Trying to Abide (Part 6)

The initial feeling I had when I started this focused side-trip that the Prophet asked us to do...check out Sections 25, 84 and 107 & gain insight and some personal revelation on how it applies to us...was one of gratitude.  I started with a huge sense of gratitude.  Gratitude for a living Prophet and gratitude for my conviction, my testimony, that he is the Prophet at this very moment in time.

I am always a blessing seeker!  and this quest was a search to figure things out.

I began with gratitude and I end with gratitude!

I am so thankful, so grateful, for opportunities to serve in callings.  I have memories of callings that were just so amazing to experience and so soul-satisfying that even remembering them brings back those feelings of that very moment!

Those experiences were in another time...another place...another Era.  My Church callings were varied and it was essential that I had faith and received personal revelation in order to carry them out.  All those years and all those experiences strengthened me.  My faith grew and my ability to access God through prayer grew.

That era of my life was before today's technology of...smart phones & Pinterest & blogs & asking does anyone have a good idea on how to teach a lesson on such and such?  and on and on. and on!  There was a reliance on the Holy Ghost.  Especially for me because I had no special training in areas that I received callings in.  My most personal spiritual experiences came to me through those varied and many callings.  I LOVED them!

If I had lived anywhere but Alaska in those years???...Stateside? - I believe I would have never had those opportunities.  There are so many talented and skilled and trained and educated people available...I would have not made the cut.  That's how I feel and I'm just so thankful for so many fantastic experiences.  I was called by revelation and then managed through personal revelation to fulfill the callings.

There were callings that I was so overwhelmed but they always ended up just fine.  There were a couple that were so out of my league that I did not see any way that I could possibly do them and yet I did and again, they turned out fine.

At this time of my life...it's a time for reminiscing...for remembering...for being nostalgic...for reliving great memories.  The reality is- I've lived here for many years and I do have some great shared memories locally but the majority of my shared memories happened in another time and another place and that part of me is not known or shared here.

I've found that the memories I have, those joyous ones, are equally felt by those I served with, no matter the location!  We can laugh together or be especially tender about an event.  Much like family reunions...talking about remember the time that so and so did such and such?  

I've enjoyed this several weeks of reading and thinking and praying and pondering as President Nelson requested.  I have a better understanding and a greater faith in promised blessings to me, as a woman, of blessings of the power of the Priesthood.

Yesterday I listened to a talk by Susan Easton Black with her husband George Durrant.  they have such strong testimonies.  She said that they hear from people saying...I'm leaving the Church because I have questions.  She shared...We are staying because we found answers!

That is how I feel.  I have found answers.

 I'm doing the best I can, and it's not perfect, but I'm trying and I know you are too.

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Take time and read these marvelous quotes/statements/scriptures-they are a great summation of  
84:20-28 and 107:18-19, 91-92   be sure to look up all of the footnotes.

“The higher Priesthood after the order of the Son of God, we are told, in a modern revelation [D&C 107:18–19], … holds not only the power of the ministration of holy angels to be seen personally, but also the power of beholding the face of God the Father, that through the power and manifestations of the spirit of God and of his angels we may be prepared to enter into the presence of God the Father in the world to come, and enjoy continual communion with him, and be crowned with the glory of the celestial kingdom, to stand in our place and calling to all eternity, in connection with all those who hold the Priesthood in the eternal worlds.” (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 18:363; see also D&C 76:50–70; 84:19–22; Hebrews 12:22–24.)

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D&C 107:91–92. The Saints Must Follow the President of the Church, Who Holds All the Gifts of God for His People

Notes and Commentary for Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–7 and Enrichment F discuss the importance of the living prophet.

Elder Ezra Taft Benson said: “If we are living the gospel, we will feel in our hearts that the First Presidency of the Church not only have the right, but are also duty bound under heaven to give counsel on any subject which affects the temporal or spiritual welfare of the Latter-day Saints” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1950, p. 148).

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(below is from an institute manual)

This inspired counsel comes to members of the Church in at least two ways. First, every six months a general conference is held during which inspired counsel is given by the Lord’s servants. The Lord warns those who do not heed this instruction that they “shall be cut off from among the people” (D&C 1:14). Second, the Saints should read what the prophets have written (see D&C 52:9, 36), including not only the scriptures but such things as conference talks, the message of the First Presidency in the Ensign, and special bulletins that are mailed to priesthood leaders to be read to the Saints in the stakes of the Church.

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I really need to go back and have this post be Part 1  Section 25.... here

Trying to Abide (Part 5)

The only thing I have marked previously in 107 is vs. 3 about the official name of the Melchizedek Priesthood and then vss. 22-23 about the there being 12 Apostles that are to be special witnesses.  That's it!  Everything else I've felt is about organizing of Priesthood and responsibilities of such.  It has been a section that is literally unmarked by me.  Never studied by me as to how does it pertain to me.

