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ICEBREAKER
For an icebreaker, I like to do the following object lesson. What you’ll need is two rolls of toilet paper, a paint roller, duct tape, and a leaf blower. What you do is place one of the rolls of toilet paper onto the paint roller and then you duct tape the handle to the end of the leaf blower, like this. In class, you explain that the roll represents your life. The leaf blower represents the winds adversity or trial. Then you ask if they have ever felt like life did this to them. Then switch on the leaf blower. What will happen is that it will start to unravel and fly out in a large stream across the room. It really is something to see. When the roll is completely unraveled, turn off the leaf blower and ask them to raise their hands if they can relate. Do they ever feel like their life just falls apart with things get rough? Now we’re going to try something a little different. Our Heavenly Father does not want us to come apart or our faith to fail when the winds of adversity blow. Therefore, he has given us some truths and principles to help us keep it together and hang on through difficult and challenging life experiences. At that point you pull out a large piece of duct tape and wrap it around the second roll of toilet paper. Place it on the paint roller and explain that if we understand and apply these truths, then when the winds of adversity blow (then you switch on the leaf blower again) they will not unravel our faith. Now with the duct tape securely wrapped around the roll, the leaf blower will not be able to unravel it. Sections 121-123 is going to provide us with some tape, so that the next time we face the winds of adversity, we’ll be able to keep it together. Now I hope that doesn’t sound like too lighthearted of an activity for a very serious lesson and you shouldn’t ham it up too much as you do the demonstration, but the theme of these sections is heavy and perhaps it helps to start out just a little light before you dig into the more sobering elements of this dark period in the prophet’s life. Still, by the end of these sections, Joseph’s mood changes completely from cheerless to cheerful.
If that object lesson isn’t your cup of tea, or milk, then you could try this alternate idea. I put the following phrase with blanks up on the screen or board and tell them that there are four different possible combinations of placing the words good and bad in those blanks. Let’s try each possible combination and see if they’re true and how you feel about each.
So we could put “Good things happen to good people.” Is that true? Yes. It is true. Does it bother you at all? Nope, it doesn’t bother me. It sounds fair. I don’t think any of us have any trouble with good things happening to good people
How about this one “Bad things happen to bad people.” Is that true? Yes. Does it bother you? That doesn’t bother me. That sounds like justice. That sounds like the natural order of things.
How about “Good things happen to bad people.” Is that true? Yes. Does that bother you? Mmm, maybe a little. Sometimes we may hear of evil or bad people reaping benefits from their badness or experiencing easier lives, but I can at least still stomach that idea. God is not always going to cause bad things to happen to the bad.
How about this last one? “Bad things happen to good people”. Is that true? Yes. Does that bother you? This is the one that seems to be the hardest to swallow. This fact of life will challenge the faith of many in a kind and loving God. This is what is sometimes referred to as the “problem of pain.” It just doesn’t seem fair. And I’m sure we’ve all seen examples of this in our lives. Somebody that exemplifies this truth to me is my Aunt Kathy. In the matter of only about five years, her husband, her father, her daughter, her granddaughter, and her sister all died in separate accidents or sicknesses. And my Aunt Kathy is such a good person and has a deep and abiding faith. Why her? I think of my mom who died of cancer at a young age. Why? She was a great person. I know of a woman who is a devoted disciple of Christ, lived a righteous youth, married a returned missionary in the temple and then within a matter of years, her husband was unfaithful to her, and then he left the church, and her, and her children. That doesn’t seem fair. I think of a couple I know who wants more than anything to have children but can’t. I know of a very good man who loved to run and climb and play sports, who was in an accident, and is paralyzed now. I think of innocent children all around the world who suffer disease, abuse, or hunger. It’s an unfortunate truth, but we really do live in a world where bad things do happen to good and innocent people. And I’m sure that all of you can relate to this truth. I’m sure that you face your own challenges and difficulties in life. Is there anything that can help us through these dark times? Yes. I can’t think of any other place in the scriptures that offers more advice and truth on these matters in one place than sections 121-123.
