followHIM - Doctrine & Covenants 58-59 : Dr. Alexander L. Baugh Part II

Episode Date: May 23, 2021

Dr. Alexander Baugh continues our discussion about the cultural disparity between the Saints and the local population in Missouri as we discuss Doctrine and Covenants 58-59. The Lord is gathering Saints from the United States, Canada, and England to create an organization that will have Saints in every corner of the world. The Lord is calling them and us to bring what little we have, and He will multiply our efforts.Show notes: https://followhim.co/episodesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FollowHimOfficialChannelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followhimpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcast

Thank you for joining us in part two with Dr. Alex Baugh. Let's jump right into the content of section 58. We'll turn it to you, Alex. What can you tell us? What's going to happen August 1st? Okay, so now that they're there and there's a certain amount of people, again, they're not all there. The Colesville branch isn't all there, but they're coming.

And others will come. And these other missionaries will wish they were there, but they'll get there. They'll fulfill the revelation and at least get there. In fact, the revelation says, for those en route, still hold another conference for them. But, you know, Edward Parsons, you can do that once they get here. But I think the Lord throws kind of a warning shot to them in the opening verses. I don't know how I would have felt had I read this. But it basically says, O ye elders of my church, give ear to my word. Verse 2, For verily I say unto you, Blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death.

And he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven. I think he's giving them a little warning shot here that they're going to have some hardships. You think of Zion and go, wow, this is fantastic. We've read about this in the book of Mormon, but, um, yeah, the idea, here's the plan.

We're going to move there, build Zion. The Lord's going to come, right? This is a, this is a perfect plan. And the Lord saying it might not happen just the way you think it's going to happen.

Yeah. It's not going to be all, all roses. And, um, so notice again, verse four, for after much tribulation come the blessings. That's a great message to all of us. And I think any one of us can say, you know, when you're married or, you know, when you

start a mission, you go, boy, this is going to be great. Well, it's going to be hard. Life's hard. You know, there's the refiner's fire, and tribulation builds saints. It builds the people of God. And although we need to build Zion, it may not happen in your lifetime even to these saints, but at least be here. And in fact, he says that they might be honored, verse 7, in laying the foundation and bearing record of the land upon which the design of God shall stand. I admire these people. Like I say, they had no clue that 200 years down the road, we'd be sitting there going, you know, the Knights, the Gilberts, the Partridges, these are great saints who's inspired me to live the gospel in ways that they would never—they didn't picture themselves as being known throughout the church.

I mean, just reading the Revelations, we mention their names. Oliver Granger, section 117. We just mentioned him, but he's there for time immemorial because he was mentioned in a revelation. I really love these people. And again, we see from hindsight, they just didn't have that. And so the Lord's telling him it's going to be tough, but you'll be honored. This is a great honor that you're here and can kind of lay the foundation of the church in Missouri. And when you think about it today, let's just jump ahead. What have we got in Missouri? Oh, right in the Kansas City area, there's what, seven, eight stakes.

We've got a temple. We've got visitor centers. We've got visitor centers. We've got, oh, my goodness. I threw out the first pitch at a Kansas City Royals game in July of 2018 as part of a Mormon day for the Royals there. John, that's wonderful. With all of the Kansas City missionaries in the stands. I threw it to my wife. They said, who do you want to catch it? And Kim was there and we practiced at the hotel and she kept dropping it.

But when it came time, she caught it. Wonderful. And it was high and outside, but the mascot said it was a strike. So it was pretty funny. But yeah, and the Kansas city temple is there. It's just beautiful. Can I say something real quick? What you just said is, is so I just have never noticed verse seven that you might be honored in laying the foundation and bearing record of the land upon which Zion of God shall stand. I'd never noticed that because they wouldn't have known here. If you would have told them, Hey, one day, we're going to have a podcast and it's going to be all about you. Right. And they would,

what in the world, why would everyone be talking about us? Well, we're going to print these revelations and your name's going to be in them. They would have had any clue that, and I just, I'd never noticed that before. And I, I like to think that the Lord saw programs like the one we have here honoring these people. God has the big picture. Absolutely. But Alex, this is just a start because laying the foundation, do you think that was a hint to them that you might not completely build Zion, but you're going to lay a foundation? Yep. No question about it.

And that sticks with them for a long time. And what I mean by that is, in 1833, when they're expelled, and there's about 1,200. And when you can imagine Joseph Smith, he's absolutely devastated. They are too. But they're going to hold it. Weren't we supposed to? This is our land that, you know, this is the designated spot. That must have been such a huge disappointment. And then, unfortunately, when they do Zion's camp, we thought maybe this is the chance we can have to redeem Zion.

Put him back, yeah. Didn't happen. And then we keep moving. And then, of course, 38, 39, we go again. And Joseph, I know, is just going, this hurts. Now, hold it. Why aren't we there? We're supposed to be there.

And then finally, the Lord says in section 124, when men come about to cause problems and prohibit you from, I'm paraphrasing terribly, but I will require no more at your hand. So don't worry about it. We're not going back to Missouri. We're done your hand. So don't worry about it. We're not going back to Missouri. We're done for now. But don't worry. We'll still be there. Zion will not be moved out of her place.

It is meant to be. And again, he writes in the Articles of Faith. That's later on after they've been kicked out. Right. But Zion, the new Jerusalem, will be built upon the American continent. He still believes it, even though they're in Nauvoo at that time. Joseph Smith said Zion should be the greatest object of our people. I mean, this is, and this is President Nelson. We're not necessarily

gathering back to Missouri, but we are establishing through the gathering of Israel in a preparatory way for the establishment of Zion. It's going to happen. And you see it happening in his emphasis is absolutely right spot on if we're going to establish that city and that community that will welcome him when his return comes. Now, I don't know how the rest of the world would look at our attitudes and views about this, but we have a vision of the future, and I'm just grateful to be a part of it at this point in time in my life. I don't know if you'll see it. I don't know if I'll see it. I doubt I will. But in the meantime, gather Israel, build it up.

The day will come. Zion will be established. It'll be wonderful. I think, too, this helps us as we see these different, I wouldn't say evolving, but we're getting different definitions of what Zion is. Because it's a cause at one point. It's a place at one point, it's a people, it's a spiritual state at one point. What would you say it is now? We're hoping for a future geographic place. Would you say it that way? But we are all trying to reach a state, a spiritual state of Zion, being of one heart and one mind. Is that a good? Yeah, I think we can say there's multiple meanings of Zion. The Purim heart, it's a state, a spiritual state of Zion, being of one heart and one mind. Is that a good? I think we can say there's multiple meanings of Zion.

Yeah. Pure in heart. It's a location. We refer to the stakes of Zion. There's kind of a multiple use of that term. this context, I think we can say that Joseph and the object of these saints was to lay the foundation, prepare for the time when all saints in their minds would gather here and be the people of God and live like Enoch and his people and have one heart, one mind. I do try to kid a little bit with my, I have 14 families, 14 homes in our cul-de-sac. And I said,

you know, if I could have named this street, I would name it Zion Circle. You know, they're such good people. We have one non-Latter-day Saint family, but they are just sweetest people. And they, Pat and Ken Malzak, and they love to watch conference. But they're part of our community. Part of Zion. Gosh, I got to quit. Well, listen, if you expand your circle and any lots come up, you call me. Call Zion Realty. Tell me there's an opening.

