Doctrine and Covenants 69:3,8

President Spencer W. Kimball:

“Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life. There may be a flash of illumination here and a story of faithfulness there. …

“Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available. …

“What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? …

“Get a notebook, … a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies” (“The Angels May Quote from It,” New Era, Oct. 1975, 5).

Doctrine and Covenants 70:12, 16

Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

“The ministers of salvation must eat and drink; they must be clothed, marry, raise families, and live as other men do. When all of their time and strength is expended in building up the kingdom, others—happily, those blessed by their ministrations—must supply the just needs and wants of the laborers in the vineyard, for ‘the laborer is worthy of his hire.’ (D&C 84:79) ‘But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.’ (2 Ne. 26:31)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 2:351; see also D&C 24:3–9; 42:71–72).

Doctrine and Covenants 71

Ezra Booth was a former Methodist minister who became a member of the Church after reading the Book of Mormon, talking with Joseph Smith, and witnessing a healing. He traveled as a missionary to Missouri but was disappointed when he couldn’t perform miracles to convince others of the truth. In addition, Booth did not believe that Joseph Smith’s conduct was appropriate for a prophet or a spiritual leader. He became highly critical of Joseph Smith, left the Church, and wrote nine letters criticizing the Church and its leaders. These letters, published in a newspaper called the Ohio Star, led some people to develop unfriendly feelings toward the Church and its leaders. The Prophet Joseph Smith’s history called Ezra Booth’s writings a “series of letters, which, by their coloring, falsity, and vain calculations to overthrow the work of the Lord, exposed his [Booth’s] weakness, wickedness and folly, and left him a monument of his own shame, for the world to wonder at” (History of the Church, 1:216–17). Symonds Ryder, another disaffected member, gave copies of some of the revelations to another newspaper, attempting to discourage people from joining the Church.

The Prophet Joseph Smith:

“From this time until the 8th or 10th of January, 1832, myself and Elder Rigdon continued to preach in Shalersville, Ravenna, and other places, setting forth the truth, vindicating the cause of our Redeemer; showing that the day of vengeance was coming upon this generation like a thief in the night; that prejudice, blindness and darkness filled the minds of many, and caused them to persecute the true Church, and reject the true light; by which means we did much towards allaying the excited feelings which were growing out of the scandalous letters then being published in the Ohio Star, at Ravenna, by the before-mentioned apostate, Ezra Booth” (in Historyof the Church, 1:241).

Doctrine and Covenants 71

When Symonds Ryder first learned about the Church, he remained undecided for a time about whether he wanted to be baptized. However, in 1831 he read a newspaper account of the destruction of Peking, China, and remembered that a Mormon girl had predicted the destruction of that city six weeks earlier. This experience led him to join the Church.

Shortly after Symonds was baptized and confirmed, he was ordained an elder. He received a letter signed by the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, stating that it was the will of the Lord, made known by the Holy Ghost, that he should preach the gospel. Both in the letter he received and in the official commission to preach, however, his name was spelled Rider instead of Ryder. Because of the misspelling, Symonds began to doubt the revelations of Joseph Smith and his calling as a prophet of God. Eventually Symonds left the Church. While his reaction to the misspelling of his name was not the only reason for his apostasy, it contributed to it. After his apostasy, Symonds Ryder became one of the members of the mob that tarred and feathered Joseph Smith outside of the home of John and Elsa Johnson on the night of March 24–25, 1832.

Doctrine and Covenants 71:1–4

Elder Robert D. Hales:

“As we respond to others, each circumstance will be different. Fortunately, the Lord knows the hearts of our accusers and how we can most effectively respond to them. As true disciples seek guidance from the Spirit, they receive inspiration tailored to each encounter. And in every encounter, true disciples respond in ways that invite the Spirit of the Lord” (“Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 73).

Doctrine and Covenants 71:7

Elder Robert D. Hales:

“As true disciples, our primary concern must be others’ welfare, not personal vindication.Questions and criticisms give us an opportunity to reach out to others and demonstrate that they matter to our Heavenly Father and to us. Our aim should be to help them understand the truth, not defend our egos or score points in a theological debate. Our heartfelt testimonies are the most powerful answer we can give our accusers. And such testimonies can only be borne in love and meekness” (“Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 73–74).

Elder Marvin J. Ashton:

“Probably we will never be free of those who are openly anti-Mormon. Therefore, we encourage all our members to refuse to become anti-anti-Mormon” (“Pure Religion,”Ensign, Nov. 1982, 63).