As I've looked at it and prayed about, for some sort of direction or understanding, I have found it interesting.  I've looked for Priesthood power available to me.  Not being ordained with the Priesthood but looking to what is the power associated with it and of that power...what is available to me.

107
vs.18-19 power.  spiritual blessings. heavens opened. to enjoy presence of God and Christ
vs. 20 ministering of angels
vs. 30-31 character traits listed that will bear fruit. footnote-a of vs.31

Even though I have not studied this section before...I have independently always been fascinated with the organization of how things are to be run with the leadership lines.  I stay current on changes and am always interested in new things.  I find change exciting within the Gospel.  I think that is one reason why I love General Conference because there is always some sort of an update and something eliminated and replaced with nothing or replaced with something no one thought of or saw coming.  this is one of those blessings that I appreciate for living as long as I have...I have seen a lot of changes!  People either roll with it or they hold a bit of a grudge and it sticks in their craw!  A friend told me that she felt I was blessed with the gift of accepting change!  I quite like that idea!  Maybe I've not been tested yet with a change that rankles me?  I just know I accept that a living Church with a living Prophet will have changes made to move us forward.  I not only accept...I expect it.

Two things really opened a floodgate of memories...1-reading about the duties of the 70's and 2-vs.99 learn your duty. act in all diligence to your calling.

1-In Alaska in the late 60's a friend of ours was a 70 in our Stake and then one day...all of that was dissolved.  That role/responsibility of 70's has been changed until it was finally in alignment with what the Lord had in mind.  I remember Elder Boyd K. Packer stating that what the Lord wanted was always right there in the 107th Section.  I could not find that quote but I did refresh my mind with these....
Conference talk by President Benson 1986 announcing change here
Letter to Stake leaders how to implement change here

there had been other changes before that change in the 70's. Such as...

In 1976, church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the calling of Assistant to the Twelve would be discontinued, and that the 22 men then serving in that calling would be ordained to the priesthood office of seventy and assigned to the First Quorum of the Seventy, which had been organized in 1975.^[3] The following individuals held the calling of Assistant to Twelve:^[4]

I remember when there were additional Counselors called to the First Presidency...like the 3rd Counselor etc. etc.  Eventually that was eliminated.

It goes on and on with changes right at the top of Church.  Policies and procedures change but principles are in stone.  Remember 4th Article of Faith?  I expect that refinement to never end.

I'm okay with all of it.  So far anyhow!  I hope that continues!  President Nelson has revamped everything it seems!

2- vs.99 there are so many positive reasons to learn our duty in our callings with all diligence. blessings abound, like interest on a good investment, and the memories are life sustaining in their goodness.  I think I'll blog about that tomorrow.  that will be my wrap-up on Sections 25...84...107!

Trying to Abide (Part 4)

"If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord—to be in His holy house—then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples.” Russell M. Nelson

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dwelling place=home

assemblies =Stake

tabernacle = Temple.

Isaiah 4:

5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount ^aZion, and upon her assemblies, a ^bcloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming ^cfire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of ^arefuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Covert 

ADJECTIVE

1. not openly acknowledged or displayed.  (behind the scenes. concealed. private. )

Refuge

NOUN

1. a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

   "he was forced to take refuge in the French embassy" ·
   

   [more]

   synonyms:

   haven · safe haven · shelter · sanctuary · retreat · asylum · place of safety · place of security · port in a storm · oasis · sanctum
2. ************************

66 And it shall be called the ^aNew Jerusalem, a ^bland of ^cpeace, a city of ^drefuge, a place of ^esafety for the saints of the Most High God;

67 And the ^aglory of the Lord shall be there, and the ^bterror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion.

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10 Beautiful quotes by President Nelson about Temples here

8 Profound promised blessings of Temple worship  here

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I am still focusing on the wonder and amazement of how the Prophet is gathering us to safety and peace and protection and refuge.  There are books written, untold volumes, on all 3 of the subjects/topics that I feel impressed to embrace and understand.  This last one of those 3 (Temples) is my wrap up on 25 and 84.  It's interesting to me that this is where I've been led but I won't question those prompts...I've checked the two sections and now onward to 107!

Trying to Abide (Part 3)

I'm still plowing through this much unplowed soil of discovering, as President Nelson counseled, what on earth do two sections (84&107) that appear to be specifically for  the Priesthood at large, have to do with me.

The skeletal outline for Section 25 is pretty much settled in my mind as to things in my life that need attention.  Now the exploration of Section 84 continues.

But reading the last line in the Section heading of 84 --The Prophet designates it a revelation on priesthood...plus being familiar that this Section always referred to as the oath and covenant of the Priesthood...means that I've never felt to try and do as the Prophet is now saying...
As your understanding increases and as you exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power, your ability to draw upon this spiritual treasure that the Lord has made available will increase.

