THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 1
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, during a special conference of elders of the Church, held at Hiram, Ohio, November 1, 1831. HC 1: 221—224. Many revelations had been received from the Lord prior to this time, and the compilation of these for publication in book form was one of the principal subjects passed upon at the conference. This section constitutes the Lord’s Preface to the doctrines, covenants, and commandments given in this dispensation.
1—7, The voice of warning is to all people; 8—16, Apostasy and wickedness precede the Second Coming; 17—23, Joseph Smith called to restore to earth the Lord’s truths and powers; 24—33, The Book of Mormon brought forth and true Church established; 34—36, Peace shall be taken from the earth; 37—39, Search these commandments.
[ The first section of the Doctrine and Covenants is one of judgement and chastisement - perhaps the Lord is saying that we are at the beginning of the end, and this is the last warning to the world and it's people who have become so corrupt. Notice how the Lord does not mess around - then is no declaration of the purpose of the Doctrine and Covenants but rather the Lord jumps right in and declares who he is and his ultimate displeasure with his children. One will come to notice in the study of the Doctrine and Covenants that every section is an answer to a question, a problem or a dilemma. Joseph Smith learned early on that he could ask God in faith and he could receive an answer, and such is the case here. The very first section is an answer to how to prepare a preface for the book of cammandments. By November 1831, Joseph had received and dictated dozens of revelations he had received. John Whitmer hand-copied many of them into the Book of Commandments and Revelations. The missionaries and converts all wanted copies, so Joseph gathered a group of elders at the Johnson home in Hiram, Ohio, and together they determined to publish the revelations in a book: the Book of Commandments. The Lord then revealed what he called “mypreface to the book of my commandments”(D&C 1:6, emphasis added). Where Joseph sat down near a window and dictated the words slowly as Sidney Rigdon wrote them down. ]
1 HEARKEN,
[ Shema in Hebrew - which means to "hearken/listen and obey". ] O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, [ Classical OT statement of authority see Isa. 66:1-2, Ps. 50 ] and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". These opening verse are urgent and ominous. ] ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together.
2 For verily the voice of the Lord [ Compare to verse 38. ] is unto all men, [ It is universal, it is the same for all, everywhere. Member, non-member, bond or free. ] and there is none to escape; [ Universal in nature, everyone will be judged by this book and it's contents. ] and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that [ The entire human race is addressed as a single society. Imagery here likens the Prophet Josephs mission to that of Isaiah see Isa 6:9-10 - Isaiah is summoned by the Lord to deliver his message. The message is not well received and as a result the people harden their hearts even more so that they become even blinder to the spirit and it's truth. The Lord's servant is called to condemn the unrighteous - and to make sure that they know that the Lord will judge them. 2 Ne. 9:14-16, Jacob 6:9, Alma 42:23 ] shall not be penetrated.
3 And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; [ Or those who have convinced themselves that they are justified in whatever they are doing will be brought to a personal realization of their iniquities - hence they will be confronted with no defense, leaving them is a very sad state. THe entire world is in a misbehaving and rebellious state, but the time is coming when they will be held accountable. ] for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed.
4 And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, [ The message today to all of the people of the earth is really repent or perish, the Savior lives and he will come. They will not like it, they will try to ignore it, but if prophets only taught us what we wanted to hear then really why would there be a need for prophets? A young man once responded to his teacher "If I would have known what you were going to say then I never would have asked you". ] by the mouths of my disciples, [ Delivered by those in authority who he has called to declare that message. ] whom I have chosen [ Note who has done the choosing; the Lord. Hence these are the Lord's servant who are guided and elected to the work by the Lord. Disciples are not apostles they are the everyday saints of the church. Note here that he will publish his word through his disciples, the everyday people of the church. ] in these last days. [ Why do we say "Latter" in our name? 1) We are the last dispensation 2) We go out of our way to keep this clumsy name because in it there is a message to the world. ]
5 And they [ His disciples. ] shall go forth and none shall stay them, [ This is a message in its self that someting portentous is a foot in the world, otherwise why would they try to stop(stay) them? Other are meet with no such opposition. Isa. 54:17 no earthly power can stop them; only they can stop themselves by not doing what has been asked of them. When people ask when will we go into this country or that one, we should look here for the answer. The answer is when the time is right with God, when the time is right the country will open up - it is that simple. ] for I the Lord have commanded them. [ To do what? To go forth and gather from the nations. THe Lord is the one who commands when and where and none and stayed them when they did as the Lord commanded. We do not waste effort in certain countries until God commands us to go there. When God say "Go ye unto all the world" he usually follows that up with specific instructions of where to go and when. ]
6 Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, [ Note the linking to the authority - they are the same, the authority is equal in his eyes. Since his servants are under his employ it does not matter whether he speaks the words or his servants do. It is the same. It does not matter who performs the ordinance, it is the same whether he does it or his servants. They have the same power and authority. IN ancient times one either carried the King's ring or the letter had the seal of the king upon it attesting to the fact that it was indeed authorized. ] and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, [ The Lord is the author of the Book of Commandments here; and under his direction his servants were instructed to publish it. ] O inhabitants of the earth.
