Jesus relays a parable in Matthew about wheat and weeds called tares. To us, these two plants can grow together and seem indistinguishable from each other. Sections 85–87 of the Doctrine and Covenants have more insight on who we are and what our job is (and isn’t) in this story.
Segment 1
Scriptures:
D&C 8:2-3 (The Holy Ghost dwells in our heart)
D&C 86:6-7 (Wheat and tares)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
D&C 85:1-2 (Duty of the church clerk)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
D&C 85:4-7 (Order in God’s house)
D&C 85:8 (Ahead of our appointment)
CR: 2 Samuel 6:6-7
D&C 85:12 (Organization of genealogy)
CR: Ezra 2:61-62
Quotes:
Related to the general category of temple ministrants is a group of individuals who claimed to be priesthood holders and thus eligible to participate in temple rites but whose genealogy could not be certified. This group is discussed here in the genealogical register because of the danger they posed in possibly contaminating the temple and desecrating its prescribed rites. We are reminded that the Lord's kingdom is one of order and that all things associated with God's temples are to be done with exactness and propriety. Thus uncertified priests of Zerubbabel's day were forbidden to partake of "the most holy things"—special portions of food reserved for the male descendants of Aaron. (Kent P Jackson, “Studies in Scripture, Vol 4: 1 Kings to Malachi”, p. 340-341)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
D&C 85:6 (Still small voice)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
D&C 86:1-7 (Parable of wheat and tares)
CR: Matthew 13:24-30
Segment 6
Scriptures:
D&C 87:1-6 (Revelation on the Civil War)
D&C 87:8 (Stand ye in holy places)
Study Helps:
Christmas Day is usually a time to ponder messages like “peace on earth”. But on December 25, 1832, Joseph Smith’s mind was occupied with the threat of war. The state of South Carolina in the United States had just defied the government and was preparing for battle. And the Lord revealed that this was only the beginning: “War,” He declared, “will be poured out upon all nations”. It seemed like this prophecy would be fulfilled very soon.
But then it wasn’t. Within a few weeks, South Carolina and the United States government reached a compromise, and war was averted. Prophecy, however, is not always fulfilled at the time or in the way we expect. Nearly 30 years later, long after Joseph Smith was martyred, South Carolina rebelled and civil war followed. Today, war throughout the world continues to cause “the earth [to] mourn”. The value of this revelation is less in predicting when calamity will come and more in teaching what to do when it comes. The counsel is the same in 1831, 1861, and 2025: “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved”. (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025, “Stand Ye in Holy Places”)
View transcript here.