Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
A great title for these sections would be: "Strengthen, Encourage and Instruct." Section 23 is a great example where the Lord asks several individuals to strengthen the church, themselves, and others. We see those words applied to those who are in great need in section 24, and we are taught the power of hymns to do the same in our lives. These sections are awesome and give all who serve in the Christ’s Church clear council on how to strengthen, encourage and instruct our families, our friends, and fellow members of the church today.
EXHORT - [Latin exhortor; ex and hortor, to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit or courage.]
1. To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action.
Council for all who serve in Christ’s Church
President Ezra Taft Benson: “We counsel you to accept callings in the Church and to serve faithfully in the positions to which you are called. Serve one another and magnify your callings. As you do so, you will be the means of blessing others and you will increase in spirituality.” (CR. April 1984, p.7.)
A stream was dammed to prepare for baptisms the next day (Sunday), but a hostile mob destroyed the dam during the night. Early Monday morning, the dam was rebuilt and 13 people were baptized, incl. Emma Smith. By the time the baptisms were completed, however, a mob of nearly 50 men had gathered, insulting and threatening to harm the Saints.
Joseph was arrested on charges of “being a disorderly person, of setting the country in an uproar by preaching the Book of Mormon” (Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 1:88). En route to his trial, Ebenezer Hatch – constable realizes that Joseph is a different character than what he has been told. He sees the mob, whips the horses and they escape During the escape, the wagon's wheel fell off and Joseph got off and quickly put it back on. They escaped the mob. The constable took Joseph to the Afton Inn and slept with his feet against the door with a loaded musket. “I am determined to save your life from the mob. I will protect you. Get some sleep.”
After standing trial and being acquitted of the charges, he was immediately arrested again by a constable from a different county. That night Joseph was ridiculed and abused by “a number of men,” and the next morning he stood trial. Joseph was again acquitted of the charges and escaped another mob as he traveled home. (HC, 1:88–96.)Joseph and Oliver made another attempt to unite with the recently baptized members in Colesville, but a mob gathered shortly after they arrived and they were forced to flee, barely escaping as the mob pursued them throughout the night (HC, 1:97). Joseph said of this trying time, “Notwithstanding all the rage of our enemies, we had much consolation, and many things occurred to strengthen our faith and cheer our hearts.” (HC, 1:101.)
John S. Reid (Lawyer): “But I saw the persecution was great against him … a peculiar impression or thought struck my mind, that I must go and defend him, for he was the Lord's anointed. I did not know what it meant, but thought I must go and clear the Lord's anointed.”
“We rode on till we came to the house of Hezekiah Peck, where a number of Mormon women had assembled, as I was informed, for the purpose of praying for the deliverance of the prophet of the Lord. The women came out to our waggon, and Mrs. Smith among the rest. O my God, sir, what were my feelings, when I saw that woman who had but a few days before given herself, heart and hand, to be a consort for life, and that so soon her crimson cheeks must be wet with tears that came streaming from her eyes; yes sir, it seemed that her very heart strings would be broken with grief. My feelings, sir, were moved with pity and sorrow for the afflicted; and on the other hand they were wrought up to the highest pitch of indignation against those fiends of hell who had thus caused the innocent to suffer.” (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1838-1856-volume-f-1-1-may-1844-8-august-1844/54).
George A Smith: "Forty seven times Joseph was arraigned over the tribunals of law during his life and had to sustain all expense of defending himself in those vexations suits." It is estimated it had cost him and the Church over one million dollars" (JD 12:5).
To help you on a discouraging day (Section 24):
Descriptions of an Elect Lady (Section 25):
Promises to an Elect Lady (Section 25):
President Gordon B. Hinckley: “The counsel given by the Lord (in D&C 25) … is applicable to each of you ... Each of you is an elect lady. You have come out of the world as partakers of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. You have made your election and if you are living worthy of it, the Lord will honor you...and magnify you.” (General Women’s Meeting, Ensign/Nov. 1984, p.90.)
