32 Stand Ye in Holy Places
Stand Ye in Holy Places
Luke
2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men.
The Christmas message of peace and earth good will toward
men is a joyful salutation. It is the message of deliverance by the promised
Savior.
Yet we still live in a world of war. Joseph felt troubled by the threat of war
on Christmas day. South Carolina had defied the government and was preparing
for battle. The Lord revealed to Joseph that this was only the beginning of War
in this dispensation.
87:2
War would soon be poured out upon all nations.
Think back to section 84. We as disciples of Jesus Christ
need to engage in ministering, testifying, and being missionaries of Jesus
Christ for His gospel. This is how we can combat evil, by inviting all to Come
unto Christ.
Though war was averted with a compromise at that time. But “30
years later, long after Joseph Smith was martyred, South Carolina rebelled and
civil war followed.”
87:6
As wars continue to rage, the earth is indeed mourning.
The best counsel we can receive in relation to being
prepared for calamites is found in verse 8:
Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day
of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.
We need to make our homes holy places as well as our places
of worship. We need to attend the temple as often as possible, both for
ourselves and for our ancestors and living family.
The Lord wants me “to keep a history.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 85:1–2
85:1–2
Keep a record of the service you do in your callings and your ministry. Keep a
record of your way of life, your faith, and the things that you do.
How does keeping a journal enrich your life? What blessings
have come to you through keeping a journal? What blessings have you received by
having access to the journal entries of others, both family members and other
historians? How can keeping a journal help you and help others to Come unto
Christ?
Journals:
‘Of Far More Worth than Gold
Video: Turning Hearts: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-08-0008-turning-hearts?lang=eng
For Kids
The Spirit speaks with a “still small voice.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 85:6
How does the Holy Ghost speak to you?
85:6
Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through
and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake
while it maketh manifest, saying:
Practice whispering and listening carefully.
Share experiences of times when the Lord gave you a message
through the Holy Ghost. How did you feel?
How can we practice listening to the Spirit? How can we
quiet distractions.
The Spirit speaks with a “still small voice.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 85:6
85:6
Think about the ways you have felt the Spirit, particularly the peace that He
brings to you in times of trouble and worry. How does the Spirit speak to you?
Doctrine
and Covenants 6:22–24 23 Did I not speak peace to
your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have
than from God?
8:2–3
2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in
your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which
shall dwell in your heart.
9:7–9
8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out
in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is
right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you;
therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
11:12–13
2 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put
your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to
do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly,
to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart
unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which
shall fill your soul with joy;
128:1
I now resume the subject of the baptism for the dead, as that subject
seems to occupy my mind, and press itself upon my feelings the strongest
Luke
24:32 32 And they said one to another, Did not
our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by
the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Mosiah
5:2 2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we
believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of
their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has
wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more
disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
Alma
32:28 28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now,
if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart,
behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by
your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will
begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions,
ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good
seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it
beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be
delicious to me.
Helaman
5:30 30 And it came to pass when they heard this voice,
and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a
great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect
mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—
Use object lessons. People remember a gospel
lesson better when they see or participate in an object lesson related to what
they are learning. For example, when teaching about the still, small voice of
the Spirit, maybe you could play a recording of soft, sacred music, and
learners could talk about how the music makes them feel and how much harder it
would be to hear if there were distracting noises. This could lead to a
discussion about distractions in our lives that keep us from hearing the still,
small voice.
NOTE from me: Quiet music that is played by others to try to
make feel a certain way distracts me terrible from feeling the Spirit
authentically.
The scriptures describe the voice of the Spirit as a still,
small voice.
Video: Thus Saith the Still Small Voice: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/08ze0jyu7soy4u6siusrjsv4xfy7own26uo4oxgu?lang=eng
For Kids
I can help gather God’s people.
Doctrine
and Covenants 86
Matthew
13:24–30 Teach the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Read 86:1–7
Find pictures of wheat and describe the harvest. Ask you
they can help gather, by inviting them to come unto Christ. Ultimately, we all
have the potential to be the wheat. We need to choose to leave the evils of the
world and seek to follow Christ and make the world better. We want to prepare
ourselves and the world for the Lord’s second coming.
The righteous are gathered to Christ in the last days.
Doctrine
and Covenants 86
As you read D&C 86, pay attention to the interpretation
of the parable of the wheat and the tares.
You could list what you find as far as symbols, meanings, and questions to
ponder. (See List below.)
Symbols Possible
Meanings Questions
to Ponder
Sowers of the seed prophets
and apostles, What
kinds of seeds do
missionaries
and teachers disciples
of Christ plant?
The enemy Satan,
his followers, How
does the enemy of
Those
who fight against the all
righteousness fight
Lord’s
Church. Against
the Lord’s work?
Read verses
8–11 Because I have been to the temple and received Priesthood power, I
have been endowed to be a light to the Gentiles. As I continue to follow His
light and his prophets and apostles, I can work along with the Savior of the
Harvest to help bring souls to Him. We can also become as saviors on Mount Zion
by proclaiming the gospel and helping to redeem the dead through temple work.
For Kids
I can be like a light to others.
Doctrine
and Covenants 86:11
Read Doctrine
and Covenants 86:11: How does light bless us? What is it like when we have
no light? How can we be a light to other people? Help your children think of
ways we can “continue in [Jesus’s] goodness” and share it with others.