Well, I got to tell you, Susan, my wife, the only time I've taken her to Missouri, it's unfortunate, but is in summer. And she said, Alex, we got to change the weather patterns here. You know, it was like 102 one time with 98% humidity. Nine months out of the year, it's not bad. But I can imagine that game that you did your pitch. Yeah. You were fanning yourself the rest of the game. I was going to bring that up.

I thought the times I've been to Adamant Diamond, it was so hot. I thought, I don't want to hike back here. It's brutal, brutal. While they're going to lay the foundation, the Lord kind of gives a little bit of a timetable, I think, here for us with this kind of parable. I mean, it's kind of interesting to see how these parables prop up, you know, crop up in the revelations of Joseph Smith. But he talks about how there will be a feast of fat things that might be prepared for the poor. We always got to worry about them. But in regards to this great feast, who's going to be invited? Well, first the rich and the learned, the wise and the noble, and then come at the day of my power, then shall the poor, the lame, the blind, the deaf come in at the marriage of the Lamb.

And I think this is actually, this parable is trying to show us how the gospel will spread. For example, where do we go with the missionary, where does the gospel preach to in the, let's just go to the 19th century? Well, the United States, Canada, Europe, kind of the established countries, the economically advantaged countries. Where are we going now? Well, Zimbabwe, Nigeria. And I'm not putting those countries down. I'm just saying we could never have come to them with the gospel unless we had the gospel first established in the nations of the earth where it could grow and prosper. And we can take the full programs and operations of the church.

Wonderful. But it will have a pattern of, okay, who can sustain the church in the global perspective of trying to get the gospel to all the nations? We have to start with those who can sustain it, and then we can have the means whereby we can go to other nations. And I think you all know, where is the gospel going forth the greatest? West Africa, Indonesia, Philippines. In 19th century terms, this would be considered the heathen. And yet they're vastly outshining our conversions of Europe. And I'm not saying we're not making converts in Europe, but Europe is secularized, even America.

But boy, go to Ghana, Ghana, and Democratic Republic of Congo. And it's amazing the temples that are going in. Well, what a great connection, Alex. What a great connection with verses 9, 10, and 11 there. I'd never seen that. Yeah, and it's a New Testament parable. And I love that you said that because I keep noticing that too. You know how Jesus expounded all the scriptures in 1 to in third Nephi. And here we go with another one and giving us a,

a way to interpret it with a modern church history. That's really cool. So it's called the marriage of the lamb in, in verse 11, like you said. And wasn't it wonderful in the April conference who spoke? Yeah. All of them international.

That was so great. And to see these primary children singing, I'm a child of God, or I love to see the temple in Korean. I tell you, that was a monumental, momentous conference just for who participated. And some of them spoke in broken English, but boy, I felt testimony. I just sit there and go, these people are powerful, spiritual people brought into the household of God. And hopefully they'll learn about Edward Partridge and Joseph Knight. And some of these, these, these names must be foreign to them,

but they'll be well known. Anyway, that's kind of backing up again. No, thank you. That's a great way to look at that. Because at one time, I remember learning in the Nauvoo pageant and just going, oh, why didn't I know that? But that they called all the 12 and sent them all to the British Isles, right? And to focus their missionary work there for a time. Yeah, industrialized Europe. Go to London, go to Great Britain. And of course, they came to Nauvoo

and helped us build the temple. We could not have done it without the British saints and the British stonecutters. Fantastic people. So there's a pattern there. And I think, I hope that's a kind of a correct assessment. I, it may be there. I love it there. So let's keep going. Well, you, you mentioned then we mentioned a little bit about Edward Partridge and there's his condemnation. Unfortunately,

there it is. But as you know, he was told originally that in him there is no guile. He was like Nathaniel. But he had his moment. But I will tell you, he never wavered after this. Never. Never. He saw the saints. He was the main point man for the church throughout, really, all of Jackson County.

And, of course, who does the mob go after on July 20th? Not Oliver Cowdery. He goes after Partridge and Phelps and Gilbert. That's two years from now, right, Alan? Yeah, that's two years from now. They're not out there striking David Whitmer. He's one of the witnesses, but it's Partridge. And then in Clay County, he does everything he can to get them settled there.

And then who oversees the move to Caldwell County? It's Partridge. And then who helps get the Saints out of Missouri? Partridge. And then he dies in 1840 in Nauvoo. Edward Partridge is just one rock. And again, I just stand. you talk about cemeteries, you stand in Nauvoo at that wonderful memorial to Edward Partridge. You just have to, like I say, almost weep at what he did for the church.

But he had that one moment. And then he repented so quickly as I shared that letter, that portion to his wife that he writes back. And says, I don't know if I'm even worthy of this position. And I'll try to be. But he was so quick to repent. I hope I can be like him in so many ways and repent quickly. And I make mistakes. We all do.

But just repent quickly and move on and make amends. Wow. He's, of course, to be a judge in Israel. That's what bishops do. Verse 17. He's going to have counselors. One's Isaac Morley. He's going to come and leave Kirtland.

And then the other is John Corll. And Isaac Morley is going to leave a pretty big farm, isn't he? No question about it. And that was his consecration. And he moves there and all three of them are going to move on to the temple property once that property is acquired. So who are the counselors? Isaac Morley and John Coral. And they will be his counselors all the way through the Missouri period. Wow. Unfortunately, we do lose John Corll.

John Corll is one good man, great man. But finally, Caldwell County did him in. He just could not follow the saints anymore. But he wrote a wonderful history. And that history is in the Joseph Smith papers. And he's not bitter. He's not antagonistic. He's just, and again, I honor him, but he was beat up.

He was just, he had had it, and he just couldn't take it anymore. And again, I feel badly about that. But John Corll was actually elected a representative from Caldwell County to the Missouri legislature. And in the legislature, he defended us, tried to help us get out of the state and give us some get some state funds to compensate a little bit. He's he's a good man. And I think he's going to be OK. But that Missouri just it was just too tough on him. But at the same time, there were those who made it through.

And then, of course, as I mentioned, it's going to be difficult because of the element, the differences of the population that they're around. And so it's not surprising the Lord says, keep the laws of the land, do everything you can to be loyal, faithful citizens in spite of their opposition and, and times in which they may, you know, use the law against you. That's verse 21, right? Let no man break the laws of the land. For he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land. Beautiful. And, of course, they also keep the laws by my hand, verse 23. And, of course, I should back up to verse 22.

