See the Salvation of God

Much of the tone of section 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants is an urgent call to action to “[gather] up a knowledge of all the facts, and sufferings and abuses put upon them by the people of this State.” Joseph wanted the Saints to “take statements and affidavits” and “gather up the libelous publications” and “publish to all the world” (and especially to the government) the wrongs done to them in Missouri in 1838-39. Three times in the letter he said “it is an imperative duty that we owe” to do the work of documenting the crimes by the people of Missouri against the Saints. The Prophet further emphasized the need to gather the evidence with this strong language: “Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness…. These should then be attended to with great earnestness.” They were to give everything they had to bring a knowledge of these evil deeds to the world, even so much that they should “waste and wear out [their] lives” in the effort and do “all things that lie in [their] power.” All these verses suggest an intense focus on doing what they could to bring to light this information. This then is contrasted with the tone and message of the second half of the final verse: “Then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” If they would do everything possible that they could control, then they could stand still and let God take control.

               I believe this has a powerful message for us in whatever challenges we face. We have to learn to do everything we can to work through our difficulties, to find solutions, to accomplish what is in our power. And when we do, and when that is not enough, we have to learn to “stand still” and “with the utmost assurance” wait for the salvation of God. I believe the story of Limhi and his people is a good example of that principle. They were in bondage to the Lamanites and desperate to get out of that situation. Four times they had battles with them, and they were unable to prevail against their enemies, with more and more of their men dying with each battle. In another effort to escape their bondage, they sent a group of men into the wilderness to try to find the city of Zarahemla to solicit help from their fellow Nephites, but that failed and they found instead the remains of the Jaredite civilization. With few options left, they “did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions,” and still they were without a means to overcome their enemies (Mosiah 21:14). They had tried everything they could, literally wasting and wearing out their lives in the process, and yet they could not find a way to prevail. That is, until the Lord sent Ammon and his group to help them. This brought new hope to them, and Limhi’s attitude reflects well the principle that Joseph taught of standing still to see the salvation of God. The king exhorted his people, “Notwithstanding our many strugglings, which have been in vain; yet I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made. Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob” (Mosiah 7:18-19). He summarized the attitude that we all should have in facing difficult challenges in these powerful words, “But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage” (Mosiah 7:33). We cannot expect the Lord to simply deliver us from our struggles without any effort on our part, but when we do all things that lie in our power then we must turn to Him with all our hearts and—“according to his own will and pleasure”—He will deliver us.