In an epistle of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, written in Nauvoo, Illinois, dated 12 October 1841, we read,
Let us be up and doing. . . . Deal gently, love mercy, walk humbly before God, and whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might, keeping all the commandments, and then, whether in life or in death, all things will be yours, whether they be temples or lands, houses or vineyards, baptisms or endowments, revelations or healings, all things will be yours, for you will be Christ's and Christ is God's.
Brigham Young,
Heber C. Kimball,
Orson Pratt,
Lyman Wight,
John Taylor,
Wilford Woodruff,
George A. Smith,
Willard Richards.
("An Epistle of the Twelve Apostles, to the Brethren Scattered Abroad on the Continent of America", HC 4:438)
President Brigham Young was acutely aware of this counsel and heeded it. He built the below home after returning home from his mission to England.
President Young lived in this home until he, under direction from the Lord, led the Latter-day Saints on the Exodus to the West. This is a beautifully furnished home. If Brother Brigham can "be up and doing" and build a home this beautiful in the midst of poverty, we can do likewise, even to the accomplishment of anything the Lord asks of us, whether temporal or spiritual. I know this is true, and no true Latter-day Saint will reject this counsel to "be up and doing" without losing the Spirit of the Lord.
Next, we go inside to the Council Room of the Twelve Apostles in the east wing of the home (to the right of the above picture). Here we see the Council Room as Brigham Young knew it:
I love the way this room is laid out. It speaks of order, uprightness, and openness to opinion. President Young would have no doubt been seated at the head of the table, closest to the door. I imagine, as is customary today in the Church Office Building, the Council of the Twelve would be seated by seniority. All would be allowed to speak in turn, and express opinions, give counsel or advise, and generally "be up and doing" in the Lord's work, which is only found within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Let us, therefore, as Latter-day Saints, council with the Lord and also take council from His hand, as the prophet Jacob admonishes, when he saith, "Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from His hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that He counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works" (Jacob 4:10).
Lastly, we come to the below picture of President Young's root cellar:
This was the refrigerator of the nineteenth Century. I, having had the opportunity to enter therein, opine it is of a satisfactory temperature to keep food stuffs cool, and preserve freshness.
This root cellar of Brigham Young may also have a spiritual undertone. Notice in the above picture that one must step down to go inside and procure needed food to nourish the body. It is thus and so also with things of the Spirit - when one is malnourished spiritually, or if the heat of the world causes us to loose our temper, or to become overwhelmed in our daily tasks, let bring ourselves lower in humility, cool off and take nourishment, and then the Lord will lift us out of the mire of our troubles. Indeed, the Holy Ghost is the greatest nourishment one might receive in this wonderful world we live in. God be praised for His giving us His Spirit.
I, Clark LeRay Herlin, know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and that President Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God, even His mouthpiece on Earth today. If we heed his counsel as the Saints in Nauvoo heeded President Young, we will be led aright, and the fiery darts of the adversary shall not overcome us. We must counsel with the Lord and take counsel from His hand, enter into our "root cellar" and cool off, and "be up and doing", and I know the Lord will give His approbation, guidance, and strength. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Let us be up and doing. . . . Deal gently, love mercy, walk humbly before God, and whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might, keeping all the commandments, and then, whether in life or in death, all things will be yours, whether they be temples or lands, houses or vineyards, baptisms or endowments, revelations or healings, all things will be yours, for you will be Christ's and Christ is God's.
Brigham Young,
Heber C. Kimball,
Orson Pratt,
Lyman Wight,
John Taylor,
Wilford Woodruff,
George A. Smith,
Willard Richards.
("An Epistle of the Twelve Apostles, to the Brethren Scattered Abroad on the Continent of America", HC 4:438)
President Brigham Young was acutely aware of this counsel and heeded it. He built the below home after returning home from his mission to England.
President Young lived in this home until he, under direction from the Lord, led the Latter-day Saints on the Exodus to the West. This is a beautifully furnished home. If Brother Brigham can "be up and doing" and build a home this beautiful in the midst of poverty, we can do likewise, even to the accomplishment of anything the Lord asks of us, whether temporal or spiritual. I know this is true, and no true Latter-day Saint will reject this counsel to "be up and doing" without losing the Spirit of the Lord.
Next, we go inside to the Council Room of the Twelve Apostles in the east wing of the home (to the right of the above picture). Here we see the Council Room as Brigham Young knew it:
I love the way this room is laid out. It speaks of order, uprightness, and openness to opinion. President Young would have no doubt been seated at the head of the table, closest to the door. I imagine, as is customary today in the Church Office Building, the Council of the Twelve would be seated by seniority. All would be allowed to speak in turn, and express opinions, give counsel or advise, and generally "be up and doing" in the Lord's work, which is only found within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Let us, therefore, as Latter-day Saints, council with the Lord and also take council from His hand, as the prophet Jacob admonishes, when he saith, "Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from His hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that He counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works" (Jacob 4:10).
Lastly, we come to the below picture of President Young's root cellar:
This was the refrigerator of the nineteenth Century. I, having had the opportunity to enter therein, opine it is of a satisfactory temperature to keep food stuffs cool, and preserve freshness.
This root cellar of Brigham Young may also have a spiritual undertone. Notice in the above picture that one must step down to go inside and procure needed food to nourish the body. It is thus and so also with things of the Spirit - when one is malnourished spiritually, or if the heat of the world causes us to loose our temper, or to become overwhelmed in our daily tasks, let bring ourselves lower in humility, cool off and take nourishment, and then the Lord will lift us out of the mire of our troubles. Indeed, the Holy Ghost is the greatest nourishment one might receive in this wonderful world we live in. God be praised for His giving us His Spirit.
I, Clark LeRay Herlin, know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and that President Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God, even His mouthpiece on Earth today. If we heed his counsel as the Saints in Nauvoo heeded President Young, we will be led aright, and the fiery darts of the adversary shall not overcome us. We must counsel with the Lord and take counsel from His hand, enter into our "root cellar" and cool off, and "be up and doing", and I know the Lord will give His approbation, guidance, and strength. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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