Doctrine and Covenants Week 5: D&C 4, 1112, 1416, 1819

1) [SLIDE 2] The eight revelations in this weeks lesson were all received by Joseph Smith in response to requests from his family and friends that they might know the will of the Lord concerning them. a) [SLIDE 3] They were received in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Fayette and Manchester, New York, during the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, between March 1829 and March 1830. 2) D&C 4. a) [SLIDE 4] Between 1 and 8 February 1829.1 Joseph, Sr. and Samuel, Joseph Smiths father and younger brother, traveled to Harmony.2 During their one-week visit, Joseph, Jr. received a revelation directed to his father. b) Although this section is traditionally in the context of missionary work, Father Smith was not being called as a missionary. It applies to all who embark in the service of God (D&C 4:2). D&C 4:1
1

Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

c) This is the first time in this dispensation that the Lord revealed the coming forth of a marvelous work.3 i) The origin of this phrase is found in the Old Testament book of Isaiah: Isaiah 29:14
14

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

ii) This prophecy of Isaiah had a powerful effect on the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi1. He likened it unto his own people and to the record he was writing.4 He interpreted Isaiahs words to refer to the bringing forth of a book by an unlearned man, which would be the start of Gods marvelous work and a wonder, one that will lead to a spiritual outpouring on the world and an ushering in of Gods Messianic kingdom. (2 Nephi 27:2435.)5 D&C 4:6
6

Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

d) Why these ten qualities? According to the Apostle Peter, they lead to having ones calling and election made sure:

Based on Elden Watsons Book of Mormon translation timeline (http://www.eldenwatson.net/BoM.htm). They may have told Joseph about Oliver Cowdery, who was boarding with the Smith family in Manchester, had obtained a testimony of Josephs work, and desired to meet him. 3 It also appears five more times in Joseph Smiths early revelations (D&C 6:1; 11:1; 12:1; 14:1; 18:44), and seven times in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 14:7; 22:8; 2 Nephi 25:17; 27:26; 29:1; 3 Nephi 21:9; 28:32). 4 See 1 Nephi 19:23; cf. his brother Jacob2s comments in 2 Nephi 6:5. 5 For an exploration of Isaiahs revelation in context, and how Nephi1 reinterpreted it, see Old Testament notes, lesson 19, pages 1315 (https://sites.google.com/site/hwsarc/home/ot/week19).
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KJV 2 Peter 1:510

5

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

NRSV 2 Peter 1:510

5

For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and selfcontrol with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For anyone who lacks these things is shortsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble.

i) Because Christ has provided us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), we must develop the disciplines associated with virtue (2 Peter 1:57). If we seek and attain these virtues, our calling and election will be made sure, and we will enter into the Lords kingdom (2 Peter 1:1011). ii) Joseph Smiths revelation adds one additional virtue not mentioned in Peters letter: Humility. As weve discussed in the last two lessons, this quality was essential for Joseph and his associates as they began the work of the Restoration. 3) D&C 11. a) [SLIDE 5] About 28 May 1829. Joseph Smiths older brother, Hyrum, came to Harmony to visit Joseph and Oliver Cowdery.6 i) He became very enthusiastic about the translation of the Book of Mormon, and asked if he could make copies of the manuscript and being preaching and teaching from it in the surrounding area. b) With slight variations, the text of D&C 6:19, a revelation received a month earlier for Oliver Cowdery, is the same as 11:19, directed to Hyrum. i) Also D&C 6:16, to Oliver Cowdery, is the same as 12:16, a revelation to Joseph Knight, Sr. ii) And 6:15, to Oliver, is the same as 14:15, to David Whitmer. iii) Further, D&C 6:6 is very similar to 14:6, and 4:1 is very similar to the opening verses of all these subsequent revelations (6:1, 11:1, 12:1, and 14:1). iv) What are we to make of this? Is this a divine form letter, implying a less-thanpersonal concern for the recipients?
6 Hyrums visit to Harmony was after his brother Samuels visit and baptism on 25 May 1829. History of the Church 1:44 45 (http://byustudies2.byu.edu/hc/1/7.html#44). Joseph and Oliver began their move from Harmony to Fayette, New York on 30 May 1829, which would mean that Hyrums visitand the revelation in D&C 11would have taken place between 26 and 29 May, after Section 13 and the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood. Elden Watson dates it 28 May, one day before D&C 12.