Be subject to the powers that be. And I love President Oaks' talk in conference about what we need to do, what the Constitution stands for. We honor that. We honor the laws of the land and do everything you can to uphold the laws peacefully. And that was certainly a message to the Latter-day Saints, especially. And we did not retaliate, really, when they came after us in 1833. We tried to somewhat defend ourselves, but when they said, you have to go, we left. We didn't want to, but we saw no other way to restore peace. Well, we have the appointment of Edward Partridge to have his residence with his counselors, and I could

show you a map that we've put together that shows you where they lived on the temple lot. But I have to jump to verse 26. And this is one of my favorites, simply because if you're going to be trying to become a Zion person, you better have initiative. I don't know how to describe this anyway, but the Lord uses the example of being not, not being, you know, in terms of using your agency for a good cause. And if you don't, if you have to be compelled in all things, you're like a slothful servant. And I have joked with my students and said, you know, I think there's only one reason why the Lord created a sloth as an example of what you shouldn't be. I mean, the animal is so interesting in some ways,

but they are slow. I love that you pointed out initiative. Keep going with that. That's, that's the idea is, I think, I think sometimes the Lord just expects us to figure it out. Yeah. You know, you get you get a like you say, a missionary, you get a new companion. You're in a new area. What do you do? Well, figure it out. You know, make it happen.

You're coming to BYU or going to school. What are you going to be? Figure it out. Take some classes. Do this. Get going. Get going. Move. Things work out for those who really just dig in and make things happen. Make a difference. John, you've said something like that, like God can't direct you unless you're moving. Well, there's an old saying of God cannot steer a parked car.

And I think the Marion G. Romney quotation that I like is you can't expect God to guide your footsteps unless you're willing to move your feet. And I think that the one that we always think of here is kind of first Nephi 4.6. I was led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand, but he just, he just made tracks. He broke his bow. He made a new one. And the topical guide reference there says initiative. And so I've got to, I'm going to tie that to a Nephi making a new bow instead of complaining, just thought, well, let's see, I broke it. What should I do? I'll make another one, you know? So. Well, and he goes on and says, you know, that he that doeth anything until his commandment, there's the word again. He keepeth it with slothfulness.

I think with the ministering commission we have, just go do it. I shouldn't even say this, but I like to make rolls on Sunday and I just sit there and I go, okay, who can I take some rolls to? Our family's not going to eat them all. Just do it. I have got to move to your circle, you know? Well, I have to say I've been making rolls every Sunday for Sunday dinner. Well, there was three years I was a bishop, I couldn't do it. But my kids love my wife so much. I sit there and go, at least I could be remembered for something. And that was grandpa's roles, you know. That's great.

But just do it. Make it happen. Follow those initial promptings and just follow through. Alex, I always talk about the brother of Jared here, where the Lord says what do you think figure it out yeah come up with an idea or uh when the lord is feeding the 5 000 right bring me what you have philip how are we going to feed all these people right and andrew's still in people's lunches well i got this kid's lunch what do you know i like that i think the lord likes a little gumption little initiative zacchaeus climbs the tree so he can see the lord like i think the lord likes that when we're we a little initiative. Zacchaeus climbs the tree so he can see the Lord. Like, I think the Lord likes that when we're trying things, we're putting forth effort.

I think ministering is a perfect example to bring there because we want a sign up sheet and a checklist. And with ministering, it's that's kind of a little different now. It's what you were saying. Go, go, just do it. Go figure out something you can do. I need to mention right now that my ministering family listens to the podcast. And so I count that as ministering. So to the day family who is listening, sure.

Love you. Hope you're doing well. All right. Keep going. I think that works. Okay. Yeah. Lord, I did.

I made this podcast for them and for other people, but for them. I'm teaching gospel doctrine this year. I'm grateful for that opportunity. Does your ward realize who they have? Oh, they're patient with me. But every Friday or Saturday, I do send the entire ward some supplementary materials that I hope will be a benefit to them. And, you know, it could just be from the, you know, Revelations in Context, you know, James Colville or, you know, things like that, just things that they can read that

will supplement. And then, of course, there's some videos. And, you know, when we were talking about the Three Witnesses, I said, you got to see this classic. There's a whole generation hasn't seen the classic three witnesses video. Oh, yeah. So I gave them a link for that. And again, it makes me happy just to the fact that some would say, thank you for sending that to us. And I said, well, I just want you to have something else, you know. Right. But yeah, initiative is the key, I think.

Just do something and make things happen. You know, when I've read verse 27 to my classes, I've talked about being engaged. All of us teach at BYU, and engaged people are obsessed with each other. And so I've always said, this is why the Lord wants us to be anxiously engaged. There's your cue right there. Obsessed with the work. Obsessed, right? I just got to do more. I want to do more.

How can I do more? And you watch engaged students and they just can't get enough of each other. And you think that's how we need to be with the gospel. Engaged, right? Just can't get enough. I love that, Alex. Again, looking at verse 30 through 33, I think you've probably explained or tried to explain this to others. But if we're promised, you obey, you keep a commandment, you obey, you get the blessing. And then unfortunately, if you don't obey, the Lord has to revoke it so it's not over your head.

And then you say, gosh, didn't work. God didn't fulfill his promises. Well, right. And I think we need to say also that you don't get to choose the blessing. So often we say, I'll be obedient and I want this particular blessing. When in some cases, the blessing may be difficulty to, like you said, create Zion in you. So, you know, it isn't like I've often wanted to choose the blessings I get from keeping the commandments. Right. Or I create an expectation or an assumption that if I keep these commandments, I get these particular blessings. And that's not what the Lord has said.

Yeah. Right. I mean, look at these saints being driven out of Jackson County. They had a certain expectation of what the blessing was going to be and the Lord still blessed them, but it wasn't with what they had thought. Yeah. Good point. That's why going back to verse three, I just love verse three. You cannot behold with your natural eyes for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come

hereafter. That is an awesome verse in this whole section. And that's a trust me type section. Yeah, that's an Isaiah 55, right? My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts. It almost is, you're going to have to trust me on this. I can see things you can't see. We have a mention made here of good old Martin Harris.

And I love this guy. And we have to treat him with great honor and respect because his brother is the ancestor of Dallin H. Oaks. Right. Emer Harris. And I could take you to his grave up there in the Logan Cemetery. Of course. But anyway, I think it's interesting. We have the evidence that Martin Harris was the one who was asked, of course, to get things going here. And he donates $1,200 to purchase the first lands in Jackson County, Missouri. So we want to give him credit for the Book of Mormon.

Absolutely. But he was asked in that, what, verse 35? 35. Yeah. And this is what he shall do with his money there. So he came through. And interestingly enough, I've got all the land purchases in Jackson County of 1831, 32, and 33, I found all of them with some help of another colleague. And sure enough, they spent just over $1,200 for the—that was probably earmarked by, as a result of Martin Harris. Their last purchase in December put them just a little bit over the $1,200 mark. So give Martin Harris a nice pat on the back. He came through with the helping to establish the first land purchases

in Zion. I hope everybody listening will always defend Martin Harris. If you've listened to this podcast, you have hopefully come to a new love for this good, good man. And here again, Donnie, and that's $1,200 in 1831, Alex. It's huge. Huge. You and I don't have that money. I'll tell you that much. Goodness. John, what were you going to say? I just wanted to make sure it's 1,200. And I also, yeah, we mentioned that in the earlier podcast. We even quoted the Elder Oaks talk where he said, my middle name is, I'm Dallin Harris Oaks. And all of that happened,

the losing of 116 before he was baptized. Well, we believe in baptism for the remission of sins, don't we? And so look what Martin did. And I love that verse. He's an example for the church. Yeah, absolutely. He comes through every time when, you know, he's our financier, I guess you might say. And we had to. There just wasn't, the saints just didn't have the means there. That kind of fits with the parable earlier, too, that first we're going to gather the rich and the learned, the wise and the noble. And then because Martin Harris was in a position to do something that a lot of people wouldn't have been.

