Post # 273 -- Week # 4 -- January 18–24. Doctrine and Covenants 3–5: “My Work Shall Go Forth”
Harvest Time in France, by James Taylor Harwood
Dear Family and Friends
I pray that this new year is going along for you in a very positive way:) I know that there have been a lot of changes during this past year of 2020, and more changes in 2021 as I am sure they will be coming if they have not started already.
It is quite amazing to me that you can watch television on your phone, tablets, i pads, etc. people can watch tv no matter where you are, which is something that i certainly didn't grow up with.
And there are so many online shopping programs and apps and food delivery systems, even for your pets needs. All of these things can be obtained online. And now there is the grocery pick up from almost every store and some even deliver it to you.
As you are studying Doctrine and Covenants 3–5 during this upcoming week be sure that you review the ideas in this outline as they will surely help you and your family members and friends receive guidance from the Holy Ghost.
This week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families can help you and your family members and friends to better understand the history that led to the revelations recorded in these sections.
The following comes to you directly from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manal: Write down what you learn and feel as you study the scriptures. This will help you remember those impressions and share them with others.
During his first few years as the Lord’s prophet, Joseph Smith didn’t yet know everything about the “marvelous work” he had been called to do. But one thing his early experiences taught him was that to qualify for God’s work, his eye must truly be “single to the glory of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:1, 5). For example, if the Lord gave him counsel that went against his own desires, he needed to follow the Lord’s counsel. And even if he had “many revelations, and … power to do many mighty works,” if his own will became more important in his eyes than God’s will, he “must fall” (Doctrine and Covenants 3:4). But Joseph learned something else just as important about doing God’s work: “God is merciful,” and if Joseph sincerely repented, he was “still chosen” (verse 10). God’s work is, after all, a work of redemption. And that work “cannot be frustrated” (verse 1).
Create a No
Sometimes it is helpful for you and your family members to summarize what they have been reading during the week for the lesson. Or they and you could share a verse or passage that you or they have found meaningful.
I remember when we were still able to attend our classes at church and they would have a bit of review before the lesson began. I know that I would always review the lesson myself to help me remember what I had studied during the week:)
You might want to consider allowing some time for you and your family members to do this review. You could pair them up and they could share with one another what they have learned from their reading and review that was meaningful to them.
This should make for a wonderful opening discussion for you and your family members and friends:)
We should trust God rather than fearing man.
We have all had experiences when we might feel pressured by friends and or a family member or even others that we don't know. We are persuaded to do something which we know is wrong and yet we still are convinced to do it.
We are convinced to do what we know is wrong just as Joseph Smith was during this time with the 16 pages. What truths do we learn from Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–15 that can help us remain faithful to God in such situations?
SECTION 3
Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, July 1828, relating to the loss of 116 pages of manuscript translated from the first part of the Book of Mormon, which was called the book of Lehi. The Prophet had reluctantly allowed these pages to pass from his custody to that of Martin Harris, who had served for a brief period as scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon. The revelation was given through the Urim and Thummim. (See section 10.)
1–4, The Lord’s course is one eternal round; 5–15, Joseph Smith must repent or lose the gift to translate; 16–20, The Book of Mormon comes forth to save the seed of Lehi.
1 The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.
2 For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
3 Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men;
4 For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.
5 Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but how strict were your commandments; and remember also the promises which were made to you, if you did not transgress them.
6 And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.
7 For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—
8 Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.
9 Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall.
10 But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;
11 Except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men, and have no more gift.
12 And when thou deliveredst up that which God had given thee sight and power to translate, thou deliveredst up that which was sacred into the hands of a wicked man,
13 Who has set at naught the counsels of God, and has broken the most sacred promises which were made before God, and has depended upon his own judgment and aboasted in his own wisdom.
14 And this is the reason that thou hast lost thy privileges for a season—
15 For thou hast suffered the counsel of thy director to be trampled upon from the beginning.
The Lord had to discipline Joseph Smith because he listened to his good friend Martin Harris instead of listening to the Lord. Even though the Lord had given His answer to Joseph and forbade that he should let the plates go with Martin.
Joseph still asked the Lord three times. Finally on that third time the Lord said yes. He allowed Joseph to give the pages to Mertin who had wanted to show them to his wife because she did not believe that the Book of Mormon was real.
After this had happened the 116 pages that Martin had taken to show his wife were gone. Even though the LOrd needed to discipline Joseph, the Lord also encouraged Joseph to repent and to remain faithful, so that he would be able to continue with the Lord’s work.
