Sometimes, we need to slow down a little and trust God more. That’s a core message of two revelations Joseph Smith received in April and May of 1829.
The first one explained what Joseph should do about the first 116 pages of manuscript which had been stolen. The answer was simple: Do nothing about it. Don’t retranslate that portion of the book. It will all work out in the end. In conjunction with this instruction, the Lord reiterated a principle which Joseph may have already seen as he translated King Benjamin’s sermon: Pace yourself. “Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:4; see also Mosiah 4:24).
In the second revelation, the Lord told Joseph’s brother Hyrum that he would make significant contributions to God’s work—but not yet. “Wait a little longer,” He said. “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word. … Hold your peace” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:16, 21-22). He also gave this important reminder: “You need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:15). Hyrum would have many opportunities to serve, but now was a time of patient preparation.
Like Joseph and Hyrum, we sometimes need to be reminded that we don’t have to be in a hurry, and that we don’t have to solve every problem, even ones we may have caused. God really is omnipotent and omniscient. When we are contributing to His work, we must remember that it really is His work. We should prepare to serve, wait for Him to call us into action, and follow His instructions when He does.
Here are some other lessons I’ve learned from these revelations:
Outline
Doctrine and Covenants 10 – The Lord instructs Joseph Smith what to do about the lost 116 pages.
- Satan’s plan: Alter the manuscript and use it to cast doubt on the published book (v. 1-29)
- God’s instructions: Don’t retranslate the lost portion. Just keep moving forward. (v. 30-45)
- The Book of Mormon is the answer to the prayers of ancient prophets (v. 46-56)
- Jesus Christ is the light which shines in darkness (v. 57-70)
Doctrine and Covenants 11 – Hyrum Smith: prepare to preach
- You will be the means of doing much good (v. 1-14)
- Wait a little longer; study the Bible and the emerging manuscript of the Book of Mormon (v. 15-26)
- “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (v. 27-30)
Key Themes
- God’s wisdom is greater than Satan’s cunning.
- Even when we are surrounded by darkness, we can be filled with the Savior’s light.
- Repentance is a central theme of the gospel. Everyone needs to repent.
- We make better decisions when we love God and our neighbor. The Spirit of the Lord leads us to “do justly, to walk humbly, [and] to judge righteously.”
Book of Mormon Connections
- Nephi and Mormon made writing and editorial decisions which compensated in advance for the loss of the 116 pages. (See 1 Nephi 9:2-6, 1 Nephi 19:1-6, Words of Mormon 1:3-7, Doctrine and Covenants 10:38-43.) Both of them followed God’s direction even though they didn’t understand it.
- King Benjamin taught the same principle included in Doctrine and Covenants 10:4: Don’t run faster than you have strength. (See Mosiah 4:27.)
- The sons of Mosiah taught with power because they had studied the scriptures diligently. (See Alma 17:1-3.) The Lord counseled Hyrum Smith to prepare himself to preach by studying the Bible and the emerging manuscript of the Book of Mormon. (See Doctrine and Covenants 11:21-22.)
Applications
- Don’t use other people’s sins to justify your own.
- To accomplish great things: pace yourself and work hard.
- We should seek to establish Zion on the earth by promoting unity, holiness, and charity.
- Prepare now to teach, because you don’t know when you will be called upon to do so.
- Temper your enthusiasm with patience. It’s good to be eager to do God’s work, and it’s important to submit to His timing.
- Remember God’s blessings, be grateful for Him, and follow His personalized instructions for you.
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- In What Order Did Joseph Smith Translate the Book of Mormon?
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Blog Posts: February 11-16
“His Own Received Him Not”
Jesus “came unto his own, and his own received him not.” It’s tragic to think that we would fail to receive the greatest gift ever offered to us because we failed to greet and welcome the Giver. We receive salvation when we receive the Savior.
“In Their Own Snare”
The Lord taught Joseph Smith that you can’t justify dishonesty by arguing that your victim is also dishonest. He said that the devil causes us “to catch [ourselves] in [our] own snare.” Those who attempt to deceive others only harm themselves in the end.
Wickedness
The Book of Mormon teaches several principles which can help us navigate environments where people are making wrong choices. 1. We are all wicked. 2. Wickedness is not binary. 3. Wickedness need not be permanent. 4. As we become less wicked, God can entrust us with more responsibilities.
Not to Destroy, but to Build Up
The Savior told Joseph Smith that the Book of Mormon and the church are intended to build up what people already have, not to destroy it. As we interact with others, we must be careful not to disparage or minimize the good things they bring to the table, but to build upon them.
“Hold Your Peace”
The phrase “hold your peace” means to remain silent and calm. The Lord instructed Joseph and Hyrum Smith to hold their peace in 1829. A number of people in the Book of Mormon remained silent for long periods of time. We can often communicate more effectively and feel less anxious by slowing down and not…
“Generations Yet to Be”
Enos prayed for people who would live in the distant future. The Lord answered his prayer, in part, by bringing us the Book of Mormon thousands of years later. As we grow closer to God, our thoughts and prayers turn not only to our ancestors but also to our descendants: “generations yet to be.”
The first two sentences really sank deep into my heart today. I needed to read that. Very frustrated with computer and trying to upload files for taxes, new iOS system to learn and how to send files to tax accountant. The Lord is in the details of our lives if we don’t try to push the timing of the help we need.
I’m so glad to hear that today’s post was useful to you. Thanks for letting me know, and good luck with those taxes!
I see the wisdom in your comment…”We make better decisions when we love God and our neighbor. The Spirit of the Lord leads us to “do justly, to walk humbly, [and] to judge righteously.” I’ve observed that to be true. Maybe that’s why we’re counseled not to run faster or labor more than we have strength. Unbridled effort depletes time and energy needed to love God and neighbor, denying us the humility and gratitude that worship and Christ-like service can bring to our world view.
I love that connection: pacing ourselves preserves bandwidth to worship God and serve our neighbor, which helps us to retain humility and gratitude. Thanks for sharing that insight!