Emma’s self-written 1844 blessing:
“In the last anxious hours before the Prophet Joseph Smith left for Carthage (June 1844) …Emma asked for a blessing. Unable to grant her wish at the time, Joseph instructed her to write out ‘the desires of her heart’ and he would confirm the blessing by his signature upon his return. … Emma’s self-written 1844 blessing, of which the quoted passage is only a part, in many ways is a companion piece to the revelation she received in July 1830 (D&C 25).
“First of all that I would crave as the richest of heaven’s blessings would be wisdom from my Heavenly Father bestowed daily, so that whatever I might do or say, I would not look back at the close of the day with regret, nor neglect the performance of any act that would bring a blessing. I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself that I might be able to overcome whatever Tradition or nature that would not tend to my exaltation in the eternal worlds.
“I desire a fruitful, active mind, that I may be able to comprehend the designs of God, when revealed through His Servants without doubting. I desire the spirit of discernment, which is one of the bless- ings of the Holy Ghost.
“I particularly [desire] wisdom to bring up all the children that are, or may be committed to my charge, in such a manner that they will be useful ornaments in the Kingdom of God, and in the coming day rise up and call me blessed.
“I desire prudence that I may not through ambition abuse my body and cause it to be prematurely old and careworn, but that I may wear a cheerful countenance, live to perform all the work I covenanted to perform in the spirit-world and be a blessing to all who may in any wise need aught at my hands.
“I desire with all my heart to honor and respect my husband as my head, to ever live in his confidence and by acting in unison with him to retain the place which God has given me by his side.
“I desire to see my kindred and friend embrace the principles of Eternal Truth, that I may rejoice with them in the blessings which God has in store for all who are willing to be obedient to His requirements.
“Finally, I desire that whatever may be my lot through life I may be enabled to acknowledge the hand of God in all things.” (“The Elect Lady Revelation (D&C 25): Its Historical and Doctrinal Context,” by Carol Cornwall Madsen, in Sperry Symposium Classics, BYU/RSC/Deseret Bk. [2004], p.129; and The Joseph Smith and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society - https://www.josephsmithjr.org/emmas-last-blessing/.)
First Presidency:
Music in Our Church Meetings
Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.
Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end.
We hope to see an increase of hymn singing in our congregations. We encourage all members, whether musically inclined or not, to join with us in singing the hymns. We hope leaders, teachers, and members who are called on to speak will turn often to the hymnbook to find sermons presented powerfully and beautifully in verse.
Music in Our Homes
Music has boundless powers for moving families toward greater spirituality and devotion to the gospel. Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music.
Ours is a hymnbook for the home as well as for the meetinghouse. We hope the hymnbook will take a prominent place among the scriptures and other religious books in our homes. The hymns can bring families a spirit of beauty and peace and can inspire love and unity among family members.
Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones.
Music in Our Personal Lives
In addition to blessing us as Church and family members, the hymns can greatly benefit us as individuals. Hymns can lift our spirits, give us courage, and move us to righteous action. They can fill our souls with heavenly thoughts and bring us a spirit of peace.
Hymns can also help us withstand the temptations of the adversary. We encourage you to memorize your favorite hymns and study the scriptures that relate to them. Then, if unworthy thoughts enter your mind, sing a hymn to yourself, crowding out the evil with the good.
Brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the Spirit of the Lord into our congregations, our homes, and our personal lives. Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual nourishment. Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, “and it shall be answered with a blessing upon [your] heads.”
The First Presidency (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/guidelines/first-presidency-preface-to-the-hymns?lang=eng)
Teaching Thoughts:
EXHORT - [Latin exhortor; ex and hortor, to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit or courage.]
1. To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action.
Council for all who serve in Christ’s Church
- “Beware of pride” (23:1).
- “Strengthen the church continually” (23:3, 4, and 5).
- “Exhortation” (to encourage, give strength, provide hope) (23:3).
- “You must take up your cross” (23:6).
President Ezra Taft Benson: “We counsel you to accept callings in the Church and to serve faithfully in the positions to which you are called. Serve one another and magnify your callings. As you do so, you will be the means of blessing others and you will increase in spirituality.” (CR. April 1984, p.7.)
