The last few revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants were given after the death of Joseph Smith. Brigham Young provided guidance to church members migrating to Utah in 1847 (Doctrine and Covenants 136). Forty-three years later, in 1890, Wilford Woodruff published the Manifesto, officially ending the practice of plural marriage in the Church (Official Declaration 1). In 1918, Joseph F. Smith received an important vision about the redemption of the dead (Doctrine and Covenants 138). In 1978, Spencer W. Kimball received a revelation extending the blessings of priesthood and temple ordinances to all worthy members, without regard for race (Official Declaration 2). And in 1995, Church leaders published The Family: A Proclamation to the World, a document which reiterates Church teachings about marriage and parenting.
Here are some principles I’ve learned as I studied and pondered these revelations this year:
1. Disciples of Christ spend their time wisely.
Character is revealed by what we do with our time. Happiness and fulfillment come as we multiply and replenish the earth through productive endeavors and as we fill our free time with wholesome recreational activities, not merely with entertainment.
Sometimes we need to slow down. Like Joseph F. Smith, we should spend time pondering sacred things. Another reason to slow down is to give other people space to grow. Change takes time, and our loved ones need our patient support as they progress at their own pace.
2. Revelation expands our understanding and invites confident action.
Through revelation, God helps us overcome rigid and narrow thought patterns and open our minds to the expansiveness of His love. We can act on the guidance we receive from Him with confidence, even when we don’t fully understand the reasons behind it.
3. God gathers His children in joyful and productive unity.
Disciples of Christ in all ages have gathered in groups, large and small, as they draw closer to God. They build unity through many activities, including singing together. They learn to collaborate effectively as they work together in common causes.
4. Strengthening families requires intentional group effort.
Successful families worship together, support one another’s growth, treat one another with kindness, and participate in meaningful activities. We build greater unity as we set shared goals and produce things together instead of being merely “units of economic consumption.” That requires us to sacrifice other pursuits and dedicate time and attention to family responsibilities.
We can also support our friends, colleagues, and neighbors in their efforts to strengthen their families.
As we strengthen our relationships with family members on both sides of the veil, we feel a greater sense of belonging. Our joy also increases, because perfect joy is relational.
Leave a Reply