BACKGROUND
Before we go any further, some brief historical background. The history of the church in the city of Far West is very short lived. It’s settled in 1836 and is gone by 1838. After the Saints are pushed out of Jackson County, they’re allowed to establish their own “Mormon” county of Caldwell just north of Independence. A number of different events will eventually lead to the siege and destruction of Far West and the arrest and “almost” execution of the prophet. This will be the time of the infamous “Extermination Order” which will lead to the complete removal of members of the church from the entire state of Missouri. This will be a time of great opposition from within and outside the Church and will eventually lead to one of the darkest experiences of the prophet’s entire life. Now he won’t executed, he’ll escape that fate. But he will be placed within the thick stone walls of Liberty Jail. When I visit the site of Far West in Missouri, which today is just open farmland in the middle of nowhere, to me, it’s a place of many different voices. I hear the voice of betrayal in Colonel George Hinkle saying, “Here general are the prisoners I agreed to deliver you”. I hear the voice of evil in the wolf-like howling of the Missouri mobs once Joseph and Hyrum are arrested. I hear the voice of fear in the pleading of Joseph Smith’s six-year-old son crying out “My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you?” I hear the voice of despair in Joseph calling out with tears as he pushes his hands through the cover of the wagon, he’s being held captive into his mother and sobbing, “God bless you Mother”. I hear the voice of loyalty as Lyman Wight is told that he will be shot for not testifying against the prophet and hearing him reply “shoot and be damned”. I hear the voice of courage in General Alexander Doniphan saying, “It is cold-blooded murder. I will not obey your order. . . .and if you execute these men, I will hold you responsible before an earthly tribunal, so help me God.” And then, of course I hear Joseph calling out in the depths of the dungeon called Liberty Jail as he prays, “O God, where art thou?” Liberty Jail is the site where we will spend the rest of our lesson. You may want to spend a little time describing the conditions Joseph and the other brethren faced while incarcerated there. I will often show a clip from the church movie “Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration” time stamp 43:27 to 46:25 (Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration) that depicts Joseph in Liberty Jail. I’ll provide a link in the video description. The dungeon of the jail was only 14 by 14 feet and six men had to share that claustrophobic space for four and half months during the middle of winter. With only a pail in the corner for a bathroom you can imagine the stench. The prison was cold and when they built a fire to try and keep warm the room would fill with smoke. They slept on the cold floor with a little straw and a few blankets. The food was terrible, scanty, and spoiled. And besides all that, they would receive reports of the sufferings of the Saints outside. Perhaps that was the hardest thing for Joseph to endure. To know that his band of followers and family were facing these things outside, and he could do nothing at all to help them was perhaps the hardest part of the ordeal. Yet, from within the walls of that dismal pit, will come some of the most sublime revelations and words of comfort ever written.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
As we study sections 121-123, I want to make sure that we put ourselves in a position to liken the scriptures to our lives. The lesson will be much more meaningful if we draw a comparison to what the prophet is experiencing to ourselves. I remember listening to a presentation to seminary teachers by a member of the Church correlation department where he counseled us that we should not refer to trials as “Gethsemane’s”. That this was not an appropriate or accurate comparison. I agree with that counsel. None of us, no matter how dark our lives get, will ever come close to experiencing what Christ experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. He’s the only one that has or ever will have, a Gethsemane. However, we do have Liberty Jails. We too will probably all experience very dark times in our lives that will cause us to cry out as Joseph does, “O God, where art thou?” The death of a loved one, the physical pain of accident or disease, abuse, disappointment, divorce, betrayal, loneliness, mental and emotional health challenges, crisis of faith, victimization at the hands of the agency of others, and many, many other possible difficulties that people of faith may encounter in this life.
THE TONE
That “O God, where art thou?” of Joseph’s is a sobering question. Now I don’t believe that that’s evidence of a lack of faith in Joseph, but an indication of the depth of his struggle. You may want to explain to your class that sections 121-123 are actually portions of a letter that Joseph Smith wrote from Liberty Jail. Not all of the content of those letters was canonized. Only portions of it were selected. It’s incredibly enlightening and insightful to read the letter in its entirety. For example, how do you imagine the tone of Joseph’s initial question? Usually, I hear it read or quoted with a sad, melancholic, or soft tone. “O God, where art thou?” But if you were to add the paragraphs of the letter that precede that question, you might read it differently. Allow me to read it for you here and see if you get a different sense of the tone. I know this is a lengthy quote, but I feel it’s important to read it all to get the feel of that question. And then I’ll just continue that quote right into section 121 until verse 6. Joseph writes:
“Neither is it needful that you say unto us we are driven from our homes and smitten without cause. We mutually understand that if the inhabitants of the state of Missouri had let the saints alone and had been as desirable of peace as they were there would have been nothing but peace and quietude in this state unto this day. We should not have been in this hell surrounded with demons if not those who are damned, they are those who shall be damned and where we are compelled to hear nothing but blasphemous oaths and witness a scene of blasphemy and drunkenness and hypocrisy and debaucheries of every description. And again the cries of orphans and widows would not have ascended up to God. the blood of innocent women and children yea and of men also would not have cried to God against them. It would not have stained the soil of Missouri. But oh! the unrelenting hand the inhumanity and murderous disposition of this people. It shocks all nature. It beggars and defies all description. It is a tale of wo. A lamentable tale. Yea a sorrowful tale. Too much to tell too much for contemplation too much to think of for a moment too much for human beings it cannot be found among the heathens it cannot be found among the nations where Kings and tyrants are enthroned it cannot be found among the savages of the wilderness yea and I think it cannot be found among the wild and ferocious beasts of the forest that a man should be mangled for sport women be robed of all that they have their last morsel for subsistence and then be violated to gratify the hellish desires of the mob and finally left to perish with their helpless offspring clinging around their necks but this is not all after a man is dead he must be dug up from his grave and mangled to pieces for no other purpose than to gratify their spleen against the religion of God. They practice these things upon the saints who have done them no wrong who are innocent and virtuous who loved the Lord their god and were willing to forsake all things for Christ sake these things are awful to relate but they are verily true it must needs be that offenses come, but WO! to them by whom they come.
1 O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?
2 How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?
3 Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?
4 O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.
5 Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.
6 Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.
Now that’s the introduction to Joseph’s question. It’s not sorrowful pleading. It’s bewilderment. This is Joseph at the end of his rope calling out with perplexed urgency. How could you let this happen to your people, God? To such good people. It’s not right. It’s not fair. They have sacrificed and given so much. Enough is enough! How can you forsake them? When are you going to do something about it?
Have you ever prayed that kind of prayer? Have you ever asked Joseph’s question from the depth of your own Liberty Jails? If you have, what comes next can really help. The Lord will answer Joseph’s prayer, and in that answer, we’re going to find many truths that will aid us in our own times of adversity.
