Come Follow Me: D&C 98-101

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My blog on Come Follow Me: D&C 98-101


Excerpt:

D&C 98
This revelation was given for the saints in Missouri, who were going through severe persecutions.
In the first verses the Lord is commending them for their faithfulness and prayers, promising to fulfill all their prayers. Yet, we see that not all those promises were fulfilled in the way we would expect. Many prayed to keep their homes in Jackson County and to build Zion. Often, the straightest path to the Celestial Kingdom and Zion is a crooked dirt road, or sometimes just a direction in which to blaze one’s own trail. These saints would gain Zion, but it would be in a stake elsewhere. Some would receive their promised blessings after this life.
In verse three, we learn that all of our afflictions are for our good and God’s glory. For this reason, in verse one, the Lord encourages us to give thanks in “all things.” It is an interesting concept that we see pop up occasionally in scripture. It isn’t a call to solely be grateful for our blessings and good fortune, but also for the trials, pains, and tribulations. How easy it is to complain when things are tough. How hard it is to give thanks for those struggles.
We can see the importance of having an eternal perspective, when it comes to both good times and heavy trials. We look forward to eternal life with hope, which is an “anchor to the soul” (Ether 12), and helps us make it through the difficult times. We struggle with modern trials: Covid pandemic, wild fires, hurricanes, flooding, climate change, failed wars, etc. Yet, consider the struggles of the early saints:


https://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2021/09/come-follow-me-d-98-101.html

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About rameumptom

Gerald (Rameumptom) Smith is a student of the gospel. Joining the Church of Jesus Christ when he was 16, he served a mission in Santa Cruz Bolivia (1978=1980). He is married to Ramona, has 3 stepchildren and 7 grandchildren. Retired Air Force (Aim High!). He has been on the Internet since 1986 when only colleges and military were online. Gerald has defended the gospel since the 1980s, and was on the first Latter-Day Saint email lists, including the late Bill Hamblin's Morm-Ant. Gerald has worked with FairMormon, More Good Foundation, LDS.Net and other pro-LDS online groups. He has blogged on the scriptures for over a decade at his site: Joel's Monastery (joelsmonastery.blogspot.com). He has the following degrees: AAS Computer Management, BS Resource Mgmt, MA Teaching/History. Gerald was the leader for the Tuskegee Alabama group, prior to it becoming a branch. He opened the door for missionary work to African Americans in Montgomery Alabama in the 1980s. He's served in two bishoprics, stake clerk, high council, HP group leader and several other callings over the years. While on his mission, he served as a counselor in a branch Relief Society presidency.

2 thoughts on “Come Follow Me: D&C 98-101”

  1. I find it interesting that both 98 and 101 talk about the freedoms found in the U.S. Constitution. Although there are those who interpret these to mean we must follow any and all laws, it only partly says that. We are to do everything we can to 1) follow those laws that are freedom based and 2) uphold (it doesn’t say only vote for) people who are honest, wise, and good.

    Any laws or people less than these come of evil. When the wicked rule, it goes on to say, the people mourn. A possible interpretation of this is that wicked people will be in positions of power within the U.S. Times when the wicked rule, 101 explains, there should be a full round of legal petitions, rather than any revolutionary actions. If these are exhausted then it is in the Lord’s hands to punish the nation. We all eventually know what happened in the 1860s the last time the Saints were persecuted.

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