Come Follow Me 38: Doctrine and Covenants 98-101

Come, Follow Me Lesson 38: Doctrine and Covenants 102-105

Lesson Introduction:

Pay attention to principles

We definitely cannot see the end from the beginning. The saints were told in D&C 103:15 that the redemption of Zion must needs come by power.

Those are interesting words.

Zion’s Camp was disbanded and the Saints did not return to Missouri. But the experience deepened their faith in God’s power and in Joseph’s call, and in the principle of Zion meaning the people of God.

How are we being redeemed by power?

By the power of the atonement; our faith in Jesus and the atonement; the power of the priesthood.

What part do we play in redeeming Zion, and what is necessary for us to do that?

To Redeem Zion:

1. President Nelson has told us to learn to hear the Lord.
2. He has also told us to let God prevail in our lives.

Zion will be redeemed as we learn to follow the Savior, even when we do NOT understand everything.

“Zion cannot be built up,” He declared, “unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom.”

The covenants we make in the temple are the principles of the Celestial Kingdom (understanding from Bob).

So we need to make those covenants, receive that endowment, and be armed with that power.

The Lord told the Saints that they should wait to redeem Zion until they had prepared themselves through learning and experience to do the will of God. “And this cannot be brought to pass,” He explained, “until mine elders are endowed with power from on high.” (From Saints)

(Story about Nathan Baldwin)

Voices of the Restoration

Joseph Smith (as retold by Joseph Young)

The Twelve and the Seventies needed to be tried and to make sacrifices (for their redemption and for their call to redeem Israel). If we haven’t been called upon to make sacrifices yet, we will be.

Brigham Young

The Lord can accept of our offerings, because of our willingness to obey (even when the perceived end purpose is withdraw). In our obedience we come to know the Lord more and to know that He has called His prophets.

Wilford Woodruff

Those in Zion’s camp had powerful witnesses that Joseph is a prophet of God.

Young men who had never met each other or the prophet, were willing and obedient to a call to redeem Zion, and God accepted their works as He did the works of Abraham.

They gained experience. They were privileged to behold the face of a prophet; traveling with him, seeing the workings of the spirit of God with him, and the revelations of Jesus Christ to him; and the fulfillment of those revelations.

These young elders were called as missionaries to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

Zion’s Camp was the MTC. They were thrust into the vineyard to preach the gospel, and the Lord accepted their labors. They lived by faith. The experience obtained in Zion’s Camp was of more worth than gold.

D&C 102

Procedures for high council membership councils.

President M. Russell Ballard taught, “Members sometimes ask why Church [membership] councils are held. The purpose is threefold: to save the soul of the transgressor, to protect the innocent, and to safeguard the Church’s purity, integrity, and good name.”

D&C 103

Pay attention to what you can do to help establish Zion in your heart and home.

Have you ever been asked to do something that didn’t turn out the way you expected? (all the time)

Vs. 15 The Redemption of Zion must needs come by power.

Has President Nelson been raised up to lead us, like unto Moses? (see vs. 16)

What counsel have we received that will help lead us out of bondage?

1. Let not your hearts faint.

2. Lord’s angel will go up before us and also His presence.

We do not have to redeem Zion on our own.

How can we being obedient to gather ourselves to the land of Zion today?

What part does asking play in obedience (see vs 31 and 36)?

D&C 104:

I watched the 20 minute film about John Tanner, the miracles he and his family saw, and all the sacrifices that he made for the church.

Brother Tanner was an incredible man. His badly infected, diseased leg was healed because he had faith in Jesus Christ. He then walked to be baptized that very night and he did everything within his power to help the church grow and prosper. His faith was amazing. He donated and loaned money to the church over and over again. He gave up his hard worked for fortune, and then when he gained more, he gave more. He forgave Joseph debts incurred by the church as well. He set his hand to the plow and never looked back.

In what ways can we get out of the bondage of debt both physically and spiritually?

How has the Lord given you a multiplicity of blessings?

How are our covenants broken by covetousness and feigned words (see v 52)?

I looked up feigned words. This is what I found:

1a : to give a false appearance of : induce as a false impression feign death. b : to assert as if true : pretend He feigned that he was not feeling well so that he could leave the party early. 2 archaic. a : invent, imagine.

Feigned is an adjective that means "not genuine," like your feigned interest in your friends' discussion of celebrity hairstyle trends. The word feigned, pronounce "faynd," comes from the Old French word feign, which means "pretend, imitate, shirk." Feigned emotions aren't real, and therefore, they are a bit dishonest.

Definition of feigned. 1 : fictitious Was his account actual or feigned? 2 : not genuine or real showered him with feigned compliments.

D&C 105: Why is it important to be a peacemaker?

How can you offer proposals for peace, even when others doing want to be peaceful (see vs 40)?

What does it mean to be an ensign for peace (see vs 39)?

A Zion people needs to be:

1. Obedient to the Lord.

2. Donate to and assist the poor and needy.

3. Be united.

4. Be built upon the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom. (see vs 2-6)

5. Be willing to give generously of time and money to the church and follow its leaders, even when we don’t know how things will work out (vs 8). The law of consecration is part of the law of the celestial kingdom.
The covenants we make in the temple are the principles of the Celestial Kingdom (understanding from Bob).

6. Be endowed with power from on high (see vs. 9-13, 18, 33).

7. Trust in the Lord that He will fight our battles (vs 14).

8. Gather together for the redemption of God’s people (vs 16, 24).

9. Be faithful, prayerful, humble before the Lord. Keep personal revelations sacred (vs 23).

10. Seek to find favor in the eyes of the people of our communities until the army of Israel becomes very great (vs. 26).

11. Become a great army of the Lord, sanctified before Him (vs 31).

12. Be a light to the rest of the world (vs 32).

13. Be sanctified (vs 36).

14. Sue for peace to all people, lift ensign of peace, make proposals for peace (vs 38-40).

15. Be faithful.

35 There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy.

Surely, if we choose the Lord, He will again choose us. And we will be sanctified (vs 36).