We can be a light in a darkened world.
All three of the revelations in this week’s reading testify of this principle. It might be more comfortable if we were surrounded by light, but God needs our positive influence in a challenging world. He needs people to see our life, our faith, and our works (Doctrine and Covenants 85:2). He needs us to use priesthood power to help save His children (Doctrine and Covenants 86:10-11). He needs us to establish and maintain holy places, which can be a refuge for those who want to escape the turmoil and chaos of the world (Doctrine and Covenants 87:8).
As we learn from the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, God’s plan requires good and evil influences to coexist for a period of time (Matthew 13:24-30; Doctrine and Covenants 86:1-7). God will eventually separate wheat from tares, and all will be put right. In the meantime, our current circumstances allow our faith to grow strong (Doctrine and Covenants 86:6) and enable us to bless and serve people who desperately need God’s light.
Here are some of my favorite passages from these revelations with relevant blog posts and Book of Mormon connections.
Scripture Highlights and Related Blog Posts
1. Recordkeeping is a sacred duty.
Doctrine and Covenants 85:1-2
It is the duty of the Lord’s clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep a history, and a general church record of all things that transpire in Zion, and of all those who consecrate properties, and receive inheritances legally from the bishop;
And also their manner of life, their faith, and works; and also of the apostates who apostatize after receiving their inheritances.
Blog Posts
📄 “A Record of My Proceedings”
Keep a journal for the benefit of your children and grandchildren.
Book of Mormon connection: 1 Nephi 1:1; 1 Nephi 19:6
2. The Spirit speaks with a still small voice.
Doctrine and Covenants 85:6
Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest, saying:
Blog Posts
📄 The Still Small Voice
God’s voice is calm and quiet, so we must eliminate distractions in order to hear Him.
Book of Mormon connection: 1 Nephi 17:45
3. Trust God to remove the “tares” from our lives in His time.
Doctrine and Covenants 86:1, 6-7
Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, concerning the parable of the wheat and of the tares: …
The Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.
Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned.
Blog Posts
📄 Wheat and Tares
God is demonstrating confidence in us by not removing every “tare” from our lives at once; He is giving us room to grow.
Book of Mormon connection: Alma 12:26; Alma 32:42
📄 Wheat Among Tares
We are surrounded by both good and evil influences temporarily for our own benefit. Be patient with yourself as your deepen your roots and grow closer to God.
Book of Mormon connection: Alma 40:23-26
4. God can help us be a light in a darkened world.
Doctrine and Covenants 86:9-11
For ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God–
Therefore your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began.
Therefore, blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior unto my people Israel. The Lord hath said it. Amen.
Blog Posts
📄 Restoration of All Things
God refreshes, replenishes, rebuilds, and renews all things needed for the happiness and progression of His children.
Book of Mormon connection: Alma 41:4
📄 “I Will Make Thee Mighty”
An awareness of our potential can energize us to action.
Book of Mormon connection: Helaman 10:1, 3, 5, 12
5. Holy places provide safety.
Doctrine and Covenants 87:8
Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.
Blog Posts
📄 Holy Places
Our homes can be holy places that can shield us from the storms of life.
Book of Mormon connection: 2 Nephi 14:5-6
Questions to Ponder
Here are some questions and topics I intend to work on this week:
- How can I more fully recognize the “still small voice” of the Spirit of the Lord? (Doctrine and Covanants 85:6)
- How does tithing prepare us for “the day of vengeance and burning”? (Doctrine and Covenants 85:3)
- What can I learn from the Old Testament passages referenced in Doctrine and Covenants 85:8, 12? (2 Samuel 6:6–7; Ezra 2:61-62)
- How can I be a “light unto the Gentiles” and “a savior unto [the Lord’s] people”? (Doctrine and Covenants 86:11)
- What can we learn from Doctrine and Covenants 87 about how prophecies are fulfilled?
- How can I find peace in holy places, holy times, holy practices, and holy thoughts? (See this week’s Come Follow Me lesson; Doctrine and Covenants 87:8.)
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