step by step.

I've been reading Doctrine and Covenants and this morning there were a few phrases that caught my attention:

D&C 52:4 "And inasumuch as they are faithful unto me, it shall be made known unto them what they shall do;"

D&C 53:6 ". . . these are the first ordinances which you shall receive; and the residue shall be made known in a time to come . . . "

D&C 54:10 ". . . be patient in tribulation until I come; and, behold, I come quickly."

D&C 55:6 "The residue shall be made known hereafter, even as I will."

These revelations basically came to Joseph Smith because someone wanted to know what God wanted them to be doing, so they asked Joseph for help.

Joseph went to the Lord and then received council and gave it to them. In almost all of these revelations the Lord said, do this much and then when the time is right, I'll let you know the next step.

It was interesting to me, because I feel that for most of us, this is how we receive revelation. It's usually enough light to see through the immediate darkness, but our entire journey usually isn't illuminated all at once. We go through step by step, trusting God and he takes us from place to place until we are where we're supposed to be (as well as having been everywhere we were supposed to be).

He gives us a little bit of light, we exercise our faith and follow it, and then when we're there, or the time is right, we get the next set of instructions.

i know the end from the beginning.

"For I am the Lord thy God; I dwell in heaven; the earth is my footstool; I stretch my hand over the sea, and it obeys my voice; I cause the wind and the fire to be my chariot; I say to the mountains—Depart hence—and behold, they are taken away by a whirlwind, in an instant, suddenly.

My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee."

-Abraham 2:7-8

It's nice to know that God and Christ are all powerful and that they are on our side. They understand the grand scheme and will have a hand in our lives.

It's comforting.

blessings in disguise.

Having your battery die in Salt Lake with three friends in your car is hardly a blessing.

Having a friend with jumper cables be parked just down the street is a blessing.

Having your battery die the day before pay day so you don't have to wait a week to buy a new one and be carless is a blessing.

Having people who are willing to let you borrow multimeters and jump your car to get a reading on your alternator is a blessing.

Having to buy only a battery and not an alternator is a blessing.



Bad and inconvenient things happen. But I know God is acutely aware of our needs. And when we seek to do what he asks of us, he can more fully bless us.