Jeremiah 1 – The Lord calls Jeremiah as a prophet, foreordaining him and promising divine support despite his youth.
I checked the BYU Religious Studies Center (rsc.byu.edu) and The Joseph Smith Papers (josephsmithpapers.org) first, but found a more directly relevant source on the Church's official website for today's topic.
The article "Jeremiah the Prophet" from the Ensign explains that Jeremiah began his ministry as a young man, possibly in his late teens or early twenties, around 626 B.C. He was called to prophesy during a period of significant political and religious turmoil in Judah, serving under several kings. His ministry spanned approximately forty years, and he faced considerable opposition and persecution for delivering the Lord's messages. His prophetic messages were often warnings of impending judgment for Judah's wickedness and idolatry, but also contained promises of future restoration and covenant blessings.
You can find this article at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2005/04/jeremiah-the-prophet?lang=eng
What might Jeremiah's youthful age imply about the nature of divine calling and preparation, particularly in the face of significant societal opposition?
Considering this morning's intention to cultivate faith by actively seeking and cherishing the words of Christ and trusting in diligent efforts for eternal blessings, how might Jeremiah's example of accepting a difficult prophetic calling, despite his youth and the anticipated opposition, strengthen our own resolve to seek and act upon divine guidance even when it feels challenging?
The Lord calls Jeremiah as a prophet, foreordaining him and promising divine support despite his youth.
Jeremiah's prophetic call began with the Lord's declaration: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5) This scripture teaches us about foreordination, where God knows and appoints His servants to specific missions before they are born. Even though Jeremiah felt inadequate due to his youth, saying, "Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child" (Jeremiah 1:6), the Lord reassured him. God promised, "Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak" (Jeremiah 1:7). The Lord further promised His unwavering support, stating, "Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 1:8) He then touched Jeremiah's mouth, saying, "Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." (Jeremiah 1:9) This divine commissioning empowered Jeremiah to speak God's will with authority, even when facing a people resistant to repentance.