Even the Least Saint May Know
Reflections on Doctrine and Covenants Section 11
Joseph Smith’s original preface to the Book of Mormon (ca. August of 1829) sheds more light on the background of the sections that we are studying this week in the Doctrine and Covenants:
PREFACE.
To the Reader—
As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again—and being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing: therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil. Wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing. I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New-York.
The Author.
In Revelations in Context, the chapters on “The Contributions of Martin Harris” and “Joseph Smith’s Support at Home” provide helpful background information for better understanding D&C 10-11. In Joseph Smith and the Doctrine and Covenants (see also here and here), chapter 2: “Joseph Smith Receives the Plates and Begins Translating,” and chapter 3. “Those Who Came to Joseph’s Aid” provide more helpful background for the same sections.
In The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Lyndon W. Cook I learned that the revelation in D&C 10 was most likely received in the summer of 1828. This same book contains Joseph Smith’s wonderful tribute to his brother Hyrum (a tribute given long after the revelation in D&C 11 was received, and not too long before their martyrdom) who had traveled to Harmony, Pennsylvania to visit the Prophet shortly after Samuel H. Smith’s baptism and his return to Manchester, New York:
Brother Hyrum, what a faithful heart you have got! Oh may the Eternal Jehovah crown eternal blessings upon your head, as a reward for the care you have had for my soul! O how many are the sorrows we have shared together; and again we find ourselves shackled with the unrelenting hand of oppression. Hyrum, thy name shall be written in the book of the law of the Lord, for those who come after thee to look upon, that they may pattern after thy works. - History of the Church, 5:107–8.
Like his brother the Prophet, Hyrum Smith was a great and noble man. Of him John Taylor wrote:
There he lay as I had left him. . . . He had not moved a limb; he lay placid and calm, a monument of greatness even in death: but his noble spirit had left its tenement and had gone to dwell in regions more congenial to its exalted nature. Poor Hyrum! he was a great and good man, and my soul was cemented to his. If ever there was an exemplary, honest and virtuous man, an embodiment of all that is noble in the human form, Hyrum Smith was its representative.
- B. H. Roberts, The Life of John Taylor, Third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1963), 142.
The highest tribute to the great Hyrum Smith was paid by the Lord Himself:
And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord. (D&C 124:15)
In this early stage of the Restoration, Hyrum Smith was eager to know the will of the Lord for him, and he requested a revelation from the Lord through his brother Joseph. Hyrum’s request reminds me of Jared’s request to his brother Mahonri Moriancumr (a.k.a. the brother of Jared) in the Book of Ether. Joseph Smith was happy to seek a revelation on behalf of his brother, but the Lord patiently taught Joseph Smith’s friends and associates that they could also seek personal revelation directly from the Lord.
In response to Hyrum’s request and Joseph’s inquiry, the Lord, through the Urim and Thummim, revealed the answer that is contained in D&C 11. As mentioned in McConkie’s section heading, this revelation was received after the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood through John the Baptist.
This is one of my favorite sections in the Doctrine and Covenants and one of my favorite passages in all of scripture. The Lord and the Prophet Joseph Smith loved Hyrum, and Hyrum was blessed for his righteous desires to assist in the work of the Lord. I believe that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Lord’s True Church as defined in previous posts, here and here), along with everyone else, can learn much from Hyrum Smith, not only because of his righteous desires and efforts to serve God, but also because of his interactions and relationship with the Prophet Joseph Smith. In this section in particular we learn that as great as the Prophet Joseph Smith was and is, and as marvelous as the revelations he received were and are, the Lord desires to reveal His will to each one of us individually. The Prophet Joseph Smith put it this way:
There is so much to savor and ponder in our hearts in D&C 11, but these are a few highlights that stand out to me:
Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich. (D&C 11:7)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. (D&C 11:8)
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&C 11:9)
And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. (D&C 11:12)
In section 11, our Savior Jesus Christ teaches Hyrum Smith and us how to recognize His voice and His revelations:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;
And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive. (D&C 11:13-14)
The Lord teaches Hyurm Smith and us that we must first obtain His word before proclaiming it:
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. (D&C 11:21)
Imagine if ever person in the world held their peace and diligently studied the word of God before anything else… what would happen? I believe that every problem in the world would be resolved in a matter of months, if not weeks. Of course this is not going to happen, but the more disciples of Christ like Hyrum Smith that we can find and inspire and mold, the better this world will be.
This revelation was given specifically to Hyrum Smith, but the Lord teaches us that it applies just as much to anyone else who desires to serve God:
Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap. (D&C 11:27)
Finally, in this section we learn that whomever receives Christ and believes in Christ will receive power from Christ to become His sons and daughters. Hyrum Smith received Christ and this revelation, and how blessed will we be if we follow his example?