We are so blessed to have easy access to the word of God in so many forms and the promise that God will send us the Holy Ghost if only we will believe His word. This is one of the beautiful messages from this past week's Come, Follow Me reading (D&C 3-5).
16 And behold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit--
I have really enjoyed the Come, Follow Me reading this week (Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65). I learned something from Joseph's father, Joseph Smith Sr. When Joseph reported to his father that he had seen an angel, his father believed him and told him to go and act on that revelation.
I want to be the kind of father who encourages my children to seek personal revelation and then act on it in faith. I really believe that parental encouragement as children embark on a path of discipleship can lead them to do great things in the Lord's kingdom.
The messenger … commanded me to go to my father and tell him of the vision and commandments which I had received.I obeyed;I returned to my father in the field, and rehearsed the whole matter to him.He replied to me that it was of God, and told me to go and do as commanded by the messenger.
In this week's Come, Follow Me readings, these verses in section 1 ("the Lord's preface"), identify purposes of the Doctrine and Covenants and show that wherever we are in our personal journey in mortality, the Doctrine and Covenants can bring us closer to the Savior.
Of these verses in D&C 1, President Ezra Taft Benson said, "the Lord relates how people’s lives had been changed through the revelations and lists the blessings they enjoy, blessings that readers of the Doctrine and Covenants may receive today...."
24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.
25 And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known;
26 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed;
27 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;
28 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time.