7 Wherefore, fear and tremble, [ Usually these words are not associated with delivering a POPULAR message. Consider what followed: after 1830 and unbroken sequence of revolution and suppression throughout the world.
Each faction wanting its type o f freedom, like two fighting boys who will not listen to their father, who has something must better for both of them if they only would--and knows what will happen if their rivalry does not cease.
Cause for alarm: The message is uncompromising, there is only one right way
There are other ways, and because one of them is bad it does not follow that the other is good. We can recall from the Book Of Mormon that the advisors to King Noah all said "You have done no wrong, we are good people, rich amd powerful; hence it is outrageous to suggest that we can be overthrown". ] O ye people, [ This message is "unto all people" verse 4. ] for what I the Lord have decreed [ The footnote here takes us to Isaiah 10:21-27. This was also one of the verses that Nephi brought forward in his transcription of the Book Of Mormon. It suggests that others understood the message of Isaiah about the return of the Lost Ten tribes being know but not necessarily understood. Earlier in the verse it suggested that these things would be decreed by his disciples, not his prophets. Why? Maybe if the prophets were to make such declarations it would undermind the faith of many who struggle as the events to come are mind blowing, to much to believe almost. The only real way to understand them is through personal study, and his disciple may cause some others to step up and find out for themselves. ] in them shall be fulfilled.
8 And verily I say unto you, that they who go forth, bearing these tidings [ These are not mere moral preaching of good and bad, they are not offerings of good or solid good advice which is often easy to come by. No these are TIDINGS, born by emissaries of God with special instructions from him, tidings that bring forth hope. ] unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them [ His servants. ] is power given to seal both on earth and in heaven, [ Verse 9-16 speak of what theses servants are sealing the people up for for - the day of the Lord or the Second Coming of Jesus Christ where the wicked are purged from the earth in preparation for the Millennium, cp. Isa. 2:12-17, Isa. 30:27-33, Joel 2, Mal. 3:2, D&C 112:23-26. ] the unbelieving and rebellious;
9 Yea, verily, to seal [ For security: from the bonds of Satan. ] them [ "unto all people". ] up unto the day when the wrath of God [ "Wrath" is here a pseudonym of the endtime King of Assyria, who personifies Jehovah's wrath toward his unrepentant people. Deut. 32:22-25, Isa. 5:25, Ezek. 21:1-10, 2 Ne. 26:2-6 ] shall be poured out [ Or we might say "It is a limited time offer",
God's intentions are not half-measures, nor are they moot, the days of indulgence will soon be over. The end is not a phasing out or a revolutionary change but world catastrophe. ] upon the wicked without measure— [ Physical destruction. ]
10 Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense [ "Recompense" is a pseudonym of the end- time king of Assyria, who executes Jehovah's recompense on the evildoers of his people. (Only used in KJV) ] unto every man according to his work,[ As I was studying one day it occurred to me that the words "his work" could have a dual meaning. 1) the standard most observed meaning that we / you and I will be judged according to our works - see Matt. 7:15-23. How we treat each other is the core of the Law of Moses and the Beatitudes, cp. Matt. 22:37-39. 2) We will also be judged according to his The Lords Works which are to bring to pass the eternal life of man, and that is done by how well we a-line our will to the will of our father in Heaven. In other words our judgement will come by how closely we have become like him. ] and measure to every man [ And after the upheavals the Lord will come:
This is a greater cause for alarm than the other!
But nothing you can do. Like Adam and Cain, you will be expected to answer,
and reveal your own guilt
Answer for what? How?