Before we look at that answer in verse 7, it’s important to realize that there is a paragraph in the letter that comes between verses 6 and 7. The answer doesn’t come immediately. In that state of distress and anxiety and beseeching, do you think it would be possible for Joseph to receive a clear message from the still, small, voice? Not likely. In that state, his heart wasn’t ready for an answer yet. So what got him to that point? Here’s more from the letter and then like before, I’ll just continue into the canonized portion up to verse 10:
“We received some letters last evening—one from Emma, one from Don C. Smith [Joseph’s brother], and one from Bishop [Edward] Partridge—all breathing a kind and consoling spirit. We were much gratified with their contents. We had been a long time without information; and when we read those letters they were to our souls as the gentle air is refreshing, but our joy was mingled with grief, because of the sufferings of the poor and much injured Saints. And we need not say to you that the floodgates of our hearts were lifted and our eyes were a fountain of tears, but those who have not been enclosed in the walls of prison without cause or provocation, can have but little idea how sweet the voice of a friend is; one token of friendship from any source whatever awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling; it brings up in an instant everything that is past; it seizes the present with the avidity [eagerness] of lightning; it grasps after the future with the fierceness of a tiger; it moves the mind backward and forward, from one thing to another, until finally all enmity, malice and hatred, and past differences, misunderstandings and mismanagements are slain victorious at the feet of hope. and when the heart is sufficiently contrite then the voice of inspiration steals along and whispers:
(History of the Church, 3:293; spelling modernized; from a letter from Joseph Smith and others to Edward Partridge and the Church, Mar. 20, 1839, Liberty Jail, Liberty, Missouri.)
7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
9 Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.
10 Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.
Do you sense a difference there in tone? He’s cooled down a lot, hasn’t he? What happened between the prayer and the answer? What made the difference? It was “tokens of friendship”. Messages of love and support from his wife, his brother, and his bishop. That’s what made the difference. Can you see a principle there? Is there something in that, that can help us through our Liberty Jails?
When you face adversity, turn to your friends, family, and priesthood leaders for help. They can comfort you, guide you, and support you. There is no need to face these things completely on your own. Reach out to them! This is also good advice to those who want to know what they can do when they see someone else that is suffering. Be there for them. Give them the “tokens of friendship and kindness”. This may calm and soothe them enough to put them in a state where the Lord can counsel and comfort them.
SEARCH
What is that counsel? So many good things to look at here. Invite your students to study quietly the following verses looking for truths that can help us through our Liberty Jails. You don’t need to do much more than that. The power of these verses speak for themselves. You could also count your students off as one’s, two’s, and three’s and have them study their assigned verses to shorten the study time needed. After they have had sufficient time to study, invite them to share the phrases and verses that meant the most to them. This can spark some beautiful and meaningful discussion in your classroom.
1. 121:7-10
2. 122:5-9
3. 123:11-17
If you feel your students might need a little more help, let me give you an alternate idea you could use. You could also approach it as a handout with a number of phrases already separated and emphasized. The “Learning from Liberty” study sheet can also help your students understand these truths.
No matter what way you do it, let’s take a look at some of these phrases together.
121: 7 My son
It’s important to remember that God is our Father, and he knows us. He is familiar with our struggles and hears our prayers. Though the answer and solution to our struggles may not always come at the time we want them, he hears and knows. Your prayers will not fall on deaf ears.
121:7 Peace be unto thy soul.
There is a hymn we sing called. Where Can I turn for Peace/ Do you remember the answer to that query? He, only one. When you struggle, seek for peace not only from friends and family, but from the Godhead as well. We can find peace in God, peace in Christ, and peace in the Holy Ghost. They can comfort you and give you answers to your prayers.
121:7 Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment
Something that can help us through our trials is to realize that they won’t last forever. All suffering has an end. Even Jesus Christ was able to utter those three beautiful words on the cross from the depths of the greatest suffering any man has ever undergone, “It is finished”. There will come a when we will all be able to say, “It is finished.” That blessing may come sooner or later, or even in the next life, but it will come. And as we look back on our trials, with an eternal perspective, we will also come to the conclusion that “it was but a small moment”.
121:8 Endure it well
More often than not, in the midst of our difficulties, that is the answer we’re going to receive from our Heavenly Father. I’m sure we’d all prefer to have him resolve our problems. But often his answer to us is “Endure your trials.” The only way out is through. I think it’s important that he adds the word “well” to that phrase. No matter who we are, or how much or little faith we have, we all have to endure our trials. But do we endure them well is the question. What does it mean to endure our trials well? Verse 29 in the same section might help us out a little.
29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So we must endure valiantly. I think that means to suffer with patience, with faith, and maybe even, if possible, with a positive attitude and a sense of spiritual maturity. Not kicking and screaming, threatening, and fuming.
121:9 Thy friends do stand by thee
This goes well with what we discussed earlier with the letter. Friendship is one of the greatest helps in our times of need. No wonder we have families and Ward’s to help support us when things go wrong.
We don’t have to face our troubles alone. People will stand by you and help you if you reach out to them.
121:10 Thou art not yet as Job
The message here is to consider that there are others that probably do have it harder or worse than we do. I’ll admit that that’s not super comforting, but perspective can help alleviate our trials. Maybe you’ve heard someone complain about something very superficial and small. You know that some perspective and sense of proportion might change the nature of their suffering. I know that I complained about some very inconsequential things before I served my mission in Brazil. But when I saw the trials and hardships that other people faced, it completely changed my perspective. I realized that my trials were not as big or difficult as they seemed. In fact, I know that I even complained about things that weren’t even trials, but blessings. It’s important to develop a good sense of proportion when it comes to the size of our troubles. What may seem like a mountain to us, may really be a molehill in disguise. And maybe, some of the things we worry so much about are not as big as we think when viewed with an eternal perspective or in comparison with others. Perhaps we can ask God to help give us a portion of that perspective.
You’ve maybe heard this little quote before: I cried because I had not shoes, until I met the man who had no feet”. Unknown
Section 122 has this part I call the “IF’s.” I’m going to read through these verses and ask you to consider what is interesting about these “if’s” for Joseph Smith.
5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you?
