Doctrine and Covenants 124
Rebuilding
As difficult as the last six years had been for the Saints, things started to look better in the spring of 1839: The refugee Saints had found compassion among the citizens of Quincy, Illinois. Guards had allowed Joseph Smith and other Church leaders to escape captivity in Missouri. And the Church had just purchased land in Illinois where the Saints could gather again. Yes, it was swampy, mosquito-infested land, but compared to the challenges the Saints had already faced, this probably seemed manageable. So they drained the swamp and drafted a charter for a new city, which they named Nauvoo. It means “beautiful” in Hebrew, though it was more an expression of faith than an accurate description, at least at first. Meanwhile, the Lord was impressing His Prophet with a sense of urgency. He had more truths and ordinances to restore, and He needed a holy temple where He could “crown [His Saints] with honor, immortality, and eternal life” (Doctrine and Covenants 124:55). In many ways, these same feelings of faith and urgency are evident in the Lord’s work today.
Get back up and try again.
Video of Kenneth Rooks
· Before a competition, BYU runner Kenneth Rooks often prays and asks the Lord to use him as an instrument in His hands for good. “Most of the time, it’s usually just small things,” he said.
· Rooks felt the Lord was able to use him for good on larger scale on July 8 when he recovered from a fall early in the race to come back and win the 3,000-meter steeplechase crown at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
· He had fallen in practice before and had decided what he’d do if he ever fell in a race.
· Peter Vidmar-similar story with gymnastics. Failed and knew that would never happen again. Worked hard everyday so it didn’t.
· Provo Tabernacle burned to ashes-Built a temple
· Weightlifting
· Sugar plantation swimmers, building strength through swimming against the current in canals.
· Riding regular bike instead of ebike. What are the benefits?
I can invite others to come unto Christ.
This almost feels like a how to win friends and influence people.
The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith to “make a solemn proclamation of [His] gospel” to “all the kings of the world” (see Doctrine and Covenants 124:2–11). If you received this assignment, what would your proclamation say about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel? Also ponder how you can share your witness normally and naturally with people you interact with daily.
STOP
I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ.
Meekness
Boldness
“Joseph Smith changes after Liberty Jail. Alex Baugh said it this way. He said, from 1820 to 1830, he’s a little bit timid. From 1830 to 1840, he’s courageous. Then he said, after Liberty Jail from 1840 to 1844, he is fearless. As I’m reading this, this proclamation he writes, shall be made to the kings of the world.”
Brigham Young said once, it is the duty of a saint of God to gain all the influence they can on the earth and to use it for good… wherever you are, be excellent and let your light shine. That influence will grow. Each of us have a sphere of influence. For some of us that’s our home or some it’s our neighborhood. For some it’s our work, community, social media, whatever that sphere is. But how are we within our sphere of influence, letting our light shine?
Dominos
Doctrine and Covenants 124:12–21
I can be a disciple whom the Lord trusts.
Consider sharing with others, as the Savior did in Doctrine and Covenants 124:12–21, the Christlike attributes you see in them. How has He expressed to you His love and trust?
See also Richard J. Maynes, “Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 75–77.
Elder Worthlin- tackle, moving ball
The Lord wants me to welcome and accept others.
He cares about where we dwell.
Elder Gong: “In the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus invites us to come to each other and to Him in His inn—His Church. He invites us to be good neighbors. The good Samaritan promises to return and recompense the care of those in His inn. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ includes making room for all in His restored Church.
The spirit of “room in the inn” includes “no one sits alone.” When you come to church, if you see someone alone, will you please say hello and sit with him or her? This may not be your custom. The person may look or speak differently than you. And of course, as a fortune cookie might say, “A journey of gospel friendship and love begins with a first hello and no one sitting alone.”
“No one sits alone” also means no one sits alone emotionally or spiritually. I went with a brokenhearted father to visit his son. Years earlier, the son was excited to become a new deacon. The occasion included his family buying him his first pair of new shoes.
But at church, the deacons laughed at him. His shoes were new, but not fashionable. Embarrassed and hurt, the young deacon said he would never go again to church. My heart is still broken for him and his family.
On the dusty roads to Jericho, each of us has been laughed at, embarrassed and hurt, perhaps scorned or abused. And with varying degrees of intent, each of us has also disregarded, not seen or heard, perhaps deliberately hurt others. It is precisely because we have been hurt and have hurt others that Jesus Christ brings us all to His inn. In His Church and through His ordinances and covenants, we come to each other and to Jesus Christ. We love and are loved, serve and are served, forgive and are forgiven. Please remember, “earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot heal”; earth burdens lighten—our Savior’s joy is real.”
Where will this lead story? Make a game plan.
As you ponder the Lord’s instruction in Doctrine and Covenants 124:22–24, 60–61, think about how you can make your home and your ward a place like what the Lord had envisioned for Nauvoo.
Querido Presidente
See also “A Friend to All” (video), ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Role play -dart
Doctrine and Covenants 124:25–45, 55
We build temples unto the Lord to receive sacred ordinances.
What did you feel when you attending the temple?
This is the true nature of home—it is the place of Peace; the shelter, not only from all injury, but from all terror, doubt and division. – John Ruskin
President Holland of President Nelson, “walking temple.” Sanctified himself.
Bless ourselves, bless others- the dead and the unborn. The dead are not really dead.
How to make a place holy.
Cleaning the drain – repentance
Getting ready -preparing to attend the temple
Doctrine and Covenants 124:45–55
The Lord blesses people who strive to obey His commandments.
The Saints had been commanded to build a temple in Jackson County, Missouri, but were “hindered by their enemies” (Doctrine and Covenants 124:51). Verses 49–55 contain a reassuring message for people who want to obey God’s commandments but are prevented from doing so because of family or other circumstances. What counsel do you find in these verses that could help someone in such a situation?
Strive
Mentor
Come Follow Up 19:00 Example – cleaning porta potty story
It’s second Nephi five, it’s verse 16. Nephi says, we built a temple, we built it after the manner of the temple of Solomon, save it were not built with so many precious things.
Brother of Jared- stones
“Men not infrequently forget that they are dependent upon heaven for every blessing which they are permitted to enjoy, and that for every opportunity granted them they are to give an account. You know…that when the Master, in the Savior’s parable of the stewards, called his servants before him, he gave them several talents to improve on while he should tarry abroad for a little season, and when he returned, he called for an accounting. So it is now. Our Master is absent only for a little season, and at the end of it He will call each to render an account.” -Joseph Smith
If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley — but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.
If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass —
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,
There's something for all of us here,
There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,
And the task you must do is the near.
If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can't be the sun be a star;
It isn't by size that you win or you fail —
Be the best of whatever you are!
-Douglas Malloch