Right. Exactly. So we mentioned a little bit about Phelps's personality, but he's obviously gotten to know Joseph Smith on this trip. They're living with each other. You know, they're in route together. And Joseph obviously recognizes his talents and skills. But Phelps is going to be planted down here and he will be a major player. Of course, they come after the print shop of Phelps in 1833 and so on. And he's an articulate, gifted man. He is a little different in his patriarchal blessing, given I'm trying to think 34, 35, somewhere in there. It says, W.W. Phelps, thou art a strange man, a speckled bird. His talents and abilities far exceeded his peculiarities, I guess.

Okay, yeah. But again, Phelps had an ego. There's no question. And I don't know what, I don't understand all of his personality. Bruce Van Orden's written a terrific biography of Phelps. Okay.

And it's worth reading every word. But something set him off here a little bit. And Joseph has to, or the Lord has to kind of reprove him. And of course, he says, he's not sufficiently meek. He needs to repent. Kind of an interesting verse. And people may wonder why this is even in here, that the Lord would direct Sidney Rigdon, who's a very good writer, by the way, to write a description of the land of Zion. Well, we live in different times. They don't have photography. The only way you can describe something to someone is through writing. And so he, I'm sure, would have recognized the need for that. He ended up doing it. But when

we get back to Kirtland, he may have not done it while he was here, but when he gets back to Kirtland, he does write something. And unfortunately, in section 63, the Lord tells Martin, I'm not pleased with my servant, Sidney. He exalted himself. But then he says, and his writing is not acceptable unto the Lord, and he shall make another. So I guess, you know, I've had that happen in English class. But anyway, we don't know if exactly what was his description and what the first one was and what the second one was. There is a description of Zion in the prophet's manuscript history that may very well be his. But just we got to get people to be excited to come here.

And you didn't do a good job on that. Oh, goodness. Can you imagine the Lord? No, that's not good. Right. Yeah. No, no check plus smiley face on that paper. Yeah. Maybe you should have asked Phelps. Right. He could, he could have done it maybe a little better. Poor Sidney. Okay. The other thing is, of course, we don't want to overwhelm our local citizenry. And so the Lord tells them, verse 54, 55, 56. And again, inasmuch as there is land obtained, let there be workmen sent forth of all kinds

unto this land to labor for the saints of God. So we need, we need tinsmiths. We need people who can run mills. We need various types of people who can contribute. And a Cooper. I know who a Cooper is. He can make barrels. There you go.

Yeah. And, you know, we need we're going to live the law of consecration. We're going to do a lot of sharing. We need different types of people. And then, of course, verse 56, and let the work of gathering not be in haste nor by flight, but let it be done as it shall be counseled by the elders of the church. We don't, again, want to overrun this. And unfortunately, like I say, maybe we gathered a little bit too quickly in some regards because, again,

one of the arguments used against the saints for the reasons or the reasons, the justifications, I should say, that the Jackson County citizens used against the saints was that they were fearful they would overrun the land and take over the politics and everything like that. So you can see the wisdom in not going too quickly, but at the same time, selecting the right people to go that would be most beneficial for the Latter-day Saint communities. Interesting. When the Lord says, don't do this, and they do it anyway. Yeah.

The next verse is kind of interesting. Again, Joseph will know where he's now supposed to go, and I'll talk about that in just a minute, to actually dedicate the spot. They've probably selected the spot. Two days later, August 3rd, they will dedicate the Lord asks Sidney Rigdon to consecrate or dedicate the actual land, this land of Zion, and then also a spot for the temple, the spot for the temple. As things turned out, the next day they do have a dedicatory service for the dedication of the land of Zion. That's August 2nd. And then on August 3rd, Joseph Smith dedicates the temple site. So whereas Rigdon was really supposed to do both, I think when it came to dedicating the temple, Joseph goes,

I'm going to do that one. And so we just have a slight variation of what was described in the revelation there. And then, of course, we now need to, once those are all done, once we've dedicated the land, dedicated the temple site, and had our conference that they were commanded to do in section 52, we need to head back. And so that's why he says here, and let no man return from this land except he bear record by the way of that which he knows and most assuredly believes. And in other words, bear testimony on the way home. Preach the gospel. Open your mouths, you know, spare not. Sadly, of course, we find out that they get partway through Missouri on the way back.

And the Lord tells them, you've been, you're going back so speedily, there's people perishing on either sides of the river. You need to take time. You need to talk, you know, open your mouth. So they could have been a little better, at least trying to fulfill that charge. So some are going to stay and some are going back to Kirtland. Is that right? Well, yes. I think we can safely say that the group that's coming, the larger group is the rest of the Colesville branch. Those are the ones we want planted here. We're also going to keep, Partridge is going to stay here, but some of the leadership are going to stay there. In fact,

Bishop Partridge writes his wife and says, I hope you can come this season, but I have to stay here and make things happen and purchase the land. So he doesn't go back. I know that. And I'm trying to remember when Lucy comes down. And he tells her in the letter, everything you need to bring, bedding, pots, pans, so they could be comfortable. This is the wild frontier out here. I love the last verse, actually verse 64, kind of the capstone of this revelation.

For verily the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. The gospel must be preached unto every creature with the signs following them that believe. Again, emphasis on the gathering by going into the world, preaching the gospel, and then hopefully have them gather to Zion and their expectations for Zion. This place. He started with that. This is the place and the gospel is going to go forth from

here all right um but it looks like joseph's still there six days later well let me let me uh maybe i could just say a little bit about the dead the two dedications is that okay what day yeah just tell us what days those happen so aug August 1 is this Revelation 58. And so now they've been told, Rigdon's been told to dedicate or consecrate the land. So the next day, 12 men. Does that sound like an important figure, number? Twelve men symbolically laid the first log for the establishment of Zion. So the 12 men consisted of seven men of the Colesville branch who had just arrived a few days earlier. And then the five others are names we know a little bit more about. Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon,

W.W. Phelps, and then Ezra Booth. I'm absolutely convinced it was right there at the Joshua Lewis property. And so that's where everybody's at. And he just barely purchased this, not even a week before. So I don't even know if they know where it is yet. But the point is, we have a marker there. And I don't know if you remember, Hank, but this is the marker in Troost Park with the bronze piece with 12 men and Joseph with this log. Anyway, maybe you've seen that too, John. But anyway, that keeps getting stolen. They keep prying it off. It's a bronze piece. And I know that the kids go, hey, I can take that to some

foundry and get 50 bucks for it. But anyway, that's not the reason that I'm saying it's there. But the reason it is, is because again, they were assembling at the Joshua Lewis property. So Joseph is going to do three things while he's down there. Dedicate the land of Zion, which happened on the 2nd. Dedicate the temple site, which is August 3rd. And then have that conference on August 4th. And then they can make plans to go back. And that will be section 59. So what's interesting is when did Joseph Smith actually know where he was to actually dedicate the site?