(Wow! That’s oddly specific, isn’t it?)
and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit,
(What’s the pit? Liberty Jail is the pit. He’s in it, at that moment)
or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee,
What’s interesting about these “If’s?” These aren’t “If’s” to Joseph, are they. He’s experienced these things. This is reality for him. This is a perfect description of how Joseph is feeling at this time—like the very jaws of hell are gaping wide after him. And though all these things could and did happen, God reveals that:
122:7 All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good
There’s that familiar principle we’ve seen time and time again. God can take all that is negative and turn it into something good. Our trials can give us experience and strength if we allow them to. Trials are spiritual weightlifting. We come through them as more capable and qualified disciples. We learn from our trials. They teach us things about life, our relationships, and ourselves. They teach us humility. They teach us reliance on God. They teach us perspective.
Spencer W. Kimball once said:
“Being human, we would expel from our lives, sorrow, distress, physical pain, and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort. But if we closed the doors upon such, we might be evicting our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering,
and self-mastery. The sufferings of our Savior were part of his education.”
Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 168
C.S. Lewis said the following:
“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
That may not be the most comforting of thoughts while in the midst of our sufferings, but this truth cannot be denied. Trials teach, in time.
Our next phrase:
122:8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
This is a reminder that Jesus suffered not only for our sins, but he also felt our pains and sicknesses and afflictions as well. Alma taught us that back in Alma 7. And why would Jesus do that? It makes sense to me that for the plan to work, that a sinless mediator needed to step in and meet the demands of justice in order for mercy to be extended. But why did Jesus feel my pains, and sorrows and afflictions too? That doesn’t necessarily take them away from me. I still have to endure them. What does his suffering do for me?
Alma 7:12 explains:
“that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”
Succor means to rescue or to run to help them. This suffering gave Jesus the power of perfect empathy. When I suffer, I might call out “Nobody understands what I’m going through”. To which Jesus responds. “Oh no, my child. I understand. And that “I understand” is different than any other “I understand” you might hear. It’s not an “I understand” of someone who has experienced something similar or from someone who imagines what your trials might be like. But an “I understand” of someone who has been through your exact pain and sorrow. Nobody understands your trials like Christ does. And I think that fact can help. That means that he can help you in the exact way you need to be helped. If you turn to him. He can succor or run to help you with perfect understanding. We may be tempted, in the depths of our sufferings to feel that we have hit the bottom--that we could not sink any lower in life or suffering. Verse 8 reminds us that someone has gone deeper. There is one who descended below them all—all human suffering. And there, at the bottom of all things, we find a foundation. A rock to rest on. I once heard someone say that when you hit rock bottom, remember who the rock is. That rock is Christ. He is a base to draw strength from. A foundation from which to build.
122:9. Hold on thy way
So keep going. Hang in there. Endure it well. I love this old proverb from the American West: “When you get to the end of your rope. Tie a knot and hang on”.
122:9 The priesthood shall remain with thee
That is something that nobody can take away from us. God’s authority and power remains with us. Our access to priesthood help is always there. In our trials, we can turn to the priesthood. Your leaders, your parents, your bishops, your teachers. They can help! Ask for priesthood counsel. Ask for a priesthood blessing. They help! They don’t normally remove our trials, but they can certainly strengthen our backs to bear them and provide us with counsel on how to endure them well.
122:9 Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less.
God knows our destiny and what we absolutely must accomplish in our mortal lives to fulfill his work. I love something that President Joseph Fielding Smith once said:
"May I say for the consolation of those who mourn, and for the comfort and guidance of all of us, that no righteous [person] is ever taken before [their] time"
Joseph Fielding Smith
(address at the funeral of Elder Richard L. Evans, 4 Nov. 1971, 1)
If we remain on God’s path, we can rest assured that no matter what happens to us, our days will not be numbered less.
122:9 Fear not what man can do
We don’t need to be afraid of the acts and agency of others. They may hurt us. They may hinder our progress. They may make our lives very difficult. They may limit our freedom. But they cannot take away our righteousness, our faith, our priesthood, or our agency to choose how we will react to that situation. We are free to choose righteousness, no matter what happens to us.
122:9 God shall be with you forever and ever.
Once again, remember that we do not need to walk the path of adversity alone. God walks with us. Even when we may not realize it. Even Jesus received help from an angel who strengthened him in the Garden of Gethsemane.
I know many of you are familiar with the poem “Footprints in the Sand” where a man has a dream where he is walking on the beach of his life, and he notices that there are two sets of footprints as he walks. His and the Saviors. But then he notices that during the darkest times of his life that there is only one set of footprints in the sand and he objects in frustration. This is when the Lord reveals that it was at those times that he carried him. Well as beautiful as that thought is, I like Isaiah’s version of footprints even better. He says:
Isaiah 46:3-4
3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
In Isaiah’s version, there is always only one set of footprints. He carries us from the womb to old age. God can be with us always, forever, and ever.
123:11-16 Waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness
Another message that will help us in our trials comes from section 123. There is something God wants Joseph and the members of the Church to do in the midst of their suffering and persecution:
11 And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart—
12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—
13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—
14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.
15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.
16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.
