Jesus is coming, look busy could be seen as the theme to Doctrine and Covenants 133. Near the same time that Section 1 was revealed as a preface to the Book of Commandments, Joseph Smith received Section 133 as an appendix. These closing words to the saints are focused on the coming of Christ and what we need to do to prepare.
God’s goal for His children is to see us with Him again. That eternal life is best described in John 17 and Doctrine and Covenants 132 as “knowing” God. This week’s Come, Follow Me lesson teaches sacred truths restored through Joseph Smith that allow us to know God and bring ourselves closer to Him—in this world and the world to come.
The doctrine of baptism for the dead is one of the ways we are welded together with our ancestors. Doctrine and Covenants 125–128 contains letters from Joseph Smith to the saints where his mind was on this eternal topic. And the people of the church reacted immediately to participate with gladness in this ordinance.
Persecution in Missouri led the early saints to the swamplands of Illinois, and over a year had passed since the last recorded revelation from the Lord. Doctrine and Covenants 124 is a message to the free saints making their way in a new community. It contains blueprints for the important buildings their growing town needs, and instructions for their lives.
Sections 121–123 of the Doctrine and Covenants start with the powerful voice of a prophet crying for God. Joseph Smith knew from first hand experience that the Lord was real and he hears prayers, but he still wasn’t above feeling alone. But God was there for him in his despair, and Joseph learned from that experience. And the letters from Liberty Jail can serve as a lesson for us in good times and a boon for us when times get hard.
In Doctrine and Covenants 115 the Lord revealed that the name of the church would be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a name we take seriously and can take ownership in. The light of that church is to be a standard to the nations. And we have a responsibility as members of that church to be examples everywhere we go.
Section 113 is one of the distinctive sections in the Doctrine and Covenants that reads like a question-and-answer session with God. The beginning introduces us to a pattern with the revelatory formula, “Thus saith the Lord…” To better understand the context behind the questions, the Lord’s answers, and the original text in Isaiah, we invited two biblical scholars to join us on the podcast and answer a few of our own questions.
As of this week’s Come, Follow Me study, there are 208 dedicated temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (including those in operation and those closed for renovation). Each was dedicated, and some re-dedicated, with a prayer after the pattern recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 109. In this week’s sections, we can read the Lord’s inspired words over the first constructed temple of this dispensation, as well as the visions and miracles that took place in that holy house.
In 2019, President Russell M. Nelson encouraged all of us—but especially the women of the Church—to study the truths of priesthood power found in sections 84 and 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The Come, Follow Me study this week falls on that second scripture section, and we are going to take the prophet’s counsel seriously by learning all we can about the two priesthoods, their duties and responsibilities, and councils in the Church. Sections 106–108 truly testify that the blessings of the priesthood are readily available to all of God’s children.
Elder Renlund first suggests making sure we are doing what God has asked of us and “not something extra that we impose on ourselves.”
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Elder Kearon believes this truth “can console all of us.”
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These resources can help any family dive deeper into the Doctrine and Covenants in 2025.
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Doctrine and Covenants 29 tells of the signs, plagues, and disasters that will come before the Millennium. Reading them might give you a case of the Second Coming scaries, but not to fear. Because in this divine section, we are also reminded of who God is and how He cares for His children. When times get scary, we can always find refuge in Christ.
God wants to commit responsibilities to each of us. They come in church callings or personal promptings to share His gospel. We show our commitment by choosing to magnify those callings from God. Doctrine and Covenants 27–28 discuss committing to God and warn about what it looks like when that commitment is in the wrong place.
What makes your heart sing? Where do you turn when you want to be closer to the Spirit and feel God’s love? Maybe it’s art, books, or a literal song. In this week’s reading of Doctrine and Covenants 23–26, the Lord says his soul “delighteth in the song of the heart” in an important revelation. And we’ve built you a perfect playlist to go along with it.
Scholars have described the Whitmer home as a “celebrated dwelling place.” It is where the first conference was held, the Church was organized, and the revelation we are discussing this week was received. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22 describe the order in which God keeps His house, and as we study these sections, we can explore how to make our homes celebrated Christlike dwelling places.
Doctrine and Covenants 19 is an account of our Savior, Jesus Christ telling us about His own personal suffering from His perspective. It is a deeply personal section–deeply personal for Martin Harris who it is directed towards and deeply personal for all of us who need a reminder of what Christ did. But no matter who we are, the Atonement of Christ is the answer when we are asking questions.
Doctrine and Covenants section 18 contains many eternal truths that have been immortalized in song. By the end of this week’s study you’ll be able to remember that the worth of souls is great, your joy will be great with those you love, and faith, hope, and charity are great attributes to strive for. And hopefully when doubts or struggles come, this music can be there can bring the spirit and remind you that you are God’s favorite.