Lesson Six

I chose to do activity number 1.


What counsel does God give to the gatherers on the gathering? Any insights into the who, what, where, when, how, and whyof gathering that you notice in these sections, please explain below. You should have a minimum of ten references and explanations as well as a couple of questions that come from your study of these sections.


1.    Who is gathered first? Focus. (29:7, 30:6, 28:8–9, 32:2)

• The last three scriptures talk about missionary work being taken to the Lamanites.  The first one talks about the Lord's elect people which I believe are the Lamanites because of the scriptures that follow. The elect are chosen before the world was founded but must follow the gospel and make covenants with the Lord.  People can be elect in many different ways.  Some are elect to do one thing, others are elect for another. 

2.    What are the harvest conditions of the world? (31:4, 33:4)

• The harvest conditions of the world are "white already to be burned" and his "vineyard has become corrupted".  I looked up the footnotes for 31:4 and it took me to scriptures about missionary work and the importance of serving the Lord and being diligent.  33:4 took me to scriptures about evil, putting off repentance to have fun now, churches that defile our God, and unhappy things in general.

3.    What time period in the harvest is the world? (33:3)

• The time period in the harvest is the "eleventh hour".  The eleventh hour refers to now because this is the time right before the Lord comes.  

4.    Where will the elect be found? (33:6)

• The elect will be found and gathered from the four quarters of the earth.  I believe that this is referring to the whole world which makes perfect sense because we have missionaries in every part of the world.

5.    What are the key attributes of successful gatherers? (38:8–12, 36:3, 
31:3–4, 34: 10, 35: 23)

• Successful gatherers are prepared.  They blessed, they have a loosed tongue, they search the scriptures, and they are worthy.

6.    What do we gather to? Why? (33:13)

• We gather to the rock of the Lord's church.  If we are founded on the rock of the church, the gates of Hell will not have power over us.  We will be able to stand strong against the devil.

7.    What are the teachings that gather? (34:6)

• Teachings that gather are teachings of repentance, and teachings of preparing for the Lord's second coming.

8.    Who does God use to gather? (35:12–15, 36:5–7)

• God uses the weak ones of the Lord to take the gospel to all nations.  He will make the weak strong to preach.  He wants every man who will embrace it to be ordained and sent forth to preach His gospel.

9.    Who directs the gathering? (35:25)

• Heavenly Father is the director of the gathering.  It will take place in His time and by who he leads.

10.  Where does God want the saints to gather? (37:1–3)

• God wants the saints to gather in Ohio and stay there until the Gospel has been preached in all the parts there.

11.  What are some patterns and principles of gathering? (38:32–33)

• Some patterns that I see are the patterns of moving to wherever the Lord wants.  He wanted them to go to Ohio, eventually He wanted them to go to Utah.  He directs us where we need to go to spread the gospel and gather.  Some principles are that Israel will be saved and the Lord will lead us always.

I loved learning more about the gathering of Israel.  It's strengthened my testimony of missionary work and of the importance of doing MY part to gather Israel.  We all have a duty and a part in the gathering and we need to learn what that is now.  We can all help the Lord's important work in the gathering.  The first step is praying to know what we can do to help and then getting to work.

Lesson Five

I chose choice #1 which is:

• What five principles of revelation does the Hiram Page crisis in section 28 teach members of the church?

• What does section 28 teach you about the tension between personal revelation and agency with prophetic revelation and authority? Which is more important? Why?

What five principles of revelation does the Hiram Page crisis in section 28 teach members of the church?

          1. No other person besides Joseph Smith, the prophet, can receive revelation for the chirch and the members of the church.
          2.  Joseph Smith has been given the keys to reveal the mysteries of the church which are sealed.
          3.  No member of the church can receive revelation for those who are a higher authority than him.
          4.  "When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions or any extraordinary gift or inspiration, convey something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions of its constituted authorities, Latter-day Saints may know that it is not of God, no matter how plausible it may appear."        
          5.  All things should be done by the prayer of faith.

• What does section 28 teach you about the tension between personal revelation and agency with prophetic revelation and authority? Which is more important? Why?

         After reading through section 28 in the student manual and the Doctrine and Covenants, I feel that I understand these concepts a lot more.  Personal revelation is a very important thing to understand because it will always be crucial in our lives.  We will always need personal revelation when we are making decisions or trying to learn more.  Anything from prayers to scripture study to the decision of who to marry can use personal revelation, and they should.  There is a line that is drawn when it comes to personal revelation.  Hiram Page crossed that line when he was giving false revelations that he received for the whole church. 
        Personal revelation is just what it says.  It's PERSONAL.  We receive it for ourselves and no one else.  We cannot receive revelation for others unless we are in a higher authority position in the church than they are.  Even then we must be sure that we understand and are giving them true information.  My friends and peers cannot receive revelation for me.  It is up to me to pray and do the things that I should to have Heavenly Father tell me what He needs me to know and do.
        Prophetic revelation is important because the prophet is the mouthpiece for our Heavenly Father.  The prophet's voice is crucial to learning the mysteries of our Father.  We can learn what we need to do to prepare and build a Zion where we stand.  We can never go wrong if we listen to the prophet because he receives that which he teaches straight from the Lord.  He has the authority to do so, and he has the most authority of anyone else.  Authority is so important to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because that is how the whole church is run.
         I believe that prophetic revelation is more important than personal revelation.  The prophet speaks more directly to Heavenly Father than I do.  I believe that I can receive revelation for myself, but I believe the prophet receives more firm revelation.  It's also easy to hear what I want to hear, if I don't set aside my desires.  I can convince myself that I heard something when Heavenly Father is trying to tell me something else.  I also might not receive revelation if I am unworthy.  I might still think that I received it when I didn't.  It's dependent on many factors but when the prophet reveals things we know that it is true and clear with no doubt.  It is important that we are in tune with ourselves but it is also important that we listen to the prophet and do as he says.
           

