Come Follow Me a Podcast

Here Erin shared her thoughts over the last few months and plans for the future, including references to the Old Testament and also her family's relocation.   She also shares some spiritual insights and stories that have taught her to be even more grateful than ever for the gift of the Spirit in her life, giving her the courage to keep her covenants despite challenges. 

Less than two years after the Church of Jesus Christ was restored, it had grown to over 2,000 members and was spreading quickly. In March 1832 Joseph Smith met with other Church leaders “to discuss Church business”: the need to publish revelations, purchase land to gather on, and care for the poor (see Doctrine and Covenants 78, section heading). To meet these needs, the Lord called on a small number of Church leaders to form the United Firm, a group that would join their efforts to “advance the cause” of the Lord (verse 4) in these areas. But even in such administrative matters, the Lord focused on the things of eternity. Ultimately, the purpose of a printing press or a storehouse—like everything else in God's kingdom—is to prepare His children to receive “a place in the celestial world” and “the riches of eternity” (verses 7, 18). And if those blessings are hard to comprehend right now, in the midst of the busyness of daily life, He reassures us, “Be of good cheer, for I will lead you along” (verse 18).

“What will happen to me after I die?” Nearly every religion in the world addresses this question in some form or another. For centuries, many Christian traditions, relying on Biblical teachings, have taught of heaven and hell, of paradise for the righteous and torment for the wicked. But can the entire human family really be divided so strictly into good and bad? And what does the word heaven actually mean? In February 1832, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon wondered if there wasn't more to know on the subject.There certainly was. While pondering these things, the Lord “touched the eyes of [their] understandings and they were opened." Joseph and Sidney received a revelation so stunning, so expansive, so illuminating, that the Saints simply called it “the Vision.” It threw open heaven's windows and gave God's children a mind-stretching view of eternity. The vision revealed that heaven is grander and broader and more inclusive than most people had previously supposed. God is more merciful and just than we can comprehend. And God's children have an eternal destiny more glorious than we can imagine.

We may be concerned when we hear people criticizing or ridiculing the Church or its leaders, especially when we're afraid people we know and love will be influenced by that criticism. When something similar happened in Ohio in 1831 (see the section heading to Doctrine and Covenants 71), the Lord's message to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon was one of faith, not fear. As you study Doctrine and Covenants 71, what do you find that builds your faith in the Lord and His work? What impresses you about the instruction the Lord gave His servants in this situation?

From 1828 to 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith received many revelations from the Lord, including divine counsel for individuals, instructions on governing the Church, and inspiring visions of the latter days. But many of the Saints hadn't read them. The revelations weren't yet published, and the few available copies were handwritten on loose sheets that were circulated among members and carried around by missionaries.Then, in November 1831, Joseph called a council of Church leaders to discuss publishing the revelations. After seeking the Lord's will, these leaders made plans to publish the Book of Commandments—the precursor to today's Doctrine and Covenants. Soon everyone would be able to read for themselves the word of God revealed through a living prophet, vivid evidence that “the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man.” For these and many other reasons, Saints then and now consider these revelations to be “worth … the riches of the whole Earth."

In the sweltering heat of August 1831, several elders were traveling back to Kirtland after surveying the land of Zion in Missouri as directed by the Lord. It was not a pleasant journey. The travelers—Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Ezra Booth, and others—were hot and weary, and tensions soon turned into quarrels. It may have seemed like building Zion, a city of love, unity, and peace, was going to take a long time.Fortunately, building Zion—in Missouri in 1831 or in our hearts and wards today—doesn't require us to be perfect. Instead, “of you it is required to forgive,” the Lord said (Doctrine and Covenants 64:10). He requires “the heart and a willing mind” (verse 34). And He requires patience and diligence, for Zion is built on the foundation of “small things,” accomplished by those who do not become “weary in well-doing” (verse 33).See also Saints, 1:133–34, 136–37.

The site for the city of Zion had been chosen. Church leaders had visited the area and dedicated it as a gathering place for the Saints. According to Joseph Smith's history, “the land of Zion was now the most important temporal object in view” (Doctrine and Covenants 63, section heading). But views on Zion were mixed. Many Saints were eager to start gathering in Missouri. On the other hand, people like Ezra Booth were disappointed with the land of Zion and made their views known. In fact, when Joseph returned to Kirtland from Missouri, he found that dissension and apostasy had crept into the Church while he was away. It was in this setting that the revelation in Doctrine and Covenants 63 was received. Here the Lord addressed purchasing land and moving the Saints to Missouri. But among such practical matters was a timely reminder: “I, the Lord, utter my voice, and it shall be obeyed” (verse 5). His voice, His will, His command—all of which “[come] from above”—should not be treated cynically or casually. It “is sacred, and must be spoken with care” (verse 64).

