Doctrine and Covenants 67–70
“Worth ... the Riches of the Whole Earth”
June 23 - June 29
scripture
quote
Patience Should be a Constant Companion
<p>Patience must be our constant companion during the journey which carries us toward that great goal, “Continue in patience until ye are perfected,” (D&C 67:13) the counsel the Lord gave to the elders of the Church.</p> <p>It should be made clear that we are not talking here about a passive patience which waits only for the passing of time to heal or resolve things which happen to us, but rather a patience that is active, which makes things happen. Such was the patience Paul described in his epistle to the Romans when he used the words “by patient continuance in well doing” (Romans 2:7).</p> <p>Perhaps one of the best examples of patience which gives us an eternal perspective of its application in our lives is found in the words of Peter: “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God” (1 Peter 2:20).</p> <p>Patience in affliction and adversity means to persist firmly and never forsake that which we know to be true, standing firm with the hope that in the Lord’s due time we will gain an understanding of that which we do not understand now and which causes us suffering.</p>
Angel Abrea, "Patience in Affliction," April 1992 General Conference.
commentary
Commentary for D&C 67:10–14
<p>In exhorting the elders to greater faith, the Lord also corrects a common misunderstanding that it is impossible for a mortal person to see God in the flesh (D&C 67:11). The familiar quotation from the Gospel of John that “no man hath seen God at any time” was corrected in Joseph Smith’s translation to read, “And no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son; for except it is through him no man can be saved.”<a id="_ftnref1" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn1">[1]</a> Another New Testament passage that reads, “[He] only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honour and power everlasting” (1 Timothy 6:16) was changed in the Prophet’s translation to read, “Whom no man hath seen, nor can he see, unto whom no man can approach, only he who hath the light and the hope of immortality dwelling in him.”<a id="_ftnref2" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn2">[2]</a> In one last example, the text of 1 John 4:12, which reads, “no man hath seen God at any time,” was changed to read, “No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe.”<a id="_ftnref3" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn3">[3]</a></p> <p>The message of all of these corrections in the Joseph Smith Translation is clearly presented in Doctrine and Covenants 67. Here the Lord declares, “For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God. Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind” (D&C 67:11–12). It is possible for mortal people to survive in the presence of God if they are transfigured to abide the glory of God. God is more than capable of bringing about a change in the physical bodies of His servants, provided they are sufficiently humble and demonstrate the necessary faith to see God.</p> <div class="footnotes"> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn1" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:19.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn2" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref2">[2]</a> Joseph Smith Translation, 1 Timothy 6:16.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn3" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref3">[3]</a> Joseph Smith Translation—1 John 4:12.</p> </div>
Doctrine and Covenants Minute by Casey Paul Griffiths
knowhy
KnoWhy #797
Why Did the Lord Invite People to Try to Produce Revelations Like Joseph Smith’s?
