Today we are going to talk about preaching: the call to preach, what to preach, the promises associated, and personal willingness to do what the Lord asks of us.

Links

Living Scriptures stream

https://www.livingscriptures.com/ephraims-rescue/

Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual-2017/chapter-20-doctrine-and-covenants-51-56?lang=eng

Uchtdorf

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2009/04/we-are-doing-a-great-work-and-cannot-come-down?lang=eng

Christofferson

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/10/firm-and-steadfast-in-the-faith-of-christ?lang=eng

Algernon Sidney Gilbert

https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/people-of-the-dc/algernon-sidney-gilbert/

Ellis Reynolds Shipp

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/1984/04/ellis-reynolds-shipp-mother-and-doctor?lang=eng

Hawn’s Mill

https://www.ldsliving.com/The-Truth-Behind-the-Hawn-s-Mill-Massacre/s/77184

This week in Come Follow Me we are assigned sections 49 and 50. Section 49 details a revelation meant for a congregation outside of our Church, and Section 50 dealt with more questions about visiting spirits, a topic that was very popular at the time and a cause for worry among the Saints. Most of our time will be spent, not necessarily in 49 but in the events that surround 49. 

Links

Shaker View of a Mormon Mission

https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/20.1FlakeShaker-29bd6726-ebdb-4329-9e21-b3c8ab4f20f5.pdf

Mother Smith Testimony

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/church-historians-press/at-the-pulpit/part-1/chapter-1?lang=eng

Shake the Dust 

https://rsc.byu.edu/our-rites-worship/those-who-receive-you-not-rite-wiping-dust-off-feet

Revelations in Context – Leman Copley

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/revelations-in-context/leman-copley-and-the-shakers?lang=eng

This week in Come Follow Me we are discussing sections 46-48. Section 46 covers the need for discernment and the gifts of the Spirit, 47 centers around record keeping, and 48 refers to the plans to move to Ohio. My sparks today came from section 46, but I will say that I recently discovered the Bullet Journal Method for my personal record keeping and I love it. I’ll put a link in the show notes in case anyone is interested. As for this episode, I’ll discuss false spirits, a strange case of anti-missionaries (when members kept a person from investigating the church), and the importance of exercising our minds for Christ.

Links

Reason and Revelation

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/noel-b-reynolds/reason-revelation/

Whitmer Quote

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/church-historians-press/jsp-revelations/dc-046-1831_03_08_000?lang=eng

Ray Beckham Book

https://search.lib.byu.edu/byu/record/cat.6843925.item.31197238801499?holding=s2kpts1ey79otj7e

Ray Beckham Obit

https://www.bergmortuary.com/obituaries/Raymond-Beckham/#!/Obituary

Maxwell Quote (I got it from his book “That My Family Should Also Partake” but this states it too)

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/how-the-lord-places-us-in-precise-orbits/

Nelson quote

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/14jones?lang=eng

Bullet Journal

https://bulletjournal.com

This week in Come Follow Me we are discussing Section 45 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This section came in 1831, during a time when the church was still very new and there were many falsehoods being spread. This section, its revealed doctrines, and promised blessings were a balm to many saints. I think it is also interesting to note here that the next day after this revelation was given, Joseph Smith would begin his translation of the New Testament.  Today I’ll talk about Christ as advocate, ministering, the ten virgins, and finish with a song. Not me singing, but just talking about one. 

Links

Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-45-looking-forth-for-the-great-day-of-the-lord?lang=eng

Christians during the fall of the temple

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/06/be-ye-also-ready-the-amazing-christian-escape-from-the-a-d-70-destruction-of-jerusalem?lang=eng

What is Ministering?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/ministering/what-is-ministering?lang=eng

Hales quote (and some other good ones too)

https://www.ldsliving.com/4-things-I-ve-learned-about-spiritual-survival-in-the-last-4-months/s/93080

Do the Next Right Thing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6g1yQV0dIY

Meditation

https://faithmatters.teachable.com/p/transformations-of-faith

This week in Come Follow Me we are assigned Doctrine and Covenants sections 41-44. Section 41 and 43 both deal with an issue we’ve discussed before, false revelations. Section 42, originally titled ‘The Law of the Lord’ came in response to church regulation questions. For those interested, I’ve linked to a page that tells you the exact questions asked. And section 44 is another small section about church organization. The sparks today are wide-ranging. A few of the topics we’ll discuss are: property and happiness, which aren’t always defined the way you might think; the role of judges in Israel, and the constant need for discernment.

