Come Follow Me 45: Doctrine and Covenants 125-128

 Come, Follow Me Lesson 45: Doctrine and Covenants 125-128

Introduction:

What am I doing to make baptism available to my ancestors? What will I do?

The doctrine of Baptism for the dead thrilled the saints. They eagerly were baptized for all their deceased relatives. Do I realize what I have and what is required of me?

D&C 125:2 What can we do to gather together and be building up Zion in our communities?

D&C 126

What are you doing to take especial care of your family?

What are some things that we can do to serve family members? Make the service that you do for others precious gifts.

Think of ways you can spend more time taking especial care of your family.

D&C 127

How do you maintain optimism and choose joy in the midst of threats and false accusations. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. (See D&C 127:2-3) How has God watched over and protected you, your family, your ancestors, and His covenant people?

Why is it important that we not stop doing the Lord’s work.

Hoe important is it to record ordinance work? (vs 12) How does Joseph feel towards the Saints and towards his enemies, then and now?

D&C 128

Why do you think our ancestors’ salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation? How well do the words “binding power”, “welding link”, and “perfect union”describe the importance of this work?

How important is inviting and gathering covenant Israel to this work? Do you consider the doctrine of salvation for the dead a bold doctrine (see vs 9-11)?

How excited are you about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation of the dead? What are you doing to show your gratitude?

Saints: https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1/35-a-beautiful-place?lang=eng

Emily Partridge’s story (Bishop Edward Partridge’s daughter):

Sister Harriet died, and then her father too. Older sister Eliza could work as seamstress. Harriet could only do housework.

Said of Edward Partridge: “No man had the confidence of the church more than he,” read the obituary for Bishop Partridge in the Times and Seasons, the Saints’ new newspaper. “His religion was his all; for this he spent his life, and for this he laid it down.”4

The Saints finished building the house he’d started to build for his family, but was too ill to do so.

Commerce became Nauvoo. Joseph said, “The name of our city,” he explained in a First Presidency proclamation, “is of Hebrew origin and signifies a beautiful situation or place, carrying with it also the idea of rest.”7

How can forging stronger bonds with our ward and stake members and creating friendships with our neighbors and in our communities fortify us against dissent and persecution?

William W Phelps sincerely wanted to come back, and he was welcomed. “Come on, dear brother, since the war is past,” Joseph wrote, “for friends at first are friends again at last.”10

“As Nauvoo took form, Joseph’s mind turned to the gathering.”

What are you doing to assist in the gathering?

‘Joseph wanted them to understand that Zion was more than a parcel of land in Jackson County. “Where the Saints gather is Zion,” he declared.’

Joseph was determined to have the Nauvoo Temple built before his death. “If it should be the will of God that I might live to behold that temple complete,” he said longingly, “I will say, ‘Oh, Lord, it is enough. Lord, let thy servant depart in peace.’”17

On his deathbed Joseph Smith, Sr., his son told him about baptism for the dead; and Joseph Sr. asked that Joseph perform the baptism for Alvin. Then gave his family blessings. He blessed Joseph that he would live to finish his work.

To his wife he said,

“Mother,” he said, “you are one of the most singular women in the world.”

Lucy protested, but her husband continued. “We have often wished that we might both die at the same time,” he said, “but you must not desire to die when I do, for you must stay to comfort the children when I am gone.” (This so reminded me of my own mother and father.)

Before he died, he could see Alvin.

Hyrum was baptized for Alvin.

Hyrum became the Church Patriarch and a counselor in the First Presidency, filling the vacancy left by Oliver Cowdery.

Concerns about John Bennett:

“As the new year dawned, the future looked bright for the Saints. On February 1, 1841, they elected John Bennett mayor of Nauvoo, which also made him the chief justice of the city court. He also became chancellor of the new university, major general of the militia, and an assistant president in the First Presidency.42 Joseph and other church leaders had confidence in his ability to lead the city and make it great.

“As John’s authority and responsibilities expanded, Emma could not deny that he had helped the Saints
immensely. But she did not share the Saints’ affection for him. She thought John paraded himself through town like a pompous general, and when he was not trying to impress Joseph, he seemed self-absorbed and inconsiderate.

For all his talents and usefulness, something about John Bennett worried her.” 43

(I listened to the material found in Revelations in context. Yesterday I reread with Bob the section Voices of the Restoration)