Monday, June 30, 2025

Doctrine and Covenants 71

 


What blessings have you noticed as you’ve followed the Spirit’s prompting to testify of Jesus Christ?

"Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of letters written by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.

1–4, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are sent forth to proclaim the gospel; 5–11, Enemies of the Saints will be confounded.

Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, 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 things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.

Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round about, and in the church also, for the space of a season, even until it shall be made known unto you.

Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you.

Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.

Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;

For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.

Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.

Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.

Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;

10 And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time.

11 Wherefore, keep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen." (Doctrine and Covenants 71)

And here's the beginning part of the commentary entitled: "The Spirit will guide me as I proclaim the Savior’s gospel." :

"It can be troubling when people criticize or ridicule your faith in the Savior, His gospel, or His Church. When that happens, what do you do? Something similar happened in Ohio in 1831 (see the section heading to Doctrine and Covenants 71). What did the Lord tell Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to do about it in Doctrine and Covenants 71? Maybe you could list instructions the Lord gave them and blessings He promised."


When I was you I would get irritated when I hear people criticize or ridicule my faith in the Savior, His gospel, or His Church. I would get really upset at times and it would affect my relationship with others. When I became a full-time missionary and went to the MTC, I realized I didn't have to get irritated or upset at all. Those people...don't know what they don't know and so they're acting only on what they know about the Savior, His gospel, or His Church. 

Here are the instructions the Lord gave Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon and the blessings He promised: 

  •  Labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.
  • Whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also; For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.
  • Confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.
  • There is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time.





Sunday, June 29, 2025

Doctrine and Covenants 71, Section heading; 71: 1, 9

 


How have you witnessed the Lord’s promise fulfilled—that no weapon formed against His work will succeed?

"Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of letters written by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized." (Doctrine and Covenants 71, Section heading)

"Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, 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 things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will." (Doctrine and Covenants 71: 1)

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;" (Doctrine and Covenants 71: 9)

And here's the introductory commentary for this week's reading assignment: June 30–July 6: “No Weapon That Is Formed against You Shall Prosper” Doctrine and Covenants 71–75 : 

"Ever since he was a boy, Joseph Smith faced critics—even enemies—as he tried to do God’s work. But it must have been particularly difficult in late 1831 when Ezra Booth began publicly berating the Church, because in this case the critic was a former believer. Ezra had seen Joseph use God’s power to heal a woman. He had been invited to accompany Joseph on the first survey of the land of Zion in Missouri. But he had since lost his faith and, in an attempt to discredit the Prophet, published a series of letters in an Ohio newspaper. And his efforts seemed to be working, because “unfriendly feelings … had developed against the Church” in the area (Doctrine and Covenants 71, section heading). What should believers do in a case like that? While there is not one right answer for every situation, it seems that often—including in this case in 1831—part of the Lord’s answer is to declare the truth and correct falsehoods by “proclaiming [the] gospel” (verse 1). Yes, the Lord’s work will always have critics, but in the end, “no weapon that is formed against [it] shall prosper” (verse 9).

See “Ezra Booth and Isaac Morley,” in Revelations in Context, 134."




Truly, no weapon that is formed against the Lord's work shall prosper. Since the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth in this modern time, around 200 years ago, it has been rising about its challenges and filling the whole earth. And now the Lord's temple is dotting the earth. In my own country, the Philippines, there was only one temple built when I was a kid. Now there are 3 operating, 6 are under construction, and more than 5 have been announced and will be starting its construction in no time. Both temples in my home region (Bicol Region) and the region where I served my mission (Ilagan Mission) were announced at the same time. 







Saturday, June 28, 2025

Doctrine and Covenants 70: 1-4

 

What sacred responsibility do you have in how you treat the revelations and commandments God has given?

"Behold, and hearken, O ye inhabitants of Zion, and all ye people of my church who are afar off, and hear the word of the Lord which I give unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and also unto my servant Martin Harris, and also unto my servant Oliver Cowdery, and also unto my servant John Whitmer, and also unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also unto my servant William W. Phelps, by the way of commandment unto them.

For I give unto them a commandment; wherefore hearken and hear, for thus saith the Lord unto them—

3 I, the Lord, have appointed them, and ordained them to be stewards over the revelations and commandments which I have given unto them, and which I shall hereafter give unto them;

And an account of this stewardship will I require of them in the day of judgment." (Doctrine and Covenants 70: 1-4)


And here's the commentary entitled: "I am accountable for the revelations the Lord has given." : 


"The Lord gave certain elders the responsibility to oversee the publishing of the revelations. Even though you do not have that specific responsibility, what is your stewardship or responsibility “over the revelations and commandments”? (verse 3)."



My stewardship or responsibility "over the revelations and commandments" is mostly to study them and strive to live them. This way my life will resemble that of Christ more. This is holding up my light, which is Jesus Christ and others will naturally be drawn to this light. 

Friday, June 27, 2025

Doctrine and Covenants 69: 1




 How are your "true and faithful" friends helping you follow Jesus Christ?

"Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, for my servant Oliver Cowdery’s sake. It is not wisdom in me that he should be entrusted with the commandments and the moneys which he shall carry unto the land of Zion, except one go with him who will be true and faithful." (Doctrine and Covenants 69: 1)

And here's the commentary entitled: "“True and faithful” friends help me follow Jesus Christ." : 

"Why do you think it was “wisdom in [the Lord]” for someone “true and faithful” to accompany Oliver Cowdery on the assignment described in this verse? How does this principle apply to you?"



True and faithful friends indeed help me follow Jesus Christ. They love me in the truest sense of the word and care about me and so they want what's best for me. There is nothing else that is best for me other than following Jesus Christ. It brings me the best blessings I can ever receive--those that are worth all the riches of this world, and even more--the riches of eternity. 


Thursday, June 26, 2025

Doctrine and Covenants 68: 25-31

 



What can you do if your family members don't support your efforts to build faith in Christ?

"25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.

27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.

28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.

29 And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

30 And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord.

31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness." (Doctrine and Covenants 68: 25-31)


And here's the end part of the commentary entitled: "I can help center my home on Jesus Christ."


"Other principles you find in Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–31:

What counsel would you give to someone whose family members don’t support their efforts to build faith in Christ?

See also “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Gospel Library; Topics and Questions, “Parenting,” Gospel Library; Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Parents,” Liahona, May 2023, 55–59."




Here's my counsel to you if your family members don't support your efforts to build faith in Christ:

  • Keep building your faith in Christ no matter what because such faith will transform your life. 
  • Your own transformation will spark curiosity among your family members, and inspire them to find out what's making you transform, and then they will take the initiative to join you and build their faith in Christ themselves.