Mission Prep: D&C 4
Doctrine and Covenants 4: the missionary section.
About two months ago I had to talk in sacrament meeting on the same day as a mission farewell. The elder read one verse from this section. Interested, and contemplating the possibility of serving a mission myself, I turned to the section and started to read.
1. "Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men."
My thoughts: Quite a beginning, as if the Lord is trying to make me see the vision of his work. I think vision is like a first step to committing ourselves to and believing in something.
2. "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."
Sacrifice. I must sacrifice and serve Him with everything.
3. "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"
I must have the desire to truly serve. Which makes perfect sense, since our desires shape who we are and what we do. If we don't have the desire to do something, then it's harder than ever to do it and we don't do it in the right heart.
4. "For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;"
Work. When we really work to bring forth the harvest and to bring ourselves to Christ as we work, we will not perish.
5. "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."
The three virtues that are stressed by both Moroni and Paul, plus devotion and conversion to God, are necessary.
6. "Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence."
Remember and strive to be better.
7. "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen."
Pray and study, and we can and do receive revelation and answers.
Seeing that it made a kind of list, here is what I wrote at the bottom of the page:
(As a note, everyone perceives things differently, so these are just my thoughts, not how everyone should interpret it.)
About two months ago I had to talk in sacrament meeting on the same day as a mission farewell. The elder read one verse from this section. Interested, and contemplating the possibility of serving a mission myself, I turned to the section and started to read.
1. "Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men."
My thoughts: Quite a beginning, as if the Lord is trying to make me see the vision of his work. I think vision is like a first step to committing ourselves to and believing in something.
2. "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."
Sacrifice. I must sacrifice and serve Him with everything.
3. "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"
I must have the desire to truly serve. Which makes perfect sense, since our desires shape who we are and what we do. If we don't have the desire to do something, then it's harder than ever to do it and we don't do it in the right heart.
4. "For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;"
Work. When we really work to bring forth the harvest and to bring ourselves to Christ as we work, we will not perish.
5. "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."
The three virtues that are stressed by both Moroni and Paul, plus devotion and conversion to God, are necessary.
6. "Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence."
Remember and strive to be better.
7. "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen."
Pray and study, and we can and do receive revelation and answers.
Seeing that it made a kind of list, here is what I wrote at the bottom of the page:
- Have vision.
- Sacrifice and serve.
- Desire.
- Work diligently.
- Devotion and conversion.
- Strive for virtues.
- Pray, study, and have the Spirit with you.
- A wonderful and marvelous work is coming forth.
- We can stand blameless before God.
- We are called to His work.
- We will not perish, but will have salvation.
- We can be qualified for the work.
- (v. 7) We shall receive and it shall be opened unto us.
(As a note, everyone perceives things differently, so these are just my thoughts, not how everyone should interpret it.)
Thank you for "strive for virtues"
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