We will have to submit to the same application of the Golden Rule
with which we confronted others: God will treat us not as we want to
be treated, but just as we treated others - every one will be his own
accuser and set his own sentence (Al.32--that is the kindest way. ] according to the measure [ Or personally how well we stack up. An accounting of our time. ] which he [ Each of us. ] has measured to his fellow man. [ What we have done to help others come unto God, help others to fill the measure of their creation - which requires them to be taught first. ]
11 Wherefore the voice [ "Voice" is a pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his people, who receives revelation during a dearth of revelation and who guides Jehovah's people in a time of wickedness. ] of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, [ Which means a warning. ] that all that will hear may hear: [ Everyone is given a chance -but no one is forced. ]
12 Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, [ This is the major message of the Doctrine and Covenants. First the preaching and then the end cometh. (Matt. 24) ] for the Lord is nigh; [ Or he soon will come. The destruction of the wicked which is certain and is not far off. In that day there is going to be some mighty changes, such that you will not recognize this place any more from what it once was. ]
13 And the anger of the Lord is kindled, [ "Anger" is a pseudonym of the endtime King of Assyria, who personifies Jehovah's anger toward the wicked of his people. It is ready to explode to come forth with great power. He has been held back but is now ready. Joseph Smith History 1:19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” ] and his sword [ Sword is a metaphor for destruction. "Sword" is a pseudonym of the endtime King of Assyria and his alliance, who personify the sword of justice Jehovah empowers to destroy the wicked in the heavens and on the earth in the day of judgment. ] is bathed in heaven, [ Suggesting that the sword is in the upright position(bathed in heaven - awaiting the command), its blade is pointing to the heavens. The weapons are being washed to clear them for legitimate action.] and it [ His sword. ] shall fall [ Will change from the upright position to the horizontal position. This is a action that requires power, and one in which it is not good to be underneath as it comes down. ] upon the inhabitants of the earth. [ This verse is a paraphrase of Isa. 34:5. There, the Lord is saying he will be punishing the wicked in both heaven and earth. That the sword is bathed in heaven means it is cutting through heaven and is landing on earth. In Isa. 34:4 it is plain the sword is doing destruction in heaven and causing part of it to be closed up. The general context on Isa. 34 is the Day of the Lord. The various judgements on the earth at the Second Coming will be paralleled in heaven with the second phase of the First Resurrection and those of the Second Resurrection being booted out of spirit prison into 1000 years of suffering (cp. Rev. 20:1-6, D&C 88:100-101). ]
[ Verse 14 and 15 continue on with the same cursing that is found in Isaiah 24:1,3-6 Namely the straying from the ordinances of God. ]
14 And the arm of the Lord [ "Arm" is a pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, his arm of righteousness, whom Jehovah empowers to gather his elect from among the nations of the world and lead them in a new exodus to fion. His power. It is the arm of the Lord that pulls us through the veil. It is through the arm of the Lord that we are bound to him. ] shall be revealed; [ People will come to understand by who's power things are being done. ] and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, [ President Nelson has counseled us to "Hear Him". What did he say "Why is our Heavenly Father so insistent--and consistent--in His plea that we should hear His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ? Jesus answered this question Himself. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Our Father loves us and yearns for each one of us to choose to return to His holy presence. He pleads with us to listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed and appointed as our Mediator, Savior, and Redeemer." (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2020-02-1000-hearhim-president-nelson-invites-us-to-hear-the-voice-of-the-lord?lang=eng) ] neither the voice of his servants, [ People are held accountable whether it comes directly from God speaking to them or the voice of his servants John 5:45-47; Deut. 18:19. "I say in the name of the lord, that the kingdom of God was set up
on the earth from the days of ADAM to the present time. Wherever there has been a righteous man...unto whom God revealed his word...272. Where the oracles of God are not, there the kingdom of God 1s not. "(Teachings of Joseph Smith P. 271.) ] neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people; [ Since it is through the arm of the Lord that we receive the blessings of the temple and if we fail to receive those blessing from hi hand then we have no power to bind ourselves to God in any other way. We cannot just by wanting too, bind ourselves to God - it is through the ordinances. If we fail to receive the covenants we will literally be cut off from God as we have no promise or power of ourselves to bind ourselves to Him. And who else but those who have received them can stray from them and break the everlasting covenant? We receive the everlasting covenant through the authority of the the Lord's servants the Apostles, with