In June 1831, Joseph Smith held a conference with the elders of the Church in Kirtland. There, the Lord organized some of the elders into companionships and sent them to Jackson County, Missouri, with this charge: “Preach by the way." Many of the elders did so diligently, but others did not.  Many of us can feel sympathy for these elders—we may also feel hesitant to open our mouths and share the gospel.Scattered throughout these revelations to early missionaries are reassurances that can help us overcome our fears about sharing the gospel—or other fears we might be facing: “I, the Lord, rule in the heavens above.” “I am able to make you holy.” “All flesh is in mine hand.” And “be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst.”

When the elders of the Church first saw the site of the city of Zion—Independence, Missouri—it was not what they expected. Some thought they would find a thriving, industrious community with a strong group of Saints. When OUR expectations do not match reality, we can remember what the Lord told the Saints in 1831: “Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God … and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation."  Yes, life is full of tribulation, even wickedness, but we can “bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in [us]."

For Church members in the 1830s, gathering the Saints and building the city of Zion were spiritual as well as temporal works, with many practical matters to address: Someone needed to purchase and distribute land where the Saints could settle. Someone needed to print books and other publications. And someone needed to run a store to provide goods to those in Zion. But these revelations also teach that the Lord desires His Saints to become spiritually worthy to be called a Zion people. He calls each of us to be “a faithful, a just, and a wise steward,” having a contrite spirit, “stand[ing] fast” in our appointed responsibilities. If we can do that—regardless of our temporal skills—the Lord can use us to build Zion, and He “will hasten the city in its time."

The Savior is our “good shepherd” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:44). He knows that sometimes sheep wander and that the wilderness has many perils. So He lovingly leads us to the safety of His doctrine, away from dangers such as “false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:2). Following Him often means letting go of incorrect ideas or traditions. This was true for Leman Copley and others in Ohio who accepted the restored gospel but still held on to some beliefs that just weren’t correct. In Doctrine and Covenants 49, the Lord declared truths that corrected Leman’s previous beliefs about topics such as marriage and the Savior’s Second Coming. And when the Ohio converts “received … spirits which [they] could not understand,” the Lord taught them how to discern true manifestations of the Spirit (Doctrine and Covenants 50:15). The Good Shepherd was patient; He knew that these early Saints were—like all of us—“little children” who “must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:40).

As Parley, Oliver, Ziba, and Peter left Kirtland and moved on to other fields of labor, they left over one hundred converts who had plenty of zeal but little experience or direction. There were no instructional handbooks, no leadership training meetings, no broadcasts of general conference—in fact, there weren’t even very many copies of the Book of Mormon to go around. Many of these new believers had been drawn to the restored gospel by the promise of marvelous manifestations of the Spirit, especially those they knew about from studying the New Testament. Soon, some unusual expressions of worship—including falling to the ground or writhing like a snake—were introduced into their Church meetings. Many found it hard to discern which manifestations were of the Spirit and which were not. Seeing the confusion, Joseph Smith prayed for help. The Lord’s answer is equally valuable today, when people often reject or ignore the things of the Spirit. The Lord revealed that spiritual manifestations are real and clarified what they are—gifts from a loving Heavenly Father, “given for the benefit of those who love [Him] and keep all [His] commandments” (Doctrine and Covenants 46:9).

Jesus’s disciples, when they heard Him prophesy of the calamities that would occur in our day, “were troubled” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:34). The early Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, were also troubled by the perilous times in which they lived. Among other things, there were “many false reports … and foolish stories” that were undermining the gospel message (Doctrine and Covenants 45, section heading). But the Lord’s response, then and now, is “be not troubled” (verse 35). Yes, there is wickedness, but there is also evidence that God is hastening His work. Yes, there are perils predicted to precede the Second Coming, and we should be aware of them. But these aren’t just warnings of danger; they are also signs that God’s promises are about to be fulfilled. Perhaps this is why Doctrine and Covenants 45—a revelation that describes many of these signs in detail—was received “to the joy of the Saints” (section heading).

The rapid growth of the Church in 1830 and 1831—especially the rush of new converts coming to Kirtland, Ohio—was exciting and encouraging to the Saints. But it also presented some challenges. How do you unify a quickly expanding body of believers, especially when they are bringing with them doctrine and practices from their previous faiths? The Lord made some important corrections and clarifications, largely through a revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 42, that He called “my law to govern my church” (verse 59). In this revelation, we learn truths that are fundamental in establishing the Lord’s Church in the latter days, including a significant promise making clear that there is always more to learn: “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61).

