D&C 41-44 Come Follow Me with Sam

 Welcome! D&C 41 is a comparatively MASSIVE trove to go over, and if you are following me regularly, you know that this posting is already a week late :D

I'm going to put down some highlights of the sections below. See if you also saw these.


Section 41

  • vs 1 - God delights to bless us! (oh that we could unlock the mysteries of this promise)
  • vs 3 - by the prayer of faith you receive the law (if you receive a law outside of the prayer of faith, consider questioning if you can truly understand or follow it)
  • vs 5 - you can't just say what you believe, you also need to do it or guess what - you aren't actually a disciple


Section 42

  • heading - the prophet specifies this revelation as embracing the law of the church (buckle in ;))
  • note from H&S - reference to improvement era 11/1933 where Pres. Clark mentioned, in reference to the Word of Wisdom 'it is not for me to attempt to suggest the reasons why the Lord gave this great law...' I think we can always ask questions, but sometimes it is not right to conjecture an answer.
  • vs 32 - law of the consecration introduced. H&S calls this 'the true law of charity'. they mention 'In all probability further revelations as to details are needed, before the Order can be established ona practical basis.' Erastus snow, jour. of Dis says 'Those who are inspired by the Holy Spirit to comprehend the dealings of God with His people, both ancient and modern, may be able to look forward to the future and behold a prosperous and happy people that should be one in temporal things and rich in the enjoyment of heavenly things...'
  • vs 40 - let all thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands (is there an Ikea of clothing?)
  • vs 69 - God clarifies that the keys of of the church have been given. There is some indication tha God was reminding us in this text that this is not yet the full kingdom, and there is more to come.
  • H&S makes this note concerning vs 88-92 per 4/5/1946 Pres Clark comments: "There is in the Church, as Bishop Richards said, the power to remit sins, but I do not believe that it resides in the bishops. That is a power that must be exercised under the proper authority of the priesthood and by those who hold the keys that pertain to that function. Rue back every sinner, forgive them personally, the Lord has said that, Do all you can, but short of that formal remission the matter then rests between the transgressor and the Lord who is merciful, who knows all the circumstances...'

Section 43

  • H&S makes that note that many elders supposed they knew more than the prophet. It is obviously possible for a church leader to make mistakes or not know things, so it makes sense the elders would think this, especially of someone as unlearned as to the world as Joseph Smith. The only problem with them thinking this is that they were always wrong; their suppositions always led to them finding themselves and disenfranchised from the works of God. This history helps us understand that while we should always enquire of the spirit, we should walk up that path as on a path of sword points - it is too easy for Satan to come in and turn your suppositions to your own falling short of the kingdom
  • vs 15-16 H&S comments that elders should be humble and confess ignorance before God, but before the world they must magnify their office and calling, and must deliver a special mussage to the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • vs 20 - lift up your voices and spare not. There is a sense of determined urgency in the last verses.

Section 44

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