D&C 99 [RE] says, “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work, for behold, the field is white already to harvest and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perish not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.” D&C 5 [RE] has similar themes but includes this striking idea: “Whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.” In other words, if you want to participate in the great and marvelous work, you simply need to have the desire and then you are called to the work. How do you show your desire? What is the evidence of your desire? You thrust in your sickle and you reap. It appears that that is the only way to know that you have been called.
The sons of Mosiah, after their conversion, desired to serve by preaching the word of God (Mosiah 8 [RE]). There is no record of God or an angel telling them to thrust in their sickles. That desire was simply part of them after they were born again. It was not until they were already in the wilderness, after they had set their hands to the work, that they were properly prepared and constituted for the work by the Lord.
And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness and they fasted much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his spirit to go with them and abide with them that they might be an instrument in the hands of God...And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his spirit and said unto them, Be comforted, and they were comforted. And the Lord said unto them also, Go forth among the Lamanites thy brethren and establish my word, yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may shew forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls. And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah and also those who were with them took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God. (Alma 8 [RE])
Who, specifically, comforted the sons of Mosiah? What form did that comfort take? Was the reception of that comforter an end in itself or was it a means to an end? Whatever the answers to those questions are, it is evident in the record that what they received empowered them sufficiently to perform the work they set out to do. And they didn’t wait around to receive that power before going and doing. They had faith in God that He would empower them after they began the work. I find it noteworthy that they were in great need of courage when they were in the wilderness. One who knows the outcome of their mission might imagine that they would have had extreme confidence in what they were doing. But they were so unsure of themselves that they didn’t even know for certain if they were doing the right thing. They were weak. Fortunately, we know what God can do with weak things.
But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness; not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls. Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us and said, go amongst thy brethren the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success. (Alma 10 [RE])
The Lord provided the sons of Mosiah with what they needed at the very moment they needed it and not before. If “faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, constitutes [us] for the work” (D&C 99 [RE]), when exactly do we become so constituted and who does the constituting? Can we take those things upon ourselves or must they be received? If they can only be received, why would God ever bestow such gifts upon us? Are they to be consumed upon our lusts or can they only be used for specific purposes? Is there a reason the marvelous work and a wonder has been less than marvelous these many years? Can that change? Why would that change? If there is a new opportunity being offered to be called to a truly marvelous work, then perhaps we ought to pay close attention.
Thank you for this, Dan. We all need to absorb it.
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