and ease tensions. Irritated, the men called Joseph and Sidney cowards for getting off the river, mocked the way Oliver paddled his canoe, and accused Joseph of acting like a dictator. The quarrel lasted long into the night.

Rather than stay up with the company, Ezra went to bed early, deeply critical of Joseph and the elders. Why, he wondered, would the Lord trust the keys of His kingdom to men like these?" (12 After Much Tribulation Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, Volume 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846)

And here's the introductory commentary to this week's reading assignment entitled: "June 16–22: “The Lord Requireth the Heart and a Willing Mind” Doctrine and Covenants 64–66" : 

"In the miserable heat of August 1831, several elders were traveling back to Kirtland from the land of Zion in Missouri. The travelers were hot and weary, and tensions soon turned into quarrels. It may have seemed like building Zion, a city of love, unity, and peace, was going to take a long time.

Fortunately, building Zion—in Missouri in 1831 or in our hearts, families, and wards today—doesn’t require us to be perfect. Instead, “of you it is required to forgive,” the Lord said (Doctrine and Covenants 64:10). He requires “the heart and a willing mind” (verse 34). And He requires patience and diligence, for Zion is built on the foundation of “small things,” accomplished by those who do not become “weary in well-doing” (verse 33).

See also Saints, 1:133–34, 136–37."

The Lord does love us and honors our freedom of choice. He requires the heart and the willing mind and yet it's up to us to choose to do it---to forgive, be patient, and be diligent. Choosing to do the Lord's will brings His blessings while not choosing to do so brings misery. So, it makes so much sense to make the choice to do what He requires. 

Doctrine and Covenants 63: 58-64

 

How are we treating sacred things with reverence?

"58 For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days.

59 Behold, I am from above, and my power lieth beneath. I am over all, and in all, and through all, and search all things, and the day cometh that all things shall be subject unto me.

60 Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ.

61 Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips—

62 For behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority.

63 Wherefore, let the church repent of their sins, and I, the Lord, will own them; otherwise they shall be cut off.

64 Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit; and in this there is no condemnation, and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore, without this there remaineth condemnation." (Doctrine and Covenants 63: 58-64)

And here's the commentary entitled: "Sacred things should be treated with reverence."

"The principles in Doctrine and Covenants 63:58–64 go beyond taking the Lord’s name in vain. What other sacred things come “from above,” or from God? What does it mean for you to speak of these things “with care”?"

Other sacred things that come "from above" or from God are: human beings or ourselves (children of God), the words in the scriptures, the earth and everything on it which God created, and many man-made things like temples, meetinghouses, books, and a lot of things. To speak of these things "with care" means showing deep respect as we talk about them. 

God has entrusted each of us with our minds and our physical bodies and so He wants us to treat ourselves with reverence. As we choose to do so, it's easier to treat everything else that God entrusted us with reverence as well.