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(1) On the contrary, it emphasizes the importance of the principles contained in these verses to those who received them, and to all those who have followed them. (2) Similarly, just because the wording of the baptism ordinance and the ordinances of the temple are the same for all who receive them makes them no less important or personal. (3) [SLIDE 6] We can therefore consider these nine verses as a commission to all who come to accept the gospel and who do specific things: D&C 11:6
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Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.

c) The building up of Zion was one of the major themes of Joseph Smiths early revelations,7 and became the central focus after the Church was established and the first missionaries were sent to Missouri. Were going to explore this theme in detail later in the year. i) For now, its important just to note that the object of Zion was already being revealed, even before the Book of Mormon translation was completed, before the priesthood had been restored, and before the Church had been established. D&C 11:9
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Say nothing but repentance unto this generation. Keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed.

d) Does say nothing but repentance unto this generation mean we should only talk about the principle of repentance, and nothing else? i) Joseph Fielding Smith:
When the Lord calls upon his servants to cry nothing but repentance, he does not mean that they may not cry baptism, and call upon the people to obey the commandments of the Lord, but he wishes that all that they say and do be in the spirit of bringing the people to repentance.8

e) Also note the repetition from verse 6 to keep the commandments and bring forth the Lords work. D&C 11:16, 21
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Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine. . 21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

f) Hyrum was told to be patient, study the revelations, and wait for the Church to be established before going out to teach.
You cannot preach what you do not know. Hyrum had to wait to read the Book of Mormon and the revelations of Joseph; the he would be prepared to teach them to

7 8

Also D&C 6:6; 12:6; 14:6. Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation (Deseret Book, 1947), 1:57. For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

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others. Only then could he preach by the Spirit and thus have the power to convert the honest in heart. In Gods kingdom, one first has to learn the gospel and then be called authority to preach it.9

4) D&C 12. a) [SLIDE 7] About 29 May 1829.10 Joseph Knight, Sr. came to Harmony, bringing Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery some badly needed provisionsincluding writing paperso they could continue the work of translation. i) Joseph Knight was the father of a large family in Colesville, New York, about 15 miles north-northwest of Harmony. ii) In late 1826 Father Knight hired Joseph Smith to help him with farming and millwork. While he was employed by the Knights, Joseph met, courted, and married Emma Hale. Father Knight lent Joseph his carriage so he could visit Emma, and again when Joseph went to retrieve the plates from the hill. iii) The members of the Knight family were enthusiastic supporters of Joseph and the restored gospel. [SLIDE 8] Toward the end of his life Joseph Smith wrote:
While I contemplate the virtues and the good qualifications and characteristics of the faithful few,of such as have stood by me in every hour of peril, for these fifteen long years past; say, for instance; my aged and beloved brother Joseph Knight, Senr.: for fifteen years has he been faithful and true, and even handed, and exemplary and virtuous, and kind; never deviating to the right hand or to the left. Behold he is a righteous man. May God Almighty lengthen out the old mans days; and may his trembling, tortured and broken body be renewed, and in the vigor of health turn upon him; if it can be thy will, consistently, O God; and it shall be said of him, by the sons of Zion, while there is one of them re-maining; that this man, was a faithful man in Israel; therefore his name shall never be forgotten.11

b) In relation to D&C 12, Joseph wrote, Being very anxious to know his duty as to this work, I inquired of the Lord for [Joseph Knight], and obtained the following.12
[SLIDE 9]

D&C 12:8
8

And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care.

c) The world regards humility and meekness as a defect, but the gospel counts it as a required virtue. Without an acknowledgement of our total dependence on God, we cannot serve him effectively. This is his plan, his gospel, his Spirit, his work, and his glory.