Can’t you see that the world is lying in darkness? It is up
to us who have been given light to let it shine, so others can see the path
back to Heavenly Father. Think of your darkest, saddest times. What helped you
to find comfort and hope? We need to help people know that the Savior can bring
us peace. What can you do today to share light with someone?
Peace is found in “holy places.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 87
The prophesied physical upheavals of the last day are
happening all around us. What is our spiritual state? Change brought about
through Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance is good change. We need to keep
covenants with Him to feel peace and have sure footing in today’s world.
Examples of prophecies:
John
3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even
so must the Son of man be lifted up.” The manner of Jesus Christ’s
death was prophesied. If we look to Him, we can be saved, just as those who
looked upon the serpent staff Moses lifted up had their lives spared.
Mosiah
3:5 “For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power,
the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from
all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among
the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,
and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing
the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to
receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.”
The birth and ministry of Jesus Christ were prophesied.
Helaman
14:2–6 Samuel prophesied of Christ’s birth and of the signs that the people
would see at that time.
Fulfillment of prophecy:
Luke
23:33 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called
Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand,
and the other on the left. Jesus was lifted up and crucified as had been
prophesied by many prophets.
Matthew
15:30–31 30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with
them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many
others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when
they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the
blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus ministered to the people and healed them, as had been
prophesied.
3 Nephi
1:15–21 There was a day, a night, and a day of light, with no darkness at
night as had been prophesied by Samuel and others. A new star appeared in the
sky. Jesus was born into the world.
When we hearken and accept the prophecies of the Lord’s
prophets, we can feel peace, find happiness, and be protected from those things
that would drag us down.
What do you learn about prophecies in section 87? Why is
important to wait for the Lord’s timing? (See notes below.)
8 Wherefore, stand ye in holy places,
and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it
cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.
How does this counsel bless your life both spiritually and
temporally? How does faith and patience strengthen the power the Lord has
endowed you with?
What makes a place holy? What are your holy places? Are you
becoming holy? Do your feet follow Jesus? Do your hands do His work? Does your
heart praise His name?
“In addition to physical locations, perhaps there are holy
times, holy practices, or holy thoughts that can provide peace.”
Are you reading and loving your scriptures? “How can the
words of God’s prophets be a holy place for you? What does it mean to ‘stand’
and ‘be not moved’ from these places?” Are you consistent in your devotionals
to God?
Saints, 1:163–64
Video: Promptings of the Spirit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2023-10-2050-gary-e-stevenson?lang=eng
For Kids
I can “stand … in holy places.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 87:6, 8
8 Wherefore, stand ye in holy places,
and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it
cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.
No matter what happens, we can feel peace if we have the
Lord with us. If we think Celestial, we can have a more eternal perspective and
not lose hope or faith in Jesus Christ.
Make a list of holy places, holy thoughts, and holy actions
that help you face spiritual danger. For ideas, see the videos “Standing in
Holy Places” and “Stand Ye in Holy Places—Bloom Where You’re Planted” (Gospel
Library).
Video: Standing in Holy Places https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2013-04-0030-standing-in-holy-places?lang=eng
Video: Stand Ye in Holy Places—Bloom Where You’re Planted: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2012-10-0013-stand-ye-in-holy-places-bloom-where-youre-planted?lang=eng
The Temple is a Holy Place
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/85?lang=eng
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Kirtland, Ohio, November 27, 1832. This section is an extract from a letter of
the Prophet to William W. Phelps, who was living in Independence,
Missouri. It answers questions about those Saints who had moved to Zion but who
had not followed the commandment to consecrate their properties and had thus
not received their inheritances according to the established order in the
Church.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/86?lang=eng
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Kirtland, Ohio, December 6, 1832. This revelation was received while the
Prophet was reviewing and editing the manuscript of the translation of the
Bible.
7 Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow
together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the
wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and
lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned.
I believe at this time of harvest, the righteous will be
gathered up to meet their coming Lord in the clouds of His glory.
The wording here though of the tared being bound in bundles,
adn of the field remaining to be burned caught my attention. Will the tares
still be extended mercy at this time?
8 Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with
whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your
fathers—
9 For ye are lawful heirs, according to the
flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God—
10 Therefore your life and the priesthood have
remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of
all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began.
11 Therefore, blessed are ye if ye continue in
my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this
priesthood, a savior unto my people Israel. The Lord hath said
it. Amen.
As you read D&C 86, pay attention to the interpretation
of the parable of the wheat and the tares.
You could list what you find as far as symbols, meanings, and questions to
ponder.
Symbols Possible
Meanings Questions
to Ponder
Sowers of the seed prophets
and apostles, What
kinds of seeds do
missionaries
and teachers disciples
of Christ plant?
The enemy Satan,
his followers, How
does the enemy of
Those
who fight against the all
righteousness fight
Lord’s
Church. Against
the Lord’s work?
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/87?lang=eng
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Kirtland, Ohio, December 6, 1832. This revelation was received while the
Prophet was reviewing and editing the manuscript of the translation of the
Bible.
5 And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who
are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly
angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.
8 Wherefore, stand ye in holy places,
and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly,
saith the Lord. Amen.
What do you learn about prophecies in section 87? Why is
important to wait for the Lord’s timing?
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