Come Follow Me- Daily Dose

Can you imagine what it must have been like April 6, 1830? In a small cabin in upstate New York, nearly 60 people gathered together to witness a new church be formed. New churches popping up certainly wasn't strange for the time, but this was different. This was a church with prophets and apostles, a church with the restored priesthood and revelations from God to the Earth again. But I don't think...

I think it is monumentally significant that the sacrament prayer for the water doesn't just say, "that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son," but that it goes on to make the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the sanctification of the sacrament personal by adding "which was shed for them." Understanding the personal nature of the Atonement of Christ, I believe, is the first step in app...

We hear it ever single Sunday, but are we really internalizing what the sacrament prayer says, and what it means. Today we explore the prayer on the bread and what it means for us!

Section 20 outlines all the duties of the different offices of the church, but in reading them there are 2 very important things to understand. 1st, according to verse 38, yes these duties are given to the offices of the priesthood, much of these things are thins expected of ALL members of the church. And second, although doing things out of duty is good, building the God's kingdom and His people...

I remember looking at my husband during the sacrament when my kids were younger and my husband was new in our bishopric. He was so peaceful, with his eyes closed pondering on the sacred ordinance. Meanwhile, I was wrestling one kid off the floor and trying to keep the other from shoving Cheerios up his nose. I felt so jealous that my husband got to approach the sacrament so prepared while I was ju...

Justification vs. Sanctification. The Lord tells us we need both, but what exactly is the difference between them, and how can we access that power?

Section 20 is a very unique section of the Doctrine & Covenants, where as the majority of the sections in the Doctrine and Covenants focus on the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, this is one of a few sections that focuses on the organization of the CHURCH of Jesus Christ. Gospel and church are often used as synonyms, however, although they are quite different things, they are both divinely given. 

Often times I think we feel like we have to be happy and optimistic in the face of all our challenges and trials. Sometimes that is probably true and often times that optimism can sure help. But I love what we can learn as we see the Savior in Gethsemane say, "would that I might not drink the bitter cup," or ""if possible let this cup pass from me." From the Savior I learn that it is ok to acknowl...

The Savior's suffering was so exquisite, so sore and so hard to bear that we can neither fully comprehend or even imagine it. But the beautiful thing about the atonement of Jesus Christ is that we don't have to be able to understand it, for it to take effect in our lives. We just need to repent and come unto Christ. 

In section 19 the Lord is going to preach repentance to Martin Harris. But before he does that He makes sure that Martin understands who He is as the Savior and Redeemer, and exactly why it is that He has the power to redeem. Understanding who the Savior is gives us strength and resolve to lean upon Him and His grace.

The names we bear have incredible significance. To me, it means something to be a Hale, and to be a Hansen. So what does it mean to really take upon ourselves the name of Christ? We are told in these verses that if we don't come to know the name by which we are called, which is Christ, then we can't have place in our Father's kingdom. So what does it really mean to know Him, and how to we do it?

In sections 15 and 16 the Lord tells John and Peter Whitmer that the best things that they can do for their own souls, is to preach repentance to others. Here in these verses, He tells us why.

I love the promise that if we build on the gospel and the Rock that we can withstand the difficulties that come our way. It doesn't mean that life will be perfect, but as we focus on the basic principles of the gospel and center our faith in Jesus Christ, we can be strengthened in whatever comes our way. 

This is one of my favorite sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, and I think it is so cool to see in verse one, that this incredible doctrine is part of our scriptures today because of a righteous desire that Oliver had! Our loving Father in Heaven can give us revelation in accordance with our desires! I also think it is neat to see that in verse 3 the Lord tells Oliver to rely on the Book of Mo...

In the revelation given for the 3 witnesses, the Lord tells them how they can obtain the witness they seek, He says that as they rely on His word and that by their faith in Him, they can receive a witness. As we go throughout a world that would have us look to anything but the Lord and believe in anything but His word, let us always remember that we can obtain a greater witness of Him as we Have f...

What are the desires of your heart? Often times I don't share them with my Heavenly Father because I incorrectly feel like I should be content with what I have been given. But I love in these chapters that the Lord tells the Whitmer brothers that they are blessed because of their desires. I love the idea that our righteous desires bring joy to the Lord. 

The Whitmer family was one of the great families of the early church with many incredible promises given to them based on their faithfulness. But when one of these blessings wasn't fulfilled in the way in the way they thought it should be, their faith struggled. How can we develop, not only a faith in God, but faith in His will and faith in His timing?

Verse 7 of section 14 contains a doctrine that it is vitally important for each of us to understand, it says that if we will obey the commandments and endure to the end we can obtain the gift of eternal life. Some people read that verse and think, "well which is it? Either we obtain eternal life because we were obedient and endured or eternal life was a gift that is given to us." I think it is vit...

I love how personal it feels when the Lord talks to David Whitmer about "MY Zion."  Often times we think of Zion as a place or a thing, but in Moses 7:18 it says that the Lord called His PEOPLE Zion. My Zion is the Lord's way of saying "my people." So if we are to assist in blessing and raising up the Lords people, we have to remember to do His work, His way! 

Here, in the early days of the restoration, Joseph had many people coming to him seeking to assist somehow in the work. The message from the Lord to each of them is very similar. On the surface that can seem pretty repetitive. But what can we learn from the repetition? Today we explore the incredible principles found in repetition. 

I am starting to notice a pretty need theme here in early church history. God is ever mindful of Joseph and his needs, and is consistently preparing a way for those needs to be met. More often than not those needs are met by earthly angels, stepping into Joseph's life in the exact moment he needs them. I believe that we all have earthly angels. People that God has sent to us in our moment of need....

Often times the Aaronic Priesthood is referred to as a preparatory priesthood. The Lord confers the priesthood upon men on the Earth today with the purpose of bringing them together. And truly the Aaronic Priesthood prepares us for greater covenants and ordinances to bring us together with God. However, holding and worthily using the Aaronic Priesthood prepares those who hold it to do the same.&nb...

Have you ever thought about the significance of the wording we use with the priesthood? Here, when John the Baptist gives Joseph and Oliver the Aaronic priesthood he says he confers it. We use that same word with the priesthood today. But what does that word really mean, and why is it so significant? And how does it show us Heavenly Father's desire to come together with us in His work? 

Did you know that Joseph Smith had prayed for a scribe 2 days before Oliver Cowdery showed up at his house? When God commands us we can have faith that he has already prepared a way for us to do what He has asked. Knowing this can give us to go forward and serve, even when it is hard. 

It has always boggled my mind the incredible trust that the Lord has in young men. It started in the sacred grove when God reveled himself to a 14 year old boy, and continues today as God places a portion of His power and authority in the hands of boys as young as 11! Such power and such trust!