"EYES ON THE STARS" – Don't Miss This Study

Podcast by Emily Freeman & David Butler
Date: September 1, 2025
Sections covered: Doctrine & Covenants 98–101

Overview

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Emily Freeman and David Butler (mistakenly introduced at the very beginning as Grace Freeman) explore Doctrine & Covenants Sections 98 to 101. As the Saints face relentless hardship, the hosts examine questions of God’s goodness and trustworthiness amid suffering, practical spiritual survival, the transformative power of gratitude, and the importance of keeping one’s eyes "on the stars"—symbolically focusing on hope and God’s promises rather than the "mud" of present adversity. The episode also delves into self-inflicted suffering, the importance of spiritual preparation, and the impact of patiently waiting for God’s promises.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Building a Jesus-Centered Home & the Importance of Scripture

• The hosts frame the series: helping create homes centered on Jesus and faith by mining the scriptures for inspiration ([00:21]).
• Grace/Emily shares an impactful quote:

  “Oh, for indeed. For indeed. A house is a little church.” ([00:50])
  A reminder that home can be sacred and spiritually foundational.

Historical & Emotional Setting of D&C 98–101

• Saints in Kirtland are relatively stable, while those in Missouri face "genuine" persecution and displacement ([02:43]).
• Dave recounts his teacher’s Holocaust lesson, connecting the Saints' suffering to universal questions:

  “Is God actually good and can he be trusted?” ([03:38])

Grappling with Tragedy & Doubts About God

• Real recognition that tragedy can make us question God’s nature:

  “There’s something about tragedy that makes us not be able to trust God anymore or to wonder if he’s actually good. Like, why aren’t you doing anything about this? Why are you letting something like this happen to us?” ([04:04])

Section 98: God’s Comfort, Friendship, and Invitations

• God refers to the Saints as "my friends," emphasizing enduring relationship despite hardship ([07:09]).

  “You are my friends. Which means despite circumstances, I will still show up for you.” – Dave ([08:13])

• Divine imperative: "Fear not. Let your hearts be comforted. Yea, rejoice evermore and in everything give thanks." ([08:32])
  • Letting hearts be comforted is an active choice, an experiment in gratitude and rejoicing even in trials.

The Experiment of Gratitude

• Make a gratitude experiment:

  “Try these things and see what happens... If you are in a season right now (or not), let’s have a week of gratitude... see what ends up happening just a week later.” – Dave ([09:15])

• Gratitude as "cataloging the ways that God is good” ([11:27])

God’s Promises & Waiting Patiently

• “Wait patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. Lord of Sabbath… means God of angel armies.” ([12:13])
• Joseph Smith’s advice:

  “Stand fast, ye saints of God. Hold on a little while longer and the storm of life will be passed, and you’ll be rewarded by that God whose servants you are…” ([13:09])

• God’s promises are immutable; every promise made will be fulfilled, even if timing is long or the process difficult.

God’s Name and His Presence

• God introduces himself as "Lord of Sabbath," the “God of angel armies”:

  “Do you know who you’re praying to? ... You are praying to the God of angel armies.” – Grace/Emily ([15:49])

• God will “show up as the exact person that I need him to be.” ([16:40])
  Whether the Saints need a commander, shepherd, or healer, that’s how He appears.

The Paradox of Trust

• God never promised freedom from tragedy—He promised all afflictions will work for good:

  “I will fulfill every promise, okay? And anything bad ... I’m going to work it together for your good. That’s a double blessing.” ([18:53])

• “It almost feels a little bit backwards that he’s like, wait, can I trust you? And he’s like, yeah, try it. Try it and see.” – Grace/Emily ([18:53])

Eyes on the Mud vs. Eyes on the Stars

• Dave recalls the poem:

  “Two men behind prison bars. One saw mud, the other stars.”
  God asks the Saints to look up—to focus on His promises rather than their present difficulties ([19:40]).

• In scripture, stars symbolize God's promises to Abraham and his descendants:

  “I know that you're in the mud, but I'm trying to put your Eyes on the stars.” – Dave ([19:55])

Law of Retaliation, Forgiveness, and Doing Good

• Even in hardship, God invites the Saints to “forsake all evil and cleave unto all evil [good].” ([21:44])
• The mission to Canada, though seemingly ill-timed, becomes part of God’s advance preparation for future Church challenges ([23:42]).

