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Doctrine and Covenants 3–5

 As I listened to Come Follow Me insights from Brother Tyler Griffin on YouTube, I was struck by something in D&C 4. 

To be called to the work, all we need is a desire to serve God.

To be qualified, we must have faith, hope, charity, and love.

How do we get those? 


I am reminded of this scripture in Moroni 7:48


Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.




I got thinking about Doctrine and Covenants 4 and realized I'd recited it a bunch on my mission. I don't know if I realized just exactly what it meant and all the nuggets it had though.



1 Now behold, a amarvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the aservice of God, see that ye bserve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand cblameless before God at the last day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are acalled to the work;

4 For behold the afield is white already to bharvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in cstore that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And afaith, bhope, ccharity and dlove, with an eeye single to the fglory of God, gqualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, avirtue, knowledge, btemperance, cpatience, dbrotherly ekindness, fgodliness, charity, ghumility, hdiligence.

7 aAsk, and ye shall receive; bknock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.


I am struck by verse two, where it commands us to serve with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.

Are there times where I serve grudgingly? Yes, there are many. In fact, maybe more often than night I am not serving God with my whole mind. Am I putting my full effort in? I could do much better.


What is it that is keeping me from being all in on God's work? Maybe it's that my mind is in other places. Maybe I'm too worried about what's going on on Twitter, or preoccupied with the latest Pokemon event. Maybe I'm more interested in sports scores. Or maybe I'm getting caught up on judging people or talking about the weird things they do that bother me. 


In any case, I recognize there is a lot I can improve. And God doesn't just say these things to say them. He really does expect us to follow them. The beauty though is that he sent his son to die for us and to experience human frailty and the weight of guilt and negligence and sin. He knows how I feel. He can help me. I've noticed that as I write down the things I want to improve and as I go to my Father in fervent prayer, I am blessed with strength. I am blessed to slowly, almost imperceptibly improve. I do strive to set specific goals, but a lot of it is a mindset. I want to have a mindset where I'm thinking about what Jesus would do. One where I'm connected to Heavenly Father and the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. 

I know I can be better. I know it will take some effort and sacrifice. It will take kicking some habits that are taking away valuable time from things that could grow my spirit and help others. I want to improve. I want to lay aside every weight and sin that so easily beset me. He knows me. He can help me.




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