To the early Saints, the Church was more than a place to hear some preaching on Sunday. As much as they loved the Church’s restored doctrine, many also wanted something they could dedicate their lives to. Even so, the Lord’s 1830 command to the Saints to gather in Ohio was not easy for some to follow. Today we can see clearly what those Saints could see only with the eye of faith: the Lord had great blessings waiting for them in Ohio.The need to gather to Ohio has long since passed, but Saints today still unite around the same cause, the same work: to “bring forth Zion” (Doctrine and Covenants 39:13). Like those early Saints, we forsake “the cares of the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 40:2) because we trust the Lord’s promise: “You shall receive … a blessing so great as you never have known” (Doctrine and Covenants 39:10).

Parley P. Pratt had been a member of the Church for about a month when he was called “into the wilderness” to preach the gospel (Doctrine and Covenants 32:2). Thomas B. Marsh had been a member for even less time than that when he was told, “The hour of your mission is come” (Doctrine and Covenants 31:3). Orson Pratt, Edward Partridge, and many others had likewise barely been baptized when their mission calls came. Perhaps this timing was all of necessity—in the fall of 1830, no one had been a member of the Church for more than six months. But there’s also a lesson in this pattern for us today: if you know enough to accept the restored gospel by baptism, you know enough to share it with others. Of course we always want to increase our gospel knowledge, but God has never hesitated to call upon the “unlearned” to preach His gospel (Doctrine and Covenants 35:13). In fact, He invites all of us, “Open your mouth to declare my gospel” (Doctrine and Covenants 30:5). And we do that best not through our own wisdom and experience but “by the power of [the] Spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 35:13).

What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is “he who liveth”? It doesn’t just mean that He rose from the tomb on the third day and appeared to His Galilean disciples. It means that He lives today. He speaks through prophets today. He leads His Church today. He heals wounded souls and broken hearts today. So we can echo the words of Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony: “After the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony … which we give of him: That he lives!” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22). We can hear His voice in these revelations. We can witness His hand in our lives. And we can each feel “the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’” (Hymns, no. 136).

Even though the Church of Jesus Christ had been organized in 1830, many gospel truths were still to be revealed, and several early Church members had questions. They had read prophecies in the Book of Mormon about the gathering of Israel and the building up of Zion (see 3 Nephi 21). How would that happen? The revelations Hiram Page claimed to receive addressed that subject, which only increased members’ curiosity (see Doctrine and Covenants 28). Other people wondered about the Fall of Adam and Eve and spiritual death. The Lord welcomed these questions in 1830: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith,” He told the Saints, “being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:6). And He welcomes our questions today; He’s just waiting for us to ask Him in prayer. In fact, as the doctrinally rich revelation in Doctrine and Covenants 29 shows, He sometimes responds by imparting truth and knowledge beyond the questions we asked in the first place.

March 15 - Thoughts on D&C 27-28 - All things must be done in order

March 8 - Thoughts on D&C 23-26 - Strengthen the ChurchSpanish version: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1677274

March 1 - Thoughts on D&C 20-22 - The Rise of the Church of Christ

Thoughts on Doctrine and Covenants 18–19 - “The Worth of Souls Is Great”

https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/Now translated into espanol as "Ven, Sígueme un podcast" - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1677274

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Just coming back after January break...here is a little bit of fun for the week with an update on what we've been up to and lots of parallels and real life applications for the Come Follow Me lesson this week!

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January - Happy New Year and Introduction to D&Chttps://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

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Ether 6-11. Podcast page on instagram @comefollowmeapodcast

Show notes and pics on https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

Mormon 1-6Show notes and pics at: https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi Show notes and pics at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

3 Nephi 20-26Show notes and pics at https://instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast

This lesson covers 3 Nephi 17-19Show notes and pics from this episode are at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

3 Nephi 12-16. This week Drew Young joins me for a conversation about this week's Come Follow Me. Follow show notes and pics at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

PART 1/2. This week was a big important lesson so I split it into two parts. Enjoy at your own pace. It covers 3 Nephi 8-11

PART 2/2. This week was a big important lesson so I split it into two parts. Enjoy at your own pace. It covers 3 Nephi 8-11

3 Nephi 1-7; Show notes and pics at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

Helaman 13-16; Show notes and pics at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

Helaman 7-12; Show notes and pics at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

Helaman 1-6; show notes at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

Alma 53-63; Show notes at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast

Alma 43-52; show notes and photos at...https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

Alma 39-42; show notes and photos at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

Alma 36-38; Show notes at https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/

Alma 32-35. Show notes and photos at: https://www.instagram.com/comefollowmeapodcast/