Strengthen Your Brethren

 Lyman Sherman was 31 when he was moved upon by the Spirit to seek out Joseph Smith for a revelation. The result was what we now have as section 108 in the Doctrine and Covenants, and I love the assurance and instruction that He gave this faithful saint. On the one hand he was told, “Let your soul be at rest concerning your spiritual standing,” but the Lord also cautioned him, “And arise up and be more careful henceforth in observing your vows, which you have made and do make,” In other words, the Lord didn’t want him to worry about his spiritual state; but He did want Sherman to do more to honor his vows. The Savior also gave this powerful instruction to Sherman about how he was to help others: “Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings” (v2-3, 7). This is surely important counsel for all of us: no matter what we are doing, our words and deeds and prayers should help strengthen those around us.  

Lisa Tait suggested Sherman did indeed follow this instruction from the Lord. She wrote, “Lyman Sherman’s service to the Saints in Kirtland shows that he took the revelation’s counsel to ‘strengthen [his] brethren’ to heart.” One time in which he followed this counsel was during the Kirtland apostasy: “As internal dissension and external opposition joined forces against the Church, Lyman Sherman and his family remained loyal to Joseph Smith, helping to strengthen the Saints through the trying times.” He eventually moved to Far West, and during the trying times of the fall and winter of 1838, “Sherman traveled to visit the Prophet in jail”—another witness that he indeed was seeking to strengthen his brethren, even the prophet himself. Apparently “it was as a result of this trip that he ‘took cold’ and became very ill.” He died there in January 1839, presumably because of this trip to see the prophet. I believe he passed away seeking to follow the counsel of the Lord and obey His voice.

            Following his death, his wife Delcena and six children faced very challenging times. What is most impressive to me is that she too remained faithful and continued following the spirit of the Lord’s instructions to her husband after his death. She went to Nauvoo nearly penniless and with her six children. After the saints left she eventually traveled to Utah, still hearkening to the voice of the Lord. Three of her children died in Council Bluffs which must have been a terrible loss. But she did not give up and ultimately made it to Utah, only to pass away there not long after their arrival there in 1854. Like her husband Delcena stayed true to the end and surely the Lord’s words to him were meant for her as well: “And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever” (v8). The Lord likewise will be with and bless each of us as we seek to strengthen our own brethren in all our doings like Lyman Sherman.