Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Section 29 is a treasure trove of doctrine that focuses on Christ and His role in the plan of salvation. In addition to God's plan, this section includes the prophecies and promises for the troubled days ahead.
Prophet Joseph Smith: "As a conference meeting had been appointed for the 26th day of September, I thought it wisdom not to do much more than to converse with the brethren on the subject of the stone [Hiram Page], until the conference should meet. Finding, however, that many, especially the Whitmer family and Oliver Cowdery, were believing much in the things set forth by this stone, we thought best to inquire of the Lord concerning so important a matter; and before conference convened, we received the following: D&C 28-29." (History of the Church 1:110).
Section 29
Section 29: The Savior’s Plan, prophecies and promises for the troubled days ahead.
A Doctrinal Treasure that Focuses on the Plan Of Salvation
Section 29: A Doctrinal Treasure!
v. 36-39 Grand Council/War in Heaven
v. 31-35 The Creation/Commandments
Elder John A. Widtsoe: "There is a spiritual meaning of all human acts and earthly events. . . . It is the business of man to find the spiritual meaning of earthly things. . . . No man is quite so happy, I think, as he who backs all his labors by such a spiritual interpretation and understanding of the acts of his life." (Conference Report, Apr. 1922, pp. 96-97)
40-45 Adam & the Fall
Because we live in a fallen, telestial world it is irrational and irresponsible to expect any human to live a sinless life, including yourself. Wickedness never was happiness! However, unhappiness may sometimes be the result of not understanding man’s fallen nature, which may produce unrealistic expectations of righteousness.
Understanding the Fall will change us by: Empowering us with hope, knowing that we are not as bad or wicked as we thought we were by realizing that our carnal nature and sensual urges are part of being human (of the flesh) and not who we really are (of the spirit). If we understand the Fall we would never allow our sins, failures, weaknesses, and natural inclinations or tendencies to progress from our feelings and actions to our identity. We would never associate our identity with the type or intensity of temptation we experience. (paraphrasing Elder Robbins, quoting Carol Dweck, Apr. 2011 Conf. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/04/what-manner-of-men-and-women-ought-ye-to-be?lang=eng).
Elder Neil A. Anderson: The Fall [and everything that comes with it] does not define you; it helps to refine you. (The Divine Gift of Forgiveness, p. 69).
v. 42-45 Purpose of Mortality
v. 1-11 The Gathering of Israel
President Russell M. Nelson:
What the gathering of Israel looks like: •“As you work together to remodel your home into a sanctuary of faith—filled with learning together from the home-centered, Church-supported curriculum—that is gathering Israel. •“As you parents create experiences where your children can learn to feel the Spirit of the Lord—that is gathering Israel. •“As you do family history, serve and worship in the temple, use your discretionary time to draw closer to Heavenly Father and to His Son and to help someone else do the same—that is gathering Israel. •“As you help to strengthen the testimonies of others, as you repent and help others to repent, as you reach out in your communities and participate in worthy efforts to alleviate suffering—that is gathering Israel.” (https://www.lds.org/church/news/president-nelson-invites-record-crowd-in-arizona-to-help-gather-israel?lang=eng).
v. 14-21 Conditions prior to 2nd Coming
v. 9-13 The 2nd Coming & Millennium
v. 26-29 The Resurrection
President Lorenzo Snow: We know that in the future, after we have passed through this life, we will then have our wives and our children with us. We will have our bodies glorified, made free from every sickness and distress, and rendered most beautiful. There is nothing more beautiful to look upon than a resurrected man or woman. There is nothing grander that I can imagine that a man can possess than a resurrected body. There is no Latter-day Saint within the sound of my voice but that certainly has this prospect of coming forth in the morning of the First Resurrection and being glorified, exalted in the presence of God, having the privilege of talking with our Father as we talk with our earthly father." (5 October 1900, CR, p. 4. Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p.99)
v. 12-13 The Judgement
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: “Worthiness interviews are conducted in a spirit of loving concern for each son and daughter of a loving God. These interviews represent the rehearsal stage for final judgment. Such interviews are a blessing, a choice opportunity to account to the Lord through His authorized servants for the sacred stewardship we all have to “watch ourselves, and our thoughts, and our words, and our deeds.” (Ensign, May 1997, 16).
v. 22-29 End of Millennium
President Ezra Taft Benson: For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord…While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, … God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God. ("In His Steps," Brigham Young University, 4 March 1979).
