Come Follow Me- Daily Dose

Today as we begin section 132 and the revelation on plural marriage, I offer some of my thoughts on the history of plural marriage in the church. I talk a little bit about some of the possible why's of this practice. As I do so I do not mean to approach it as an apologist but rather to share some thoughts I have had over the years as I have done my best to understand. 

The blessings promised for celestial marriage are available to ALL of God's children, whether they obtain that in this life or not.  Nelson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/celestial-marriage?lang=eng

Here again as Joseph is teaching different doctrines, he addresses a common buzz topic of the year and teaches about the second coming of the Savior. But in those teachings he manages to help us understand that because we don't know exactly when it will happen, we have the responsibility to gain knowledge and intelligence so that we will be prepared when the day comes. Hinckley https://www.thechur...

First Joseph gives us a glimpse of the blessings that can be ours, followed by a preview of the difficulties that we will need to overcome it in order to obtain it!

When Orson Hyde taught a false doctrine about the nature of God, Joseph Smith had to correct him. I'm so glad that is the case, because of that, we now have the beautiful doctrines of section 130. And the beautiful reassurances that our relationships from this life can carry into the next and can improve in the next as our relationships are coupled with glory.  Uchtdorf https://www.churchofje...

I'm not going to lie...I remember learning about this section as an 11 or 12 year old thinking it would be vital that I learn how to tell the difference between an angel, a spirit and the adversary pretending to be an angel...Turns out I haven't had to use that knowledge as frequently and my 11 year self thought I would. However, we do have the chance, every day of our lives, to witness the angels...

The gospel offers a "voice of gladness" to all those who have lived and who ever will live on the earth. Because of the restoration of the priesthood and the temple ordinances God's mercy is available to ALL. Eyring https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/gathering-the-family-of-god?lang=eng

I think it is pretty clear what is meant by the phrase that our dead can't be made perfect with us. They need us to preform vicarious work for them so that they can receive the works of salvation...But what on earth does it mean that we can't be made perfect without them. What can they possibly do for us? Well...a lot more than you may think! Cook https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-...

The fact that the Lord was still instructing the saints even a year after they initially learned about baptisms for the dead is an incredible reminder to me that often times God reveals things to us little by little. And just because we may not have the beginning to the end revealed, we are still expected to move forward in faith, trusting in God. 

I absolutely love these scriptures, because in them Joseph Smith makes reference to the deliverance of God! In fact, he goes so far as to say that the God of Israel is their God. Israel's God is a God of deliverance! Nearly ever scripture story is a story of God delivering someone from something. Heavenly Father wants us to understand the theme of deliverance, because as we trust that He will deli...

Here, as the Lord warns Joseph that he needs to leave Nauvoo, we can draw a parallel in our life as well. Often times for our own safety or good, the Lord will tell us to move, sometimes physically, but more often he asks us to move spiritually. To do something that will help us progress on our path towards Him. As we heed those promptings we can have faith and hope that God is working all things...

The Lord, through His counsel to Brigham Young, is going to teach us a very important principle. When we are diligent in our efforts the Lord accepts our efforts, but when it is time to focus on our families, that should be our absolute priority. Benson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1987/10/to-the-fathers-in-israel?lang=eng

Here the Lord is telling the saints that if they want to follow Him they need to make an effort to be where He would have them be. Even though there is no longer a physical Zion, we can draw nearer to the Lord and follow Him closer as we strive to stand in holy places in our lives and make the spaces around us sacred.  Neuenschwander https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conferenc...

The Lord teaches us here about one of our primary purposes as His saints, to care for the poor and the needy. And then He teaches us about what true sacrifice is.  Uchtdorf https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/43uchtdorf?lang=eng Davies https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2014/10/the-law-of-the-fast-a-personal-responsibility-to-care-for...

God commanded the saints of Nauvoo to create a place where people would come and rest. In our day our churches, our quorums and classes and even our lives should be a place where people feel safe, welcomed and where they can feel peace. Gong https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/16gong?lang=eng McConkie https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/same-sex-attrac...

In these verses the Lord teaches us that one of the reasons for the temple is to receive all His blessings, but then He warns us that we have to continue on in diligence. It isn't enough to simply go through the temple. We have to be anxious to have the temple go through us! Monson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/04/the-holy-temple-a-beacon-to-the-world?lang=eng J...

In these verses as the Lord talks about the redemption of the dead, we get a glimpse into the wholeness...the completeness of the redemption of Jesus Christ.  Elder Christofferson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2000/10/the-redemption-of-the-dead-and-the-testimony-of-jesus?lang=eng

In these verses the Lord points out Christlike attributes of His followers, by studying and understanding these attributes we can better adopt those attributes into our lives. Wirthlin https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1988/04/without-guile?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/02/true-love?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/gener...

The name Nauvoo itself can teach us the most beautiful lesson about how God sees us as His children and about how He desires us to see those around us! Hinckley https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1989/10/rise-to-the-stature-of-the-divine-within-you?lang=eng Stephens https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/10/if-ye-love-me-keep-my-commandments?lan...

Today we talk about the extermination order and how the saints ended up in Illinois. As well as how the Lord in verse one calls Joseph weak. It's interesting that sometimes we put more expectation on the prophet to be perfect than the Lord ever put on him. The Lord didn't want a perfect prophet, He wanted a weak person so that He could so HIS ultimate power in bringing forth truth through imperfec...

Sometimes we can be guilty of forgetting the small and simple things of the gospel, but I testify that it is by the daily diligence to the small and simple things, that God is able to bring lasting and powerful conversion to our lives. Ballard https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2008/07/sharing-the-gospel-using-the-internet?lang=eng Bednar https://womensconference.byu.edu/sites/womens...

No matter what we go through, what trial comes our way, we can take comfort in knowing that the Savior of the world has descended below it all so that he could meet us where we are and lift us up to higher ground.  Holland https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/12holland?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2001/03/missionary-work-and-the-ato...

If we want generations of posterity to "flow unto [us]" without compulsory means, what are the things we have to do? What changes need to be made in our homes?

Many are called but few are chosen. When the Lord says He has called many, could He mean that He calls out to many? That He invites many? If so then maybe it's not that God only chooses a few...but that few will choose God. 

I love that the Lord reassures Joseph of something that I imagine was probably in his heart, even though it appears he didn't say it out loud, and that was that his friends would stand by him. The Lord also speaks of the loss of hope that comes from rejecting the gospel and the prophets.  Ballard https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/to-whom-shall-we-go?lang=eng