060425, Wednesday

Daily Vitals: Weight: 223.3, GMI: 6.7, Steps (previous day): 5,145

Journal Entry:

As promised, here is a photo of the Colorado River from the Navajo Indian Bridge which is adjacent to US highway 89A in Arizona. 42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

We got home in good time. Then I went to American Fork Hospital to get my xrays for my visit with Dr. Kimball tomorrow.

It's really good to be home again.

I get to serve in the temple today after the temple being closed for the last few weeks for maintenance. Looking forward to that.

Come Follow Me 

D&C 58:42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

"We and our relationships can change. Through the Atonement of Christ the Lord, we can put off our selfish natural self and become a child of God, meek, humble, full of faith and appropriate trust. When we repent, when we confess and forsake our sins, the Lord says He remembers them no more. It is not that He forgets; rather, in a remarkable way, it seems He chooses not to remember them, nor need we."

Elder Gerrit W. Gong, Apostle

Commentary on D&C 58:13–18

Edward Partridge is reproved in the revelation for his doubts about Zion’s location, and to his everlasting credit, he repented and worked to build Zion. Edward received other rebukes in the revelations (D&C 64:17), and each time he bore his chastisement with humility and worked to fulfill the Lord’s commands. It is important to remember that Edward and his family had already made considerable sacrifices for the gospel. They took in and supported many of the penniless saints emigrating from New York and Pennsylvania. While assisting these families, members of the Partridge family came down with the measles, which were transmitted from some of the refugees. It was during this trying time that Edward left to travel to Missouri, perhaps heightening his anxiety and leading to the conflict with Joseph over the land. 

Lydia Partridge, Edward’s wife, later remembered, “My eldest daughter was taken down with lung fever, and while she was at the worst, my husband was called by revelation to go with a number of others to Missouri to locate a place for the gathering of the Saints, the unbelievers thought he must be crazy, or he would not go. And I thought myself that I had reason to think my trials had commenced, and so [they] had, but this trial like all others was followed with blessings for our daughter recovered.”[1]

A few days after this revelation was given, Edward wrote in a letter to Lydia, “You know I stand in an important station, and as I am occasionally chastened I sometimes fear my station is above what I can perform to the acceptance of my Heavenly Father. I hope you and I may conduct ourselves as at last to land our souls in the heaven of eternal rest. Pray that I may not fall.”[2] Other members of the missionary expedition to Missouri, most notably Ezra Booth, were disappointed in the land’s appearance and the local settlers’ demeanor. But in contrast to Booth, who left the Church and became a bitter enemy of the Saints, Edward Partridge stood fast in his place, fulfilled his duties, and received his just reward (D&C 124:19, 21).

[1] Joseph Smith Papers, Documents, Vol. 1, p. 330, fn. 458.

[2] Scott H. Partridge, “Edward Partridge in Painesville, Ohio,” BYU Studies 41, no. 1, 64.