A stream was dammed to prepare for baptisms the next day (Sunday), but a hostile mob destroyed the dam during the night. Early Monday morning, the dam was rebuilt and 13 people were baptized, incl. Emma Smith. By the time the baptisms were completed, however, a mob of nearly 50 men had gathered, insulting and threatening to harm the Saints.
Joseph was arrested on charges of “being a disorderly person, of setting the country in an uproar by preaching the Book of Mormon” (Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 1:88). En route to his trial, Ebenezer Hatch – constable realizes that Joseph is a different character than what he has been told. He sees the mob, whips the horses and they escape During the escape, the wagon's wheel fell off and Joseph got off and quickly put it back on. They escaped the mob. The constable took Joseph to the Afton Inn and slept with his feet against the door with a loaded musket. “I am determined to save your life from the mob. I will protect you. Get some sleep.”
After standing trial and being acquitted of the charges, he was immediately arrested again by a constable from a different county. That night Joseph was ridiculed and abused by “a number of men,” and the next morning he stood trial. Joseph was again acquitted of the charges and escaped another mob as he traveled home. (HC, 1:88–96.)Joseph and Oliver made another attempt to unite with the recently baptized members in Colesville, but a mob gathered shortly after they arrived and they were forced to flee, barely escaping as the mob pursued them throughout the night (HC, 1:97). Joseph said of this trying time, “Notwithstanding all the rage of our enemies, we had much consolation, and many things occurred to strengthen our faith and cheer our hearts.” (HC, 1:101.)
John S. Reid (Lawyer): “But I saw the persecution was great against him … a peculiar impression or thought struck my mind, that I must go and defend him, for he was the Lord's anointed. I did not know what it meant, but thought I must go and clear the Lord's anointed.”
“We rode on till we came to the house of Hezekiah Peck, where a number of Mormon women had assembled, as I was informed, for the purpose of praying for the deliverance of the prophet of the Lord. The women came out to our waggon, and Mrs. Smith among the rest. O my God, sir, what were my feelings, when I saw that woman who had but a few days before given herself, heart and hand, to be a consort for life, and that so soon her crimson cheeks must be wet with tears that came streaming from her eyes; yes sir, it seemed that her very heart strings would be broken with grief. My feelings, sir, were moved with pity and sorrow for the afflicted; and on the other hand they were wrought up to the highest pitch of indignation against those fiends of hell who had thus caused the innocent to suffer.” (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1838-1856-volume-f-1-1-may-1844-8-august-1844/54).
George A Smith: "Forty seven times Joseph was arraigned over the tribunals of law during his life and had to sustain all expense of defending himself in those vexations suits." It is estimated it had cost him and the Church over one million dollars" (JD 12:5).
To help you on a discouraging day (Section 24):
- I have lifted thee up” (v. 1)
- “Counseled thee” (v. 1)
- “Delivered thee” (v.1)
- “Continue in calling upon God” (v. 5)
- “Be patient in afflictions, for thou shall have many, but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee” (v. 8)
- “Continue in …” (v, 5, 9, 10)
- “I will give him strength” (v. 12)
Descriptions of an Elect Lady (Section 25):
- “Receive my gospel” (v. 1)
- “Faithful” (v. 2)
- “Walk in paths of virtue” (v. 2)
- “Murmur not” (v. 4)
- “A comfort” (v. 5)
- “Consoling words” (v. 5)
- “Expound the scriptures” (v. 7)
- “Exhort the church” (v. 7)
- Listen to the Spirit (v. 7)
- Seek to learn much (v. 8)
Promises to an Elect Lady (Section 25):
- “Daughters in my kingdom” (v. 1)
- “Preserve thy life” (v. 2)
- “Inheritance in Zion (v. 2)
- “Sins are forgiven thee” (v. 3)
- “Crown of righteousness” (v. 15)
President Gordon B. Hinckley: “The counsel given by the Lord (in D&C 25) … is applicable to each of you ... Each of you is an elect lady. You have come out of the world as partakers of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. You have made your election and if you are living worthy of it, the Lord will honor you...and magnify you.” (General Women’s Meeting, Ensign/Nov. 1984, p.90.)
