Dear Class,
Good
morning! This week is river tooth week, and I know your essays will be
memorable. River teeth are basically the memories that won't wash away
from your mind--they are still preserved with sharp detail. I love the
content in this lesson, and I hope you will as well.
I
want to share a river tooth moment from the scriptures that has always
stood out to me. When Joseph Smith was a prisoner in Liberty Jail, he
begged to know," O God, where art thou? . . How long shall thy hand be
stayed? . . Yea, O Lord, how long shall [thy people and servants] suffer
these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be
softened toward them, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward
them?"(Doctrine and Covenants 121: 1,3).
Then,
Heavenly Father comforts Joseph, beginning with, "My son, peace be unto
thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small
moment" (7).
He
comforts Joseph for several pages, but these specific details stand out
to me: "If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thy
enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy
father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a sword thine
enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring,
and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy
garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with
us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he
shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison,
and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the
lamb. . .know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee
experience, and shall be for thy good" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:6-7).
This
river tooth description of Joseph being torn from his family is so
vivid, and it shows that Heavenly Father has always had a softened
heart, and complete compassion for His children. He sees what is going
on, and He loves us dearly.
I hope that our course will "give [us] experience, and shall be for [our] good."
I am thankful for you and pray for you every day. Good luck this week!
Love,
Sister Bowen
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