From that passage, you really get a sense of the urgency of the great work of the gospel. Imperative duty? Waste and wear out your life. Great earnestness. Let no man count them as small things. What is it that we should waste and wear out our lives doing? Teaching others the truth. There are so many out there who are only kept from the truth because they just don’t know where to find it. The whole first part of section 123 talks about all the lies and deceptions and persecutions of the devil and his servants. So, do missionary work. Do the work of shining the light of truth into dark places. Do all you can to neutralize the effect of the devil’s deceits. That is a work that is worthy of wasting and wearing out our lives for. And how does that help us in our trials? When we fully engage in the work of teaching the truth, our trials and challenges can be minimized. The Lord compares that work to the helm or the steering mechanism of a ship. A rudder is a very small part of a ship comparative to its overall bulk, but it determines the very direction in which the rest of the boat travels. Service can help us to stay workways with the winds and storms of adversity. One of the best remedies to want is work. One of the best ways to alleviate our own suffering is to seek to alleviate the suffering of others. I love the example of Jesus on the cross in this. Almost everything he says while hanging on the cross is focused outward. Of all the people in the world who could have used comfort and concern at that moment, it would be Jesus. But it’s Jesus that is showing all the concern for others. His mother, the thief crucified next to him, even the soldiers who had just driven nails into his hands and feet. Jesus always focused outward, even in the depth of some of his greatest pain.
President Gordon B Hinckley told the story of the time when he found himself very discouraged while serving his mission in Preston England. It got so bad for the young Hinckley that he eventually wrote a letter home to his father explaining that he wished to come home. “I’m wasting my time and your money by being here,” he wrote. His father sent back a short telegram with a brief but potent message. He said, “Gordon, I have only one suggestion: Forget yourself and go to work.” That message was all he needed. Gordon B Hinckley did go to work, and he never stopped working for the salvation of his fellow man until his dying day.
When we suffer, it is so natural for us to turn inward and focus on our problems. One of the greatest solutions to this is to instead turn outwards. This attitude can really help to keep us steady through the storms.
And that leads us to our final verse and idea:
123:17 Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
I love that, “let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power”. That is one of the greatest secrets to dealing with opposition. Focus on the things that you can actually do something about. When it comes to our trials, there are some things that we can control, and some things we cannot. It doesn’t make any sense to spend a lot of time worrying about things that are beyond our power. We cannot control the agency of others, we cannot control the things that happen to us, we cannot control the weather, we cannot control what other people think about us. What can we control? Our own actions, our own thoughts, our own words.
You may be familiar with the serenity prayer.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
TRUTH
Now, I know that was a lot. I told you that this has more advice for adversity than anywhere else I can think of. But if we take all of these phrases that we’ve looked at today and put them into a principle framework and add the When’s and Then’s you can find in these sections, we come up with a principle chart that looks something like this.
WHEN
It seems that God is nowhere to be found (121:1)
I’ve been wronged (121:2)
I cry (121:2)
I suffer wrongs and unlawful oppressions (121:3)
My enemies persecute me (121:5)
I am called to pass through tribulations, and perils (122:5)
The very jaws of hell gapes open the mouth wide after me (122:7)
IF
I remember that I am a child of God, and he hears me (121:7)
I seek for peace from Him (121:7)
I remember that my afflictions shall only be a small moment (121:7)
I endure my trials well (121:8)
I turn to friends and family (121:9)
I remember that there are others who have and do suffer more (121:10)
I remember that my trials will give me experience (122:7)
I turn to Christ who descended below all my trials (122:8)
I hold on my way (122:9)
I rely on the priesthood (122:9)
I fear not what man can do (122:9)
I waste and wear out my life in bringing light to dark places (123:11-16)
I cheerfully do all things that lie in my power (123:17)
THEN
I will have peace (121:7)
God will exalt me on high (121:8)
I will triumph over all my foes (121:8)
My friends will hail me with warm hearts and friendly hands (121:9)
God can cause good things to come from my trials (122:7)
My days will not be numbered less (122:9)
God will be with me forever and ever (122:9)
I will see the salvation of God and his arm will be revealed in my life (123:17)
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
When has one of these truths helped you through a “Liberty Jail” experience? Please share.
CONCLUSION
I love how we began the Liberty Jail sections with an “O God, where art thou?” and we’ve ended with “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power. And then may we stand still and see the salvation of God”. What a transition, what a maturing, what a change. We’ve come a long way from the beginning of 121 to the end of 123. By the end of his letter you can tell that Joseph is feeling a lot better about things, isn’t he? I hope that in our own Liberty Jails, we too will find that same beautiful reassurance and confidence in God’s love and power. May we “keep it together” when bad things happen to good people and remember that all things shall give us experience and be for our good. Dedicated discipleship is forged in the fires of tribulation. The strength of the strongest testimony trees out there are fortified by standing strong in the winds of adversity. I’ve heard people sometimes comment on the irony of the name “Liberty Jail”. It seems to be one of the greatest ironic contradiction of terms we’ve ever heard. But considering what occurred there and the powerful lessons that were learned, I honestly think that Liberty Jail is aptly named. It’s the place where Joseph learned the true meaning of liberty. They could put his mortal body in chains, they could fight against the Saints and hedge up their ways, but they could not chain his testimony and his connection with heaven. They could not bind his priesthood; they couldn’t stop his revelation. Within the dungeon of that jail, Joseph was freer than any of his guards or persecutors. Church leaders have even referred it as a temple-prison. Liberty Jail, indeed.
TWO MORE TRUTHS
There are two additional truths about adversity that I’d like to add here for our understanding from section 121. You may not have time to cover these in a class, but they’re worth taking a look at here.
121:11-25
Verses 11-25 all have a common theme to them. Here’s just a taste.
11 And they who do charge thee with transgression, their hope shall be blasted, and their prospects shall melt away as the hoar frost melteth before the burning rays of the rising sun;
13 Also because their hearts are corrupted, and the things which they are willing to bring upon others, and love to have others suffer, may come upon themselves to the very uttermost;
The message of comfort here might be that God promises those that suffer at the hands of others that justice will be served. If our suffering is the result of the agency of others, God will make all things right. Yes, he is a God of mercy, but he is also a God of justice.
