A successful businessman who built bridges and dams, a laborer in a type foundry (which produced typefaces for printing presses), a self-employed hatmaker, and a popular preacher—these were among the people who were called to serve in the newly organized church between October and December of 1830. What did they have in common? A willingness to follow the voice of the Lord and the courage to share their convictions.
“Open your mouths and they shall be filled,” the Lord instructed Ezra Thayer and Northrup Sweet (Doctrine and Covenants 33:8). “Lift up your voice and spare not,” He said to Orson Pratt (Doctrine and Covenants 34:10). And to Sidney Rigdon, He explained, “I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 35:13).
They were called to serve in different places and in different ways, but they were all being stretched: they all had to exercise faith to fulfill these new assignments. For example:
- Peter Whitmer, Jr., Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson were called to accompany Oliver Cowdery “into the wilderness” to preach the gospel to the Native Americans (Doctrine and Covenants 32:2).
- John Whitmer was called to preach in the area near the home of Philip Burroughs, a farmer in Fayette, NY (Doctrine and Covenants 30:10).
- Thomas B. Marsh was told to follow the Spirit to know where to preach: “Go your way whithersoever I will, and it shall be given you by the Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go” (Doctrine and Covenants 31:11).
- David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon, was instructed to remain at his father’s house and “ponder upon the things which [he had] received” (Doctrine and Covenants 30:3).
- Sidney Rigdon was called to serve as Joseph Smith’s scribe (Doctrine and Covenants 35:20).
- Edward Partridge was “sent forth to preach the everlasting gospel among the nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 36:5).
The revelations in which these early church leaders received these callings contain many principles which are applicable to us. Here are some of those principles, together with links to some relevant blog posts:
If we are willing to open our mouths, the Lord will help us know what to say.
Doctrine and Covenants 31:3, 33:8-11, 34:10, 36:3
The Lord will be with us as we do His work.
Doctrine and Covenants 30:11, 32:3, 35:8
We are preparing the world for the Savior’s return.
Doctrine and Covenants 33:18, 34:7, 35:27, 36:8
- Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord – 1 Nephi 10:8
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Millennium?
Blog Posts: April 6-11
“As He Read, He Was Filled with the Spirit of the Lord”
The Book of Mormon opens with a vision. As the prophet Lehi prayed on behalf of his people, a “pillar of fire” appeared before him, “and he saw and heard much.” Returning to his home, while lying on his bed, the vision continued. He saw “God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of…
A Physician
“They that be whole need not a physician,” said Jesus, “but they that are sick.” Then He added, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:12-13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31-32). The prophet Mormon used the same metaphor to explain to his son Moroni why small children do not need to be baptized: Listen to the…
“In the Very Hour”
It is more important to be prepared than to have a plan. Plans rely on assumptions about things we can’t control. The most brittle plans rely heavily on these assumptions, while more resilient plans allow for adaptation under changing circumstances. A good plan recognizes that the participants will be actors, not merely executors, and will…
Sheaves
After preaching among the Lamanites for fourteen years, Ammon met with his fellow missionaries to review their experiences and the outcomes. Thousands of people had been converted to the gospel and were now united by their love of God and their commitment to live righteously. Ammon compares the results of their labors to a field…
Peaceable Things
In December of 1830, the Lord promised Edward Partridge that he would receive the Holy Ghost, which would teach him “the peaceable things of the kingdom” (Doctrine and Covenants 36:2). The following month, He made the same promise to James Covill (Doctrine and Covenants 39:6), and a month after that, He extended the promise to…
With a Loud Voice
Good news deserves to be shared. In Lehi’s dream, when he tasted the fruit of the tree, he immediately wanted his family to enjoy it as well. “I beckoned unto them,” he said, “and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit,…
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