D&C 1: 38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
When God speaks we must listen, even if it disrupts our way of life or challenges our viewpoint. There is nothing that we could possibly know that could override the all knowing omnipotent God, who loves us perfectly and wants to lead us safely home, and who is fully aware of the power of darkness that fogs the whole earth. “Hearken, O Ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high…..listen together…the voice of the Lord is unto all men. (D&C 1:1-2) This week the Lord introduces the Doctrine in Covenants, through Joseph Smith, to emphasize the importance and truthfulness of the contents contained within. “The voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in the last days…I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth.” (D&C 1:4,6)
“I would like to speak about two sacred volumes of modern scripture—the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.
The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants are bound together as revelations from Israel’s God to gather and prepare His people for the second coming of the Lord.
The bringing forth of these sacred volumes of scripture “for the salvation of a ruined world” cost “the best blood of the nineteenth century”—that of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum (D&C 135:6).” -Ezra Taft Benson April 1987
“Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh.” (D&C 1:12) The purpose of scripture is to assist us in waking up from the slumber of worldliness and to prepare us for bigger and better things. They help us develop and keep an eternal perspective—a millennial view. The day will come for each person when they will have to stand before God and report their lives, their ventures, ambitions, desires, and actions. “Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work.” (D&C 1:10) He warns us in chapter 1, of the dangers of trusting in the “arms of flesh,” and “every man walketh in his own way.” (D&C 1:16, 19) The Lord “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.” (D &C 1:31) Which is why he has given us the beautiful gift of repentance and commandments, so that we can be forgiven. (D&C 1:32)
We need to “heed to the words of the prophet,” “repent”, be “humble”, seek “wisdom”, and be “made strong” in the Lord. (D&C 1:14,26,27,28) Christ promises us to teach us in our own “language,” so that we can “understand” for ourselves. (D&C 1:24) “There is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall bot be penetrated.” (D&C 1:2) “For I am no respecter of persons.” (D&C 1:35) Christ has restored His church here on earth, and brought for ancient record to stand as a witness with the Bible of the divine instruction that these books contain. “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. 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.” (D&C 1:29-30)
“If we will look to Christ and open our eyes and our ears, the Holy Ghost will bless us to see the Lord Jesus Christ working in our lives, strengthening our faith in Him with assurance and evidence. We increasingly will see all of our brothers and sisters the way God sees them, with love and compassion. We will hear the Savior’s voice in the scriptures, in the whisperings of the Spirit, and in the words of the living prophets. We will see the power of God resting upon His prophet and all the leaders of His true and living Church, and we will know with a surety that this is God’s holy work. We will see and understand ourselves and the world around us the way the Savior does. We will come to have what the Apostle Paul called “the mind of Christ.” We will have eyes to see and ears to hear, and we will build the kingdom of God.” -Kim B. Clark October 2015
Doctrine and Covenants are revelations directly from Him, Jesus Christ, through the prophets, to the world. “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (D&C 1:38) I’m excited to study these modern day scriptures and to hear the word of the Lord as he speaks to me through the Holy Ghost, as I search His words. We are blessed to live in this day and age, when so much truth is readily available to us. This week Let’s make a New Years resolution. To align our will with God’s, seek His guidance, and to follow it with exactness.
-by Sherri Jorgensen
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