As far as the mobs of Missouri are concerned, does this prophecy ever come true? Do the things that they were willing to bring upon others ever come upon themselves like verse 13 prophesies? Do the Missourians ever get justice? Yes. They will—and within the very next generation. Which state during the civil war do you think had the worst mob violence than anywhere else? Which state saw some of the bloodiest and most intense fighting? It was Missouri. If I were to show you the following picture from history, what would you guess it was depicting? You would probably say that it looks like the extermination order of members of the Church from Missouri. But you’d be wrong, this is a different event in Missouri’s history. Let me explain. During the Civil War years, since Missouri (and neighboring Kansas) were more frontier states, people from both the North and the South had settled there. Now Missouri never joins the Confederacy, so it is under Union control, but you had a lot of Southern sympathy there. So you had very intense division over pro-Union and pro-Confederacy groups. There were so many mobs, and militias, and guerilla style attacks in the region that the government back East didn’t really know what to do about it. They tried all sorts of measures to try and bring order to the region, but they all fail. At one point, a group of pro-confederate mobbers go over into Lawrence, Kansas, and massacre all the men and boys in the entire settlement and burn it to the ground. It’s at that point where the government throws up their hands and the Union Forces issue Order No. 11. What was order no. 11? It was an extermination order of sorts. Residents of certain counties in Northern Missouri were forced to evacuate. Guess which county is on the list? Jackson County. And the Union forces basically depopulate Northern Missouri. Homes and farms are burned and looted. Women and children are forced to walk for miles as they are driven out of the state. You can read historical accounts of this episode in American History, and you might wonder, “Are we talking about the Mormons here in 1838 or Missourians in 1860?” It’s almost the exact same scene—to the very uttermost. The point to me here, is that we reap what we sow. I don’t think that it’s even God that is specifically causing this calamity. You’ve often heard me say that I believe that we are more often punished by our sins than by them. Perhaps these scenes of violence and persecution are the natural outgrowth of a certain mentality. When the Saints were in Missouri, and the children of those mobs saw how their fathers treated those who believed things differently than they did. When there was a group that held different interests or political views from them, what was the example their fathers set? How do you deal with that situation? You fight them, you intimidate them, you burn their homes, attack them, drive them out at gunpoint. That’s how you deal with people that are different. So when it comes to the civil war and there are people on both sides of the conflict, what do they do? They do what they were taught. They fight, and intimidate, and burn and attack. Therefore, they bring those same kinds of scenes upon themselves. Had the Missourians established amongst themselves a culture of tolerance and civility and decided that they could disagree with each other on certain things, but that they weren’t going to mob and loot and kill each other, then years later, maybe things would have gone differently for them during the Civil War years. We reap what we sow.
121:26-33
Another section to consider. This all has a similar theme to it as well. See if you can pick it out. I’ll read a few verses here as well.
26 God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now;
29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
33 How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.
What can help us through our trials here? The promise of knowledge and revelation from heaven. God promises to teach us truth and give us guidance through our challenges. For me, it’s often during my hardest times that God seems pour out the most help and counsel and direction. And oh, I really love that last verse. Verse 33. It’s so visual. Can you picture that? How long can rolling waters remain impure. What an object lesson. If you were to stand next to a rushing river and you decided to throw a bucket of dirt or mud into it and laugh “Ha, ha, take that!” What would be the effect? Yes, the water might go dark and murky, but for how long? It would be mere seconds before those rolling waters cleared the muddy water out. Even if you dumped an entire truckload of dirt into the river, it too would wash away in a matter of minutes. The effect would be so inconsequential as to be laughable. That’s what revelation in the church is compared to. We are members of a “rolling waters” church. Yes, the enemy may succeed in muddying the waters, but for only a brief moment. I love the sport of canyoneering, and there are two different kinds of canyons you can go through. Dry canyons and canyons with running water. Dry canyons only have moving water during rain events but will often hold potholes and pools of water for a time. These pools become stagnant and dirty and really foul. Standing water can remain impure very easily. But in canyons with running water, the water is typically clear and clean and transparent. God’s church has rolling waters. His revelation and connection to his leaders is pure and clear.
The other image is great too. Highly comedic if you picture it. Can you imagine a man looking at the Missouri river and saying, “Somebody needs to stop this thing!” And so he wades in and stretches forth his puny arm and commands it to turn back. You’d have people rolling on the floor laughing if that man seriously thought he could have any effect on that movement of that river. Again, that’s revelation in the Church of Jesus Christ. We can say to our persecutors, “Good luck trying to stop it! Many have tried, all have failed.” You can see how this might be a comforting message to Joseph Smith. It may have seemed at that time that the adversary was pushing back the progress of the church—that they were succeeding in obstructing God’s work. In reality, this Missouri, Liberty Jail period was just a brief muddying of rolling waters. It would not be successful in destroying the church. Instead, the church did and has continued to flow forward with incredible speed and purity from that time until the present. Our adversaries, our antagonists, our persecutors, our trials, and circumstances even, cannot stop the flow of revelation.
And as if to immediately prove his point, the Lord then directly launches into one of the most powerful and meaningful revelations on priesthood leadership anywhere in scriptures. Right there in the next verse until the end of the section. It’s as if he’s saying, “Ok Missouri mobs, you think you can stop my church? You think you can hinder revelation and truth from being poured out upon the heads of my people? You think that placing my prophet in a dungeon of stone walls can block my connection and communication with him? Nice try. Good effort. Now, just look at what kind of revelation I can give my prophet even in the depths of his darkest hour. Go ahead and stretch forth your puny arm. That powerful outpouring of revelation on priesthood is what we’ll deal with now.