You and your family members and friends could look in section 3 for how the Lord both disciplined or chastened and encouraged Joseph. You may want to consider getting out a piece of poster board to make a list of words and or phrases from section 3 verses 1–15.
Those words and phrases which are containing the Lord’s rebukes and other phrases containing His encouragement to repent and remain faithful. What does Joseph’s experience teach us about how the Savior helps us overcome our mistakes?
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
I should trust God rather than fearing man.
Early in Joseph Smith’s ministry, good friends were hard to come by—especially friends like Martin Harris, a respected, prosperous man, who was in a position to provide valuable support. And Martin willingly supported Joseph, even though it cost him the respect of his peers and required financial sacrifice.
So it’s easy to see why Joseph wanted to honor Martin’s request to take the first portion of the Book of Mormon translation to show his wife, who doubted the truth of the Book of Mormon. Joseph continued to ask the Lord about this request, even when He forbade it, until finally, after Joseph asked a third time, the Lord said yes. Tragically, the manuscript was lost while it was in Martin’s possession, and Joseph and Martin were sharply chastised by the Lord (see Saints, 1:51–53).
As you read Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–15, ponder how other people’s opinions may be influencing you. You may also note that in addition to rebuking Joseph Smith, the Lord spoke words of mercy. What do you learn from the way the Lord both corrected and encouraged Joseph? What counsel do you find that can help you when you are tempted to fear other people more than God?
See also “The Contributions of Martin Harris,” Revelations in Context, 1–9, history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
The Lord asks us to serve Him with all our heart.
If you remember from your reading of section 4 you might remember that there is a list there in Doctrine and Covenants 4:5–6. In this list you will find the characteristics or qualities describing the Lord’s servants.
5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.
You will also note that those which are listed are also the qualities of Jesus Christ. One activity you could do either together as a family or individually is to choose one of the characteristics or qualities and find definitions and additional scripture references.
This will help you learn more about the characteristics or quality, as well as to help you understand the characteristic or quality better and more in depth. For example, what can you and your family members tell one another about diligence.
The more we understand about the characteristics or qualities which describe the Lord’s servants the more we will understand the characteristics or qualities of Jesus Christ. As we learn and live each characteristic the more we become like Jesus.
These are the characteristics or qualities that we need to aspire to. The following statement about the characteristic or quality of virtue by Sister Elaine S. Dalton below could be helpful for you and your family members and friends.
Virtue means strength.
Sister Elaine S. Dalton gave this explanation of virtue: “Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the Latin root word virtus means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost” (“A Return to Virtue,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 79).
If you decided to let your family members and friends choose their own characteristic or quality. You could have them share what they have found. You might even want to get out a sheet of poster board and write down each characteristic or quality and the definitions.
They could even share with one another why they chose the characteristic or quality they did and why that characteristic or quality is a requirement for our service in God’s kingdom. How can we further develop these characteristics or qualities? (see verse 7).
Doctrine and Covenants
7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.
After having read section 4 you may have noticed that this section can help any one of us who has a sincere desire to serve the Lord. Even though Doctrine and Covenants 4 was addressed to Joseph Smith Sr., who wanted to know how he could help with the Lord’s work.
This next activity you can either do as a group together or divide your family members and friends into pairs or small groups whatever fits the dynamics of your family scripture study group. You will be working on writing a job description for servants of God. you will be using section 4 as your guide.
How are these qualifications different from other job descriptions? Why are these qualities essential in doing God’s work? The statement by Elder David A. Bednar below can help you and your family members and friends understand the importance of developing these qualities.
Becoming a missionary.
Elder David A. Bednar said: “The process of becoming a missionary does not require a young man to wear a white shirt and tie [or a young woman to wear a dress] to school every day or to follow the missionary guidelines for going to bed and getting up. … But you can increase in your desire to serve God [see Doctrine and Covenants 4:3], and you can begin to think as missionaries think, to read what missionaries read, to pray as missionaries pray, and to feel what missionaries feel. You can avoid the worldly influences that cause the Holy Ghost to withdraw, and you can grow in confidence in recognizing and responding to spiritual promptings” (“Becoming a Missionary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 45–46).
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
The Lord asks me to serve Him with all my heart.
Section 4 is often applied to full-time missionaries. However, it’s interesting to note that this revelation was given originally to Joseph Smith Sr., who wasn’t being called on a mission but still had “desires to serve God” (verse 3).
