The Enigma that is D&C 59

So I’m reading from D&C 59:
13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.
14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù

…and I get ‘fasting may be perfect’=’joy may be full’; ‘fasting’=’rejoicing’; laughter on the sabbath is a sin.

So the question is, how many members feel that their joy is full and that they are rejoicing on Fast Sunday *and* how many members have sinned when laughing at jokes from the pulpit?

The next time nobody laughs at the jokes the bishop makes, just remember – it’s not that they’re bad jokes, it’s just that everyone is avoiding sin.

5 thoughts on “The Enigma that is D&C 59

  1. Um… it’s “much laughter”, so I think we’re safe chuckling at the one-liner sister Smith inserted into her talk.

    : )

  2. yes, i believe it refers to too much laughter…as in “light mindedness” hard to feel the Spirit when you are being over giddy.

  3. There’s an atmosphere that takes over a lot of personal interactions and conversations. It’s an atmosphere of amusement. The main motive for speaking is not to communicate something but to make people laugh, or to prove how clever or funny you are. That’s not the right atmosphere for teaching and learning the gospel.

  4. I take it it’s a ‘no comment’ on the joys of Fast sunday?

    …and ltbugaf I thought the main motive for speaking on Sunday was to put people to sleep? Hmmm…
    I guess you learn something every day.

  5. :) well not ALL speakers put people to sleep.
    not that I get to be in Sacrament for the talks much these days anyway…

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