D&C 121:34-46 PRIESTHOOD POWER
ICEBREAKER
As an icebreaker, there are two brief activities I like to do. I bring in a lamp and I ask a student to come forward and turn it on. Before class though, I do a number of things to make that task a bit more challenging. So I make sure that it’s switch is in the off position, I unplug it, I have a power strip that it plugs into that is also unplugged and switched off, and I untwist the light bulb a bit so that it needs to be screwed in, in order to work. That last detail is one that is most often overlooked. Once the student is able to figure out all the different obstacles, the light turns on. I then explain that the moral of the story is that things must be connected properly in order for power to flow. Well, priesthood is power—a form of Godly power, but it follows that same principle. I then give my students this little handout and ask them to label the different parts of the diagram in the way that they see how priesthood power works compared to electricity. How would they label it and why?
So you have:
God
Priesthood
Righteousness
Priesthood Holder
Miracles and Blessings
I always try to be careful about giving my students the impression that there is one right and wrong answer to things like this. I just encourage them to share the way that they see it and be able to explain why, and then I share the way that I see it and why.
Here’s how I would label it. The outlet is God. Because God is the source of the power. The electricity itself is the priesthood. The Priesthood holder is the lamp, or the object through which the power can be used. And the light that is produced is miracles and blessings. But what is the switch? The Principles of Righteousness.
TRANSITION
That switch is what we’re going to focus on now. God is going to teach us how His power can be used and handled. The proclamation on the family teaches us that “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families . . .” But I think sometimes we put a period at the end of that sentence in our minds. That there is some divine right that men have to preside because they’re men. Uh no. It doesn’t work like that. That sentence continues and says: “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” In other words, you brethren have the right to preside ONLY by righteousness. This also applies to church leadership positions. Section 121 is going to explain this truth in detail. It will show us how a man of God, presides with the priesthood.
God begins this section by revealing that there are two types of priesthood bearers. What are they in verse 34?
34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
You can be a “called” priesthood bearer, or a “chosen” priesthood bearer. Does being ordained to priesthood office automatically give you access to the power and authority of God? No. There is a switch, and just like our lamp example at the beginning, if certain things are not in order, the power of God will not flow through us. A “called” priesthood holder may have all the pieces in place. Somebody may have, at one point, put their hands on his head and conferred the priesthood on them. But if certain things are out of order, as it says a little later, “Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man”. A “chosen” priesthood holder, however, has the switch on and everything in place. This is the kind of priesthood holder that can preside in love and righteousness, and exercise priesthood power, and bring about miracles and blessings.
What is the switch between being called and being chosen? Verse 36:
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
The switch is “the principles of righteousness”.
SEARCH
With that as an introduction, I now want to send you into this section for a little bit of personal study. As a teacher I like to do this marking activity. Make sure you have four different marking pencil colors to work with. Now go into verses 34-46 and read slowly and carefully, marking the following four ideas as you go.
In one color: Mark the attitudes and actions that switch priesthood power off. This would be “Called” priesthood authority.
In another color. Mark the consequences for having those attitudes and actions.
In another color: Mark the attitudes and actions that switch priesthood power on. This would be “Chosen” priesthood authority, OR, the principles of righteousness.
And in our final color: Mark the blessings that come from using priesthood authority in a “chosen” way.
When they’re finished, you can invite them to share what they marked.
CALLED AUTHORITY
Let’s go over some of the things that they might find. What attitudes and actions switch priesthood power off?
:35 When our hearts get set so much upon the things of this world. Materialism and an obsession with worldly things will switch the power off.
:35 When I aspire to the honors of men. Getting wrapped up in worldly accolades and the praise of the world will also switch the power off. There is a difference between priesthood and priestcraft. Priesthood aspires to the honors of God and draws attention to Him. Priestcraft aspires to the honors of men and draws attention to self.
:37 When we undertake to cover our sins. This is the Adam and Eve reaction. They cover themselves with fig leaves and hide when God comes, after they’ve partaken of the forbidden fruit. Fig leaves don’t make a very good covering and thinking you can hide from God is just silly. When they finally recognize this and confess, then God gives them a real covering, his own covering: the forgiveness that comes through the power of the atonement. We lose priesthood power when we attempt to cover our sins, rather than confessing them and overcoming them through the atonement. It’s not that priesthood holders won’t ever have sins. It’s how they deal with them that makes the difference.
:37 When I seek to gratify my pride. When I think I’m a pretty big deal. When I want others to look at me and admire me and think I’m amazing. When I lord it over others because, hey, I’m the president, or the bishop, or the dad, or the Man, that will switch it off.
:37 When I have vain ambition. Same idea here. My vanity sneaks in and I have ambition to be in charge. I’m going to climb the ladder. I aspire to priesthood office or calling and think I deserve it.
:37 And then, when I seek to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in ANY degree of unrighteousness. That’s the world’s way of exercising authority. You do what I say, because I’m in charge, because I’m the boss. Because if you don’t do it, I will threaten you and punish you, and intimidate you. That is not God’s way of leadership.
What are the results of trying to exercise priesthood power in this way?
:36 They cannot control or handle the powers of heaven.
:37 the heavens withdraw themselves, the Spirit of the Lord is grieved, and Amen to the priesthood and authority of that man. I love the way that’s expressed. Amen to your authority. It’s gone. It’s over. If you continue to try to exercise authority, you can rest assured that power and authority you’re using is not coming from God. Where is it coming from?
:38 We are left unto yourself. We’re on our own now. We don’t have the backing of heaven nor its stamp of approval on our actions. No one is obliged to honor or comply with that kind of authority.
:38 We are now left to kick against the pricks. Like kicking a cactus with bare feet. We think we may be showing the cactus whose boss, but we are the ones that will end up hurt.