Lesson Four

I chose activity number three because it was about Emma Smith and I've always been interested in the life that she lived because I know it wasn't easy.

• What are ten attributes of “an elect lady” that you observe in your reading of section 25? Reference and explain them in your own words.

1. Comforter. Verse 5.  An elect lady will comfort others in times of need.

2. Seeker.  Verse 10.  An elect lady will seek for things better than the things of the world.

3. Rejoicer.  Verse 12.  An elect lady will rejoice in keeping covenants she has made with the lord.

4.  Meek.  Verse 14.  An elect lady is meek and humble.

5. Not prideful.  Verse 14.  An elect lade refrains from finding things to be prideful about.

6.  Delighted in her husband.  Verse 14.  An elect lady supports and stays happy with her husband and the decisions he makes.

7. Keeps His commandments.  Verse 15.  An elect lady will keep the commandments of God so she may return to live with Him.

8. Doesn't murmur.  Verse 4.  An elect lady will not murmur when she doesn't receive the things that she desires of the Lord.

9.  Virtuous.  Verse 2.  An elect lady is virtuous and true to the Lord.

10.  Faithful.  Verse 2.  An elect lady is faithful before the Lord, and will receive an inheritance in Zion.

• What do you know about Emma’s life that matches well with the admonitions given to her in this revelation?

I've heard that Emma does eventually leave the church.  I don't know many details but I know that she was unhappy with the way things were running after Joseph died.  I feel that she was not being faithful to the Lord and she was trying to forge her own way.  I think that she let doubts and fears get to her after Joseph left the earth.

• What in this list would be difficult for women of the world to understand, accept, or even appreciate?

      I think that it would be hard for women of the world to understand being meek.  Women today are very prideful and only getting moreso as time passes.  I think that they are trying too hard to take over the roles of the men.  I am old fashioned when it comes to roles in the home.  I am not a feminist and many women today are.  They put way too much time and effort into making themselves something instead of supporting their families and husbands. 

       I also know that today for the women of the world it's hard to accept being virtuous.  I think of this from a moral point of view more than anything else.  Women today don't care about keeping their bodies sacred.  The amount of immodesty today blows me away.  Many have no reservations about having intimate relationships before they're married or even after they're married.  Virtue is a very important subject to me and I feel it is so overlooked these days.

• In what ways are women of the church different from women of the world?

I think that many women in the church actually do have these qualities that Emma had.  They are faithful, virtuous, meek, supportive, etc.  They follow the commandments they are given without hesitation.  Those who struggle with the commandments still try and that is what I think is most important.  I feel like if women are trying to do the best they can and continually improving themselves, they will eventually get there.  I know that there really isn't anything you can do except try because nobody is perfect.  Women un the church understand the importance of trying to attain these attributes.

• Read Elder Neal A. Maxwell and Sister Julie Beck’s message on the women of God and share your impressions and a meaningful quote from each talk (see attachments).

I absolutely loved Neal A. Maxwell's message.  I felt the spirit just reading it.  It made me feel important and loved as a woman in the church.  I feel like some men don't understand and appreciate the women of the church and this was a wonderful talk to those men. 

     I liked the quote, "So often our sisters comfort others when their own needs are greater than those being comforted."  I liked this because it made me think of my mother and many other mothers I know.  They are so selfless and care so much more about others.  I don't tell them I appreciate them enough and I should more.  Many women put aside their own wants, desires, and concerns to help those around them.  It amazes me.

I couldn't find the talk that Sister Beck gave, so I looked up some quotes and chose one that stood out to me.  She said, "Everything we do in Relief Society matters because Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, visited Joseph Smith and, through him, the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth.  Relief Society was part of that restoration."  This meant a lot to me because it's easy for me to overlook the things that we do in Relief Society.  I feel like I can't make a difference by doing one thing, or simple things.  This quote helped me look back and reflect on things that sisters in the church do.   I like having the knowledge that I am important to the restoration of the gospel.  I feel like I can do more now.  Her quotes were all wonderful.

Lesson Three

I chose to do a an option of finding 10 insights on the worth of souls, and share five of the scriptures that increase my understanding of the worth of a soul.

Scripture one: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." Doctrine and Covenants 18:10

Scripture two: "...the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Scripture three: "...The one being is as precious in his sight as the other." Jacob 2:21

Scripture four: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation..." 1 Peter 2:9

Scripture five: "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

I chose to do this assignment because it was about the worth of souls.  This is a very important topic to me because growing up, I never had a good grasp on my self worth.  I compared myself to others all too often.  When I started dating, I got into an abusive relationship which did nothing to help with my image of myself.  He abused me verbally, emotionally, and mentally.  By the time I got out of that relationship, my individual worth was nothing. Unfortunately, he continued to harass me until I took more extreme precautions.  I had no faith in myself and was reserved, quiet, and in pain emotionally.  

During a semester at school, I met a boy who I slowly got to know.  He started to show me how important I was and the things that I am capable of.  Through my relationship with him, I strengthened my relationship with Jesus Christ.  Since then, I have seen, through the Lord, just how important I am.  I know that He has wonderful things in store for me.  I know that He will show me these things, and He will help me bless the lives of others if I hold fast to Him.  I am so thankful that I know the worth of my soul now, and I want everyone to know how much they are worth.