Stephen E. Robinson and H. Dean Garrett, A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants (Deseret Book, 2000), 1:83. Based on Elden Watsons chronology. 11 As recorded by William Clayton, 23 August 1842. The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 53334; cf. History of the Church 5:12425 (http://byustudies2.byu.edu/hc/5/7.html#124). Father Knight died during the exodus from Nauvoo, on 2 February 1847, at Mt. Pisgah, Iowa. 12 HC 1:48 (http://byustudies2.byu.edu/hc/1/7.html#47)
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d) To be temperate is to be moderate in the indulgence of the appetites and passions; as temperate in eating and drinking; temperate in pleasures; temperate in speech.13 i) What examples of temperance should we be practicing in our personal lives, with our families, in our employment, and in our Church callings? (1) Too much sleep, or too little.14 Eating too much, or not enough. Spending too much time at work or in ones calling, or not enough. (2) The Word of Wisdom and other commandments that are to come are forms of temperance that keep us from indulging in harmful excesses in our lives. 5) D&C 14, 15, and 16. a) [SLIDE 10] Early June 1829.15 Joseph recorded:
Shortly after commencing to translate, I became acquainted with Mr. Peter Whitmer, of Fayette, Seneca county, New York, and also with some of his family. In the beginning of the month of June, his son, David Whitmer, came to the place where we were residing, and brought with him a two-horse wagon, for the purpose of having us accompany him to his fathers place, and there remain until we should finish the work. It was arranged that we should have our board free of charge, and the assistance of one of his brothers to write for me, and also his own assistance when convenient. Having much need of such timely aid in an undertaking so arduous, and being informed that the people in the neighborhood of the Whitmers were anxiously awaiting the opportunity to inquire into these things, we accepted the invitation, and accompanied Mr. [David] Whitmer to his fathers house, and there resided until the translation was finished and the copyright secured.16

i) David Whitmer was a friend of Oliver Cowdery. Oliver had stopped at the Whitmer home on his way to Harmony in late March, and had promised David that he would report on Josephs work. ii) Joseph and Oliver were suffering from persecution and literally on the brink of starvation in Harmony, so the Whitmers invitation was very welcome. iii) Peter Whitmers three sonsDavid, John, and Peter Jr.asked Joseph to inquire of the Lord concerning their duties, and Joseph received revelations directed to each of them. [SLIDE 11] D&C 14:7
7

And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

b) What does it mean to endure to the end? i) Many have the mistaken impression that it means reaching the end of ones rope then tying a knot and hanging on. The scriptures, however, describe it differently: (1) If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed (John 8:31).

13 14 15

dictionary.com/d/word/temperate).

Daniel Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 ed., s.v. Temperate, def. 1 (http://www.1828-

See D&C 88:124. Elden Watson dates these three revelations on 13 June 1829. I believe this a little too late, as section 18 was given before 14 June. 16 HC 1:4849 (http://byustudies2.byu.edu/hc/1/7.html#48). 2008, Mike Parker For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

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(2) Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). (3) For [who]soever is born of God overcometh the world (1 John 5:4). (4) These passages use overcome in the sense of to conquer, to be victorious over.17 (5) So the idea behind enduring to the end is that one is faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ, continues or remains in the covenant, and overcomes or conquers the world by not giving in to its temptations. (6) This does not require individual perfection in this life, merely persistence in striving to live the gospel. ii) Do not think that the closer we get to becoming true disciples, the fewer trials we have to endure:
My people must be tried in all things that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom. (D&C 136:31)

iii) Elder Neal A. Maxwell:

[The] road of discipleshipis not easy. It requires sturdy, all-weather souls who are constant in every season of life and who are not easily stalled or thrown off course.18

D&C 15:2 / 16:2

2

For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth.

c) Sharpness doesnt refer to cutting or hurting (as we typically use the word today), but to Acuteness of intellect; the power of nice discernment; quickness of understandingquickness of sense or perception.19 i) This is also important for understanding Josephs instructions in 1839 on reproving betimes with sharpness (D&C 121:43), something well discuss in a future lesson. 6) D&C 18. a) [SLIDE 12] Before 14 June 1829.20 Section 18 is closely associated with the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood. No actual record of that event has been preserved, however, and the exact date of the visit of Peter, James, and John to Joseph and Oliver is unknown. i) What we do know: (1) Joseph and Oliver received the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist on 15 May 1829. (2) They left Harmony, Pennsylvania on or about 1 June 1829.

