Personalized DC, Jan 19th

Explanation of this blog: Another iron in the fire

Mon, Jan 19th: Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65; Doctrine and Covenants 3;

One of the great things about the Doctrine and Covenants is, it is extremely personal. It is a group of revelations given to people that lived not so long ago. The Bible is a record of commandments, a record of the dealings of the Lord with people who were living the Law of Moses. The Book of Mormon is a record of the dealings with people who were first living the law of Moses and then the Law of Christ, with a little more of a story line and definately more information about doctrine. The Doctrine and Covenants contains direct revelations about problems people are having, questions about doctrine and administration and even personality and social issues.

Here are the issues that I picked up on in this reading that relate to issues I've had, have or probably will have:

• Trying to live with persecution and still do what's right,
• Having the patience to wait for answers to prayers - I am amazed that Joseph said that he "had full confidence in obtaining a diving manifestation, as I previously had" . . . THREE years later.
• Trying to understand acient scipture and having to read it at least four times for it to start to sink in and then finally receiveing confirmation that it is of God.
• Doing what you need to to make life work with your Spouse (I find it interesting that Joseph received the plates after he got married. Not that Joseph was given the instruction to be married or you won't receive the plates, but I'm glad that he had someone committed to him when the persecution began to thicken).
• Having delightful, spontaneous, unforseen blessings come into your life, like Martin Harris' $50.
• Wanting to give something to someone so badly, for whatever reason, doing it, then realizing afterward it was the wrong thing to do.
• Realizing that thinking too much about yourself has been preventing your progress and in fact sometimes reversing your growth.
• Fearing man more than God is sometimes a really hard thing to get over. Because humans are in your presence and tangible and human relationships often have immediate consequences. The consequences of spiritual decline are sometimes not noticed at first because your knowledge of salvation is assumed to be the same thing as faith. What a bold reminder for Joseph Smith, after having suffered much persecution and wanting something so much, that seemed so reasonable.

What an amazing experience, the realization of the Book of Mormon is. As is all of Joseph's life. Were it not for the Spirit tesitfying to me of it's truth and the doctrines from Joseph and the Book of Mormon that ring true to me, it would seem the things fantasy and fiction are made of.