Doctrine and Covenants 115: 5-6; Hymn No. 335 Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy, Men's Choir

 

What storms are raging around you, and how does gathering with God’s people become your place of refuge?

"5 Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations;

6 And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth." (Doctrine and Covenants 115: 5-6)

Fervently

1.Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

From his lighthouse evermore,

But to us he gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

2.Dark the night of sin has settled;

Loud the angry billows roar.

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

3.Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;

Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

Text and music: Philip Paul Bliss, 1838–1876

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–16

1 John 2:10 (Hymn No. 335 Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy, Men's Choir)

      And here's the commentary entitled: "Zion and her stakes offer “refuge from the storm.” : 

"As you study the powerful imagery in Doctrine and Covenants 115: 5–6, consider the role the Lord wants you, as a member of His Church, to fulfill. For example, what can you do to “arise and shine forth” or “be a standard for the nations”? (verse 5). What spiritual storms do you notice around you? How do you find “refuge” through gathering? (verse 6).

See also “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy,” Hymns, no. 335.

The Savior’s Church can be a light and a refuge in the storm."

There are a lot of spiritual storms I see around me. These are some of them:

• People tend to rely only on their own understanding and strength instead of asking and allowing God to help them with what they're going through. 
• People tend to just do what they want at the moment and do it right away for personal gratification, without considering the consequences in the future. 
• Many people have no clear vision of the kind of life they truly want for themselves and for their own children. 
• People tend to focus on the temporal, like acquiring material possessions, having fun, or being entertained all the time, and neglect their own and their children's spiritual well-being.

I'm finding refuge through gathering with God's people by:

• Hearing the word of God together with people who have faith in God, and rely on His understanding and strength. 

• Learning to do things the Lord's way, and finding peace and joy in whatever circumstance I find myself in, as I become more like my Savior Jesus Christ.

• Gaining an eternal perspective, seeing my full potential as a daughter of God, and striving to reach that potential.

• Striking the balance of everything, and putting God first in my life, so everything falls in its proper order.

I can “arise and shine forth” or “be a standard for the nations” by talking about the blessings of being able to find refuge through gathering more than ever before, whether in a one-on-one or group setting, online or offline.