As we've learned in Section 57, the Lord said it was on the spot lying west of the temple, not far or west of the courthouse. So at some point in time, he actually had some revelatory understanding. And in 1835, I'm going to excerpt just a little bit, but this is what he wrote. So years later. Yes, this is years later. So this is reflective four years later. Having received a commandment to take my journey to the western boundaries of the state of Missouri, and there designate the very spot which was to be the central spot for the commencement of the gathering together of those who embrace the fullness of the everlasting gospel, I accordingly undertook the journey with certain ones of my brethren.

There was eight in his company. And after a long and tedious journey, suffering many privations and hardships, I arrived in Jackson County, Missouri. And after viewing the country, seeking diligently at the hand of God, he designated to me and others the very spot upon which he designed to commence the work of the gathering and the upbuilding of an holy city, which should be called Zion. So it was a revelatory experience. He didn't go in any detail. Yeah. But this area that he did select was unfortunately, if I could say it this way, was occupied in terms of a squatter's right by a man by the name of Jones H. Flournoy.

Okay. Flournoy had come to Independence. He lived on the edge of Independence, and the area that composed the temple site was to the west of his house. And somehow, I think Joseph had gained some understanding where this location was for this temple. But it was, again, as I've mentioned to you,

this portion of this land had not come for sale and would not come for sale until December 12th. And it was part of what we call the seminary lands. What the state of Missouri and the federal government did was set aside portions of land that could be used after it was sold, or I should say that the sales of which would go for schools. And so this Jones H. Flournoy had staked out, I'm thinking it's about 80 acres and maybe

a little bit more. He might have gotten some more. But I think what happened here, and I think we can say this was safety, that Joseph realized where it was and asked him if they could go on his property. Now, it's not his yet because he hasn't bought it, but it's his because he's squatting on it. So he has the rights to it and said, this is important to us. We'd like to come here and eventually occupy this property. Would you let us do it? And when it comes available, we will pay you for it.

And for some reason, again, we don't know all the reasons why he, with that exchange. But the point is, Joseph would not have gone on this property and they had to cut through the underbrush. I mean, this is a thickly—this is not easy to get to. But it's the highest point in Jackson County outside where the courthouse is. And if anybody's been there, you know this has a slow rise. If you got in a car, you could still see and feel that, oh, you were going up to the top here. So it's a prominent place. So I think that's important to note that I think that the prophet had this visionary or at least revelatory understanding where it was to be, sought permission, dedicated it, but we weren't able to acquire it until Flournoy could acquire it so he could sell it to us. Well, that's a long way of long kind of description of how they got it.

But it's very important to know also that the most, I think, accurate person in describing the actual dedication is Joseph Smith himself. There are several people who claim they were there, but Joseph Smith's description is the very best, and I will read that to you. Awesome. It's very brief. On the third day of August, I proceeded to dedicate the spot for the temple a little west of Independence, and there were present Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, William W. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and Joseph Coe. The 87th Psalm was read, and the scene was solemn and impressive. Now, there's another, some of you are interested in, or at least know about, Ezra Booth.

Ezra Booth is not mentioned as being there, but he obviously went to the site later and described trying to get through to actually— somebody showed it to him where Joseph had actually dedicated the site. And he gave a description and said that they actually blazed a T on the tree for temple. And he saw that and said that's what it was. And then he said on the other side of the tree was a letter Z for Zion. So I think Ezra Booth's description is accurate, but he was not there by any of the accounts for the actual dedication of the temple site. In 1864, W.W. Phelps wrote to the church historian said i was there let me tell you what i remember

and his account is quite interesting where is uh phelps living in 64 he's in utah he's in utah yes yeah yeah so he's he's getting quite old yeah and he says on the fourth day of August, he's got the date wrong. It's the third. Joseph Smith, Edward Partridge, W.W. Phelps himself, Joseph Coe, Oliver Cowdery, Frederick G. Williams, Martin Harris, and Algernon Sidney Gilbert, A.S. Gilbert, as elders, and a brother Holcomb. I've been trying to find out who that is. I think it's Holcomb, but I don't know who it is. Dedicated a little west of Independence, the spot for the Temple of the Lord. I made the prayer.

Joseph Smith delivered the dedicatory words, and Oliver Cowdery closed with a benediction. Coe planted a stone at the southeast corner of the 10 acres for the first temple. So he gives us a little more information there. If his memory's correct, he adds a few more individuals. But I hope to eventually kind of put some flesh on that and kind of help kind of describe a little more why they had to get permission to probably go on the property, who was there, southeast corner, so on and so forth. They did not put a huge cornerstone in. They just marked it with a stone. And when you go to Independence today, it's just this big, flat, grassy area, right?

Yes. And that's where they think this all is. And you see some reorganized buildings and the Community of Christ Auditorium. Okay. John, you've got the layout of land pretty good there. There is three restoration groups who have property there. Temple Lot and Hedrick Heights. Church of Christ, Temple Lot.

We refer to them as the Hedrick Heights. And then the Community of Christ. They own about 40 acres. We've got streets in there now, so that doesn't have the full acreage of the 63. But we have about 18 acres, and that's where our visitor center is established, built. And just right off the line there is the stake center. And the community of Christ has about 40 acres, probably a little less with the street incursion.

I don't, yeah. I don't know if you want me to go into how we got it. We'll do that at a future, a future date. Let me do our podcast from Zion. Yeah, there you go. So on August 4th, we now have the conference of the church that was called for in Section 52. And by this time, the minutes list the names of 14 elders in addition to 31 members. So we've got more elders coming and more members coming from the past week or so. And a hymn was sung. Bishop Partridge prayed.

Sidney Rigdon charged the members to exhortation and obedience. And Richard Zibaziba Peterson confessed his transgressions. And Joseph encouraged all to keep the commandments. And Oliver Cowdery closed the meeting with prayer. So those are eventful three days, actually four. The first, you get the Revelation 58, the dedication to Zion, the second, the third, the dedication of the temple, and the fourth, the conference. So now Joseph feels like he's done everything he needs to do. And I should say, just to support the idea that the dedication of Zion

took place on the Joshua Lewis property, this is where the conference took place. So I'm absolutely convinced that's where it was in Caw Township. Wow. You join the church and they hold conference at your house. That's a nice plan. Conference is at my house, but it's usually on tv so all right uh alex let's move to section 59 i've i noticed in the come follow me manual there's a big bold question who was paulie knight because paulie knight is uh listed here in uh the section right uh in section where is she listed is it 59 she's not actually listed it says wife of joseph knight senior oh do i have the um i have the old scriptures yeah i've got the 2013

um paulie knight comma the wife of joseph knight senior died the first church member to die in zion it says in the synopsis y Let me start over. That's the new heading. Right. The new one. I got my new one right here. Alex, let's move to section 59. It's on August 7th. So just a couple of days after the conference.