Emma’s self-written 1844 blessing:
“In the last anxious hours before the Prophet Joseph Smith left for Carthage (June 1844) …Emma asked for a blessing. Unable to grant her wish at the time, Joseph instructed her to write out ‘the desires of her heart’ and he would confirm the blessing by his signature upon his return. … Emma’s self-written 1844 blessing, of which the quoted passage is only a part, in many ways is a companion piece to the revelation she received in July 1830 (D&C 25).
“First of all that I would crave as the richest of heaven’s blessings would be wisdom from my Heavenly Father bestowed daily, so that whatever I might do or say, I would not look back at the close of the day with regret, nor neglect the performance of any act that would bring a blessing. I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself that I might be able to overcome whatever Tradition or nature that would not tend to my exaltation in the eternal worlds.
“I desire a fruitful, active mind, that I may be able to comprehend the designs of God, when revealed through His Servants without doubting. I desire the spirit of discernment, which is one of the bless- ings of the Holy Ghost.
“I particularly [desire] wisdom to bring up all the children that are, or may be committed to my charge, in such a manner that they will be useful ornaments in the Kingdom of God, and in the coming day rise up and call me blessed.
“I desire prudence that I may not through ambition abuse my body and cause it to be prematurely old and careworn, but that I may wear a cheerful countenance, live to perform all the work I covenanted to perform in the spirit-world and be a blessing to all who may in any wise need aught at my hands.
“I desire with all my heart to honor and respect my husband as my head, to ever live in his confidence and by acting in unison with him to retain the place which God has given me by his side.
“I desire to see my kindred and friend embrace the principles of Eternal Truth, that I may rejoice with them in the blessings which God has in store for all who are willing to be obedient to His requirements.
“Finally, I desire that whatever may be my lot through life I may be enabled to acknowledge the hand of God in all things.” (“The Elect Lady Revelation (D&C 25): Its Historical and Doctrinal Context,” by Carol Cornwall Madsen, in Sperry Symposium Classics, BYU/RSC/Deseret Bk. [2004], p.129; and The Joseph Smith and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society - https://www.josephsmithjr.org/emmas-last-blessing/.)
First Presidency:
Music in Our Church Meetings
Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.
Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end.
We hope to see an increase of hymn singing in our congregations. We encourage all members, whether musically inclined or not, to join with us in singing the hymns. We hope leaders, teachers, and members who are called on to speak will turn often to the hymnbook to find sermons presented powerfully and beautifully in verse.
Music in Our Homes
Music has boundless powers for moving families toward greater spirituality and devotion to the gospel. Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music.
Ours is a hymnbook for the home as well as for the meetinghouse. We hope the hymnbook will take a prominent place among the scriptures and other religious books in our homes. The hymns can bring families a spirit of beauty and peace and can inspire love and unity among family members.
Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones.
Music in Our Personal Lives
In addition to blessing us as Church and family members, the hymns can greatly benefit us as individuals. Hymns can lift our spirits, give us courage, and move us to righteous action. They can fill our souls with heavenly thoughts and bring us a spirit of peace.
Hymns can also help us withstand the temptations of the adversary. We encourage you to memorize your favorite hymns and study the scriptures that relate to them. Then, if unworthy thoughts enter your mind, sing a hymn to yourself, crowding out the evil with the good.
Brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the Spirit of the Lord into our congregations, our homes, and our personal lives. Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual nourishment. Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, “and it shall be answered with a blessing upon [your] heads.”
The First Presidency (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/guidelines/first-presidency-preface-to-the-hymns?lang=eng)
Teaching Thoughts:
- As you study section 23, look for clear counsel and instruction for all who serve in the Christ’s Church.
- Look for the way the Lord describes Elect women. Mark them in your scriptures.
- “This is my voice until all” (25:16).
- Hymns “strengthen, encourage, and instruct.”