the senior Apostle being the only one who holds the keys to call those who administer those ordinances in the temple. If we reject His servants we reject the means of obtaining the everlasting covenant as if the Lord was making His covenant with us personally Himself. Such rejection can only lead to being cut off eternally. Multiple things people fail to listen to (the Lord, His Servants, and the Prophets/Apostles) and end with a consequence of being "cut off" (the result of breaking a covenant). If you do not listen to the voice of the prophet and the apostles you will be cut off. We might say they will cut themselves off, once they stop listening, once the people think that they know more than the prophets and apostles - well they are ripe for what follows, and are left outside of the protection of the Lord. Those that do listen will be acceptable to the Lord, they will be a proper community for which the earth was prepared. The rest will be cursed, quarantined and disqualified. ]
15 For they have strayed from mine ordinances, [ Here we get the reason- they strayed, or took the wrong path in the ordinances(they altered them to fit their desires - this was the same with ancient Israel, the Egyptian...). To stray from them you would have to first receive them right? They walked in their own way, not the way of the Lord, and wind up recreating Babylon. This is a warning to the members of the church. They have wandered away, wandering away takes time to do that it is not a wake up one morning and wander off kind of thing. They seek on not the Lord...but every man walketh in his own way. Verse 16 This is the description of the present day world. What is an ordinance? The ordinances are doorways that then open up to those who are interested the privilege of receiving greater light, intelligence and understanding from their Father in Heaven, because the priesthood has the power to administer those ordinances and has the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. They are the very tools that teach us how to become like our Father in Heaven and his plan for us. An ordinance is a mini drama of a portion of the plan of salvation. Take any ordinance and think about it (Baptism for example is a re-enactment of our birth and coming out of our mothers womb, and at the same time re-enacting our death burial and resurrection in the likeness of Jesus Christ), (the sacrament - we partake of his flesh symbolically and his blood symbolically to bring it inside of ourselves so that he becomes a part with us) so we might say that the ordinance set in order the plan of salvation - The temple drama sets in order the entire plan from before this life thru and to the eternities providing order and structure. Ordinance comes from the latin word ordinaire: which means to put in order or sequence, or to act by authorization or command. The prophet taught that the ordinances were laid out before the foundation of the world and are not to be altered or changed, all must be saved on the same principals. Ordinances are doors that when opened provide opportunities to gain further light and knowledge. ] and have broken mine everlasting covenant; [ "Covenant" (1) Jehovah's collective covenant, whose blessings are voided by his people's transgressions and changes of its ordinances and (2) Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's covenant. What is the everlasting covenant? (D&C 22:1) Baptism Which is the fullness of the Gospel they're guilty of apostasy. All covenants between God and man are part of the everlasting covenant. It is the gospel as it stands in that dispensation. A contract or agreement between two parties, God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word _berith_ is always thus translated. _Berith_ is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19) So in other words just as those who are covenanted to the other Shepard so to are we covenanted or belong to a new master. ]
16 They seek not the Lord [ The implication is that, based on this and the preceding verse, the two main complaints God has or will have against his latter-day Church members is 1- their treatment of the doctrine of Christ and 2- idolatry. That kind of sums things up, it really does not matter who your master is if it is not Jesus Christ, in the end it will not matter. President Kimball cites this verse as a description of the state of our society "Unprecidented glorification of self-seeking as an accepted and proper rule of life". (Rom 3:10) ] to establish his righteousness, [ "Righteousness" the pseudonym for Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and acts as an exemplar of righteousness to Jehovah's people and the nations in a time of wickedness. ] but every man walketh in his own way, [ Man makes his own rules, lives by his own code of conduct, so in a way this is saying that every man is a God unto himself. Here we have what the Savior intends to accomplish by giving the latter-day revelations contained in the Book of Commandments. Because man has gone off on his own and God wants to spare as many as he can he will use this book of commandments to call men to repent and return to him and walk in his ways. And if they do not know what those are he will use this book to teach them more throughly. In our utterly amoral society there are none who confess to be the villains; everyone is eager to describe their rivals as the exponents of evil.] and after the image of his own god, [ And it really matters not which God you are following if it is not the Lord Jesus Christ. ] whose image is in the likeness of the world, [ Your have set up your God by the things you do, showing who you really worship. We do it easily by breaking the sabbath to enjoy life, replacing your covenants with excuses, removing your garments to wear the apparel of the world. There is nothing on this earth to lose your eternal life over - why? because all that there is will one day be the inheritance of those who obtain eternal life. ] and whose substance [ Or who is patterned on the behaviors of Babylon(fales, wicked, anti-christ). ] is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall. [ God is telling us that he knows what will happen and that he will win in the end - it is up to us to choose our side. ] [ Footnotes in the 1981 edition indicate that this verse is a distillation of quotes from Isa 40-47. ]