And in the Come Follow Me manual, there's a big, bold question. Who is Paulie Knight? Because in the section heading, it says, On the day this revelation was received, Paulie Knight, the wife of Joseph Smith Knight Sr., died. So tell us, give us the background there. Well, first of all, that's a great inclusion by the Scripture Committee, because we didn't have that in the earlier ones. And part of the reason was, is we didn't know which day she exactly died. Okay.

But we do know it's August 7th, because again, Edward Partridge wrote it in his letter to his wife and said, Mrs. Knight died this morning. So she was 57 years old. She is, of course, the wife of Joseph Knight Sr. And even before they left Ohio, her health was tenuous. In fact, Newell Knight, her son, wrote in his autobiography, my mother's health was very poor and had been for a considerable time, yet she would not consent to stop traveling. He went on and said, fearing she might die during the journey, he purchased some

lumber just in case he needed to make a coffin and bury her in route. But then he said, he wrote, but the Lord gave her the desire of her heart and she lived to stand upon the land. And again, she died at the home of Joshua Lewis. This is the Knight family who's known Joseph since what year? 1826? 26, 27. Yeah. Are they the original Colesville family? Yeah. Yeah. And again, part of the Colesville branch.

The branch met at their house, right? Yeah. Yeah. They did have another place as well. I'm trying to think. You mean in Colesville branch. The branch met at their house, right? Yeah. Yeah. They did have another place as well, I'm trying to think. You mean in Colesville? Yeah, just that little house. They've got that little back area. But initially, there were a couple of places where they met.

There was over 70 members of the Colesville branch. That's the same place where Emma was baptized, across the street. Right there at the Cross Street Pickerel Pond, yes. Yeah. They kept having to make a new dam and then it would get torn down and that's that place, right? So here are these people. I mean, this is just incredible. Here are these people who know Joseph long before, I shouldn't say long before, but before

the Book of Mormon is printed, before it's translated, before the church is organized. And Pauline Knight is kind of our, I'm sure she's not the first Latter-day Saint to die, but this is, you know, die in the cause of Zion. This is certainly sobering to all the Colesville branch. I mean, the Knights were the figurehead family. At the same time, you can imagine her condition if she's that near death. And yet she makes it there, just wanted to be, you know, established in Zion, so to speak. Do they bury her there?

Is she the first Latter-day Saint buried in? That's correct, yes. In Zion? And so, again, she's probably buried right there on the Joshua Lewis property. Now, what's interesting, Joseph Knight later said, My wife being sick, the Lewis's took us in their house. They were faithful and good to us. You know, very comforting, and, of course, probably saw to her needs to the very end there. Now, they held a funeral on August 8th, and she was buried in the woods nearby.

Sadly, Joseph Knight remembers that he went to visit the grave a few days later and noticed that some hogs had began to root it up. So he built a pen around it to keep them out. So a fence. And then he concludes and says, it was the last thing I'd done for her. So you can imagine the heartache coming here, you know, the expectations of establishing Zion, but I also had to bury my wife. The point is, I think the good thing that her death did was spawn this revelation. And you catch that right again at the very beginning. Yeah. Where you, verse two, well, he said, blessed saith the Lord, are they who have come up

into the land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments. We could have put Sister Knight. Like Polly. Right there. For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die, such as Polly, shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them, and they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them. And blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion who have obeyed my gospel,

for they shall receive their reward, receive for their reward, the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its strength. And they shall be crowned, and they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, with commandments, not a few. I like that. Yeah. Commandments. God gives commandments to bring about our happiness. And so it's not, it creates a responsibility, but at the same time, commandments provide blessings. Commandments, not a few, and with revelations in their time, they that are faithful and diligent before me. So again, I think that the sobering experience of Polly's death caused Joseph to inquire, well, okay, so she made it here, but is this the end for her? Well, not really. And it's not for us either. And you're blessed for

having been obedient. And again, kind of ties back to section 58. They'll be honored as those who have come to sacrifice their lives, their time, their energies to establish Zion. Yeah. I this section is short. And I I was intrigued that kind of the commandments were repeated there. And but they're not exactly the same as the 10. In fact, I love verse seven. Okay.

Yeah. These are the, of course we know the big 10 in Exodus 20. Here's the big seven. There really are seven. And some of them are a little bit of a reiteration. The first one, of course, is the great commandment. That's Matthew, what, 22? Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and mind and strength.

And, of course, the second one is the second great commandment, to love thy neighbor. That's going to be tough for the church members in Jackson County. We do have the reiteration of thou shalt not steal or commit adultery, nor kill. And the added phrase, nor do anything like unto it. So there's six. And then, of course, verse eight, thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He's leading into the sacrament. And again, I think most all of us know and understand Christ died of a broken heart. And I think even physiologically, there was a wonderful

article in the New England Journal of Medicine on when the sword pierced Jesus's side, out came water or a fluid, and it was basically a heart that burst. It was a broken heart. And so there's physiological evidence that Savior's sacrifice or dying on the cross may have been actually his broken heart. But the point I want to make here is, I think the Lord's trying to tell us, Hank and John, that we're in Zion. Now, how do you create a Zion people? You know from section, what, 42, they are to live the law of consecration. And the law of consecration to us today is a little different, but we give it everything. We give all to the Lord, time,

talents, energies, everything. But how do you manifest that? Well, it's how you worship God himself. And on what day do we worship? Well, the Sabbath. I really think section 58 is the Lord's... Now, he's mentioned sacrament before in section 20... 20. What was that? Section 20 has the prayers in it. There was one where he said, it doesn't matter what you eat and drink. I just can't remember.

Is that 21? Oh, 27? Oh, gosh. I'm wearing a jumbled brain. 27 when he's going to buy... Don't buy wine from your enemies. Yeah, 27. Yeah, yeah, yeah wine from your enemies. Yeah, 27. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah. So, and now I'll kind of back up. Okay. So, in connection with these basic commandments that we're kind of all familiar with, but a little bit of a variation. There's no commandment in the Big Ten to talking about how you worship God, how you actually pay your devotions unto the Most High. And Section 59 capsulizes that principle, and that is, how do you worship me on the Sabbath day?

Give me your broken heart and a contrite spirit, but do it at least once a week. Well, of course, we have to do it at all times in all places. But I think what he's trying to tell him here is if you want to become

a Zion people, worship me the way a Zion people should. Hence, that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day. And again, as soon as we say sacraments, we typically say what?

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper. But sacraments can be anything that we sacrifice. More than that. For and so on. I hope you don't mind. So sacraments, you could say sacrifices there. Offer up your sacrifice.

Yeah. And now we don't sit there and take a ewe lamb of one year. Right. And take them to an altar and have their blood spilt. But we offer other things. I like that. their blood spilt. But we offer other things. And I think the interesting thing here is some of the phrasing, of course, is just absolutely remarkable. We don't have houses of worship yet.

