The problem: Joseph Smith had been accused of hiding his revelations, and even church members who wanted to study them didn’t have easy access to them. The solution: On November 1, 1831, Joseph called a council of church leaders to discuss publishing the revelations in a book. Three men—Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery, and William McLellin—were assigned to write a preface for the book. When they returned later that day, their proposal was not well-received. The group asked Joseph to pray for guidance. In response, Joseph received this revelation, which he dictated and which Sidney Rigdon transcribed.
In the revelation, the Lord lays out a global vision for the role of His church: God has called people to warn the world of coming calamities and to help them prepare. Those people are “weak” and “simple,” and His revelations are given “after the manner of their language,” but they are His words, and He invites His children everywhere to study and hearken to them. (See Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 13: “The Gift Has Returned.”)
Here are some lessons I’ve learned from this revelation:
Outline
- Hearken to the voice of warning (v. 1-11)
- Prepare for calamities (v. 12-16)
- God gave revelation to His chosen servants to help others grow closer to Him (v. 17-28)
- Those servants translated the Book of Mormon and organized His church (v. 29-33)
- The Lord is willing to teach everyone. Search these commandments (v. 34-39)
Key Themes
- God calls imperfect people to do His work.
- We need to prepare for difficult days ahead.
- The church and the Book of Mormon are here to help us prepare.
- God has no tolerance for sin, but He forgives everyone who repents.
Book of Mormon Connections
Here are some phrases in this revelation which also appear in the Book of Mormon:
- “Hearken ye people from afar” (v. 1, 1 Nephi 21:1)
- “Their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops” (v. 3, Mormon 5:8)
- “None shall stay them” (v. 5, Mormon 8:26)
- “They who will not hear the voice of the Lord…shall be cut off from among the people” (v. 14, 3 Nephi 20:23, 3 Nephi 21:11, 20)
- “They have strayed from mine ordinances” (v. 15, 3 Nephi 24:7)
- “Man should not…trust in the arm of flesh” (v. 19, 2 Nephi 4:34)
- “Inasmuch as they erred it might be made known” (v. 25, 2 Nephi 27:35)
- “Inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong” (v. 28, Ether 12:27)
- “I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (v. 31, Alma 45:16)
- “My Spirit shall not always strive with man” (v. 33, 2 Nephi 26:11, Ether 2:15)
- “Out of obscurity and out of darkness” (v. 30, 1 Nephi 22:12, 2 Nephi 27:29)
- “I am no respecter of persons” (v. 35, Moroni 8:12)
Applications
- Study God’s words and follow His commandments.
- Participate in God’s ordinances according to His instructions, not according to your own preferences.
- Work to bring the church “out of obscurity” and make it more visible and well-understood.
- Be patient with the imperfect people who serve in the church.
- Don’t try to hide your sins. You cannot hide them from God.
- Repent promptly and regularly.
Recommended Posts
“The Lord Is Nigh”
In 1831, the Savior warned, “Prepare ye…for the Lord is nigh.” If the Savior’s return was “nigh” in 1831, it must be even more imminent today. President Russell M. Nelson has urged us to prepare by learning about the Atonement of Jesus Christ each week.
Upon the Housetops
We all have things we’d like to keep private. It’s important to remember that permanent privacy is unachievable. The Lord warned that our iniquities will be “spoken uon the housetops.” Fortunately, we can repent now and be prepared for that day.
Hearken and Search
To hearken is to listen attentively, intending to act on what you hear. To search is to proactively seek understanding. In the preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord invites us to do both. Good disciples are good listeners and good seekers.
The Islands of the Sea
Lehi’s family took comfort in knowing that God remembers people who live on islands. Whether we are isolated geographically, or whether we isolate ourselves, He is always mindful of us, and we are more connected with other people than we may realize.
Weak Things
The scriptures teach that God uses the weak things of the world to accomplish miracles. He does this for three reasons. 1. Weak people are more willing to accept His help. 2. Other people recognize His hand. 3. Everyone is empowered to participate.
All Flesh
Nephi, Jeremiah, and Joel all testified that everyone can receive revelation from God. The first section of the Doctrine and Covenants also affirms this principle. President Russell M. Nelson encouraged us to increase our capacity to receive revelation.
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