17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, [ Or as a result of God knowing what is going to happen he provodes this revelation. Suggesting that if you do as I say then everything will be good with you. It is not the Lord's plan to destroy all of mankind; but rather to get them to repent so that they do not have to be destroyed during the purging that will need to take place at his second coming. The Lord is fully aware of what is going to happen in the world, so in an effort to help prepare mankind (or those who will listen, he speaks to his prophets(in this case specifically called out is Joseph Smith). He gives them direction for the saints, that if they will listen they will be better prepared for those calamities. ] called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, [ So the Lord revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith but we could substitue in its place Russel M. Nelson... Presiden Nelson said "there are very few sacred instances in which the voice of God the Father has been heard. So when He says something, we really need to listen." So here we are taught that God has intervened and given direct instructions, who are authorized by him to provide the guidance that we need, that should be good news to all. ] and gave him commandments; [ Told him the things that he needed to tell the people that they might be better prepared for those calamities that are about to come. Example include: Family Home evening program, Proclamation On the Family, Most recently changes to the block program that families are responsible to teach in the home, Ministering... So the commandments then given to his servant are there to help people so they will not suffer the calamities so to speak. - Thinking about the commandments from that outlook might change things. Verses 19-23 refer to some of the counsel that he would have the members of the church adopt. ]
18 And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—
[ All of this that is happening and is going to happen has been seen by the prophets - both the good and the bad things that will happen. We are not left without a pattern as we learn in the Pearl Of Great Price. ]
19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, [ It has been that way in every dispensation ( Adam, Enoch, Noah , Abraham, Moses, Lehi, Zachariah...) ] that man should not counsel his fellow man, [ All men should get council from God - if all men were looking to do that how much different would this world be? ] neither trust in the arm of flesh— [ All men should rely on God, recognize him, trust in him. Putting one's trust in God is a symbol of our humility. In so many way American has strayed from these principles, as the stronger we have become as a nation we have used that power through force to lay down our law to others, and have done so in what we were told to be righteous purposes but often it was nothing more than secret combinations to get gain for some individuals and corporations. ]
20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, [ Let every man sanctify himself. Ordinary men like the founders of this great nation, listened to God as best they knew how. ] even the Savior of the world;
21 That faith also might increase in the earth; [ This is the starting block to get things going. Without faith nothing of God gets done. But we have trusted to much in our Military might and in money. The two go together It is money that buys up army's and navy's, and then with army's and navy's money and resources are taken. Men promote policy with power because they lack faith. Instead of relying on faith do we resort to the dangerous drugs of "power and gain" to put our minds to ease? ]
22 That mine everlasting covenant [ Which is See vs.23 the fullness of my gospel all covenants between God and man are part of the everlasting covenant. It is the gospel as it stands in that dispensation. So right at the beginning God is looking to re-establish the ancient covenant - Temple Worship. And how does God go about implementing his proposal? He does it through Covenants, which bring God's children together with a common bond with him. As a result they can see eye to eye with each other, because they all have made the same individual covenants with him(not with each other). We do not make marriage vows as the world does, our exchange is not between us, but we covenant with God. I make no promise to my wife and she makes none to me - we each however did in each others presence witness as we each made covenants with Heaven Father over the altar. ] might be established;
23 That the fulness of my gospel [ Or the new and everlasting covenant And Where do we get the fullness of the Gospel? The Temple ] might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.
