{"id":41704,"date":"2021-04-29T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=41704"},"modified":"2021-04-29T12:07:22","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T17:07:22","slug":"lit-come-follow-me-dc-45-standards-and-zion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2021\/04\/lit-come-follow-me-dc-45-standards-and-zion\/","title":{"rendered":"Lit Come Follow Me: D&C 45 \u2014 Standards and Zion"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" This week’s Come Follow Me lesson covers just one section of the Doctrine and Covenants \u2014 Section 45 \u2014 which discusses the role of the Church as a standard to the world<\/a> and as a holy place<\/a>, or a place of safety, a place often called Zion.<\/p>\n

Of course, the early revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants mention these topics frequently, and the poetry of the period likewise talks about the importance of raising a standard to the world<\/a> and of the crucial role of Zion \u2014 although the physical location of Zion changes over time. However, what I found interesting in a couple of the following poems was that the standard raised to the world wasn’t in a single location. Instead, the standard was raised by missionaries who traveled the world, gathering the elect who they would lead to Zion.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Standard Bearer: Elder L. Snow<\/h3>\n

A good example of this is found in Eliza R. Snow’s poem addressed to her brother, Lorenzo, who had been called to serve a mission in England soon after he arrived in Nauvoo. He eventually served as President of the London Conference, before leading a group of immigrants back to Nauvoo, arriving there in April 1843. In the poem, Snow calls her brother a “standard bearer \/ On a distant mountain top” before eventually proclaiming that he will be welcomed home after he completes his mission. Lorenzo Snow was called to the Quorum of the Twelve six years later, in 1849.<\/p>\n

To Elder L. Snow, London, Eng.<\/span><\/h4>\n
by Eliza R. Snow (1842)<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
Dearest Brother, wherefore leave us?<\/p>\n
\n
Why forsake thy friends and home?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Of thy presence, why bereave us,<\/p>\n
\n
And in foreign countries roam?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Must the dearest ties be broken?<\/p>\n
\n
Must affection’s beauties fade?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
No: O no, but God has spoken<\/p>\n
\n
And his voice must be obey’d.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Thou art call’d to bear Salvation’s<\/p>\n
\n
Joyful tidings far abroad\u2014<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Thou hast gone to warn the nations,<\/p>\n
\n
In the name of Israel’s God.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
For the spirit of Devoition<\/p>\n
\n
To Messiah’ glorious cause;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Thou has cross’d the pathless ocean,<\/p>\n
\n
To proclaim redemption’s laws.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
For the gospel proclamation<\/p>\n
\n
Must be sounded far and near;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
That the\u00a0best<\/i>\u00a0of every nation,<\/p>\n
\n
May in Zion’s courts appear.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Thou art now a standard bearer<\/p>\n
\n
On a distant mountain top;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
And perchance, art made a sharer<\/p>\n
\n
In privation’s bitter cup<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
For the Lord designs to prove thee<\/p>\n
\n
If his voice thou wilt obey;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Therefore from the friends that love thee,<\/p>\n
\n
Thou art parted far away!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Thou art call’d thyself to sever<\/p>\n
\n
From the land where kindred dwell!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
But it will not be forever\u2014<\/p>\n
\n
Time ere long,will break the spell.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Here warm friends await thy greeting\u2014<\/p>\n
\n
Noble friends, of Abram’s line\u2014<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Here’s are gentle pulses beating<\/p>\n
\n
In soft unison with thine.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Here are daily pray’rs ascending<\/p>\n
\n
That th’appointed time may come,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
When thy foreign mission ending,<\/p>\n
\n
We shall bid thee\u00a0“welcome home.”<\/i><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Standard Bearer: A. O. Smoot<\/h3>\n

Eliza R. Snow wasn’t the only poet to recognize the gospel’s role in drawing people to the Truth. Margaret T. Smoot, wife of Abraham O. Smoot<\/a>, did the same in a poem addressed to her husband. Abraham O. Smoot was serving his second mission, to South Carolina, in 1842, when this poem was written. In it she sees her missionary as a “herald” proclaiming the gospel to the world.<\/p>\n

Go Forth Ye Herald and Proclaim<\/span><\/h4>\n
by Margaret Thompson Smoot (1842)<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
The following lines of poetry were composed by Sister Margaret T. Smoot, on taking leave of Elder A. O. Smoot, her husband.<\/i><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Go forth ye herald and proclaim<\/dd>\n
The Gospel of our Lord,<\/dd>\n
Hold forth the truth in Jesus\u2019 name\u2014<\/dd>\n
Supported by his word<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
To all who will obey his word<\/dd>\n
His promises are sure,<\/dd>\n
That Christ will be with them and stay,<\/dd>\n
If to the end endure.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Since God hath spoken from above,<\/dd>\n
And called you to depart,<\/dd>\n
May fears nor temptations move<\/dd>\n
You from the truth to part.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
The sacrifice to me is great,<\/dd>\n
To part with one so kind,<\/dd>\n
But God gave thee to me for mate,<\/dd>\n
I\u2019ll be to his will resigned.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I pray the Lord\u2014keep thee from harm,<\/dd>\n
And guide thee with thy all,<\/dd>\n
And save thee in his mighty arm,<\/dd>\n
That thou will never fall.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Now farewell\u2014kindest of hearts<\/dd>\n
To thee I bid farewell a while,<\/dd>\n
For Jesus\u2019 sake we got to part,<\/dd>\n
And on us, O! let him smile.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Watchmen of Zion<\/h3>\n

Toward the end of section 45 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Saints are commanded to gather and build the New Jerusalem, the Zion where they can find safety and peace. In this poem, William W. Phelps suggests that the “watchmen” (presumably missionaries, or leaders) should rejoice when Zion is established, and the Saints will have a place to “stand in holy places.”<\/p>\n

Ye watchmen lift your voices<\/span><\/h4>\n
by W. W. Phelps<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
Ye watchmen lift your voices,<\/dd>\n
While heaven and earth rejoices,<\/dd>\n
In strains of holy praise,<\/dd>\n
For bliss that crowns our days,<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
So gloriously.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
See eye to eye, in Zion,<\/dd>\n
While Jesus, Judah’s Lion,<\/dd>\n
Rebukes the world of sin,<\/dd>\n
And makes his church begin<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
To fill the earth.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Ye blessed of the Father,<\/dd>\n
From ev’ry region gather,<\/dd>\n
Upon the promis’d land,<\/dd>\n
In holy places stand,<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
While judgement works.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
The plagues will soon be over\u2014<\/dd>\n
The Lord his face uncover,<\/dd>\n
And all the pure in heart,<\/dd>\n
Beyond the power of art,<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Be blest in heaven.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
The earth shall then be holy,<\/dd>\n
And saints and angels boldly,<\/dd>\n
Without a vail between,<\/dd>\n
Will see as they are seen,<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
And walk with God.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Poetry for this week\u2019s Come Follow Me lesson, D&C section 45, addressing the raising of gospel standards and establishing Zion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2895,24,50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-come-follow-me-currculum","category-music-and-poetry","category-sunday-school-lesson-doctrine-and-covenants"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41704"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41704\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41713,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41704\/revisions\/41713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}