Mosiah 18 and D&C 49

17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.

So simple and so sweet. I just like the feeling I get from this verse.

18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.
20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

I understand the point of not teaching things that aren't in the scriptures and things that the prophets say. But I wonder how energy work fits in. Some people in the church would undoubtedly think it's witchcraft or something else weird.

Verse 21 is one that everyone should have in their homes and cars and everywhere they need it. People forget and contention can sometimes be fun, in the form of gossiping, but that's the wrong sort of fun and it's never good.

22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.
23 And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God.

I give thanks all the time. Keeping the Sabbath holy is another thing. It's so much easier when Chris is around. I always want to do it, but the action isn't there. I skip church. I try not to spend money, but there are times when I do. I don't plan well and need gas, or diapers, or milk or something. This is something to work on. When Chris and I are together things are so much easier, when he's gone I can find all kids of excuses to do what I want.

24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.
25 And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together.
26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God.
27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.
28 And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.

Hello? Everyone listening? This is what we should all be doing. I wish people would just do it of their own free will. Those that have a ton of resources could help those with nothing. Those of us what are comfortable, but maybe not extremely rich, can still help out a huge amount. If everyone did this we wouldn't need crappy government programs that don't work.


D&C 49

12 Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus, who was on the earth, and is to come, the beginning and the end;
13 Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the holy commandment, for the remission of sins;
14 And whoso doeth this shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of the hands of the elders of the church.
15 And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man.

This makes me wonder who is forbidding people to be married. I know only of the gay marriage stuff. Other than that I don't really know what this is about.

16 Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation;
17 And that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made.

Sound familiar? I tested up these verses before.. Must really need to hear about it.

18 And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God;
19 For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance.
20 But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.
21 And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.

Again, this goes back to the scriptures above that make me think of people with excess who should share with those who have little. I read a story once of a girl who would make a bunch of sandwiches every Saturday to hand out to the homeless. I've also thought that we should have a stack of $1s in the car to hand out to people in need, you always see them with signs. Or you could carry crackers or fruit around for them or something. It feels good to help in any way. And you often get REAL gratitude in return.

22 And again, verily I say unto you, that the Son of Man cometh not in the form of a woman, neither of a man traveling on the earth.
23 Wherefore, be not deceived, but continue in steadfastness, looking forth for the heavens to be shaken, and the earth to tremble and to reel to and fro as a drunken man, and for the valleys to be exalted, and for the mountains to be made low, and for the rough places to become smooth—and all this when the angel shall sound his trumpet.

I know this says to look forward to this, but it still sounds scary to me.

24 But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose.
25 Zion shall flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled together unto the place which I have appointed.

Is this Missouri? Or Utah? Also, what does Jacob flourishing in the wilderness mean? Lamanites blossoming, does that mean Mexico, Central and South America are going to start doing really well?

What do you think?