Shortly after the Three Witnesses saw the gold plates, Joseph Smith received a revelation giving further instructions to two of those witnesses: Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer.
The Lord reminded Oliver that the church must be built upon His gospel, which is found in the scriptures. He summarized the principles of the gospel: faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
The Lord further explained that twelve other men would help organize the church, and He instructed Oliver and David to find these men.
Most importantly, He reminded them why they were doing this work. Every soul is precious, He explained. He paid the ultimate price for our salvation, and we will experience great joy with each person we bring to Him.
As we participate in God’s work, we must remember to keep our teaching firmly grounded in the scriptures, to enlist help from others, and to always remember the eternal value of each person we serve and teach.
Here are some other lessons I’ve learned from these revelations:
Outline
- Message to Oliver: the church must be built on the gospel, which is found in the scriptures (v. 1-8)
- Message to Oliver and David: Remember the worth of souls, as evidenced by the price the Savior paid (v. 9-25)
- Message to the Twelve: Walk uprightly, ordain others, and testify (v. 26-36)
- Message to Oliver and David: Find the twelve and preach the gospel (v. 37-47)
Key Themes
- God wants to save us. He feels joy when we grow and progress.
- Every child of God is precious because of their infinite potential.
- God’s grace is sufficient for each of us.
Book of Mormon Connections
- Nephi and Moroni testified that the Holy Ghost will show us “all things what [we] should do” (2 Nephi 32:5; see also Moroni 10:5). The Lord reaffirmed this promise to Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer. (See Doctrine and Covenants 18:18.)
Applications
- Avoid contention by keeping disagreements in perspective.
- Work hard to serve other people, even if they are not appreciative of your efforts.
- Recommit to high value goals. Dedicate time, energy, and other resources to the things that matter most.
Recommended Posts
Blog Posts: February 25-March 2
“The Foundation of My Church”
The church of Christ is built on a simple set of doctrines which are listed in 3 Nephi 27 and Doctrine and Covenants 18. We can follow the Savior’s example by sharing these doctrines concisely, without unnecessary elaboration.
“You Have Heard My Voice and Know My Words.”
We may receive a spiritual confirmation after studying the scriptures or while we read. Oliver Cowdery received a confirmation multiple times as he transcribed the Book of Mormon for the first time. The Lord taught him that, when we receive that confirmation, we have heard His voice.
“Your Joy With Him”
Jesus suffered so that we can all repent. As we help other people grow closer to Jesus Christ and repent, He experiences joy and so do we. That joy is communal in nature. We experience joy not “for” those we serve, but “with” them.
“Contend Against No Church”
The Savior counseled Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to “contend against no church.” We can and should find common cause with fellow believers, even when their beliefs differ from our own.
“All Men [and Women] Everywhere”
God’s universal love is manifest in many ways. One of those ways is via a universal commandment to repent. This commandment is really an invitation to change and experience His healing and transformative power.
The Worth of a Soul
Remembering the infinite worth of each child of God affects how we treat each other, how we treat ourselves, and how we pray.
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