There's no place for them to worship in Jackson County. They're going to build a schoolhouse. Certainly, we've been worshiping in the Isaac Morley House. But the place most people have been worshiping is in their homes. And isn't it remarkable? I don't know if the COVID-19 has done anything for anybody, but for, but my Sabbath day worship has taken on such deeper meaning with Come Follow Me, with the need to, you know, church-supported home worship. Home-centered. Home-centered.

That has made a big, big change in my life. Now, I worshipped with my family on Sunday, but not to the extent that I have in the last year and a half. It has been absolutely remarkable. And I'd like to show you something. For those watching on YouTube or... This is a silver, sterling silver picture. This is from the Logan Second Ward. This is owned by my grandfather and I received it upon his death.

You can probably understand what this was used for. And there's the common cup. Wow. Now, this is why you sat at the front of the chapel. So you don't want to be the last one to drink. Right. But this means a lot to me. I did find one of these.

This is made by the Simpson Hill Foundry in Connecticut. This dates from 1866 to 1898. No kidding. And but I mean, you know, it's so symbolic of what the sacrament is all about and the

bitter cup and, you know, the atonement and so on and so forth. But I have to show you this one, too. I don't know if you can see this. Wow. But these are sacrament cups, sterling silver. I have, there's 18 on here, and I have nine of these. So, what, that's a little less than 160 cups.

That replaced, of course, the common cup because that was impractical to use in terms of health, if nothing else. But in my first worship with my family during the COVID-19, when they told us we could have our sacrament at home, I pulled these out. And I'll tell you, that was probably, will be one of the most memorable sacrament. I mean, we've used it ever since. To think of, again, just the fact that they're priceless in terms of their meaning to us. But at the same time, it was my grandfather's. It's the Logan's second ward on those. So in 1902, they started at least having, there's an inscription on the back, and it's 1902.

They started using the individual cups. But our sacrament meetings at my home have been absolutely heaven. Heaven. My home have been absolutely heaven, heaven. And to then discuss the wonderful elements of these revelations and the doctrines. I'm sure many of you, I'm sure both of you can say the same thing. Sunday is my delight. I've had a renewed appreciation. And the Lord says it himself, this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High.

Your kids didn't want to use the common cup, huh? No. They're like, no, Dad. But of course, we do have Latter-day Saints and we're all striving for perfection. But you've always heard the term, they're Sunday Mormons. And that does happen where we just worship on Sunday, and we may say our prayers all week, but that's about it. But I'm glad the Lord said, Nevertheless, thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times.

But on the Sabbath, make it a point to worship me. And I really believe that the Sabbath day was created to the ancient Israelites, just like us today, so that if we did worship the Savior the way we're supposed to, that all nations, all people would know that Israel's God is God. And if Latter-day Saints would do the same, worship God the way we're supposed to, I think people would say, Latter-day Saints, God is God. They know how to worship him. They know what he stands for. They know of his mission and his atonement. I love how you describe it, a delight. The Sabbath day can be a delight.

And I think President Nelson gave a talk about the Sabbath being delight. In fact, I think he's given a few talks about the Sabbath over the years. But I remember Brother Truman G. Madsen saying something like, for the Jews, they would be held accountable for the joy they didn't feel on the Sabbath, but they should have. Does that ring a bell? That it should be a joy and a delight. And we can get kind of busy. We've got a heavy calling or something like that. But I love that phrase. And I think that should be what we're striving for. And I love that you said that because I thought Elder Holland, I believe in one of the conferences during COVID talked about this home center and emphasis and how the sacrament. I think he was referring to Section 59. Even the sacrament should mean even more now that we can take it home.

Yeah, we definitely need to have the fellowship of the saints. I mean, that's so important that we partake of, that we share our testimonies and our convictions and show our love. But like I say, just being at home with the sacrament and having that opportunity is a rare privilege that we may not have again, maybe for a very long time, maybe a very short time there. But another way we worship, of course, you see some of the most tender and meaningful moments of the Savior's life is when they're enjoying food. And hence, I think the wonderful point in verse 13, what do you do for your food on the Sabbath? Do you prepare it with singleness of heart for the love and service you have for each other?

And I don't know about you, but the best day of the week for a dinner with my family as we worship, at least in conversation and in thanks, is on this nice Sunday dinner. I think God approves of that. It doesn't mean we can't do a little more preparation the day before.

But you think of the times you're drawn to your family and to worship. And I do review with my family. They knew it. When we came home and had dinner, they had to tell me what they learned in Sunday school and priesthood and, and, uh, uh, sacrament. What touched your heart? What songs did we sing? And, um, uh, make it a day of worship and, and, uh, gladness and joy. Uh, Sunday should be the best day of the week.

And I think for most Latter-day Saints, it really is if they're doing it right. Very, uh, what a great statement. I've noticed that the Lord talks about gratitude, thanksgiving in quite a few places here. Verse seven, thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. John, you mentioned that. That's an interesting commandment. Yeah, that's a commandment that I just love that because when I see very strong words like all, I love to say to my class, now what percentage is that anyway? That's a pretty high percentage word. Because I think in all things can even mean for the hard times.

You're thanking him for everything. So the fact that that's in thou shalt language is cool to me. And he says it in 15. Do these things with saving giving, cheerful heart and countenances. And then he goes over in verse 21, nothing offends me more than those who confess not his hand in all things and obey not his commandments. I'm sensing from the Lord, because I think the Lord teaches us for us, not for him, that gratitude expressed, thanksgiving expressed, blesses the expresser more than the receiver right when i when we offer i i remember present hinkley statement right this gratitude is the the the mark of an educated person right there's something about it that blesses our own life when i offer gratitude

to john to alex to you know to anyone, when I offer that gratitude, something about it cleanses me. I think the Lord is saying, you need that cleansing. Offer gratitude. You need it. If I could add one more thing to that, Hank, I think gratitude is very closely related to humility because with gratitude, we see where our blessings are coming from. Right. we see where our blessings are coming from. And we all know Moroni's promise, Moroni 10.4, but Moroni 10.3 is, Ponder how merciful God has been since the creation of Adam until the time you receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And it should fill us with gratitude and humility. And I think that's there because gratitude is the gateway to revelation and gratitude. Humility are prerequisites to Moroni 10, four, then ask, you know, if these things are true. So I think that sequence there of gratitude,

humility is important. Wow. I've been really touched by this, Alex. Um, cause 58 was here's Zion. 59 is now become Zion individually as a group becomes i and so i want to take section 59 with my family and say how can we how can we do a little bit better

with being zion right um they're doing a good job at not killing uh but we could probably do a better job as a family in keeping the sabbath day we could probably do a better job as a family in keeping the Sabbath day. We could probably do a better job of being thankful. Not me, of course, but my children could do better at this. You know, cheerful hearts and countenances. I just think there's a lot that we could take out of Section 59 and say, how can I become more Zion-like? How can I become more Pauli Knight-like? Yeah. And notice what he says, for those who are able to do it,

for those who really put into practice these principles we're talking about, of worship and Sabbath observance and thankfulness, what can God not promise you? Why would he withhold any blessings if you know how to worship him? That's why he says, this is verse 16, I say that inasmuch as you do this, the fullness of the earth is yours.

