Him Who Has All Power

The Come, Follow Me lesson for this week says the following: “On the way back to Kirtland, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders had a life-threatening experience on the Missouri River (see Saints, 1:133–34). The Lord used this opportunity to warn and instruct His servants. What do you find in Doctrine and Covenants 61 that encourages you to put your trust in the Lord as you face your own challenges?” Indeed many of the statements found in this revelation help us know that He has the power to help and protect us. The Lord opened the revelation by declaring, “Behold, and hearken unto the voice of him who has all power, who is from everlasting to everlasting, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end” (v1). He has all power to help us, and he declared His willingness to offer mercy to the penitent: “I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts” (v2). Though there were apparently dangers on those waters, He affirmed His power to protect His saints: “All flesh is in mine hand, and he that is faithful among you shall not perish by the waters” (v6). The Savior promised again to preserve them in these words: “And inasmuch as they are faithful they shall be preserved, and I, the Lord, will be with them” (v10). He will be with the faithful, which He declared again later in the revelation: “And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you; And inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours” (v36-37). He will be in our midst and will not forsake us. His eternal blessings will be ours if we humble ourselves before Him.

                The lesson continues with this statement, “There are similar insights in section 62. What does the Lord teach you about Himself and His power in this revelation?” The Lord indeed gave powerful assurances again in section 62 of His power and mercy. He declared, “Behold, and hearken, O ye elders of my church, saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, your advocate, who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted” (v1). He is our advocate; He understands our weaknesses and does not condemn us because of them but rather seeks to succor us in them. He continued, “And verily mine eyes are upon those who have not as yet gone up unto the land of Zion” (v2). His eyes are upon us and He knows our works. He promised forgiveness to those who opened their mouths to preach the gospel, giving us hope that we can indeed be forgiven of our sins: “Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you” (v3). He suggested that He will give His saints “directions of the Spirit” to guide us (v8). He finished the revelation with this powerful but simple promise: “Behold, the kingdom is yours. And behold, and lo, I am with the faithful always. Even so. Amen” (v9). As we are faithful He has promised to be with us. We can be assured that He will help us as we seek to repent and be true to Him. These revelations were surely comforting to Joseph Smith and the elders traveling home from Missouri, and they can help us put our trust in His power to help and succor us.