:38 Our authority now becomes persecution
:38 and we are fighting against God. I promise you that is a fight we cannot win. It’s like an elementary school child in the boxing ring with a heavyweight champion. The winner of that fight is a foregone conclusion.
Then we have this gem of an observation:
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
And isn’t that the truth. How many dictators, tyrants, domineering husbands, abusive fathers, power hungry bosses, and prideful apostates have proven that verse to be true. This is not how the power of God works.
CHOSEN AUTHORITY
The world seeks to lead by ambition, pride, compulsion, and worldly honors. How does leadership in God’s kingdom work though? Let’s switch colors now to something a little more positive. What are the principles of righteousness? What are the attitudes and actions of a “chosen” priesthood leader?
:41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion,
I’m fascinated by the fact that this is the first principle of righteousness. This is leadership. I don’t lead by compulsion or dominion but by persuasion. I seek to persuade people to do things in a certain way. There’s a big difference. It’s not “Do this thing because I say so, because I’m in charge”. True priesthood leadership says “Do this thing, because I promise you that it is what will be best for you. Here are all the reasons why this is a good idea.” I try to persuade you into a certain course of action.
Then we have
:41 long-suffering, (that would be another word for patience) I don’t fly off the handle. I’m not easily provoked. I work with those I lead patiently and understandingly.
:41-42 by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness. Think of Christ here. This is how he led. He was not a conquering commander riding in on his warhorse. He was a gentle master, a teacher, riding in on a donkey. Think of the brethren. The first presidency and quorum of the twelve apostles. Gentle. Meek. Loving. Kind men. This is the kind of leadership we wish to reflect.
:42 and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul
Chosen priesthood authority acts and motivates with pure knowledge. That would be another term for revelation. They aren’t “left to themselves” and teach their own ideas and throw their own weight around. They rely on God’s knowledge and are guided by heaven through real revelation.
:42 without hypocrisy, and without guile (or deceit). True priesthood leaders strive to practice what they preach. They don’t seek to cover their sins with hypocrisy and deceit.
Here’s an interesting one.
:43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
Yes, a chosen priesthood bearer may have to reprove, or correct, or chasten, or rebuke at times. Betimes in this context means “early” or “when appropriate”. True leadership must have the courage to correct as well. Even Jesus did this. Priesthood bearers are not doormats. They are not pleading, feeble, jelly fish. They also are known to correct and reprove. But they must reprove in a certain way. There are reproving rules. It must be done with sharpness. I don’t think that means with anger or impatience. Sharpness has more than one definition. It also means with clarity and with truth. Old television sets used to have a little knob that would allow you to adjust the picture. Sharpness was one of those knobs. It adjusted the clarity of the picture. So when we reprove with sharpness, we are doing it as precisely and clearly as possible. It’s not done with railing accusation, and self-righteousness, and outrage. Also, we reprove with the truth. Truth is often symbolized by a sword in the scriptures. A sharp sword. I correct and reprove by persuading and teaching the truth. You can see a great example of this in Alma 39 where Alma reproves his son Corianton with the truth. Another reproving rule, it must be done only when moved upon by the Holy Ghost. It isn’t your decision to reprove, but the Spirits. The Spirit knows when it is justified and necessary. And then, after the rebuke, showing forth an increase of love. Don’t forget that last step. Sometimes we just want to do the sharp reproving. But even that will be ineffective if there is no increase of love afterwards. Your faithfulness towards them must be demonstrated.
The chosen priesthood bearer has
:45 bowels that are full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith,
Now charity is a topic that could add an entire new list of words to cover. You could go to Moroni 7 for those if you want to get specific. But to keep things simple. Charity is the pure love of Christ. A chosen priesthood leader strives to lead and love like Christ did in all ways. And not only towards the household of faith (the members of the church) but to all men.
:45 Finally: A chosen priesthood bearer lets virtue garnish their thoughts unceasingly.
They have virtuous thoughts and intentions and motivations.
If we strive to exercise priesthood power in this way, then God promises us some great blessings. Our final color:
:45 Then our confidence will wax strong in the presence of God. That’s a great thing. I’ll be able to preside and lead with confidence. Gentleness, meekness, and kindness really can be coupled with confidence at the same time. I can lead, and preside, and persuade, and even reprove with confidence, because I’ll know that it’s not really my own will that’s beings exercised but God’s.
and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.
Such a beautiful promise. I love the phrases “distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven”, and “without compulsory means it shall flow”.
We want power and authority that distils upon and flows through us. Without compulsion. It’s not forced, it comes naturally from God and is coupled with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This kind of leadership is the kind that generates love, and respect, and admiration, and loyalty from those they lead and preside over.
TRUTH
There are so many different truths that we’ve been taught from this but to simplify it a bit, I might just say:
Priesthood power can only be exercised with righteousness.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
This might be a good point to ask if anyone would like to share an example of someone they see as a “chosen” priesthood bearer and how they have been blessed by their leadership.
This could also be a good place to show a little video. This is one of those oldies but goodies from the seminary video canon. It’s really well done and does an amazing job of reviewing these principles of priesthood power and likening them to ourselves. It’s called “The Powers of Heaven” (The Powers of Heaven) and I’ll provide you with a link to it in the video description below.
You may also want to ask. Which of the principles of righteousness do you most need to work on at this time? What specifically do you plan to do to better develop that principle?
CONCLUSION
Well, just think of all the books and seminars and presentations that have been produced over the years on leadership. It’s got to be one of the most saturated subjects out there. As great as many of those things are, I don’t think any can really hold a candle to what we just learned about leadership in these 13 short verses. Something that we must frequently ask ourselves is “Am I connected to the source?” Priesthood power can only be handled and controlled upon the principles of righteousness. Full stop.
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