D&C 98:1-5
From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.
Doctrine & Covenants > Section 98
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[edit] Questions
- How can we judge whether a law is justifiable before the Lord (verses 4-5)? Are there constitutional laws that are not justifiable?
[edit] Lexical notes
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[edit] Exegesis
After suffering extreme persecutions in Missouri, the Lord gives this remarkable revelation to the Saints providing guidance on matters of civil government as well as personal and national defense. The standards set out here are peculiar and seem to stand in sharp contrast to the standards of the world, providing both challenges and opportunities for Latter-day Saints.
[edit] Verse 1
The Lord starts by calling the Saints his friends, telling them not to be afraid, and offering them peace. Peace is the main theme of this revelation--how to obtain and maintain it. It is fitting that the revelations starts out with the Lord offering peace to his friends, reminding us that peace is a gift from God. As a gift from God, receipt of peace is conditional upon obedience to certain principles (cf. D&C 130:21). Section 98 outlines the principles we need to follow to obtain peace.
One of the first things we are to do to maintain peace after it is given to us, is to maintain a spirit of rejoicing and thanksgiving "evermore". By concentrating on the gifts we have been given from the Lord, our minds and hearts can be settled and we can maintain the peace that we have been given.
[edit] Verse 2
We are told that we should wait patiently, even when we might be suffering, if we are to maintain peace in our hearts. We need to have faith that even though things may look bleak, our "prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord".
[edit] Verse 3
The Lord promises to fulfill his promises to us, so that no matter how difficult our situation may appear, we can have faith in what he has promised us—and rejoice and give thanks for it. Not only will he fulfill his words to us, but he will take the afflictions that we bear, and make them "work together for [our] good."
[edit] Verse 4
Here the Lord outlines his standard for good laws and government. Apparently, it is most important to the Lord that people be able to "do all things whatsoever [he] commands them."
[edit] Verse 5
After declaring that his primary concern is that people be able to obey him, the Lord here decrees that any constitutional law that allows people to be able to fully obey the Lord "belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable." Sometimes, we may be tempted to read this as stating that all constitutional laws are justifiable, but that isn't what this verse says. It clearly states that only constitutional laws that allow people to freely obey God are justified.
[edit] Related links
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