See also 2 Timothy 4:78. Neal A. Maxwell, The Pathway of Discipleship, address delivered at the CES Fireside at BYU, 4 January 1998 (http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=619). 19 Webster, s.v. Sharpness, defs. 7 and 8 (http://www.1828-dictionary.com/d/word/sharpness). 20 On 14 June 1829 Oliver Cowdery addressed a letter to Hyrum Smith from Fayette, New York, which contained portions of section 18 (verses 1013, 42). This verifies that section 18 was received before the date of the letter. See Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985), 29.
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(3) In 1842, Joseph explained the circumstances and location of the restoration of the higher priesthood:
The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times! (D&C 128:20.)

ii) So if the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored on the banks of the Susquehanna River just north of Harmony, and that event of course took place after the restoration of Aaronic Priesthood, then the higher priesthood had to have been given sometime between 16 and 30 May 1829, within two weeks of the restoration of the lesser priesthood.21 iii) Two revelations in early June 1829 seem to confirm that the Melchizedek Priesthood had already been given: (1) [SLIDE 13] The first was at Peter Whitmers home in Fayette, New York, where Joseph related the following event occurred:
We had not long been engaged in solemn and fervent prayer, when the word of the Lord came unto us22commanding us that I should ordain Oliver Cowdery to be an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ; and that he also should ordain me to the same office; and then to ordain others, as it should be made known unto us from time to time. We were, however, commanded to defer this our ordination until such times as it should be practicable to have our brethren, who had been and who should be baptized, assembled together, when we must have their sanction to our thus proceeding to ordain each other, and have them decide by vote whether they were willing to accept us as spiritual teachers or not; when also we were commanded to bless bread and break it with them, and to take wine, bless it, and drink it with them; afterward proceed to ordain each other according to commandment; then call out such men as the Spirit should dictate, and ordain them; and then attend to the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, upon all those whom we had previously baptized, doing all things in the name of the Lord.23

(a) Note that Joseph did not say that they were commanded to defer the ordination until they received the higher priesthood, but that they to defer the ordination until they could assemble a group of believers who could sustain them as teachers and the leaders of the Church. (This occurred on 6 April 1830, when the Church was organized at the Whitmer home.) (2) Immediately after this revelation, Joseph received the revelation now known as section 18, wherein Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were told: [SLIDE 14]

This is the conclusion of Larry C. Porter, based on the 1881 reminiscence of Addison Everett; see Porters two articles, Dating the Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood, Ensign, June 1979, 510 (http://lds.org/ensign/1979/06/dating-therestoration-of-the-melchizedek-priesthood) and The Restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, Ensign, December 1996, 3047 (http://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/12/the-restoration-of-the-aaronic-and-melchizedek-priesthoods). Everetts letter is not without its historical problems though, and some scholars date the Melchizedek Priesthood ordination to the summer of 1830, after the Church was established. See Richard Lyman Bushman, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005), 588 fn. 35; also Ben Park, Dating the Melchizedek Priesthood Restoration, JuvenileInstructor.org, 4 August 2008 (http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/dating-the-melchizedek-priesthood-restoration). 22 This event is referred to in D&C 128:21: And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county. 23 HC 1:6061 (http://byustudies2.byu.edu/hc/1/9.html#60).
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D&C 18:9
9

And now, Oliver Cowdery, I speak unto you, and also unto David Whitmer, by the way of commandment; for, behold, I command all men everywhere to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called.

(a) This verse reflects the fact that the apostolic authority had already been given to Joseph, Oliver, and David at this time (June 1829). (b) [14.1] According to Brigham Young:
Joseph Smith was a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator before he had power to build up the kingdom of God, or take the first step towards it. When did he obtain that power? Not until the angel had ordained him to be an Apostle. Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer were the first Apostles of this dispensation, though in the early days of the Church David Whitmer lost his standing, and another took his place.24 [SLIDE 15]

D&C 18:101625
10

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; 11for, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. 12And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. 13And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! 14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. 15And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

b) How great is the worth a soul? It can be measured by the cost incurred to redeem it. i) The Book of Mormon indicates that Christs atonement was infinitehis suffering and the extent to which he paid for our sins cannot be measured. 26 Therefore the worth of each individual person is also infinite. ii) Its no wonder then how great is [the Lords] joy in the soul that repenteth!27 iii) [SLIDE 16] Elder M. Russell Ballard taught:
If we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. We would strive to emulate the Savior and would never be unkind, indifferent, disrespectful, or insensitive to others.

