Here is my ongoing experience with section 98:1-10. In 2020 I was one of many people who had been praying for the future of America (and the welfare of the world in general). The morning of the the election on Nov 3, I had a prompting to read section 98, so I opened my scriptures and read:
“Verily, I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament – the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.”
So far, so good, right? I felt tremendous comfort that things would be well. Now, a year later, after watching the trajectory of events, I read:
“Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.”
Again, a reassurance that all will be well, that promises will be fulfilled, that the afflictions will be for my (our) good, and that God will be glorified.
The next few verses about Constitutional law has helped me gain some perspective on what benefit God might be working toward. The past couple years in particular have been an education about Constitutional vs. man-made laws. Initially, people sat back waiting for the storm to pass, or for someone to sweep in to save the day. Now many people are studying the Constitution, especially related to maintaining the rights and privileges which belong to mankind. They are taking back their delegated power and removing officials that refuse to represent the people, or taking their cases to the courts to stop unlawful abuse of power. They are seeking for honest and wise people to place into those seats of power who will maintain their rights and advocate for the people instead of enriching themselves and abusing those they are supposed to represent.
It seems that many abuses of power were designed to rile the people up to violence, which could have been used to justify martial law. But, for the most part, the people have not responded in kind. They are seeking peaceful solutions where possible, waiting for the courts to have their day. Compare the treatment of the January 6th prisoners to what the early saints endured. Yet no one is calling for violence against the jailers or the mayor of DC. Have we as a country learned how to endure suffering yet? Trusting that God’s justice will prevail?
You may think this comment is too political for a religious forum, but I am simply sharing how I apply the scriptures to the circumstances I find myself in. The promise I read last November may have been originally spoken to other people, but the spirit confirmed that God would answer the prayers offered in behalf of our country, just as he heard and answered the prayers of the early Saints. This assurance has helped me to watch with curiosity to try and understand what God is doing today, and how we need to put faith in Him and His timeline and not our own desire for quick solutions.
And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God.
Personally, I lean towards Taylor’s stance that whether the former sins return or not – we are stained and in the same situation. Although at the end of the day, not really sure if this interpretation is true and/or if it really matters.
Yes, that verse is often used to support this idea. I notice how vague it is…it could just as easily mean that they begin committing the same sins again, not that the previously forgiven sins are now unforgiven. In fact, one of the more famous scriptures puts the emphasis on returning to old behaviors:
3 Nephi 7:7-8
And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among them. And thus six years had not passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire.
Here is my ongoing experience with section 98:1-10. In 2020 I was one of many people who had been praying for the future of America (and the welfare of the world in general). The morning of the the election on Nov 3, I had a prompting to read section 98, so I opened my scriptures and read:
“Verily, I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament – the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.”
So far, so good, right? I felt tremendous comfort that things would be well. Now, a year later, after watching the trajectory of events, I read:
“Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.”
Again, a reassurance that all will be well, that promises will be fulfilled, that the afflictions will be for my (our) good, and that God will be glorified.
The next few verses about Constitutional law has helped me gain some perspective on what benefit God might be working toward. The past couple years in particular have been an education about Constitutional vs. man-made laws. Initially, people sat back waiting for the storm to pass, or for someone to sweep in to save the day. Now many people are studying the Constitution, especially related to maintaining the rights and privileges which belong to mankind. They are taking back their delegated power and removing officials that refuse to represent the people, or taking their cases to the courts to stop unlawful abuse of power. They are seeking for honest and wise people to place into those seats of power who will maintain their rights and advocate for the people instead of enriching themselves and abusing those they are supposed to represent.
It seems that many abuses of power were designed to rile the people up to violence, which could have been used to justify martial law. But, for the most part, the people have not responded in kind. They are seeking peaceful solutions where possible, waiting for the courts to have their day. Compare the treatment of the January 6th prisoners to what the early saints endured. Yet no one is calling for violence against the jailers or the mayor of DC. Have we as a country learned how to endure suffering yet? Trusting that God’s justice will prevail?
You may think this comment is too political for a religious forum, but I am simply sharing how I apply the scriptures to the circumstances I find myself in. The promise I read last November may have been originally spoken to other people, but the spirit confirmed that God would answer the prayers offered in behalf of our country, just as he heard and answered the prayers of the early Saints. This assurance has helped me to watch with curiosity to try and understand what God is doing today, and how we need to put faith in Him and His timeline and not our own desire for quick solutions.
RE: former sins returning, I recall D&C 82:7:
And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God.
Personally, I lean towards Taylor’s stance that whether the former sins return or not – we are stained and in the same situation. Although at the end of the day, not really sure if this interpretation is true and/or if it really matters.
Yes, that verse is often used to support this idea. I notice how vague it is…it could just as easily mean that they begin committing the same sins again, not that the previously forgiven sins are now unforgiven. In fact, one of the more famous scriptures puts the emphasis on returning to old behaviors:
3 Nephi 7:7-8
And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among them. And thus six years had not passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire.