Note: Much like Joseph Smith, Paul was given information about his personal mission in his “first vision,” but all the details didn’t make it into the public account. There are three versions of Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts (see Acts 22:4-16; 26:12-20). From them, we learn that Paul was told more than is recorded in this chapter. The Lord said to him:

Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Note: We must remember that the King James Version of the Bible was written in 17th century English. Hence, the meaning of certain phrases requires some explanation. ‘To kick against the pricks’ is an expression meaning to persecute the Church (see DC 121:38). That it was ‘hard for [Saul]’ doesn’t mean that he lacked the tendency or the natural ability, but that his efforts were hard on him in ways he did not yet understand. In essence, Saul’s efforts were destroying himself more than they were destroying the Church. Spencer W. Kimball “I often wondered just what this meant. I found one authority who offered this: ‘. . . Those who kick at the goad, that stifle and smother the convictions of conscience, that rebel against God's truths laws, that quarrel with His providences, that persecute and oppose His ministers, because they reprove them . . . and fly in the face of their reprovers, they kick against the pricks, and will have a great deal to answer for.’ (Commentaries by Henry M. Scott.) A goad is defined as a spear or a sharp pointed stick used to sting or prig. The burro who kicks the sharp instrument with which he is being prodded is kicking at the pricks. His retaliation does little damage to the sharp stick or to him who wields it but brings distress to the foot that kicks it. I well remember in my youth a neighbor who moved about some days on crutches. He was evasive when asked the cause of his misfortune, but an ear witness told me, as he chuckled: ‘John stubbed his toe on a chair in the night and in his quick, fierce anger, he kicked the chair and broke his toe.’ The rocking chair rocked on and on, and perhaps smiled at the stupidity of man.” (Conference Report, April 1955, p. 94.)

Acts 9:5
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Note: “Claiming to be the world’s oldest city having continuous habitation, Damascus, present-day capital of Syria, was also in the Roman province of Syria in the days of the apostles. Situated some 130 miles northeast of Jerusalem and approximately 65 miles from the Mediterranean Sea, Damascus lies in the heart of a fertile plain. “The supremacy of Damascus among ancient cities is clearly found in the fact of its location. It was the terminus point for three principal trade routes of the ancient Near East. Its close proximity to Jerusalem made Damascus a city of great importance to ancient Israel and Judah.” (The Life and Teachings of Jesus & His Apostles, (1979 Institute Manual), p. 257)

Acts 9:3
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Note: “Paul represented the Sanhedrin's inner circle, as he said of his power as persecutor ‘in Jerusalem’—‘and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests . . . and I punished them oft in every synagogue’ (Acts 26:10-11). Years before, the Savior warned his first apostles of the misplaced zeal of oppressors: ‘The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God’ (John 16:2, RSV). That is just how Paul explains himself—he carefully concluded that duty required persecution of Jesus' disciples (Acts 26:9); out of ‘zeal’ for God, he persecuted Christians (Philip. 3:6).” (Richard Lloyd Anderson, Understanding Paul, p. 25)

Acts 9:2
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Note: That Saul had direct access to the high priest shows that he was a Pharisee of good reputation and high standing. Paul respected the authority of the high priest (Acts 23:2-5), but there was another High Priest to whom Paul had not yet subjected himself.

Acts 9:1
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

D&C 76:14
Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision.

1 Chronicles 9:42
And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;

2 Nephi 6:10
And after they have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold, the judgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them. And the day cometh that they shall be smitten and afflicted.

1 Nephi 8:1
And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.

Note: "God revealed to Nephi the neccessity of building a ship. The means were not within his reach, but he felt it was right to build, and with that knowledge he proceeded to find the way to make the tools and build the ship. Did he make mistakes? Did he falter? No doubt,-else why did his murmuring brothers say: 'We told you you could not build a ship; we knew you did not have the widsdom.' But he knew he was right, and he knew that God would strengthen him in building. That thought held him; it supported him; and he succeeded in the task before him. So it is with us; when we are asked to do a thing, the question in our minds should be: Is that necessary; is that right? If so, then it shall be done, and God will open the way." David O. McKay (Conference Report, Apr. 1909, p. 68)

1 Nephi 17:50
And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

Note: Refer to JS-H 1:20; 1 Nephi 1:7; Daniel 8:27; Moses 1:10

1 Nephi 17:47
Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength.

Note: (D&C 95:12; Matthew 5:45; 1 Samuel 2:30; John 14:21; 15:10; Rom 2:11; Col. 3:25 refer in this text to 2 Nephi 26:24-28, 33) "It is common in our day to hear reference made to the unconditional love of God. If such an expression is intended to convey the idea that all will enjoy the love of God to the same degree, irrespective of what they do or how they live, such is incompatible with the testimony of the scriptures and the voice of the Lord himself (see D&C 95:12)." R. Millet and J.F. McConkie (Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, 1:136)

1 Nephi 17:35
Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.

Note: Don't let head get in the way of baptism. Will have greater mind of Christ if humble self.

1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

Note: Dream at 15

1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.