I'm grateful that I love to study the Gospel.  It satisfies my soul and my conscience. My soul hunger can be satisfied and at a certain level I can feel filled.  filled with a feeling that can come no other way.  Adequate study for me is necessary for spiritual survival and also just surviving mortality!

the last few days I've thought...This blog is so Churchy.  Aren't Blogs to be filled with joy and exciting things like organizing and simplifying lives and solutions and successes and etc. etc.  Can someone be to Churchy on a blog? My ChurchyQuirkyNature feels joy and excitement in the gospel and especially study of such!

(Only someone ever endeavoring to be less co-dependent would question the subject of so many of their posts!!  Just sayin'...who on earth even thinks such a thing?  Yep!...the same person that sort of hides the fact they do a blog because of their humanness and fear it might reflect negatively on the Church!)

True my mortal life has all the challenges associated with mortality, and I've shared, disorder and overeating etc....And now winding through the maze of care-giving for my sweetheart. That is a big one and untrodden and filled with trial and error.

The one source of absolute steadiness of my life, in my life, is the Gospel.  My testimony of the restoration, and belief in and love of living Prophets, fills me with faith and hope.  I have survived the rigors of mortality, thus far, because of my fervent belief that it is truth.

Am I on my soapbox?  Maybe I am but...plowing on in Section 84.  I am looking at things that the power of the Priesthood makes possible and accomplishes.  Power of.  Not being ordained with the Priesthood.  Looking at what can happen with that power.  Thinking that with faith in the power of that Priesthood, and not being ordained with the Priesthood...I can still claim many promised blessings.  True there are many specifics that ordination is an absolute but thinking of my faith in blessings given to me by someone that has received that Priesthood, reminds me with faith and attempted obedience, I can call upon heaven for needed realization of that pronounced blessing.

I'm in scan mode still on the 2 sections... 84. 107.    Section 25...I've already done. I'm going to wrap-up 84.

vs 22  footnote a...TG privilege of seeing God
vs 33 footnote c...magnify callings
vs 41 footnote a...apostasy of individuals
vss 43-53 these vss. I covered in yesterdays blog.  about reading the Book of Mormon.
43...diligent heed to covenants. STUDY.  live Gospel.
46... footnote a..Ezk 36:27
vs 97...plagues. read all footnotes
vs 109...MYOB and focus on your own callings.  not counseling/faulting others.
 vs 117-119..abominations in last days.

My all time favorite verse, at least at this moment, is vs. 85 about STUDY.  I loved every single footnote.  Beautiful! I am a total believer in all of this.  Because I have been counseled, by the Prophet to study this section etc...I will claim and enjoy all of these mentioned blessings!  Yes!

so 3 posts later about 84 and I'm heading on down to the corral for a roundup of feeling/insights about 107.  That will be a real challenge!!

2 down, with my flyover that skims the treetops, and on to the last one...107!

Trying to Abide (Part 2)

good morning...I continue to feel thankful for that challenge/invitation extended by President Nelson.  perhaps sharing my quick journey of endeavoring to discover-- how Sections 25/84/107 apply to me personally--is of no interest to you...I'm recording my feelings so I can refer back to this as a base.

I'm still on 3 parts....Home-Come Follow Me.  Stake/Ward-blessing of protection.  Temple-blessing of.

President Nelson, in this gathering process of us, is providing such an amazing protection and an abundance of blessings to pour forth by the planned massive flooding of the Church with study of the Book of Mormon.  Never before, ever, never! has such a plan for protection and blessings been announced.  There will be no escaping the fact that it will be everywhere...in our homes and in all of our Church classes!  The Book of Mormon will be center stage!  Fantastic videos are already available to help better visualize the printed word.

President Ezra Taft Benson was the first General Authority, that I heard say-- the Church was under condemnation for neglecting to read the Book of Mormon.  I remember being shocked when he said it.  I don't remember him ever saying that the condemnation had been lifted!  With President Nelson at the helm...by the time that 2020 comes to an end...I would say there will be absolutely no doubt that it will have been lifted!  I am not thinking that President Nelson said one single word about the Church being under any sort of condemnation.  I am just remembering the times it was said!  and also thinking...well, those days are definitely over!  Just reading the 84th Section and all of this popped into my mind.  a reminder to follow the Prophet!!

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You can watch these two statements in 7 minutes....
.President Benson  video statement and  President Oaks video statement  

You can read what President Benson said...
(about Church under condemnation from neglect of reading Book of Mormon. just a few of many)
 1975   1988  1987  April-1986  October-1986  1984

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President Benson ...here  1984  

My beloved brethren and sisters, for some years now I have been deeply concerned that
we are not using the Book of Mormon as God intends.

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President Benson was the President of the 12 at this time-
“Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1975, pp. 96–97; or Ensign, May 1975, p. 65.) 