Links

Section 42 Questions

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/church-historians-press/jsp-revelations/dc-042a-b-1831_02_09_000?lang=eng

Definition of property (I don’t speak to the essay as a whole, just the research on Locke.)

https://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/john-lockes-theory-property-problems-interpretation

Elder Cook – Are you a saint?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2003/10/are-you-a-saint?lang=eng

Quotes from Elder Simpson, President Taylor and President Cannon

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/enrichment-i-judges-in-israel-watching-over-the-church?lang=eng

Epicurus quote

https://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/epicurus/

Actions preceeding section 43

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/church-historians-press/jsp-revelations/dc-043-1831_02_01_000?lang=eng

This week in Come Follow Me we are discussing Sections 37-40 and the topic Gathering to Ohio, or as the sections call it “the Ohio.” But I'm not going to talk much about Ohio today. Instead I want to talk about the Second Coming, more specifically what the saints thought about the timing of Christ’s return. I also want to talk about James Covill, the subject of sections 39 and 40, and the parallels I see to the parable of the young rich man. 

Links

D&C Manual Section 38

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-38-if-ye-are-prepared-ye-shall-not-fear?lang=eng

Camel and Needle Debunking

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1985/03/i-have-a-question/can-you-give-me-some-background-on-matthew-19-24?lang=eng

World Wealth Report

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2017/11/14/top-1-now-own-half-worlds-wealth-credit-suisse_a_23277649/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/camilomaldonado/2019/10/23/credit-suisse-top-1-own-nearly-50-of-global-wealth-and-chinas-wealthy-now-outnumber-americas/

https://www.businessinsider.com/switzerland-is-full-of-rich-people-credit-suisse-global-wealth-2016-11

James Covel

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/revelations-in-context/james-covel-and-the-cares-of-the-world?lang=eng

Joseph Smith Papers DC 38

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/church-historians-press/jsp-revelations/dc-038-1831_01_02_000?lang=eng

Early Saints and the Millenium

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1979/08/early-saints-and-the-millennium?lang=eng

This week in our Come Follow Me we are asked to study Sections 30-36, and I will address a few of those verses at the end of my words today. But the majority of my time is going to be spent concerning the additional Voices of the Restoration section we were given this week: Early Converts, then I’ll share some quotes I’ve found interesting and end with a story from the mother of the prophet, Lucy Mack Smith.

Links 

“Leap” by Brian Doyle, in memory of September 11, 2001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mJ_jkkVRQo

JST Bible

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/joseph-smith-translation-of-the-bible?lang=eng

Saints, Parley Pratt story

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1/09-come-life-or-come-death?lang=eng¶=15-24

Revelations in Context – Rigdon

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/revelations-in-context/go-to-the-ohio?lang=eng

Revelations in Context – Thayer

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/revelations-in-context/ezra-thayer-from-skeptic-to-believer?lang=eng

Faith Matters – Restoration interview with Patrick Mason

https://youtu.be/yHQDc_LrWzc

Joseph Smith Papers – Cowdrey vision

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-summer-1832/6#josephsmithpapers

Lucky Mack Smith Story

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/20#josephsmithpapers

Hinckley quote

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1998/08/excerpts-from-recent-addresses-of-president-gordon-b-hinckley?lang=eng

Orson Pratt

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/revelations-in-context/orson-pratts-call-to-serve.p4?lang=eng#p4

Many of the quotes I used today come from a book The Seeker’s Guide by Elizabeth Lesser. She has wonderful points in the book, but I cannot recommend it. Instead please check out Thomas McConkie at the link below. He has done some fabulous work lately with the Buddhist faith tradition and the tenets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Transformations of Faith

https://faithmatters.teachable.com/p/transformations-of-faith

John Taylor

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-john-taylor/chapter-23?lang=eng

Pilgrim Hypothesis

https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrim-Hypothesis-Timothy-Ballard/dp/1524412821

This is Part 2 of my Easter sparks. Technically I should call this a bonus episode about the autumn Jewish festival Sukkot, but I think there is a significant connection to the resurrection, which I’ll explain.

