#10 "This is My voice unto All"

D&C25
This revelation was given to Emma Smith. I can just imagine Emma, cleaning house, taking care of the kids, being hostess to thousands of guests and refugees etc. I imagine, like most of us she might have wondered do I have a purpose in this gospel work? So this is the question that Joseph went to the Lord with on Emma’s behalf. This is what the answer was (D&C25) It reads a lot like a patriarchal blessing and many if not all of us have received one of these, however do you ever have questions in your life that aren’t answered in your blessings, but you’d really like answers to?

In D&C 25:16 The Lord gives us a clue into this “This is MY voice unto all” He’s telling us that even though this revelation is for Emma we all can learn from all his words, even if they are written to her or others.

*Think of a question you have asked the Lord in the past, or one you have that may be current, that you’ve been waiting for an answer to? It can be serious or goofy-Whatever you like! I am going to ask for some questions in a minute and we are going to find the answers today!

We’ve heard that if we have questions we do what? Pray and if we want answers we should do what? Read the scriptures. I want to look at this process a little closer, the lesson manual gave some great scriptures to get us started with this process.

Step 1 D&C 61:36 Be of good cheer! If we have a problem or a question our 1st agenda item should be- Being positive! About what? Receiving an answer, having hope you will get one, cheerful that our Father knows best what we need etc.
The manual asks this question-What are the consequences of dwelling on the negative aspects of life, even though they may be serious and prevalent? We become that cynical, bitter person that we can’t stand to be around.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton gave this counsel:
“None of us will escape tragedy and suffering. Each of us will probably react differently. However, if we can recall the Lord’s promise, ‘for I the Lord am with you,’ we will be able to face our problems with dignity and courage. We will find the strength to be of good cheer instead of becoming resentful, critical, or defeated. We will be able to meet life’s unpleasant happenings with clear vision, strength, and power…
What a joy it is to see someone of good cheer, who, when others because of an unpleasant happening of development live in angry silence or vocal disgust, meets the situation with cheerful endurance and good spirits” (May 1986, p 66 Ensign)

I’m sure we all could work on this one, but let’s not dwell too much on it and move on to step 2: D&C 93:49 Pray always! Remember, prayer will humble you and get you into the “eternal perspective” mind set.
*Often I have found myself struggling with issues and problems, but as soon as I kneel and I start to discuss them with my Heavenly Father, I eventually get to the point in my conversation where the Lord smiles and says (or I picture him saying) “but Lezette, in the eternal perspective, it this really something that will matter?” I sometimes conclude that it doesn’t and the matter drops, however there are times when I think that it is truly eternally important, therefore I need answers. I have learned to go to my scriptures in search of those answers, I’m not perfect at it and sometimes need to be humbled before I go searching there, but I figure with age and experience I will learn to go there first every time. One thing I have learned over time that I can get very specific in my prayers and tell the Lord that I will be going to the scriptures in Alma (or whatever) and ask that if the answer is to be found this time, if it could be found in Alma, just so He knows when and where to send me His answer. I ask that the answer jump out at me. Most of the time it works, but not without a little work on my part, this brings us to step 3.

Step 3: 1 Nephi 19:23 Liken all scriptures unto us for our profit and learning. The hard question for me is how? How do I liken the scriptures to my specific problem?

So this is going to be our lesson. I wanted to take action. This is where your questions come in. We are going to write questions on the board and through section 25, even though it is written to Emma, we will find the answers to them. I have to warn you though, you may not like the answer you get, but either way it is the answer the Lord wants you to have.
So fire away what are your questions, past or present?
(some I thought of follow)
1 Why does this (whatever trial it is) keep happening?
2 How can I be truly happy?
3 Where can I go to find work?
4 What can I do to help others?
5 What can I do to pull myself out of the dumps?
6 What kind of music should I listen to today?
Pass out the following scriptures before class:
D&C 78:18 you cannot bear all things now-I will lead you
D&C 136:29 if you are sorrowful-pray to be joyful
D&C 25:2 Walk in paths of virtue
D&C 25:3 thy sins are forgiven, thou art elect
D&C 25:4 murmur not, for things that are withheld
D&C 25:5 Replace Joseph with YW, YM, Elders Etc.
D&C 25:6 Be scribe- Be happy to help with the work were you are, don’t think you cannot do anything or make changes or a difference if you aren’t specifically the president.
D&C 25:7 expound scriptures, exhort church as the spirit directs
D&C 25:8 Use Holy Ghost to learn much
D&C 25:9 No fear! Replace Joseph’s name with Christ, spouse, lean on each other
D&C 25:10 lay aside things of the world, seek spiritual things, they are better.
D&C 25:11 make selection of hymns-hymns can answer and lift you up
D&C 25:12 a song is a prayer
D&C 25:13 rejoice, cleave unto covenants, loving, give time and talents etc.
D&C 25:14 Be meek, beware of pride, delight in (Lord, spouse, kids, boss etc)
D&C 25:15 keep commandments-crown of righteousness; review your life-see where you could recommit yourself.

By reading these scriptures we can see how many of these scriptures can answer 1 question in many different ways. We can see that many questions can be answered by 1 scripture. When you search the scriptures for answers, don’t discount the scripture that catches your eye-even if it may not seem to work, stop and think about it, perhaps that scripture “He dwelt in a tent” could really be the answer: go relax, go camping, give the question some time, or perhaps it means, be thankful in all things, or you could find yourself living in a tent, or perhaps the Lord is pointing you to the faith that Lehi and his family had to go and live in a tent and rely on the Lord for all things.

We can always receive answers to any of life’s questions, some may be completely obvious, some may take some deep thinking-I know for many of you deep thinking hurts you more than some, but if you can get the answer you’re searching for it’s worth it!

I have a testimony that the Lord answers our questions and problems through His words in the scriptures, my prayers have been answered many times. I bare this testimony that God’s voice can come to all of us if we know where to go and practice listening to what He’s trying to say. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen!