The Calling of the Twelve Apostles
Concluding Reflections on Doctrine and Covenants 18
In my previous post I began to take a closer look at the magnificent and memorable verses of scripture (D&C 18:15-16) that have also been translated into song (en Español, tambien aquí):
And 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!
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! (D&C 18:15-16)
Today in my Book of Mormon study, I was impressed again by the example and teachings of the great missionary Ammon, one of the four sons of Mosiah. Ammon was like Leonardo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: he was the leader, and the servant of his brothers. Ammon labored all his days in crying repentance, and he had great joy in bringing souls unto Christ, beginning with the soul of the great King Lamoni.
What impressed me in my study this morning of Ammon’s missionary labors is that after gaining the confidence and trust of King Lamoni and his servants, and after King Lamoni was prepared to listen, Ammon began with the basics (or the first rung on the ladder of faith). The key factor in the entire exchange was the faith and preparation of Ammon combined with the preparation and faith of King Lamoni.
Ammon’s service and faithfulness prepared King Lamoni’s heart and mind to receive the truth. Once Ammon perceived that King Lamoni would believe his words, Ammon began to teach him the truth about God (see Alma 18:22-29).
Fortunately, King Lamoni already believed in a Great Spirit who created all things in the earth. Because he believed, Ammon was able to teach him more and expand his understanding about what Joseph Smith called the first principle of revealed religion, namely, to know for a certainty the character of God.
King Lamoni asked great questions. He wanted to learn more about God, the Great Spirit, and the heavens (see Alma 18:30-32). After learning the truth about and demonstrating his faith in God, King Lamoni asked if Ammon had been sent from God. Ammon replied that he was a man who was created in the image of God and called by His Holy Spirit to teach. A portion of God’s Spirit dwelt in Ammon, providing him with knowledge and power according to his faith and desires which were in God. (Alma 18:34-35) Because King Lamoni believed, Ammon proceeded to teach him more. (see Alma 18:36-39)
Ammon’s conversation with King Lamoni is a great example of what it means to “cry repentance.” Ammon began at the beginning, the creation of the world and of Adam. He then taught King Lamoni and his servants concerning the fall of man, the scriptures, the teachings of the prophets, and the story of Lehi and his family. Ammon expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time. He expounded unto them the plan of redemption, taught them about the coming of Christ, and made known unto them all the works of the Lord. (Alma 18:36-39)
Ammon and the sons of Mosiah served as great examples to young Joseph Smith and his friends. In Doctrine and Covenants 18, just as He had prepared Ammon and the Sons of Mosiah, the Lord prepared Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer to cry repentance. He taught them to rely upon His word, to ask the Father in His name in faith for the Holy Ghost, and to have faith, hope, and charity, without which they could do nothing.
The Lord taught them to contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil. The same counsel applies to us today. As Mormons, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and as Christians, our allies are all other Christians, people of faith, and good people everywhere. We can disagree with our friends of other faiths or moral traditions without contending against them. We must love them, and our enemies too. But against the church of the devil, we contend.
The Lord taught Joseph and his friends to take upon themselves the name of Christ, and to speak the truth in soberness. After teaching His Gospel and what it means to take upon us His name, the Lord revealed that others, namely the Twelve apostles, were called to declare His gospel, both unto Gentile and unto Jew. According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, this revelation (D&C 18) made known “the calling of twelve apostles in these last days, and also instructions relative to building up the Church.”
The Lord revealed to Joseph, Oliver, and David who the Twelve Apostles were:
Yea, even twelve; and the Twelve shall be my 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.
And 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.
And they are they who are ordained of me to baptize in my name, according to that which is written; (D&C 18:27-29)
The Lord had already chosen and knew who the Twelve Apostles were. In fact, in this same revelation, the Lord spoke to the Twelve before Joseph, Oliver, and David knew who they were (see D&C 18:31-32). The Lord again emphasized the He was the author of these words and these commandments (see D&C 18:33-36), and then He commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to search out the Twelve Apostles. The Lord taught them that they would recognize the Twelve by their desires and their works.
D&C 18 concludes with more of the Lord’s instructions to the Twelve, including how to worship, what to preach, and a blessing:
And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father.
Wherefore, the blessings which I give unto you are above all things. (D&C 18:44-45)
Just as the Lord worked a marvelous work among the Lamanites through the instrumentality of His servants Ammon and the other sons of Mosiah (and their friends), the Lord worked a marvelous work among the early Saints and those to whom they preached.
I find it significant that the first step in the Lord’s marvelous work was to convince many of their sins. Like King Lamoni who believed in the tradition of his father, many people in Joseph Smith’s time believed, and many of us today believe that whatsoever we do is right. The word of God, however, convinces us of our sins and leads us unto repentance so that we may come unto the Kingdom of our Father.