Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 105:9-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 105:9-11
"Therefore, in consequence of the transgressions of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion—
That they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands.
And this cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high."

This is the chapter on Zion's Camp. Many great leaders of the Church experienced that fateful march from Ohio to Missouri. The purpose was to escort the expelled Missouri Saints back to their lands in Jackson County. Overall it would have appeared to fail in its mission. In reality it prepared men of God to be obedient to God. There was much to learn. They needed to be endowed with power from on high. Temple blessings had not yet come to the Saints. I pondered on how that preparation has been ongoing all these years later.

"Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–1985) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about what Church members need to do during that “little season” before Zion is redeemed:
“A little season—how long will it last? Will it be two hundred years? or three hundred? Though the day of the Second Coming is fixed, the day for the redemption of Zion depends upon us. After we as a people live the law of the celestial kingdom; after we gain the needed experience and learn our duties; after we become by faith and obedience as were our fellow saints in the days of Enoch; after we are worthy to be translated, if the purposes of the Lord should call for such a course in this day—then Zion will be redeemed, and not before.“
‘This cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high. For behold, I have prepared a great endowment and blessing to be poured out upon them, inasmuch as they are faithful and continue in humility before me’ [D&C 105:11–12]. As of this time the ordinances of the house of the Lord had not been revealed, and the endowment of power from on high received through them was needed in the heavenly work that lay ahead. ‘Therefore it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season, for the redemption of Zion’ [D&C 105:13]. And so we wait, wondering the while how long the ‘little season’ is destined to last. As to its length, we cannot say. This much only do we know: the ‘little season’ is the appointed period of preparation for the Latter-day Saints. In it we must attain the same spiritual stature enjoyed by those who built the original Zion. Then and then only will we build our latter-day City of Holiness” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 616)."
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, "Chapter 41: Doctrine and Covenants 103; 105", "Wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion")

Day 3694