Beasts of the field, fowls of the air, the herb, all good things which come of the earth for food or for raiment. Earth life is meant to be enjoyed, and if you can balance the blessings God has given you and recognize who they come from and worship him appropriately, why couldn't he give you everything? Because he knows you'll worship him and you won't be drawn by the things

of the world or deviate from the covenant path. You know how to worship him. He can give you all things, including eternal life. So yeah, that's what he says. Even peace in this, with this verse 23, peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. Um, Hank, I, um, I hope our, our listeners know about the website scriptures.byu.edu, where you can see who has mentioned verses in general conference ever since the restoration and that verse 23 i think i was looking got the most gets the most mentions in general conference really um that peace in this world this is so great because look verse two those that live shall inherit the earth those that die shall rest from all labors their works

will follow them. They'll receive a crown of the mansions of my father. And that same idea at the end, peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. And it's a promise of what righteousness will give you peace now, even in the midst of Jackson County type experiences and eternal life in the world to come. I thought, oh, that's kind of nice at this setting of Pauling Nights, remembering Pauling Nights. Oh, yeah. That is wonderful, John. Perfect. I went to Thanksgiving at my sister's house in Mapleton once. And I don't know, it was, I called it a tree of life moment. My family was there.

My siblings were there. A lot of joy, a lot of laughter. And then the food came out, and it smelled so good, and it looked so good. And my mom was there, and we talked about my dad who had passed. And I just thought, this is so heaven-like. And it reminds me of these verses. And I put in my margin here next to verse 18, what a gracious God that we have. Look at this. Verse 17, 16 is talking about the fullness of

the earth, as Alex mentioned. Verse 17, yea, and the herb and the good things which come from the earth, whether for food or for raiment or for houses or for barns or for orchards or for gardens or for vineyards, yea, all things which come barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards. Yea, all things which come of the earth in the season thereof are made for the benefit and use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart. Yea, food for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body, to enliven the soul.

Listen to this. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man. For unto this end were they made to be used. Look at that. And I had just reading that and with my family and all this wonderful food and everything. I'm glad Alex mentioned that food's part of the Sabbath. And the Lord's actually saying, I did this. It pleases me to give this to you.

How cool is that? How gracious a God we have to please our eyes, gladden our hearts. And I just thought I'd love those verses right there. Terrific. It reminds me of Nephi saying that the Liahona led them to the more fertile parts of the wilderness. The best parts. Yeah. wilderness. The best parts. Yeah. Yeah. The best parts. It just seems that, uh, when I, when I am doing what the Lord asked me to do, it's still the wilderness, it's still mortality,

but it's the more fertile parts of the wilderness. It's the best parts of life. Um, Alex, we have one last question for you and you might've read this in the outline. Uh, this is, This is our listeners. They always comment on this part. There's something about hearing the testimony, the personal testimony of a very educated Latter-day Saint. That's something there's something stirring about that. So I'm going to ask you this question.

Alex, you are a professor, you're a historian and you're a scholar. You're also a father and a grandfather. You've been studying the scriptures, uh, especially these revelations church history for decades, though you don't look it, but it has been decades that you have studied this, you know, honestly, Alex, you know, and I'm not, I'm not overstating this. Uh, when I wrote this out, you know, more about the, you know, and I'm not, I'm not overstating this. Uh, when I wrote this out, you know, more about the history of Joseph Smith and the church in Missouri than any other person alive today. Um, uh, and that to me is powerful. Uh, I would love to hear your personal thoughts

on Joseph Smith, the restoration, uh, and what it's done for what it's done for Dr. Alex Ball? Well, that's a loaded question, and I hope I can express it with the right heart. It's just something so magnificent about the restoration. And I guess the more I learn, the more I believe. Again, we are to seek the Lord with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. And we kind of alluded to that a little bit. But there's the combination of the mind and the feeling or the intellect and the feeling of the heart. And I think we all just, we wrestle with things at times. But at the same time, I always come back to the feelings I've received over and over and over again of the restoration.

It just doesn't end. I just get, I discover a new truth or something that just warms my soul again and just convinces me once again, helps me capture my testimony time and time again. And I'm just so grateful for wonderful people who have taken the time to write and research and think and ponder. And it's helped me in my own testimony. I just pray I'll endure to the end. I'm doing my very best, but I know I can give more. And I just love the fact that the Lord has—I'm privileged to be a witness of the Lord in all things and all places in this dispensation. It really is the most glorious dispensation of all time. Although I would have liked to have been in

the time of the Savior, my family said, Dad, if you go back in time, you'd go back to the time of Joseph Smith. And I said, no, I'd probably go back to the time of Jesus. I'd love to see him. I'd love to see him do the things that he did, the miracles, and hear him teach. Hear him teach. We have glimpses of that, of course, in the scriptures. And then I said, and after that, I would probably want to go back and see Joseph Smith and thank him because he really is the dispensation head. There's no question about it. God singled him out of the premortal existence, and we are privileged to be born in this dispensation of time in which the fullness is here, but the

restoration is ongoing. And I hope to do my own part to help that restoration move forward in my own way, not in my own way about the restoration, other than the fact, do what I can to further the work and help people strengthen their testimonies and come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. The gospel is exciting. It's rewarding. It's just mind-boggling at times. But boy, with the Spirit, it just is such a powerful influence in my life,

and I'm grateful. I think you've done all those things you hope to do, at least with us today. I think this is going to bless. I know our listeners are probably just as full as I am, just thinking, oh, we love Alex Baugh and his testimony. Yeah. I'm so glad we know you and we know we have a resource because there's a lot more Missouri to come. And there is. Yeah. So thank you so much for being with us.

And I can't wait to come back to you to help us with some of these other ones in the future. Yeah. We're going to have Alex back. Yeah. When the Saints in the future. Yeah. We're going to have Alex back. Yeah. When the saints are about to leave Missouri, we're going to bring Alex back and he can tell us what's, what's happened to him. Look forward to that.

You, you're both doing a great work and furthering the work of the kingdom in a way that we wouldn't have been doing 10 years ago or five years ago. And I hope that the message that you're trying to convey will reach as many people as we can to help them in their own scripture study and their own lives and their own understanding of the gospel. And I think it's doing a great thing. So thank you so much, Hank and John, for your initiative. Yes. You're anxiously engaged in a good cause. Figure it out. We love it. We feel, you know, it's, it's interesting what appears to be a

sacrifice says president Hinckley. It turns out to be an investment that blesses your life. It's totally changed my doctrine and covenants. Oh, me too. Yeah. It's been great. Yeah. And we, we're not the only ones that do it, John. We want to thank all of you for listening. We want to thank, um, thank you for your support. Uh, of course we're grateful for Dr. Alex Baugh being here today. We're thankful to our, uh, executive producers, Steve and Shannon Sorenson, our production crew. We have a great production crew, uh, here on follow him made up of David Perry, Lisa Spice, Jamie Nielsen, Kyle Nelson, Will Stoughton, and Maria Hilton. And we hope that you will join us on our next episode of Follow Him. Thank you.