"Great Shall Be Their Reward and Eternal Shall Be Their Glory"

Georgina Bringas (Mexican, born 1975)
La vibration del tiempo (2018)
VHS tape, computer fans, dimensions variable
Courtesy of Galería Le Laboratoir and the artist
Artist’s website

Historical Reflections

Two of the revelations in July’s reading take on an entirely new character. Prior to this time, the revelations were primarily instructions given to individuals about their missions and to the Church about how to organize. Doctrine was implicit in in the mainly practical guidance about what to do and how to manage. Sections 76 and 84 are two of the most far-reaching explications of doctrine in the entire canon. Section 76 lays down basic beliefs about life after death, and section 84 expounds on priesthood. We rely on these two for an understanding of our most basic beliefs. They came in a troubled period. Joseph was tarred and feathered on a cold winter night in March of 1832 and shortly after traveled to Missouri to settle differences in Zion before returning to Kirtland where section 84 was received in September.

- Richard Bushman

In D&C section 76, we learn that the mysteries of the kingdom will be shown to the righteous (76:7-10). While "meditating upon" the scriptures, "the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened" (76:19). Artists sometimes ponder the unknown, the cosmic, the metaphorical when they create their work. Georgina Bringas notes, in reference to her work, “La vibración del tiempo,” (The Vibration of Time), that she likes to work with abstraction with concepts such as time, space, waiting, distance, and travel. In the installation which is made of VHS tapes, “These VHS cassette video tapes contain images and time that has been recorded, which has been kept inside these tapes and is now presented as if it were a wall where we can somehow reflect something of who we are. It has a vibration generated through the wind from the fans behind, and this vibration for me has a relationship with us. In this world in the creations that we can see around us, everything vibrates: from our cells to the cosmos. The light vibrates, sound, our own heart, our movements. Everything that is around us has a relationship with us and in this piece I like to think that it is related to us because it is not only occupying a space and a time but also occupies something that is the vibration. It has movement as we have it.”

Gospel Questions

1. How have you felt the Lord's delight in honoring you when you serve His children (D&C 76:5)?

2. Joseph Smith explains in Section 76 that it was while he and Sidney Rigdon were meditating upon spiritual things, and specifically the concept of "Heaven," "the Lord touched the eyes of our understanding and they were opened" (introduction to Section 76 and verse 19). Have you ever felt an opening of your eyes (an "ah ha" moment) and situationally unique understanding when pondering the scriptures? How does this impact your perception of the scriptures as a conduit for personal revelation, comfort and peace?

3. Repeatedly Joseph is commanded in this chapter to write down the revelation that he received (D&C 76: 28, 49, 80 and 113). Why do you think writing down personal revelation is an important step in the process?

For Children & Youth

Hi. Georgina from Mexico City created a wall of quivering, shimmering black video tape in the image you see above. She likes to measure things, even the distances between objects worlds apart. For her, everything in the universe has movement: from the tiniest part of the cells in our body to the swirling planets, suns, and moons themselves. Have you ever looked at the stars at night and tried to image how long it might take to get there? In the scriptures to be studied this week, the Lord showed Joseph and Sidney extraordinary things that they could not have imagined. These were mysteries. What mystery in the world would you like to know about?

Gospel Questions

1. People often talk about how things are always changing. God, however, does not. "From eternity to eternity, he is the same, and his years never fail" (D&C 76:4). How does knowing that God is constant give you peace and confidence?

2. You are a child of God, and "great and marvelous are the works of the Lord" (D&C 76:114). Everyone else is a child of God, too (D&C 76:24). How does this impact the way you think about yourself? How does this impact the way you think about people around you, even when they let you down or make you angry? What can you do to remember this truth about yourself and others?

3. The gospel is "glad tidings" (D&C 76:40). What gospel truth makes you feel glad?