God wants to commit responsibilities to each of us. They come in church callings or personal promptings to share His gospel. We show our commitment by choosing to magnify those callings from God. Doctrine and Covenants 27–28 discuss committing to God and warn about what it looks like when that commitment is in the wrong place.
Segment 1
Scriptures:
D&C 27:5,6,9,13,16 (The Lord committed)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
D&C 27:1-2 (Instruction on the sacrament)
Mosiah 3:15 (The law is nothing without the Atonement)
Alma 25:15-16 (The law is to strengthen our faith)
Matthew 11:28 (God’s rest for the heavy laden)
Words of the General Authorities:
I fear that some people know just enough about the gospel to feel guilty that they are not measuring up to some undefinable standard but not enough about the Atonement to feel the peace and strength it affords us. (Sheri Dew, “This Is a Test. It Is Only a Test.”, May 1998 BYU Women’s Conference, recorded in July 2000 Ensign)
Study Helps:
The tendency of their teaching was to reduce religion to the observance of a multiplicity of ceremonial rules and to encourage self-sufficiency and spiritual pride. (Pharisees, Bible Dictionary)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
D&C 27:5-14 (Christ’s marriage supper)
CR: Mark 14:25
CR: Luke 22:18
CR: Revelation 19
D&C 84:63 (We are God’s friends)
Words of the General Authorities:
Those who keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in His statutes to the end, are the only individuals permitted to sit at this glorious feast… [Paul wrote:] `I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith’...His labors were unceasing to spread the glorious news: and like a faithful soldier, when called to give his life in the cause which he had espoused, he laid it down…Follow the labors of this Apostle from the time of his conversion to the time of his death, and you will have a fair sample of industry and patience in promulgating the Gospel of Christ. Derided, whipped, and stoned, the moment he escaped the hands of his persecutors he as zealously as ever proclaimed the doctrine of the Savior…Reflect for a moment, brethren, and enquire, whether you would consider yourselves worthy a seat at the marriage feast with Paul and others like him, if you had been unfaithful? Had you not fought the good fight, and kept the faith, could you expect to receive? (Joseph Smith, “The Elders of the Church in Kirtland, to Their Brethren Abroad,” Jan. 22, 1834, found in Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, Chapter 13: Obedience: “When the Lord Commands, Do It”)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
D&C 27:15-18 (The armor of God)
Alma 43:19-20 (Preparation vs. non-protection)
Matthew 22:1-14 (The parable of the great banquet)
Words of the General Authorities:
From ancient times to modern, we have always been invited to present our best selves inside and out when entering the house of the Lord—and a dedicated LDS chapel is a “house of the Lord.” Our clothing or footwear need never be expensive, indeed should not be expensive, but neither should it appear that we are on our way to the beach. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “To Young Women”, October 2005 General Conference)
The custom in those days was for the host of a wedding feast—in this parable, the king—to provide garments for the wedding guests. Such wedding garments were simple, nondescript robes that all attendees wore. In this way, rank and station were eliminated, and everyone at the feast could mingle as equals. (David A. Bednar, “Put On Thy Strength, O Zion”, October 2022 General Conference)
That the unrobed guest was guilty of neglect, intentional disrespect, or some more grievous offense, is plain from the context. The king at first was graciously considerate, inquiring only as to how the man had entered without a wedding garment. Had the guest been able to explain his exceptional appearance, or had he any reasonable excuse to offer, he surely would have spoken; but we are told that he remained speechless. The king’s summons had been freely extended to all whom his servants had found; but each of them had to enter the royal palace by the door; and before reaching the banquet room, in which the king would appear in person, each would be properly attired; but the deficient one, by some means had entered by another way; and not having passed the attendant sentinels at the portal, he was an intruder, of a kind with the man to whom the Lord had before referred as a thief and a robber. (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Chapter 30: Jesus Returns to the Temple Daily)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
D&C 28:2,6-7 (The prophet holds the keys)
D&C 28:11 (Confronting those who deceive)
Moroni 7:19 (Search in the light of Christ)
Words of the General Authorities:
I do not concern myself much with reading long commentary volumes designed to enlarge at length upon that which is found in the scriptures. Rather, I prefer to dwell with the source, tasting of the unadulterated waters of the foundation of truth—the word of God as he gave it and as it has been recorded in the books we accept as scripture. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Using the Scriptures” Churchwide Fireside, recorded in December 1985 Ensign)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
D&C 28:1,4,16 (Preach the gospel)
John 4:27-30 (The woman at the well proclaims Christ)
James 2:23 (A Friend of God)
View transcript here.