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Ep. 403: Doctrine & Covenants 136:29-42 Be a Prophet

Streaking the Scriptures

Release Date: 11/30/2025

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Streaking the Scriptures

Episode Summary — Why Article of Faith 10 Might Be the Most Personal of Them All What does it really mean to believe in the literal gathering of Israel, the building of Zion, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ — and why does that belief matter right now, in your ordinary, everyday life? In this Christmas Eve episode of Streaking the Scriptures, Jeff Downs reflects on Article of Faith #10 and asks a surprisingly personal question: Why is this article here… and how is it meant to shape who we are becoming? As Jeff walks through Isaiah, 1 Nephi, and Ether, he reframes the gathering of...

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Ep. 407: Doctrine & Covenants 138:51-60 Ep. 407: Doctrine & Covenants 138:51-60 "Lift Where You Stand"

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Welcome back to Streaking the Scriptures. I’m your host, Jeff Downs, and today we arrive at a profound moment in our journey through the Doctrine and Covenants. We are completing Section 138—the culminating revelation that opens the curtains on life after death, redemption, and the ongoing labor and progression of God’s children beyond mortality. This section reveals answers to some of humanity’s deepest questions: What happens after we die? What is the nature of the spirit world? How does redemption continue beyond the grave? Today, we’ll read, ponder, and follow wherever...

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🎙️ Introduction Good morning, and welcome back to Streaking the Scriptures. Today we continue our study of Doctrine and Covenants section 138—a section that lifts the veil and lets us glimpse the grandeur of the Lord’s redemptive work on both sides of the veil. Yesterday we explored Joseph F. Smith’s pondering, his searching, and the revelatory “recipe” that opened his understanding. Today, beginning at verse 29, we move into the heart of his vision—how Christ organized messengers among the righteous to preach the gospel to those in darkness. These verses expand our...

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🎙️ Introduction

Welcome back to Streaking the Scriptures. In this episode, Jeff walks with us through the final verses of Doctrine and Covenants section 136, picking up at verse 28—“If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing…”—a fitting starting point after a whirlwind Thanksgiving filled with family, homecomings, missionaries abroad, and, for the first time ever, no turkey. Instead: brisket, chicken drumsticks, abundant sides, and even a night of dancing among the lights at Temple Square.

From that joyful beginning, Jeff moves into the heart of this chapter’s themes: turning to the Lord when sorrowful, pouring out our souls to make room for His joy, the pattern for receiving revelation taught by President Russell M. Nelson, and what it means—across scripture and personal experience—to see prophets rejected, cast out, or even killed.

This is an episode rich in application: how to respond when you’re the one left behind after family leaves; how to trust the Lord with your enemies instead of handling them your own way; how revelation grows as a daily, consistent practice; and what it means to stand as a witness of Christ when stones—literal or verbal—start to fly.

And of course, Jeff ties it all back to the essence of streaking: small, simple, daily actions that open the windows of heaven.


📘 Chapters

00:01 – Starting Back in D&C 136:28

Jeff picks up where the last episode left off—praising the Lord with music, dancing, gratitude, and a reflection on a very nontraditional Thanksgiving feast.

02:24 – Preparing for the Journey West

A quick overview of the Saints at winter quarters, Brigham Young’s role, and the broader December schedule including sections 137 and 138, the Articles of Faith, the Proclamation, and the Christmas study week.

04:45 – What to Do When You’re Sorrowful

Jeff shares the reality of family coming and going and connects verse 29 to Lily’s poignant insight: if you don’t pour out your anxieties and fears, there’s no room for the Lord to fill you with anything better.

06:44 – President Nelson’s Blueprint for Revelation

Jeff searches for and reads from Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, highlighting the pattern: find your quiet place, pour out your heart, pray, listen, write, and repeat—day after day, year after year.

10:41 – Fear Not Thine Enemies

A reflection on trusting God with our adversaries instead of handling them ourselves, and how trials prepare us for Zion.

11:59 – Prophets Rejected and Cast Out

Jeff explores scriptural patterns—Ether, 3 Nephi, and the days of the Jaredites—drawing parallels to Joseph Smith’s martyrdom and the stoning (literal and metaphorical) of those who testify of Christ.

18:20 – A Missionary Story: “Being Stoned” in Washington D.C.

A personal memory of literal rocks thrown at missionaries and a companion who turned anger into teaching, demonstrating what it really means to stand as a witness.

21:22 – Standing Firm Like Samuel the Lamanite

Encouragement for anyone facing criticism, mockery, or resistance for sharing their testimony.

23:01 – Marvel Not at These Things

A discussion about the shock of prophetic martyrdom, how the Lord frames Joseph Smith’s death, and the sobering reminder that discipleship will always involve opposition.

24:51 – The Application: Keep the Commandments

Pulling the chapter together—diligence, obedience, faith fortified through action, and the Lord’s gentle “no more at present.”

26:45 – President Nelson’s Final Invitation

Jeff concludes with President Nelson’s assurance that God does want to speak to you—and w

Thanks for joining this study session. Section 136 closes with a simple but powerful instruction: be diligent. Consistency is the key that unlocks revelation, strengthens testimony, and fills your soul with the joy the Lord promises to the sorrowful who turn to Him.

If you’re building that consistency in your scripture study—or want to—make it easier by tracking your streak with the MyStreaks – Streak Tracker app. A streak is simply a consecutive record of success. When you read even one verse a day, log it. When you pray, log it. When you act on impressions, log it. Watching your streak grow becomes a joyful motivator and a powerful reminder of who you’re becoming, day by day.

You can download MyStreaks in the App Store or Google Play. Set your scripture streak, keep it simple, and watch what happens when you stay consistent.

If you have comments or thoughts, send them to jeffery@mystreaksapp.com.

Until next time—have a marvelous, fantastic, wonderful day.

And as always…

Keep streaking the scriptures.