June 6, 2011

Reading Doctrine and Covenants Section 121 tonight. It seems fitting to me this evening to substitute the word "parenthood" for priesthood.

For example:

34Behold, there are many ^acalled, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

35Because their ^ahearts are set so much upon the things of this ^bworld, and ^caspire to the ^dhonors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

36That the ^arights of [parenthood] are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be ^bcontrolled nor handled only upon the ^cprinciples of righteousness.

37That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to ^acover our ^bsins, or to gratify our ^cpride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or ^ddominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens ^ewithdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the [parenthood] or the authority of that man (or woman).

It also seems fitting here:

41No ^apower or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the [parenthood], only by ^cpersuasion, by ^dlong-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42By ^akindness, and pure ^bknowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the ^csoul without ^dhypocrisy, and without ^eguile—

43^aReproving betimes with ^bsharpness, when ^cmoved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of ^dlove toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

And the lesson of the night is this:

45Let thy ^abowels also be full of charity towards all [children], and to the household of faith, and let ^bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy ^cconfidence wax strong in the ^dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the[righteous parenthood] shall distil upon thy soul as the ^edews from heaven.