One way to read this section is to imagine it as a job description for someone who wants to do the Lord’s work. What are the qualifications? Why are these skills or characteristics necessary? Perhaps you could prayerfully choose one thing you could do to better “qualify [yourself] for the work” (verse 5).
Doctrine and Covenants 5
A witness of the truth comes to those who are humble and believing.
We will begin this section with questions for you and your family members and friends: If the gold plates were displayed for the world to see, would that convince everyone that the Book of Mormon is true? Why or why not? Look in verse 7 for help.
7 Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe you, my servant Joseph, if it were possible that you should show them all these things which I have committed unto you
You might consider you and your family members and friends searching through section 5 for evidence and insights that could help you and/or them respond to someone who asks for evidence that the Book of Mormon is true.
What did the Lord teach Joseph Smith and Martin Harris that can help us gain our own witness of gospel truths?
Martin Harris, by Lewis A. Ramsey
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
This generation shall receive God’s word through Joseph Smith.
What does Doctrine and Covenants 5:1–10 teach you about Joseph Smith’s important role in our dispensation—and in your life? Ponder how you have received the word of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Consider recording in a journal or sharing with someone your gratitude for the truths that were restored or clarified through him.
See also 2 Nephi 3:6–24.
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
I can gain my own witness of the Book of Mormon.
If you were called to testify in court about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, what evidence would you provide? A similar question was on Martin Harris’s mind when his wife, Lucy, filed a claim that Joseph Smith was deceiving the people by pretending to translate gold plates (see Saints, 1:56–58). So Martin asked Joseph for more evidence that the gold plates were real. Doctrine and Covenants 5 is a revelation in response to Martin’s request.
What do you learn from Doctrine and Covenants 5 about the following:
How the Lord feels about those who won’t believe in spiritual truths unless they have evidence (see verses 5–8; see also John 20:24–29).
The role of witnesses in the work of the Lord (see verses 11–15; see also 2 Corinthians 13:1).
How to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon for yourself (see verse 16; see also Moroni 10:3–5).
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Home Evening
Ask a family member to walk in a “crooked” line and then in a “straight” line. What does it mean to our family to know that “[God’s] paths are straight”?
Doctrine and Covenants 3:7–10.
When someone is pressuring us to disobey God, what truths in these verses can help us remain faithful? Perhaps family members could role-play a situation in which someone remains faithful despite pressure to disobey God.
As your family discusses what it means to work in God’s field, they could do some work in a garden (or pretend to). What tools are needed for gardening work? What does God describe in section 4 that could be considered tools needed to do His work? Your family could discuss why each tool is important in doing God’s work.
\\Devastating Weight of 116 Pages, by Kwani Povi Winder
What are some examples of truths we believe in but can’t see? How could we respond to a friend who wants evidence that the Book of Mormon is true?
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Suggested song: “I Will Be Valiant,” Children’s Songbook, 162.
Here are a couple more ideas for your reference box on improving your teaching and improving your personal study.
Improving Our Teaching
Ask questions that encourage meaningful discussion. Questions that have more than one right answer invite learners to respond based on their personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences. For example, you could ask, “How do you know when God is speaking to you?” (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 33.)
Improving Personal Study
Memorize a verse. “To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change” (Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 6).
October 2011 general conference
Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change. For example, committing to memory this psalm has been for me a source of power and understanding:
I remember listening to this talk a while ago.it was a great talk, if you ever get the chance it is worth the read and holds valuable insight for you and your family members and friends. You can find it at this link:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/10/the-power-of-scripture?lang=eng
I love this quote from this talk, its about finding packets of light: “Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.”
Here are a few other quotes from this same talk: “Because scriptures are generated from inspired communication through the Holy Ghost, they are pure truth.”
“Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.”
“Pondering a scripture like that gives great direction to life. The scriptures can form a foundation of support. They can provide an incredibly large resource of willing friends who can help us. A memorized scripture becomes an enduring friend that is not weakened with the passage of time.”
Here we are again at the end of our lesson and today’s post. I have learned so much from this week’s lesson as always. I pray that you and your family members and friends have learned just as much. I know that if we take the time to really study the scriptures we will not regret it.
I know that I need to do better at this, so I challenge you to join me in my challenge for myself to read the scriptures every day for the next 21 days. Can we do it? Yes, we can!!! I also want to take the advice from this lesson and memorize a few scriptures.
Please always remember who you are. No matt if you are a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints or not-- YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!!! You have divine potential. Remember this YOU ARE LOVED!! Until my next post, keep safe, healthy and well:) and wish me luck.
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