24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, [ With everything that Joseph Smith did he never changed his status- he did not develop a Messiah complex. Compare with Isa. 6:5-8 - Isaiah declares his unworthiness to be the prophet when he declares his lips as unclean - his expression that he was not suited for the calling. To which the angel came down and placed a hot coal on his lips and Isaiah responded that he was able to be a witness when asked by the Lord. The Lord does not care about our weakness, he knows he can give us the required strength for the task at hand - we might have to ask him; but if we remember it is he who called us, it is he who will strengthen us; but we may need to ask see verse 25-28. See also Ether 12:23-25 and Mormon 8:17] after the manner of their language, [ Our language is really crude and illiterate when compared to God's language. ] that they might come to understanding . [ Speaking of the imperfections of Joseph Smith; and every other servant for that manner. the Lord will show us our weaknesses that we might become stronger; it is only how we take the instruction from the Lord that matters. If we take it humbly and then do something about it grateful to become better; or do we rebel? ]
25 And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known; [ He reassures us that he will let us know when we have wandered off the reservation so to speak. This instruction is often hard to follow as it can be embarrassing, humiliating, and insulting. Which if we take it the right way will set us up to receive more wisdom(verse 26), and this is based on how desperately we seek it(Verse 16). ]
26 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom [ If we look at the Doctrine and Covenants we see that almost every revelation that came in these scriptures came as a direct result of Joseph Smith and others asking God to give them further light on the subject. ] they might be instructed;
27 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent; [ Happy is the man whom the Lord correcteth. If he will repent. ]
28 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, [ THe real source of strength then is not in standing tall but in being humble. Anyone can be humble in the presence of over powering majesty, but that is not being humble at all - - it is being intimidated. If our humility is based on fear, then it is only with faith which is not based on fear that will make us strong. How does being humble make us stronger? If we bow before the Lord and offer up ourselves to him in humility he will bestow upon us the power to do all things by accessing the power that he will give us, by constantly acknowledging that power, and where it comes from we become stronger. ] and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time. [ Notice here that the Lord does not say "receive knowledge - all the time" - I suppose that is because we have to learn to do on our own a little we have to try to learn on our own, to stretch, to push in order to grow, and we are only ready for a little at a time. The power is there but are we ready? It is through humility that we can receive greater knowledge which in turn provides strength. Knowledge of what? ]
29 And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., [ This verse refers back to verse 17. God knew the calamity that was to come forth on the earth. As a result he brought forth the Book Of Mormon in these times "O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you". (Ether 8:23) ] might have power to translate through the mercy of God, [ It was because of how much Love that he has for us that he brought them forward to a time and had Joseph Smith translate them for our benefit. ] by the power of God, the Book of Mormon.
30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, [ Along with the translation of the Book Of Mormon God also provided a full-scale plan of action which is laid out with the restoration of the gospel. How were these commandments given?(See Vers 23) Everyone was allowed to hear them, and everyone was free to accept them for himself. ] and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, [ Those who accept the commandements become candidates for office, because they are the ones who will enter into the organization, follow the rules and want to build up the foundation. Unto such God has given the Power to lay the foundation of this church and bring it forth out of obscurity and darkness. At a time when the world really did not know that they were living in obscurity and darkness at least by their standards. And so the church came forth from obscurity and darkness for those seeking truth. ] the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually— [ And such is the case today the church is the only true and living church on the earth collectively, not individually. The church remains true regardless of individual in it - those to whom the Lord is not well pleased. Don't judge the church by them, and don't be one of them. Or in other words their are those that are sinners in differing aspects within the church; and while the church as a whole; as a body of members they are doing what is expected; there are those who as individuals are not; and to those he gives the stern warning in the next 3 verses - they must repent or they will be dealt with as just being a member or a congregation in which he is pleased with with not save them individually. ]
31 For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; [ The Lord is suggesting here that if there is sin in the church God is not going to condone it just because they have membership in the church. Membership hold no sway in regard to sin - sin is and will alway be sin, there are no allowances. Two of the basic principles to Celestial happiness is that we will feel and be comfortable in our eternal position. Those tenants are based upon that fact that no unclean thing can enter the presence of God (Mos 6:57; 3 Ne 27:19; 1 Ne 10:21) and the second is that God therefore cannot look upon sin with any degree of acceptance of it. ]