God’s Preparations Precede Our Problems

• God is already orchestrating rescue and redemption well in advance:

  “The rescue story has actually already begun.” ([24:20])

• The personal application:

  “That’s a God I need to believe in, is one that is working for my life and for me before I even realize that I need Him.” – Grace/Emily ([24:45])

Self-Inflicted Suffering (D&C 101)

• Some suffering is from their own choices:
  “I, the Lord have suffered or allowed the affliction to come upon them ... in consequence of their transgressions.” ([27:04], see also verses 6–7)
• Important to reflect honestly:
  “What are the things that are making me wonder if God is good and if I can trust him?” ([24:45])

God’s Response: Compassion, Redemption, and Patience

• Even for self-inflicted suffering, God’s first response is compassion and presence:

  “Notwithstanding their sins, I’m full of compassion toward them and I will not cast them off.” ([31:21])

The Parable of the Tower: Promptings and Preparation

• In Section 101, the Lord shares a parable: the Saints failed to build a protective tower, resulting in avoidable suffering. The lesson:

  “Parables aren’t given to give you the answer. Parables are given to make you see things differently.” ([35:15])

• Reflection: What is the "tower" God asks you to build now, and what stops you? Promptings can be preventative or healing ([38:00]).

“The Night the Stars Fell” – A Historical Sign and Spiritual Symbol

• On November 17th, the Saints witness a spectacular meteor shower, interpreted as a reaffirmation of God’s promises:

  “Every eye was lifted toward the heavens. Every heart was filled with joy at this majestic display of signs and wonders…” ([33:20])

• W.W. Phelps wrote "Oh, Now Let Us Rejoice" on the mud of that riverbank, showing worship even in adversity ([34:15]).

Modern Parable: “Looking for a Shooting Star”

• Grace/Emily shares a moving story from a youth trip—one girl persistently waits nightly for a shooting star as a sign from God.
• The lesson unfolds: faith is showing up, sometimes for days, in hope and trust, knowing God may take longer than we'd like. The whole group begins to pray with her, and eventually, she witnesses her shooting star ([38:35] to [42:47]).
• Collective suffering and faith:

  “We’re all trying to get to know God together ... we can show up and we can support each other on the days that it’s hard to remember.” ([43:53])

Ultimate Assurance

• God’s message:

  “Let your heart be comforted. For everything that’s in my hands, be still and know that I am God. It’ll give us those signs along the way until the day when all of the promises are fulfilled.” ([44:38])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A house is a little church.” – Grace/Emily ([00:50])
• “Is God actually good and can he be trusted?” – Dave ([03:38])
• “You are my friends. Which means despite circumstances, I will still show up for you.” – Dave ([08:13])
• “Let your hearts be comforted. Yea, rejoice evermore and in everything give thanks.” – Hosts ([08:32])
• “Wait patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath... God of angel armies.” – Dave ([12:13])
• “You are praying to the God of angel armies.” – Grace/Emily ([15:49])
• “I know that you're in the mud, but I'm trying to put your Eyes on the stars.” – Dave ([19:55])
• “That’s a God I need to believe in, is one that is working for my life and for me before I even realize that I need Him.” – Grace/Emily ([24:45])
• “Parables aren’t given to give you the answer. Parables are given to make you see things differently.” – Grace/Emily ([35:15])
• “There are going to be days when we show up on the porch night after night after night, and it feels like the answer will never come. But these sections of Scripture are promises that … your prayers are heard by him... and he does keep his promises.” – Grace/Emily ([42:49])

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:50 – "A house is a little church."
• 03:38 – Wrestling with tragedy: "Is God good? Can he be trusted?"
• 08:13 – God calls the saints "friends" and stands by them in hardship
• 12:13 – "Lord of Sabbath" means "God of angel armies"
• 13:09 – Joseph Smith’s quote on standing fast, patience, and God’s promises
• 15:49 – God answers prayers in the ways His children most need
• 19:40 – “Eyes on the mud” vs. “Eyes on the stars”
• 24:45 – Application: God is always preparing for future deliverance
• 27:04 – Reflecting on self-inflicted suffering
• 31:21 – Compassionate response to our self-inflicted trials
• 33:20 – Meteor shower: "the night the stars fell" as a sign
• 35:15 – Purpose of parables: prompting changed perspective
• 38:35 – Story of the girl waiting for her shooting star
• 42:49 – Lessons from persistent faith and community
• 44:38 – Final encouragement: "Let your heart be comforted... be still and know that I am God."

Takeaway Reflections & Questions

• Does tragedy mean God is not good or can’t be trusted?
• How do you catalog and recognize God’s goodness in your daily life?
• Are your eyes on the mud or on the stars? What do you focus on in adversity?
• What unseen "rescue missions" might God already be orchestrating for you?
• What “tower” is God prompting you to build—spiritually or practically?
• How do you embrace waiting on the Lord, especially when answers take longer than expected?
• How can you help others while you all wait for God’s promises together?

This rich, candid conversation is especially powerful for those wrestling with questions of faith and adversity. The tone is warm, sincere, and filled with encouragement to look up, trust, and hold on to hope—even when surrounded by "mud."