24 Brigham Young, 7 April 1852, Journal of Discourses 6:320 (http://en.fairmormon.org/Journal_of_Discourses/6/57#320). 25 This passage must be one of President Thomas S. Monsons favorites; hes quoted it seventeen times in General Conference since he became a member of the First Presidency in 1985. He used one or more verses from D&C 18:1016 in General Conferences in April 1987, October 1987, October 1989, April 1990, April 1991, October 1991, April 1993, April 1994, October 1994, April 1995, April 1996, April 1997, April 1999, April 2000, October 2001, April 2003, and October 2003. 26 See 2 Nephi 9:7; 25:16; Alma 34:1014. 27 This idea is captured in the three parables taught by the Savior in Luke 15: The lost sheep (15:37), the lost coin (15:8 10), and the prodigal son (15:1132). The purpose of all three parables is to express the heavenly joyover one sinner that repenteth (15:7, 10).

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If we truly understood the Atonement and the eternal value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward boy and girl and every other wayward child of God. We would help them to know of the love Christ has for them. We would do all that we can to help prepare them to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel.28 [SLIDE 17]

D&C 18:20
20

Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.

c) What is the church of the devil in this context? i) Some Latter-day Saints have the mistaken impression that it refers to either a specific denomination or any church besides the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.29 ii) [SLIDE 18] Elder B. H. Roberts taught:
I understand the injunction to Oliver Cowdery to contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil, to mean that he shall contend against evil, against untruth, against all combinations of wicked men. They constitute the church of the devil, the kingdom of evil, a federation of unrighteousness; and the servants of God have a right to contend against that which is evil, let it appear where it will, in Catholic or in Protestant Christendom, among the philosophical societies of deists and atheists, and even within the Church of [Jesus] Christ [of Latter-day Saints], if, unhappily, it should make its appearance there. But, let it be understood, we are not brought necessarily into antagonism with the various sects of Christianity as such. [SLIDE 19] So far as they have retained fragments of Christian truthand each of them has some measure of truththat far they are acceptable unto the Lord: and it would be poor-policy for us to contend against them without discrimination. Wherever we find truth, whether it exists in complete form or only in fragments, we recognize that truth as part of that sacred whole of which the Church of Jesus Christ is the custodian; and I repeat that our relationship to the religious world is not one that calls for the denunciation of sectarian churches as composing the church of the devil. All that makes for untruth, for unrighteousness constitutes the kingdom of evilthe church of the devil. All that makes for truth, for righteousness, is of God; it constitutes the kingdom of righteousnessthe empire of Jehovah; and, in a certain sense at least, constitutes the Church of Christ.30

(1) Latter-day Saints who attack other religious denominations violate the Lords command, as stated in this verse. They run a great risk that by adopting Satans methodologyargument and contentionthey themselves may become members of the church of the devil. [SLIDE 20] D&C 18:2628, 373831
26

And now, behold, there are others who are called to declare my gospel, both unto Gentile and unto Jew; 27yea, even twelve; and the Twelve shall be my

M. Russell Ballard, The Atonement and the Value of One Soul, General Conference, April 2004 (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2004/05/the-atonement-and-the-value-of-one-soul). 29 This is similar to the Lords reference to my church in D&C 10:5256. See notes to lesson 3, page 6 (https://sites.google.com/site/hwsarc/home/dc/week03). 30 Elder Brigham H. Roberts, General Conference, April 1906 (http://archive.org/stream/conferencereport1906a#page/n15). See also Stephen E. Robinson, Nephis Great and Abominable Church, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 7/1 (1998), 3239 (http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=7&num=1&id=168). 31 This is just a selection of verses on the calling of the Twelve; the full passage is D&C 18:2642.
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disciples, and they shall take upon them my name; and the Twelve are they who shall desire to take upon them my name with full purpose of heart. 28And if they desire to take upon them my name with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature. . 37 And now, behold, I give unto you, Oliver Cowdery, and also unto David Whitmer, that you shall search out the Twelve, who shall have the desires of which I have spoken; 38and by their desires and their works you shall know them.

