D&C 23-26 - Come Follow Me with Sam: Charting the leaders' destinies
Welcome! The newly budding church was being established with a core group of leaders slowly coming together that would then lead the saints through some extremely difficult trials. They would also preach the gospel throughout the world. These are the revelations from God guiding the stories behind those men and women.
Section 23
Section 23 is a compiled revelation to Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H Smith, Joseph Smith Sr., and Joseph Knight Sr.
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery is admonished to beware of pride, but that he is under no condemnation, and that he should let all know that he was to stand with the church forever. H&J mention that at the printing of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith said 'Blessed of the Lord is Brother Oliver; nevertheless, there are two evils in him that he must needs forsake'. Oliver Cowdery, from my understanding, was financially crushed by the failure of the Kirtland Bank, and became embittered at his diminishing role in the leadership of the church, something many of us, unfortunately, relate to all too well. It can be a hard moment when you feel left on the wayside. While everyone needs to be appreciated, in Oliver's case, it seems this came mostly from a standpoint of pride and possibly some vain ambition. At the end of this section, God mentions 'The reward of the laborer', which, it seems, Oliver forsook. He became very bitter, and, although to my understanding he was already distanced from the events, spread rumors about Joseph and polygamy that are unfortunately often quoted today.
One important note to keep in mind is that Oliver Cowdery, his entire life, never denied his witness of the Book of Mormon. In November, 1948, Oliver Cowdery came back saying, among other things: “Brethren, for a number of years I have been separated from you. I now desire to come back. I wish to come humbly and to be one in your midst. I seek no station. I only wish to be identified with you. I am out of the Church. I am not a member of the Church, but I wish to become a member of it. I wish to come in at the door. I know the door. I have not come here to seek precedence."
Hyrum Smith
Hyrum's counsel is close to Oliver Cowdery's except for the admonition against pride. Hyrum followed the Prophet all the way to Carthage and death. It is fitting that John Taylor said in life they were not divided and in death they were not separated.
Samuel Smith
Samuel Smith is one of those actors in the background that doesn't get as much attention but who followed the church through all trials. Here is is not yet called to preach. Something I am learning more is the times and the seasons and how to roll with them. It seems similar lessons apply to Samuel Smith.
H&J tell quite a a bit about Samuel Smith, one of the most interesting being the events following the battle of Crooked River, where he and a band were pursued by a mob intent to capture or kill them and a snowstorm came 'with such a fury that they were completely hidden from the enemy.' Subsisting on elm bark and Lynne buds (not recommended), they asked Samuel to pray for them where he received a revelation that others were safe and that they would have food in the morning, which came about.
Joseph Smith Sr.
Joseph Smith Sr. is called to strengthen the church. I'm sure the Prophet's father was a steadying hand in a young organization, prepared to do so by God.
Joseph Knight Sr.
Joseph Knight Sr.'s words are the most unique. He is told to take up his cross. Joseph Knight Sr., according to H&S, was a great support to Joseph. Perhaps this exhortation was a reminder that now was the time to make the decision and go all in on the work of God, whatever the persecution, whatever the consequence.
God promises him 'the reward of the laborer.' There is a blessing just for working in the vineyard, one that is greater than recognition, and also greater than earthly reward. I don't know if I can say what it is, but it is clear that if you have desires to serve God, you are called to the work, and if you thrust in your sickle, you receive the reward of the laborer.
Section 24
Here are some quick-fire verses
vs 2: Nevertheless, thou art not excusable in thy transgressions; nevertheless, go thy way and sin no more. - Another of many times that God admonished Joseph to be better.
vs 9: And in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not they calling. - We each have different callings on earth. Some are called to lead. Some are called to build. Some are called to preach. Some are called to nourish. While I don't want to discourage anyone necessarily from gaining a certain measure of earthly possessions, we need to realize that our calling may be very different from this, and we may struggle because our spirit is called to do something greater. This is also a principle of equal respect. Our society is highly oriented around things, but this is not what is most valuable for many people. For those with many things, they should seek diligently to see how to employ those resources to make the world better and build up the kingdom of God, and certainly not judge others for not obtaining the same material extent. Navigating this is once again very challenging because our society is so focused on the material, but just as the laborer gets a reward, so does the person who labors in their calling. H&J mentions that Joseph Smiths possessions never probably never at any time exceeded two or three thousands dollars, and that the administrator at his death could only allow Emma $124 a year.
vs 13: Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against [poisons]. - God is making an important point about shouldering our burden of mortality and not asking for the easy way out without a change in us. God could make everything with the world better, but that might stop or even unravel our progress; the world would be changed, but we would still be stuck in our fallen state. This shouldn't stop any of us from praying day and night for miracles in our lives, but it will help us to ask in the same manner as Jesus Christ - 'let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done.
Section 25
The personable nature of Section 25
Section 25 is a revelation for Emma Smith. I found my last read of this section absolutely fascinating because this section feels much more personable than others before. I think this is a glimpse into the relationship God would like with everyone of his children; at the end he says what He says here, he says unto all.
Emma was in a unique place in history. Very few experience what she did, and of those, we have virtually no records of them. Emma never saw the Book of Mormon or the plates, despite all her labors translating and keeping order during translation, and yet the witnesses and also Mary Whitmer did. Didn't she deserve to see these things? It seems here that the question didn't have to do with her worthiness, it was just a larger pattern of God as part of His wisdom. For all those who wish to see more miracles, this can teach us an encouraging lesson, remembering of course to seek them but in God's time and way.
We can also see some divine patterns when she is called to be a comfort to Joseph Smith, something usually associated with heavenly messengers like the Holy Ghost. We also see that she is ordained by the priesthood to carry out her calling, carrying out her mission according to the power of the priesthood. She is also called to 'lay aside the things of this world and seek for the things of a better', an echo of other leaders of the church.
Songs and soul music
This is the famous section where Emma is commanded to assemble hymns together for 'the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.' H&J rip pretty hard into the contemporary music of the early 1900's; I think they would definitely be a no-vote on most music today.
Terry Pratchett analyzed music in his satirical book 'soul music'. He made a distinguishing difference between music that excites vs music that fills the soul with life. Martha Bayles analyzed music in 'The Hole in our Soul' and came to a similar conclusion. You can read the books yourself (definitely start with Pratchett's) to understand more the music crisis we have today; it is so subtle that it is hard to put into words, but so pervading that you know it as soon as you hear it.
This isn't to say that we should be listening to just hymns all day. But it is to say that we have a crisis in music, that God sees music as a powerful prayer when sung with righteousness, and (my personal take), that we should strive in a revolution in music to overcome the hole in our soul. There are contemporary artists that are working toward that. I personally am a raving fan of Two Steps From Hell, and I recently began listening to Sky Mubs as well. I like vocal/instrumental epic because it makes me braver for the day and allows me to create a vision in my mind of what the music means.
here's a sample song that I like :)
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