32 Nevertheless, he that repents [ Those that change their character. ] and does the commandments of the Lord [ The commandment are there to teach us how God would act - so if we start acting the way he acts them we will become like him. True repentance is more than just stopping doing something, it is to begin to act in a different way - the way that God would act. ] shall be forgiven; [ So IF YOU ACT YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN. ]
33 And he that repents not, [ The moment that we stop repenting is the moment that we start slipping. "Repentance is necessary in order to simply RETAIN our PRESENT ADVANTAGES". A stern warning that deliberate rebellion will cause the spirit to abandon them. see Moroni 9:4; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:12-13 and when the spirit leaves it takes with it the knowledge Alma 12:11. How can one repent indefinitely? ANS: If you are full of grace and truth like the only begotten. ] from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, [ President Joseph Fielding Smith Speeches of the Year BYU March 1967 "Now the Lord has withdrawn His Spirit from the world. Do not let this thought become confused in your minds. The Spirit He has withdrawn from the world is not the Holy Ghost, but it is the light of truth, spoken of in our scriptures as the Spirit of Christ, which is given to every man that cometh into the world.... Now because of the wickedness of the world, that Spirit has been withdrawn, and when the Spirit of the Lord is not striving with men, the Spirit of Satan is. Therefore we may be sure that the time has come spoken of in Section 1 of the Doctrine and Covenants...Peace has been taken from the earth. The devil has power over his own dominion. The spirit of the Lord has been withdrawn. Not because the Lord desires to withdraw that Spirit, but because of the wickedness of mankind, it becomes necessary that this spirit of the Lord be withdrawn". Light cleaveth to light so to speak and so if we render ourselves unsuitable to receive more light it will pass us by, our minds will no longer be open to receive, from there we will subside into indifference and then increasing ignorance. The fire will go down until it fades out if you do not continue to feed it. The Lord will continue to stretch forth hus hand to us, but if we like Cain walk out on him he will not longer strive with us. If he did he would in a way be forcing his will on us which he will never do. He knows when we have crossed the point of reception. ] saith the Lord of Hosts [ What exactly does “host” mean? The phrase “Lord of Hosts” is the same as the “Lord of Sabaoth.” “The Lord of Sabaoth was a title of Jehovah; the hosts were the armies of Israel (1 Sam. 17:45), but also included the angelic armies of heaven” (Bible Dictionary, “Sabaoth,” ] .
34 And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth: I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh; [ Remember what God wanted Moses to do with the children of Israel? He wanted to sanctify the whole group. But they rejected the offer. It is not the saints that make themselves a small and peculiar people - it is those who reject the proposal. Because God want to bring everyone in. ]
35 For I am no respecter of persons, [ Lectures on Faith #3 - "But it is also necessary that men should have an idea that he is no respecter of persons, for with the idea of all the other excellencies in his character, and this one wanting, men could not exercise faith in him; because if he were a respecter of persons, they could not tell what their privileges were, nor how far they were authorized to exercise faith in him, or whether they were authorized to do it at all, but all must be confusion; but no sooner are the minds of men made acquainted with the truth on this point, that he is no respecter of persons, than they see that they have authority by faith to lay hold on eternal life, the richest boon of heaven, because God is no respecter of persons, and that every man in every nation has an equal privilege." ] and will that all men shall know that the day [ The day when the Devil will exercise his dominion. IT came and it is still here. ] speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, [ "And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword." (Revelation 6:4) ] and the devil shall have power over his own dominion. [ The devils own dominion is war. Heavens dominion is one of peace. Statement here that the the devil has power over the earth at this time. "Viewing our surroundings through the lens of faith and with an eternal perspective, we see all around us a fulfillment of the prophecy that “the devil shall have power over his own dominion” Preparation for the Second Coming Elder Dallin H. Oaks May 2004 Ensign. ]
36 And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, [ Here is the good news - Zion(which is a subset of the church) will receive him, and to them he will give his power. ] and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, [ Also called Edom - or representing the wicked world(this earth), as it was the caravan crossroads, the business center, the redrock area south of Judaea. (Isa 34:5) "Idumea" is another translation for "Edom" (oTx in Hebrew; meaning "red"), which derives its name from the red pottage Jacob cooked and with which he purchased his birthright from his twin brother Esau (Gen 25:29- 34). This category of people refers to those who spiritually sell their
birthright for a "mess of pottage". They take on the attributes of Esau before them, who sought to kill his brother Jacob (Gen 27:42) and Esau's
children who betrayed Judah to the Babylonians (Ps 137:7; Obad 1:9-10) ] or the world.
37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
[ Unqualified comment to which you can count on both as they are both "my word" whether it came from my voice or the prophets voice they are both "my word" and "my word" will be fulfilled. ]