Scripture Study Doctrine & Covenants Section 1 - Part 3

Scripture Study

Doctrine and Covenants

Section 1 – Part 3

With whom is the Lord well pleased?

Let's take a look at verses 29-33:

1. Joseph Smith was able to translate the Book of Mormon by the power of God – Using the Urim and Thumim Joseph Smith translated the record of the Nephites. Verse 29
2. Those given the commandments were also given the power to lay the foundation of this church and bring forth out of obscurity and darkness the only true church upon the face of the whole earth and I, the Lord, am well pleased speaking unto the church collectively. Verse 30
3. The Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance and therefore is not pleased with every member of the church. Verse 31-32
4. Those who are unrepentant shall lose the spirit and the light that they have already received because the Lord's Spirit shall not always strive with man. Verse 33

The Lord tells us all that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the one true church, established by Him through Joseph Smith Jr. He wants us to know that although He loves us all, He is not always pleased with us, especially when we are unrepentant. Now is the time for us to act. Think of the following:

• What kinds of things do Church members do that keep the Lord from being “pleased” with them?
• What can our families do to help the Lord be “well pleased” with His Church?

Verses 34-39 cover prophecies that shall be fulfilled. Verse 35 says, “the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.” President Harold B. Lee wrote, “That was given 140 years ago. Is there anyone here that doubts but what this is the day that the Lord was referring to, when the devil has power over his own dominion? Everywhere it seems as though a wave of wickedness is about to engulf an unrepentant world.” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 10; italics added.)

Further, George Albert Smith said, “What a pitiable thing it would be if that ended there, for we can see the power of the adversary in the world and the destruction that is being wrought by those who are his emissaries;” after the Lord promises in Verse 36 that He “shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, ans shall come down in judgement upon...the world.” George Albert Smith goes on further to say, “What a promise, but it is all conditioned upon our righteousness, not on anything else, not upon our wealth, nor our strength in numbers, not upon our isolation from the world, but upon our righteousness.” (Conference Report, April 1943, 92.)

President Smith says our righteousness is what is needed to receive the promised blessing. Verse 37 says, “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.” We must search the scriptures, not just read, but study. If we do this search and study in righteousness, we are promised that the blessings will come forth for us.