D&C 20-22 Come Follow Me with Sam: The show hits the road
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Welcome to the sections where the show hits the road and the church is formally established!
Section 20
A brief primer on the history of the name of the church.
Because of the added emphasis on the name of the church and some past confusions with many parties, I'd like to explain the history of the name of the church. You can also get it from A Comprehensive history of the Church or this wikipedia article.
In 1830, here in section 20, the Church was called 'The Church of Christ' and that was used up to 1834. Since there was some confusion when referring to just the Church of Christ, some members and non members would refer to it with other names, such as the Mormon Church, the Church of the Latter-day Saints, etc. In 1838 (in Section 115) Joseph received revelation for the name of the church as we have it today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In times past, we as members have gotten lax with the name of Christ, and I even struggle with it today. in 2018, President Nelson reminded us of the name we carry. In the next conference session, 6 months later, he had to re-clarify that this was re-affirming what we should have been doing more valiantly.
The Church of Jesus Christ makes a claim that only a few churches dare to stake; that Jesus Christ Himself established this church, and that it has an unbroken line of His authority through generations and angels, all the way back to Him. This is literally His church, the church of Jesus Christ Himself, composed of all that saints who will join it in the last days, hence latter-day saints. This claim is more bold than any person should ever make, unless it really happened and God really did command His church with His keys to be established. It is a bold claim by our church, but one that nevertheless is one that is not only core to our founding, but also literally true, and one that is commanded of us to proclaim. If we do not, we sell short the work of Christ which we claim to be part of. There is a certain rightness to always going back to Christ.
A heavenly pattern through time.
In 20, vs 5-12, God shows a heavenly pattern of what it is like to follow God on Earth. You can see this all over the scriptures and in the temple as well.
1. Messenger/notification of glad tidings - truly manifested to Joseph in vs 5
2. challenge - he was entangled again in the vanities of the world
After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a aremission of his sins, he was bentangled again in the cvanities of the world;
3. call on God, repent, and come closer to Him
4. God prepares him in greater measure - ministered to him by an holy Angel
But after arepenting, and humbling himself sincerely, through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy bangel, whose ccountenance was as lightning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness;
And agave him power from on high, by the bmeans which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;
7. God gives him a message which holds core elements of faith, repentance, and remission of sins by the atonement of Jesus Christ
Which contains a arecord of a fallen people, and the bfulness of the cgospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
8. God sends other wtinesses, here by angels, elsewhere by others, by tempests, by miracles, etc.
Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to aothers by the ministering of angels, and is bdeclared unto the world by them—
9. God then judges the works, the fruits of the message
Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are atrue, and that God does binspire men and call them to his choly work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
10. The fruits of all come forth, and the messenger and God are vindicated
Thereby showing that he is the asame God yesterday, today, and bforever. Amen.
originally published 12/17/2023 updated 12/20/2023 Hello, I'm going to interrupt my normal blog for a special Christmas project. Below is a story you can read to your children 7 days before Christmas, a little every day. In fact! If you have children of Reading age, they can participate! Before you begin There are four parts, each with a symbol to let you know who should read the part, should you want your children to participate. ()The narrator (no symbol) - Suggestion that the mother of the family is the narrarator :The dear prophet, an angel - signified by a colon : - suggestion that the father of the family or an older child read these lines. The Mother can easily read these lines as well ~Hep, an angel - signified by a thingy ~ - suggestion that a daughter or daughters take turns reading these lines ^Yashub, an angel - singified by another thingy ^ - suggestion that a son or sons take turns reading these lines This story is meant to be started 12/18 and finished 12/24. Each d...
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