Lesson Nine

Who’s who in the Doctrine and Covenants? Look up ten names of people you are unfamiliar with that are mentioned in Section 52, and read a brief biography of them in Susan Easton Black’s Who’s Who in the Doctrine and Covenants (or a comparable resource available to you). What do you learn about their lives that helps you better appreciate the principles of the gospel as taught in the revelations? How are you like/unlike these people? What can you learn from their lives that will help you be a better disciple in your own?

1. Lyman Wight

2.  John Corrill

3.  John Murdock

4.  Ezra Thayre

5.  Isaac Morley

6.  Ezra Booth

7.  Harvey Whitlock

8.  Solomon Hancock

9.  Edson Fuller

10.  Jacob Scott

The things that stuck out to me about these people and their lives was how willing they were to serve the Lord.  Not many of them second guessed what they were asked to do, they just blindly went out and did as they were called to do.  They all came from different backgrounds and learned the gospel, and through that they were able to come together as one in purpose.  One of the goals in the church is to become a Zion people, one in heart and in mind.  When all these missionaries came together to serve the Lord, they were as one.  Some of them fell away from the church after which is a hard thing to read, but it happens.  They did believe and they did share the gospel while they were still a part of it.  They were still willing to serve and give up their time when they were following Jesus Christ.

I feel that I am like them in the fact that I am usually willing to serve, however, it would be hard for me to serve in the extent that they did.  They gave up more than I will probably ever have to and I admire that.  I think I am also like them in the fact that I try to seize missionary opportunities, but unlike them because I’m not a full time missionary.  They were dedicated and diligent, moreso than me and I strive to be like them someday.

The thing that I can learn from their lives is to go where the Lord wants me to go and do the things that He wants me to do.  I can learn to be willing to give everything up for the sake of the church, and have a good attitude about it.  I feel that I can learn to be diligent in teaching others about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that there are many ways for me to improve and become more like these men.

Lesson Eight

            What are the ten most significant signs you feel the Lord is giving his Saints in this revelation? Please explain, describe, and reference these signs in section 45. ​Feel free to share any personal thoughts about these signs as you describe them.

1.       D&C 45:26 There will be wars and rumors of wars.

a.       I feel like we see this happening every day.  There are wars between many different countries.  Some we don’t hear about as often, but they are still there, still happening.

2.       D&C 45:27 The love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound.

a.       I really feel that this is significant because it is so obvious.  The people in the world draw farther away from important values every day.  The value secular things, such as money, instead of valuing what is truly important.

3.       D&C 45:29 They will turn their hearts from God because of the precepts of men.

a.       Precepts means the rules that regulate behaviors and thoughts.   When we allow the precepts of men to rule what we think, they have the power to turn us against our Heavenly Father and the things we need to know.

4.       D&C 45:32 His disciples will stand in holy places and not be moved.

a.       As student’s of BYU-I, we are members of a ‘Discipleship Preparation Center’. (http://www.byui.edu/presentations/transcripts/devotionals/2004_08_31_bednardavid.htm) We have a responsibility as His disciples to uphold His work and stand for what we know to be true.

5.       D&C 45:33 There will be earthquakes and many desolations.

a.       We hear of catastrophes happening so often.  I feel like every day there is a new disaster, natural or otherwise.  I feel that this sign is a very obvious one for us to see.

6.       D&C 45:33  Men will kill one another.

a.       Murder happens so often in the world we live in.  Coldblooded, heartless murder.  It is not getting better, and unfortunately it sounds like it won’t get better.  We will have to just stick it out until Jesus Christ comes again.

7.       D&C 45:24-25  Many will be scattered, but they will be gathered again.

a.       This is a huge sign!  There are so many missionaries right now who are working to gather people.  They are being sent all throughout the world to help.  My stake has 35 missionaries.  That averages about 6 missionaries in each ward, who are all serving to bring others to the Lord.