d) This is the first indication in Josephs early revelations that there would be twelve Apostles who would fill the same role and office held by the ones in the New Testament. i) Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were commissioned to seek out the Twelve Apostles. Martin Harris life was still not in order at this time,32 but in 1835 Joseph directed that Martin should also assist in choosing the Twelve. ii) It would take nearly six years before the instructions given in section 18 were fully implemented: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was organized in February 1835.33 7) D&C 19. a) [SLIDE 21] We now fast-forward to mid-March 1830.34 During the intervening nine months: i) The translation of the Book of Mormon was completed on or about 1 July 1829, the Three Witnesses had their visionary experience, and Joseph returned the plates and the Nephite interpreters to Moroni. ii) Oliver Cowdery made a handwritten copy of the original Book of Mormon manuscript for use by the printer.35 iii) Joseph arranged for E. B. Grandin of Palmyra to publish 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon. Martin Harris signed a mortgage that bound him to pay Grandin $3,000 within eighteen months, with his 240-acre his farm as collateral.36 (The contract was signed 25 August 1829.) iv) According to John H. Gilbert, who set the type, the Book of Mormon was printed between August 1829 and March 1830. v) In March 1830 mass meetings were held in Palmyra to boycott the printing of the book. Grandin became so nervous about getting his money from Martin Harris that he suspended printing. Martin, afraid that the book wouldnt sell if there was a boycott, went to Joseph and demanded a revelation from the Lord. Joseph Knight, Sr. later gave this account of that meeting:
He [Martin Harris] Came to us [Joseph Smith and Joseph Knight, Sr.] and...says, The Books will not sell for no Body wants them. Joseph says, I think they will sell
See D&C 19:15, 20. We will discuss this further in lesson 18. 34 The Book of Mormon went on sale on 26 March 1830, so this revelation must precede that date. 35 The original manuscript was placed into the cornerstone of the Nauvoo House in October 1841. When it was removed nearly forty years later, much of it had been destroyed by water seepage and mold. Only about 28% of the original manuscript has survived. The printers manuscript is completely intact except for three lines of text at 1 Nephi 1:78, 20. For more on this subject, see Royal Skousen, Restoring the Original Text of the Book of Mormon, address given at the August 2010 FAIR Apologetics Conference, Sandy, Utah (http://www.fairlds.org/fair-conferences/2010-fair-conference/2010-restoring-theoriginal-text-of-the-book-of-mormon). 36 Adjusted for inflation, this was about $60,500 in 2010 dollars (according to http://www.westegg.com/inflation).
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2008, Mike Parker

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Doctrine and Covenants Sections 4, 1112, 1416, 1819

Week 5, Page 11

well. Says he [Martin], I want a Commandment [revelation]. Why, says Joseph, fullfill what you have got.37 But, says he, I must have a Commandment. Joseph put him off. But he insisted three or four times he must have a Commandment. . In the morning [the next day] he got up and said he must have a Commandment to Joseph and went home. And along in the after part of the Day Joseph and Oliver Received a Commandmant which is in Book of Covenants [Doctrine and Covenants].38 [SLIDE 22]

D&C 19:41239
4 5

And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless. Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand. 6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment. 7Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name's glory. 8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles. 9I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest. 10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore 11 Eternal punishment is God's punishment. 12 Endless punishment is God's punishment.

b) This passage was directed to Martin Harris, who had not fully repented of his earlier behavior and faithlessness that had caused the loss of the 116 pages of the Book of Lehi. In this revelation, the Lord was very direct with him regarding the consequences of his sins if he did not repent. i) The Lord reminded Martin that every man must repent or suffer (19:4), but his warning was not intended to be harsh or threatening: He reminded Martin that he was chosen, and that these words were given that [he] may enter into [the Lords] rest (19:9). c) One difficulty for modern readers is the statements about torment and punishment of the damned being endless and eternal (19:67, 1012). How do we reconcile this with later revelations of the degrees of glory? i) [SLIDE 23] John Taylor:
I have read statements from men which were really terrible when depicting the state of the damned. It is bad enough, but it is not the kind of thing they represent. .

This probably refers to Josephs earlier revelation to Martin on the same subject (D&C 5). Dean Jessee, Joseph Knights Recollection of Early Mormon History, BYU Studies 17/1 (Autumn 1976), 37 (https://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=5264); original spelling and punctuation retained. 39 I have added italics and formatting to this passage to make it more readable.
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2008, Mike Parker

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Doctrine and Covenants Sections 4, 1112, 1416, 1819

