Doctrine and Covenants 93: “Receive of His Fulness” (August 23-29)

The Savior is our source of light. He gives light to everyone. The tragedy is that, so often, we refuse to receive the light He offers us. We do this by turning away from the truth and by behaving in a way that is contrary to the truth. The good news is that if we are willing to follow His guidance, we will grow in the same way that the Savior did: from grace to grace (Doctrine and Covenants 93:1-40).

After teaching these principles to a group of church leaders on May 6, 1833, the Lord proceeded to reprimand several of them for failing to teach their children in their own homes. Frederick G. Williams, Sidney Rigdon, and Joseph Smith—the First Presidency of the Church—all three needed to dedicate more time and energy to teaching their children “light and truth,” as did Newell K. Whitney, the bishop of the church in Kirtland. The Lord instructed them to “set in order” their homes and to ensure that their families were “more diligent and concerned at home” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:41-50).

What a powerful lesson about the application of gospel principles! The teachings of the Savior are both profound and practical. We experience their power as we apply them to our own lives in our own homes each day.

Here are some principles I’ve learned from this section, with relevant blog posts:

From Grace to Grace

• The light of Christ enlightens everyone that comes into the world: He Is the Light and the Life of the World – Mosiah 16:9 (v. 2).
• We become more like the Savior as we learn to govern our bodies: The Flesh Becoming Subject to the Spirit – Mosiah 15:2-5 (v. 4).
• Kindness, mercy, and compassion are not antithetical with honesty, integrity, and faithfulness: What Does It Mean That the Savior Is “Full of Grace and Truth?” (verse 11).
• Grace is valuable because it is costly, because it operates in full compliance with truth: He Is Full of Grace and Truth – 2 Nephi 2:6 (v. 11).
• God wants us to grow “from grace to grace” until we receive every blessing He has to give: The Church Did Meet Together Oft – Moroni 6:5-6 (v. 13, 20).

Light and Truth

• Truth is simply the way things really are: What Is Truth? (v. 24).
• When we avoid learning the truth, we harm ourselves and the people who rely on us to make wise decisions: They Hardened Their Hearts – Mosiah 11:29 (v. 24).
• God lives with a full knowledge not only of what has already happened and of what is happening now, but also of what will happen: The Lord Knoweth All Things Which Are to Come – Words of Mormon 1:7 (v. 24).
• When we see “things as they really are,” we are motivated to take action to make them better: What Shall I Do? – Alma 22:14-16 (v. 24).
• Pride can prevent us from seeing things as they really are: We Are Not of Your Faith – Alma 44:9 (v. 24).
• “Facts are stubborn things.” Truth is unaffected by our preferences or opinions: Truth (v. 30).

Other Topics

• After we die, we will feel incomplete, and we will long for the time when our spirits might be reunited with a body, never again to be separated: The Loosing of the Bands of Death – Alma 11:40-41 (v. 33-34).
• Reviewing sacred histories strengthens our faith: Record-keeping (v. 53).