8.       D&C 45:45 The saints who have died will be resurrected and meet Jesus Christ.

a.       I think that this is a wonderful sign.  How great it is for those righteous saints to have the ability to see Jesus Christ after they are resurrected.  It is such a blessing and I really like reading this sign.

9.       D&C 45:42 The sun will be darkened.

a.       This sign is kind of scary and intimidating to me, but I know that I should not be worried.  It seems like it will be one of the very last signs, and we will know without a doubt that the Lord is coming.

10.   D&C 45:26  The whole earth will be in commotion.

a.       I feel like this is a huge sign right now.  It goes along with the wars and rumors of wars of course, but I feel that there’s even smaller, simpler examples.  I think that there is commotion in families, states, countries, and the world.  The institution of marriage is not as sacred as it should be and families fall apart every day.

            What three main principles of the gospel does God emphasize and associate with these Second Coming signs that a disciple living during such turbulent times would be wise to give heed to?

I feel that one point the Lord emphasizes is the gathering.  It is important that we get as many people to hear the gospel message as we possibly can.  We must be active participants in the gathering, even if we aren’t full time missionaries.  There are so many ways that we can help, even if it’s simply inviting a nonmember friend to an FHE.

Another point the Lord emphasizes is preparation.  We must be prepared.  I feel like this is stressed.  We cannot afford to not be prepared.  I think that we must find out what we need to do to be prepared, then do it.

The last point I feel He emphasizes is to keep His commandments and follow Him.  We know that we must do our best in order to be saved, and the Lord reminds us of that quite a few times in this section of scripture.

Lesson Seven

What is the Lord’s definition of a disciple? (Section 41)

The Lord's definition of disciple is one who receives his law and does it.

Based upon the standards that the Lord gives to the Church in the “law” Section (42), create twenty “Disciple Recommend Questions” which could be asked of someone claiming to be a disciple of Christ. Use the specified verses to make your questions as clear as you can.

Example: Do you refrain from idleness? (v. 42)

• (v. 11–14) Do you use the authority you have to teach the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

• (v. 18–19) Have you murdered anyone?

• (v. 20) Do you steal?

• (v. 21) Are you honest?

• (v. 22–24) Are you faithful to your spouse or significant other?

• (v. 27) Do you gossip or do any other harmful thing to your neighbor?

• (v. 29) Do you keep the commandments of God?

• (v. 30–34, 37–39) Do you help the needy and poor by consecrating what you are blessed with?

• (v. 40) Are you prideful?

• (v. 41) Are you clean in your thoughts, words, and deeds?

• (v. 42) Are you idle?

• (v. 43–44) Do you have faith in preisthood blessings?

• (v. 45) Do you love your neighbors?

• (v. 52) Do you have the faith to be healed by the power of the priesthood?

• (v. 53) Will you take on responsibilities in the church?

• (v. 54–55) Will you take excess materials and donate them to the storehouse for those in need?

• (v. 56–60) Do you earnestly study the scriptures, and share them with others?

• (v. 61) Do you ask so that you might receive revelation from Heavenly Father?

• (v. 75–87) Do you trust the judgement of your leaders if you've committed a crime that you must use authority to repent of?

• (v. 88–92) Do you keep private matters private?

When you have a question for each reference, conduct a personal interview asking yourself each of the questions. How well did you do? Which questions could you personally improve on? In a short paragraph, reflect on which of the “laws” in Section 42 are easiest for you to obey and which require more of an effort on your part. Why do you think those you chose are easier/harder for you?

I feel like I do fairly well at most of these questions. I know that there are many things I could improve on as well though. I don't want to get too much into detail about the ones that I could improve on, but I will say that one of them is gossiping. I'm not awful about it, but I need to work on not doing it so often. I am the one who will immediately tell my best friend something as soon as I find out. It's hard to keep it in sometimes. Some that are the easiest for me are things like not murdering. It's easier because I have no desire to take someone's life and put my eternal life in jeopardy. I know that it's the small ones that take the most work, and I plan on working on them so that I might become a better person.