Links (If you don't find it here, it might have gotten into Part 1)


Atzeret – Shavuot and Sukkot

https://www.ou.org/holidays/the_real_atzeret_and_its_connection_to_sukkot/

Rabbi Golub - Sukkot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FFXY4FxWjs

Manna

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4463795/jewish/What-Was-the-Manna.htm

Shemini Atzeret

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/what-is-shemini-atzeret/

Christ and the Feast of Tabernacles – BYU Studies

https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-13-no-3-2012/jesus-christ-feast-tabernacles

Shemini Atzeret

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4464/jewish/What-Is-Shemini-Atzeret-Simchat-Torah.htm

Sukkot in the New Testament

https://www.thetorah.com/article/sukkot-in-the-new-testament-from-lulav-and-hoshana-to-palm-sunday

All Things New – Givens

https://faithmatters.org/books/all-things-new-fiona-and-terryl-givens/

This week we commemorate the single most important event in the history of everything: the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Or as William Tyndale would have said: the at-one-ment of Christ. It’s a topic so big I had to divide it in two parts. So for those who only have time for less than 20 minutes, you’re still covered. If you have time for more, you can listen to the second episode.

In this episode I’ll talk about Pesach and Shavuot, two Jewish holidays, and the numbers seven and eight. In part 2, I’ll discuss the third Jewish festival Sukkot. 

Links (I tried to get all the links on the right episode, but if you don't find it here, check out Part 2)

Chabad – Shavuot

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/609663/jewish/What-Is-Shavuot-Shavuos.htm

Chabad – More about Shavuot

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/111377/jewish/Shavuot.htm

Atlantic article about the timing of Easter and Passover

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/04/why-dont-easter-and-passover-always-line/587572/

Nibley quote

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1976/04/a-strange-thing-in-the-land-the-return-of-the-book-of-enoch-part-5?lang=eng

Church History

https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/a-pattern-for-learning-church-history-by-study-and-faith?lang=eng

Uchtdorf Fireside

https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/2009-11-01/president-dieter-f-uchtdorf-the-reflection-in-the-water-68673

Learning quotes all come from Doctrine and Covenants student manual enrichment K

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/enrichment-k-seek-learning-even-by-study-and-also-by-faith?lang=eng

LDS Living – Type and Shadow

https://www.ldsliving.com/What-Is-a-Type-and-Shadow/s/87859/

Jonathan Cahn - Book of Mysteries
https://www.christianbook.com/the-book-of-mysteries/jonathan-cahn/9781629991344/pd/991344

Fiona and Terryl Givens - All Things New
https://faithmatters.org/books/all-things-new-fiona-and-terryl-givens/

This week I’ll focus on the directive to study the latter-day teachings of the Second Coming, the “hen gathering her chicks” metaphor, a few quotes about Heavenly Mother, and the burning of the wicked. But don’t worry, we’ll end hopeful. 

Links

Deseret News Chicken Article

https://www.deseret.com/2017/7/28/20616574/playing-chicken-with-scripture#a-mother-hen-gathers-her-chicks

Hebrew word Article

https://biblescienceforum.com/2016/08/30/when-did-god-first-appear-on-earth/

Robert Millet- Second Coming of Christ Q&A

https://rsc.byu.edu/sperry-symposium-classics-doctrine-covenants/second-coming-christ-0

BibleHub Genesis 1:2

https://www.biblehub.com/text/genesis/1-2.htm

D&C Student Manual Section 29

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-29-prepare-against-the-day-of-tribulation?lang=eng

Growth of the church

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/topic/church-growth

Hinckley Speech

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/gordon-b-hinckley/need-not-fear-coming/

Kimball quote

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/new-testament-teacher-resource-manual/the-revelation-of-saint-john-the-divine/revelation-20-22?lang=eng

General Conference Quote

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/teachings-of-the-living-prophets-student-manual/chapter-6?lang=eng

Oaks – The Challenge to Become

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2000/10/the-challenge-to-become?lang=eng

Brad Wilcox – His Grace is Sufficient

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox/his-grace-is-sufficient/