Week 5, Page 12

Is there justice? Yes. Eternal justice? Yes. These men that I have referred to suffered eternal justice; they were destroyed by the Almighty, and at last were saved again by the Almighty. Have we eternal punishment? Yes. What is it? It is Gods punishment. Are there everlasting prisons? Yes. What are they? Gods prisons. Do people stay in them forever? No. Not in all of them. We have prisons upon the earth, penitentiaries, in which to confine people for one, five, ten or twenty years, as the case may be; and when their time expires they come out; but the prison is there still. Is it an everlasting prison? You may call it so if you please; but people do not stay in it always. Has God a way to manage his affairs? Certainly; the Judge of all the earth ought to be at least as capable in the management of his affairs, as mortal men are in theirs.40

ii) [SLIDE 24] George Q. Cannon:

We believe there is an endless hell. We do not, however, believe that human beings are consigned to it eternally. The hell may be endless and the punishment endless, but it does not follow that they who are consigned there are to remain in it eternally.41

iii) The conclusion of these two brethren appears to be that punishment is called endless because God himself is endless. (1) This puts D&C 18:10 into context, where the Lord says, Endless is my name. iv) [SLIDE 25] Joseph Smith described eternal torment this way:
A man is his own tormenter and his own condemner. Hence the saying, They shall go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. The torment of disappointment in the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning with fire and brimstone.42

v) [SLIDE 26] With regard to the word damnation (18:6): It is a popular idea among the Latter-day Saints that damnation is like a dam, in that ones progression is stopped.43 (1) However, the words damned and dammed come from two different sources; its just a coincidence that they sound the same. (a) Dam comes from the Old and Middle German dammjan, to hinder,44 while damned comes from the Latin damnare, to adjudge guilty; to condemn.45 Damnation is the condemnation received at judgment.46 (b) Technically, eternal damnationmeaning eternal destruction or eternal condemnationapplies only to those who are cast into outer darkness and die the second death.47 [SLIDE 27]

40 John Taylor, 8 February 1880. Journal of Discourses 21:19 (http://en.fairmormon.org/Journal_of_Discourses/21/3#19). 41 George Q. Cannon, 12 June 1881. JD 22:182 (http://en.fairmormon.org/Journal_of_Discourses/22/22#182 ). 42 Joseph Smith, discourse at the funeral of Elder King Follett at Nauvoo, 7 April 1844. HC 6:314 (http://byustudies2.byu.edu/hc/6/15.html#314); Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 357; Words of Joseph Smith 342, 353, 361. 43 This section is adapted from Robinson and Garrett, Commentary, 11516. 44 Vladimir Orel, A Handbook of Germanic Etymology (Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2003), s.v. dammjanan, 68 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/21206305/A-Handbook-of-Germanic-Etymology#page=107). 45 Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. damn (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=damn); s.v. dam ( 46 In the New Testament damned always translates from forms of the Greek apoleia, destruction, or krisis, judgment. 47 D&C 76:44 indicates that these [the sons of perdition] shall go away into everlasting punishment, while the atonement of Christ saves all except them.

2008, Mike Parker

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Doctrine and Covenants Sections 4, 1112, 1416, 1819

Week 5, Page 13

D&C 19:1519
15

Therefore I command you to repentrepent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; 17but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; 18which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spiritand would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink 19 nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

d) The Lords plea for Martin to repent is underscored by this passionate and moving account of the suffering he experienced in carrying out his great atonement. e) I dont think its necessaryor even correctto read verse 15 in the sense that the Lord was threatening Martin (or us, the readers). On the contrary, he was pleading with him to repent so that he didnt have to go through the suffering that is the unavoidable consequence of sin. D&C 19:26, 3435
26

And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God. . 34 Impart a portion of thy property, yea, even part of thy lands, and all save the support of thy family. 35 Pay the debt thou hast contracted with the printer. Release thyself from bondage.

f) Martin followed the instructions in this revelation and paid E. B. Grandin the $3,000. The Book of Mormon went on sale on 26 March 1830. Martin personally took to the streets to sell copies at a $1.25 each.48 g) On 5 February 1831 the debt to the printer came due. Obedient to the Lords commandment, Martin sold 151 of his mortgaged acres at $20 per acre to satisfy the $3,000 debt. This amounted to a little over half of Martins entire farm. 8) [SLIDE 28] Next week: a) D&C 2024, 26.

About $25 in 2010 dollars (see footnote 36). By this time Martin was legally separated from his wife, Lucy, due to their differences over his involvement with Joseph Smith and the publication of the Book of Mormon.
48

2008, Mike Parker

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.