Section 29: A Primer on Parenting
Heavenly father expects earthly parents to pattern their parenting after His.
Steven Harper: "This empowering revelation is a primer on parenting. It illustrates how Heavenly Father (note that the revelation begins in the voice of Jesus Christ, but the last part on raising children is in the voice of Heavenly Father) raises children. He begins by informing the children about the dangers of their world, telling them to gather for their own safety. Similar to the methods we might use to teach small children to stay out of the road or not to touch the stove, the revelation vividly pictures outcomes of forbidden behaviors.
The Lord explains the different destinies awaiting the powerless and the empowered, encouraging children to qualify for the endowment of his power they can receive if they want it. How do they get it? By repentance and obedience. As with God, the best parents endow their children with agency. They teach the gospel, command, sacrifice, and extend opportunities for redemption. Their greatest work is the creation of fully developed children who have grown into their agency and become accountable for themselves. Parents are learning how to be like God. They, too, are being created in his image." (Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants, p. 100).
Teaching Thoughts:
Prophet Joseph Smith: "As a conference meeting had been appointed for the 26th day of September, I thought it wisdom not to do much more than to converse with the brethren on the subject of the stone [Hiram Page], until the conference should meet. Finding, however, that many, especially the Whitmer family and Oliver Cowdery, were believing much in the things set forth by this stone, we thought best to inquire of the Lord concerning so important a matter; and before conference convened, we received the following: D&C 28-29." (History of the Church 1:110).
Section 29
- Given prior to 2nd General Conference of the church and the missionaries departing for their assignments.
- Answers for the saints who were curious about the Book of Mormon prophecies regarding Zion and the gathering of Israel.
- The truths in section 29 likely corrected the doctrinal confusion caused by Hiram Page’s revelations.
Section 29: The Savior’s Plan, prophecies and promises for the troubled days ahead.
A Doctrinal Treasure that Focuses on the Plan Of Salvation
- v. 36-39 Grand Council/War in Heaven
- v. 31-35 The Creation/Commandments
- v. 40-45 Adam & the Fall
- v. 42-45 Purpose of Mortality
- v. 1-11 The Gathering of Israel
- v. 14-21 Conditions prior to 2nd Coming
- v. 9-13 The 2nd Coming & Millennium
- v. 26-29 The Resurrection
- v. 12-13 The Judgement
- v. 22-29 End of Millennium
Section 29: A Doctrinal Treasure!
v. 36-39 Grand Council/War in Heaven
- ‘third part’ (v. 36)
- “And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; (v. 39)
- CR 2 Nephi 2
v. 31-35 The Creation/Commandments
- For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal—First spiritual, secondly temporal, which is the beginning of my work; and again, first temporal, and secondly spiritual, which is the last of my work (v. 31-32)
- “All things are unto me are spiritual” (v. 34)
Elder John A. Widtsoe: "There is a spiritual meaning of all human acts and earthly events. . . . It is the business of man to find the spiritual meaning of earthly things. . . . No man is quite so happy, I think, as he who backs all his labors by such a spiritual interpretation and understanding of the acts of his life." (Conference Report, Apr. 1922, pp. 96-97)
40-45 Adam & the Fall
- A Fall forward
Because we live in a fallen, telestial world it is irrational and irresponsible to expect any human to live a sinless life, including yourself. Wickedness never was happiness! However, unhappiness may sometimes be the result of not understanding man’s fallen nature, which may produce unrealistic expectations of righteousness.
Understanding the Fall will change us by: Empowering us with hope, knowing that we are not as bad or wicked as we thought we were by realizing that our carnal nature and sensual urges are part of being human (of the flesh) and not who we really are (of the spirit). If we understand the Fall we would never allow our sins, failures, weaknesses, and natural inclinations or tendencies to progress from our feelings and actions to our identity. We would never associate our identity with the type or intensity of temptation we experience. (paraphrasing Elder Robbins, quoting Carol Dweck, Apr. 2011 Conf. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/04/what-manner-of-men-and-women-ought-ye-to-be?lang=eng).
