Uzzah died because the Israelites didn't follow the Lord's instructions for moving the ark of the covenant. A group of Levites were temporarily unable to serve in the temple until their eligibility could be verified. Both stories illustrate an important principle: If you're going to do God's work, you need to do it God's way.
Family and Church
King Benjamin emphasized care in expanding circles: self, family, and others. The Lord reaffirms this pattern in modern revelation: children have claim first upon their parents and then upon the church. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must wisely balance self-reliance, family care, and contributions to the Lord’s storehouse.
The Former Sins
The Lord said, "Unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return." He wasn't threatening to reinstate a penalty He had erased; He was cautioning against sliding back into harmful habits. Sin brings sorrow, and the Savior can help us not only eliminate sin but also keep it away permanently.
Succor, Lift Up, and Strengthen
The Lord invited Frederick G. Williams to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." It begins with awareness: we need to notice the need. Then we can provide appropriate assistance, whether that be emergency relief, encouragement, or training and coaching.
From Vision to Practice: The Relationship Between Doctrine and Covenants 76 and 78
The practical instructions given in Doctrine and Covenants 78 make frequent reference to the transcendent vision recorded two weeks earlier in Doctrine and Covenants 76. Spiritual experiences lead seamlessly to practical instructions. Celestial glory is a continuation and amplification of what we are building today with God's help.
What and How to Teach Your Children
Moses and King Benjamin emphasized the importance of parents teaching our children spiritual truths. In modern revelation, the Lord specifically emphasized repentance, faith, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and prayer. President Nelson also explained the importance of teaching by persuasion, not by compulsion. How we teach is as important as what we teach.
Proactive Steadiness: Anxiously Engaged, but Not in Haste
In an 1831 revelation, the Lord gave two contrasting admonitions, urging church leaders to be anxiously engaged but not to work in haste nor by flight. We can balance eager initiative with careful restraint by (1) counseling continually with the Lord, (2) pacing ourselves, and (3) being fervently patient.
Staying the Course
Success often requires persistence, and our discipleship is no different. Jesus promises salvation to those who “endure to the end.” The Greek hupoménō means “remain under,” evoking His yoke and cross. It's important to pace ourselves, but also to keep moving toward the goal.
Our Emerging Redemption
The Atonement of Jesus Christ can uplift and purify us today, as Alma and King Benjamin's people can testify. This "preparatory redemption" foreshadows the perfected redemption promised in Doctrine and Covenants 45, when every wound is healed and every obstacle to our eternal joy has been removed.
Caring for the Poor and the Needy: Three Principles from God’s Law
Doctrine and Covenants 42 and 44 teach three principles to help us care for the poor and needy: 1. When you have more than enough, share. 2. A gift is a gift. Once given, it is no longer yours. 3. Do something now; don't wait for the perfect organization before giving.