Section 41

Edward Partridge was called to be the first bishop in the church.  I had wonderful and inspired bishops growing up and also as an adult.  When I was born, my dad, David R. Stone, was the bishop.  He was followed by Bishops, McMurdie, Himes, Chadwick, Baird, Emmett, and Jenson.  As a married couple, Jean and I have had Bishop Parker (in the trailer court); Bishop Kent Larsen, in Hyrum; Bishops Petersen and Hobbs in Logan; Bishops Hanks, Nielson, Barrett, and Bingham in Las Vegas; Bishops Salmond and Alston in Tucson, Bishop Clark (and Stone) in Laramie; and Bishops Residori, McMurtrey, Miller, and Fong in American Fork.  Do you remember any others?  Who was your favorite(s).  Maybe you could start a list of your own since you left home.  Dave, who is your current bishop?

Section 40

A man named James Covel, a minister who had joined the church and made covenants with the Lord (see section 39), fell away because he feared persecution from his friends and former congregation.  Like James Covel, we feel strongly a desire to join ourselves completely with Christ, but find our fears overtaking us.  The opposite of fear is faith.  Faith in Christ is fundamental to our well-being.  I pray with all my heart that my children and grandchildren, friends, and family (and especially myself) will put away fears of the world and cling and cleave unto Christ.

2 And he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan tempted him; and the fear of persecution and the cares of the world caused him to reject the word.

Section 39

1 Hearken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I Am, even Jesus Christ—

 2 The light and the life of the world; a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;

 3 The same which came in the meridian of time unto mine own, and mine own received me not;

 4 But to as many as received me, gave I power to become my [daughters] sons; and even so will I give unto as many as will receive me, power to become my [daughters] sons.

 5 And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me.

 6 And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.

This is the doctrine of Christ, restored in the latter-days.

Section 38

 7 But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me;

 8 But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent,

Our Savior is near us.  Lord, help us turn our hearts to Thee daily.

Section 37

The Saints were commanded to gather in Ohio (Kirtland area).  This was the first time that a commandment had been given for the church members to leave their homes and gather to a central location.  Other gatherings would follow: Jackson County, Missouri, Nauvoo, Illinois, and Salt Lake City.  The Lord revealed to Joseph and Sidney that before they left for Ohio they were to pay special attention to the Colesville Branch in New York.  The families in the branch, most notable the Knights, had been very close to the Lord and the prophet.  The Lord told Joseph that they had shown strong faith in their prayers.

2 And again, I say unto you that ye shall not go until ye have preached my gospel in those parts, and have strengthened up the church whithersoever it is found, and more especially in Colesville; for, behold, they pray unto me in much faith.

Section 36

This section was given to Edward Partridge, the first bishop in the church.  In an effort to “liken the scriptures” unto myself, I have inserted my name for his, and also substituted my dad’s name for Sidney Rigdon’s.

1 Thus saith the Lord God, the Mighty One of Israel: Behold, I say unto you, my servant Walt, that you are blessed, and your sins are forgiven you, and you are called to preach my gospel as with the voice of a trump;

 2 And I will lay my hand upon you by the hand of my servant David R. Stone Jr., and you shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom;

 3 And you shall declare it with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna, blessed be the name of the most high God.

My dad baptized me, confirmed me, conferred upon me to the Aaronic Priesthood, and ordained me to the offices of Deacon, Teacher, and Priest.  He conferred upon me the Melchizedec Priesthood, and ordained me to the offices of elder and high priest. My stake president in Logan, Glenn Baird, set me apart as a missionary.  My stake president in Laramie, Douglas Laws, ordained me to the office of Bishop. 

Section 35

Sidney Rigdon was an early convert to the church.  He was commanded by the Lord to be a scribe and spokesman for Joseph Smith.  He worked as a scribe for Joseph as he translated the Bible.  This work became known as the Joseph Smith Translation. Most of this translation is included in the footnotes and appendix of the LDS Version of the Bible.  Sidney was promised that he could do great miracles if he was obedient to the commandments. He was also taught how to become a son of God through the Atonement.  And he was warned of the Lord’s second coming. The Lord addresses Sidney this way:

1 Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever.

 2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.

 

 Sidney Rigdon was an early convert to the church.  He was commanded by the Lord to be a scribe and spokesman for Joseph Smith.  He worked as a scribe for Joseph as he translated the Bible.  This work became known as the Joseph Smith Translation. Most of this translation is included in the footnotes and appendix of the LDS Version of the Bible.  Sidney was promised that he could do great miracles if he was obedient to the commandments. He was also taught how to become a son of God through the Atonement.  And he was warned of the Lord’s second coming. The Lord addresses Sidney this way:

1 Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever.

 2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.

 

 Sidney Rigdon was an early convert to the church.  He was commanded by the Lord to be a scribe and spokesman for Joseph Smith.  He worked as a scribe for Joseph as he translated the Bible.  This work became known as the Joseph Smith Translation. Most of this translation is included in the footnotes and appendix of the LDS Version of the Bible.  Sidney was promised that he could do great miracles if he was obedient to the commandments. He was also taught how to become a son of God through the Atonement.  And he was warned of the Lord’s second coming. The Lord addresses Sidney this way:

1 Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever.

 2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.

 

Section34

7 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory.

8 And it shall be a great day at the time of my coming…11 And if you are faithful, behold, I am with you until I come—12 And verily, verily, I say unto you, I come quickly. I am your Lord and your Redeemer. Even so. Amen.

The Lord taught Orson that he will return again to the earth in great glory.  We are all to diligently prepare for his return!

This revelation was given by the prophet Joseph to Orson Pratt who was 19 years old at the time.  He was a new convert to the church.  The Lord revealed that Orson could become a child of God through the Atonement of Christ.  When we enter the covenant of baptism, we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and thus become reborn into his family.  We have three fathers: Heavenly Father, who is the father of our spirits; our mortal fathers who, with our mothers create an earthly body to house our spirits; our covenant father, Jesus Christ, who is the father of our rebirth

Section 33

Two more men were called on missions.  They were commanded to keep the commandments and open their mouths.  One of them left the church.  The other struggled but remained faithful for a time but eventually decided not to go west with Brigham Young.  I pray that I will always stay faithful!  Please Lord don’t let my pride get in the way.  Help me humble myself and do things the Lord’s way.