Elder Neil A. Anderson: The Fall [and everything that comes with it] does not define you; it helps to refine you. (The Divine Gift of Forgiveness, p. 69).
v. 42-45 Purpose of Mortality
- ‘days of our probation’ (v. 43)
v. 1-11 The Gathering of Israel
- “As a hen gathereth her chickens”
- “Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom.” (v. 5)
- “… an advocate is one who defends or pleads for or in behalf of another. A mediator is one who reconciles or brings about agreement between parties." (Smith, Joseph Fielding, Conference Report, Oct. 1953, p. 57.)
President Russell M. Nelson:
What the gathering of Israel looks like: •“As you work together to remodel your home into a sanctuary of faith—filled with learning together from the home-centered, Church-supported curriculum—that is gathering Israel. •“As you parents create experiences where your children can learn to feel the Spirit of the Lord—that is gathering Israel. •“As you do family history, serve and worship in the temple, use your discretionary time to draw closer to Heavenly Father and to His Son and to help someone else do the same—that is gathering Israel. •“As you help to strengthen the testimonies of others, as you repent and help others to repent, as you reach out in your communities and participate in worthy efforts to alleviate suffering—that is gathering Israel.” (https://www.lds.org/church/news/president-nelson-invites-record-crowd-in-arizona-to-help-gather-israel?lang=eng).
v. 14-21 Conditions prior to 2nd Coming
v. 9-13 The 2nd Coming & Millennium
v. 26-29 The Resurrection
President Lorenzo Snow: We know that in the future, after we have passed through this life, we will then have our wives and our children with us. We will have our bodies glorified, made free from every sickness and distress, and rendered most beautiful. There is nothing more beautiful to look upon than a resurrected man or woman. There is nothing grander that I can imagine that a man can possess than a resurrected body. There is no Latter-day Saint within the sound of my voice but that certainly has this prospect of coming forth in the morning of the First Resurrection and being glorified, exalted in the presence of God, having the privilege of talking with our Father as we talk with our earthly father." (5 October 1900, CR, p. 4. Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p.99)
v. 12-13 The Judgement
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: “Worthiness interviews are conducted in a spirit of loving concern for each son and daughter of a loving God. These interviews represent the rehearsal stage for final judgment. Such interviews are a blessing, a choice opportunity to account to the Lord through His authorized servants for the sacred stewardship we all have to “watch ourselves, and our thoughts, and our words, and our deeds.” (Ensign, May 1997, 16).
v. 22-29 End of Millennium
President Ezra Taft Benson: For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord…While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, … God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God. ("In His Steps," Brigham Young University, 4 March 1979).
Section 29: A Primer on Parenting
Heavenly father expects earthly parents to pattern their parenting after His.
- Providing children agency
- Teaching them commandments
- Holding them accountable
- Let them act knowingly
- God requires repentance from every accountable individual.
Steven Harper: "This empowering revelation is a primer on parenting. It illustrates how Heavenly Father (note that the revelation begins in the voice of Jesus Christ, but the last part on raising children is in the voice of Heavenly Father) raises children. He begins by informing the children about the dangers of their world, telling them to gather for their own safety. Similar to the methods we might use to teach small children to stay out of the road or not to touch the stove, the revelation vividly pictures outcomes of forbidden behaviors.
The Lord explains the different destinies awaiting the powerless and the empowered, encouraging children to qualify for the endowment of his power they can receive if they want it. How do they get it? By repentance and obedience. As with God, the best parents endow their children with agency. They teach the gospel, command, sacrifice, and extend opportunities for redemption. Their greatest work is the creation of fully developed children who have grown into their agency and become accountable for themselves. Parents are learning how to be like God. They, too, are being created in his image." (Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants, p. 100).
Teaching Thoughts:
- The plan of salvation is masterfully taught in section 29.
- Love is woven throughout the tapestry of the Plan of Salvation.
- What are Christ’s plans and promise for the troubled days ahead?
- What parenting tips did you discover that could help you in your family today?