D&C Bits – Prosperity Gospel and Loud Laughter edition

Section 59

God keeps promising material rewards in this section.  Much more than we would like to think when we think of ourselves as spiritual and above that sort of thing.  Almost prosperity gospel level here.

Vv. 2-4.  Inheriting the earth, literally not metaphorically.  Also the good things of the earth.   Also strength.  Along with spiritual blessings like revelation.

Vv. 16-19.  The fulness of the earth, animals, fowls, herds, orchards, flocks, produce, barns, gardens, vineyards.  Everything to delight and please and strengthen.

The gospel is intensely physical and materialistic.  It is not only those things, and many of those things you have to be willing to give them up to have them.  But it is those things.

Which brings us to loud laughter, or in this verse, much laughter.  V. 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.”  I don’t know what to make of this passage.  I have definitely experienced fake laughter, mocking laughter, or even laughter that was in a way addictive and you were *stuck* trying to keep up the humor with your pals when you should just be going to bed.  But neither the loudness nor the muchness of the laughter has seemed to be the difference.  I don’t know how I would describe the difference, so maybe loud laughter or much laughter is good enough.