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As I participated in the Mexico City Temple dedication, I received the distinct impression that God is not pleased with our neglect of the Book of Mormon.

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President Benson...here   1986  President of Church
We have made some wonderful strides in the past. We will be lengthening our stride in the future. To do so, we must first cleanse the inner vessel by awaking and arising, being morally clean, using the Book of Mormon in a manner so that God will lift the condemnation, and finally conquering pride by humbling ourselves.

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Section 84:

54 And your ^aminds in times past have been ^bdarkened because of ^cunbelief, and because you have treated ^dlightly the things you have received—

55 Which ^avanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of ^aZion, even all.

57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new ^acovenant, even the ^bBook of Mormon and the ^cformer commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to ^ddo according to that which I have written—

58 That they may bring forth ^afruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a ^bscourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.

Trying to Abide! (Part 1)

Elder Jack Gerard-  Abide the Day  here  What a fantastic talk!  I'd never heard of "deepfake" before but sometimes I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer so maybe you already know about it.  In my effort to understand and absorb and put into my life, as President Nelson asked, those 3 sections...25, 84, & 107...I realize that I'm on a quest-seeking pursuit of personal revelation.  This talk fits right in with my attempts to figure things out!

One of the things that I'm feeling is...a deep sense of gratitude.  Gratitude that the Prophet is truly trying to prepare us for the 2nd coming by this grand gathering as we circle our spiritual wagons and our individual collective testimonies. 

As I've pondered the 84th section...I see the safety factor of President Nelson's effort for gathering us...trying to prepare us...trying to keep us safe.

(3 physical places)
Isaiah 4:5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount ^aZion, and upon her assemblies, a ^bcloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming ^cfire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of ^arefuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

2 Nephi 14:5-6 

 5 And the ^aLord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a ^bcloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defence.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of ^arefuge, and a covert from storm and from rain.

dwelling place=home....assemblies=Church/Stakes...tabernacle=Temple.

Moses 7:61-62 talks about the gathering in the last days "...but my people will I preserve".  footnote - preserve=divine protection

That divine protection will come through Following The Prophet and abiding in our homes/our Stake/our Temple.

The gathering is that means of divine protection.

Home...Come Follow Me program...2020 ALL will read in homes and teach in Church the Book of Mormon.  This alignment is a really huge thing, in my estimation...having the entire church aligned to read and teach and live and learn from the Book of Mormon.  I just can't imagine the spirit that will be felt throughout these 3 areas of home and church and temple..

Church...Stake=defense/refuge from wrath poured out in last days.
D&C 115:6 And that the ^agathering together upon the land of ^bZion, and upon her ^cstakes, may be for a defense, and for a ^drefuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be ^epoured out without mixture upon the whole earth.

Temples...Covenants/angels/God. see vss.6 in the scriptures above from Isaiah and 2 Nephi.

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This song just popped into my mind!  here  This was back in the day when some Gospel songs were played on the radio with other hits of the day!  Let's get on board the train and not be left gawking at the station platform!!

A wonderful Sunday!

Another Sunday at home with Terry.  He's battling his health challenges and it's not wise to leave him.  He needs me. 

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So I'm thinking of something I read in the BYU Studies Quarterly.  The article is written by Chris Baird.  He and his wife, Janae, purchased the original painting by Brian Kershisnic--She Will Find What Is Lost. Perhaps you have a print of it?...the dark haired woman in a teal dress and angels descending towards her and touching her.

Not a very good copy!

The story of how the painting came to be and the story of the purchasers was interesting.  For some reason I was caught off guard by the size of the original piece of art...eleven feet tall & 8 feet wide!

The owners actually allowed it to first be shown in the Conference Center and I think it remains there.  They eventually partially donated and partially sold that gigantic painting to the Church. (I wonder how big their home was?  Chris Baird said they had high ceilings!)

The reason I thought of the above?... a friend shared another fantastic essay, in that same issue, that is a must read.  She is so tech savvy-- I'm not sure how she did it so it could be read but I wanted to share it with you today. 

I enjoyed this article so much...I loved it!  Burning the Couch...here

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A wonderful Sunday - A bit rocky with Terry needing assistance but overall wonderful!  

A wonderful Sunday even with the frustrating moment realizing the SS sub I asked for today?...she forgot!!  My team-teaching partner encouraged me to let go of of my sadness over the entire thing.  A class with no teacher?  I've never done that!  Very tough for me when I'm to be the teacher! but...I'll let it go as I have real-life issues on my plate and I don't have the energy to add that to my concerns!  gone! over! a done deal!

A wonderful Sunday - made all the more special by the Sacrament being brought to us!  So special!

A wonderful Sunday - thinking and pondering and studying and praying about those Sections in the D&C 25...84...107.  Trying to do as asked by President Nelson!  Trying!