Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 90:25

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 90:25

"Let your families be small, especially mine aged servant Joseph Smith's Sen., as pertaining to those who do not belong to your families;"

When I read this first part "let your families be small", I was like wait a minute? Members of the church are known for having large families. This cannot be what it means? Then I found this that explains the meaning well.

"The Lord warns His servants, particularly the Prophet's father, to let their families be small in order that the substance provided for them by the Church be not used by the unworthy who were prone to take advantage of a situation. When the Lord advises them to let their families be small, He does not mean their immediate children; the visitors and hangers-on who had a tendency to take advantage of the brethren's open houses and open hearts are the ones meant. The brethren would not be hindered in accomplishing the Lord's work if they watched this matter."

(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Section 90, "The Oracles of God", and Sperry, Compendium, p. 462)

Day 2093