First, the most important link: this week’s Come, Follow Me

It’s smart when we learn from others’ experiences. But it’s not enough to just learn from them, though. You’ve got to apply lessons from their experiences for it to really count.

This is the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

It also shows spiritual maturity when you can read passages of Scriptures that seem historical or factual in nature, but apply those lessons to your life as well.

What I love most about sections 81 through 83 of the Doctrine & Covenants is that we’re able to see incredible blessings promised to early members of the Church just for being faithful.

These are the promises made to Frederick G. Williams, newly called as a counselor to Joseph Smith:

Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

And if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortality, and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father.

There’s no doctrinal reason why we need to know what was promised to Brother Williams. We don’t get a lot more context on him after this calling from Saints, Volume 1.

I think it's safe to say that these revelations are shared in the Doctrine and Covenants for us to see the promises made to Brother Williams so we can learn that they apply to us as well, when we are faithful. And they’re pretty amazing blessings promised.

Photo courtesy of Josh Hilde.