D&C 76:1-24
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Summary
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Relationship to Section 76. The relationship of Verses 76:1-24 to the rest of Section 76 is discussed at D&C 76.
Story.
Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Verses 76:1-24 include:
Discussion
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- D&C 76:7: The good pleasure of my will. In this preface to the revelation (verses 1-10) we are told in general terms of the blessings which are given to those who fear and serve God. We will then see in verses 11 and on, how this blessing was made manifest to Joseph and Sidney. What is made manifest to them is given here: the pleasure of God's will concerning the things pertaining to his kingdom or, as verse 10 puts it, the secrets of God's will. This language is closely related to Eph 1:5, 9. The point here, as there, seems to be that how and why God deals with us as he does, is not obvious to our own understanding. A similar point is made in Matt 20:1-16 and Matt 25:37-39, 44: God's will concerning our reward will often be different than the expectations of those he rewards.
- D&C 76:12. Joseph and Sidney tell us that their "eyes were opened" and their "understandings were enlightened." This reminds us of verse 10 which tells us to those who fear God and those who serve him (see verse 5) God will make known unto them the secrets of his will--"even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear hear, nor yet entered into the heart of man." The paradox of seeing something man cannot see requires first that their "eyes were opened."
Unanswered questions
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Prompts for life application
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Prompts for further study
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- D&C 76:4. What does the phrase "from eternity to eternity" mean? Does it imply that there are multiple eternities? What might this even mean?
- D&C 76:4. What does it mean to say that the Lord is "the same" from eternity to eternity? If the Lord was a pre-mortal spirit, then came and obtained a body, then was resurrected to full glory to inherit all that the Father has, hasn't he changed?
- D&C 76:4. What does it mean that the Lord's "years never fail"?
- D&C 76:5. If the LORD is a God of love, why do we need to "fear" him?
- D&C 76:5. What does it mean to serve "in righteousness and in truth"?
- D&C 76:5. What does it mean to serve "unto the end"? When is "the end"?
- D&C 76:6. What is an "eternal" glory?
- D&C 76:7. What is a "mystery"?
- D&C 76:7. What does it mean to have "all the hidden mysteries" revealed? Is there a difference between a mystery and a "hidden mystery"?
- D&C 76:7. What is the difference between "days" of old and "ages" to come? Is there any deeper significance to using these two different ways of expressing periods of time?
- D&C 76:7. What does it mean to "make known" something? Is this just another way of saying "reveal"? How does the LORD make things known to us?
- D&C 76:8. What are the "wonders" of eternity?
- D&C 76:9. What is the "wisdom of the wise"? How does it perish before revealed wisdom and understanding? How does latter day revelation stack up against modern science?
- D&C 76:9. What is the "understanding of the prudent"? Who are "the prudent"?
- D&C 76:9. Are these statements hyberbolic or is there a greater meaning that we're missing here?
- D&C 76:13. When is the "beginning" before the world was?
- D&C 76:13. What are the things that "were ordained of the Father"?
- D&C 76:13. What does it mean for the Only Begotten Son to be "in the bosom of the Father...from the beginning"?
- D&C 76:14. Is this vision and section of scripture "the record" which is "the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ?" If so, is this revelation primarily about degrees of glory, as commonly presumed, or about "the fulness of the gospel"?
- D&C 76:17. How does this verse differ from the KJV of John 5:29? How does the substitution of just/unjust for life/damnation change the meaning of this verse? What is the difference between being resurrected "unto" a resurrection or "in" a resurrection?
- D&C 76:18. Why might this changed wording or sentiment of John 5:29 cause Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon "to marvel"? Why mention that it "was given...of the Spirit"? Wouldn't that be presumed?
- D&C 76:19. What does it mean that they "meditated upon these things"? What does it mean to meditate and how should we do it? What is the difference between meditation and prayer?
- D&C 76:19. What are "the eyes of our understanding"? What does it mean for the LORD to "touch" the eyes of understanding? How are these "eyes" opened?
- D&C 76:19. What is the "glory of the Lord" and how does it shine "round about"?
- D&C 76:20. How did Joseph and Sidney "behold" the glory of the Son?
- D&C 76:20. What does it mean that Joseph and Sidney "received of his fulness"? What is this "fulness"? Is this a fulness of "the Son" or of "the Father" or does it matter?
Resources
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Notes
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