Doctrine and Covenants 1: 12-30, 34-36

 

How is the restoration helping you to face the challenges of these latter days?

"12 Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh;

13 And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth.

14 And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;

15 For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;

16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.

17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;

18 And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—

19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—

20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;

21 That faith also might increase in the earth;

22 That mine everlasting covenant might be established;

23 That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.

24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.

25 And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known;

26 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed;

27 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;

28 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time.

29 And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon.

30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually—

34 And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth: I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh;

35 For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.

36 And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world." (Doctrine and Covenants 1: 12-30, 34-36)

And here's the commentary entitled: "The Restoration helps me face the challenges of the latter days." : 

"In Doctrine and Covenants section 1, the Lord explains why He restored His gospel. See how many reasons you can list as you read verses 12–23. In your experience, how are the Lord’s purposes for the Restoration being accomplished?

The Lord knew that our day would have serious challenges (see verse 17). What do you find in verses 17–30, 34–36 that helps you feel peace and confidence despite these challenges?

See also Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 73–76."

Here are the reasons why the Lord restored His gospel: 

1. To prepare people for His second coming on the earth.

2. To give people the opportunity to receive His ordinances necessary for salvation.

3. To give people the opportunity to enter into a covenant with Him.

4. To get people to seek Him and establish His righteousness.

5. To give people His commandments through His servants, the prophets.

6. To get the weak things of the world come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones.

7. To get people to stop counseling their fellowmen and trusting in the arm of flesh and then speak in the name of the Lord instead.

8. So that faith might increase on the earth.

9. So that the Lord's everlasting covenant might be established.

10. So that the fullness of the Lord's gospel might be fulfilled by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.

11. So that people will be prepared and empowered by the Lord to face the challenges of the latter days when peace shall be taken from the earth. 

These purposes of the Lord for the Restoration are being accomplished indeed. I, myself have received the saving ordinances of the gospel and entered into a covenant with the Lord. My faith in the Lord has been increasing. And the Lord has been empowering me to face the challenges of this, the latter days, as I've been able to find joy and peace in whatever circumstance I find myself in. 

Despite the challenges of these latter days, I'm able to feel peace and confidence because of the Lord's promises that He is willing to make things known unto all flesh, and that He shall have power over His saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon the world.