1 NOW, behold, I say unto you, that because you delivered up those writings [ The transcript that Joseph gave Martin - 116 pages. Even though the Lord had finally acquiesced to Joseph pleading - Joseph was the one who keep pleading to the Lord, after all he was the one that the Lord had made responsible for the plates. What does this lesson teach us about agency and how the Lord works? ] which you had power given unto you to translate by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, [ Vs 7 explains why Martin Harris was a wicked man. see also D&C 3:12,13 because he set at naught the counsels of God, boasted in his own strength and wisdom, and broke sacred promises - that he would only show the records to his family. ] you have lost them.

2 And you also lost your gift at the same time, and your mind became darkened. [ How do you think Joseph felt - when the Lord took back the plates and the Urim and Thummim for a short period? What did Joseph learn from the experience? That he was at the mercy of the Lord, to do what he was told, he was entirely dependent on the Lord Is a darkened mind a punishment or a natural consequence of sin? How does our minds become darkened through disobedience? ]

3 Nevertheless, it is now restored unto you again; [ The Lord informed Joseph in section 3 that he had jeopardized his position with the Lord, and now; just a short time later he has returned to his favor once again. There is little historical material directly pertaining to this revelation. The first is a comment by Joseph Smith giving the timing of the revelation relative to D&C 3. The second is a historical commentary regarding the timing of the revelation as found in the HIstory of the Church. So when we look further at history it appears that this revelation happened in the summer or fall of 1828 (see history detailed below). At that time Joseph received that plates and Urim and Thummim back but said that he did not start to translate again until after he had labored to support his family for a time. ] therefore see that you are faithful and continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation as you have begun.

4 Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; [ Joseph was not to “make up for lost time,” but proceed with wisdom and order. How can the message given to Joseph apply in our lives? Joseph goes forward but does not start to try to translate again right away as he first went to work on the farm that he and his wife had purchased from her father. I think that we often over look the fact that Joseph still had to try to take care of the duties of life, to care for his family all while trying to do the work of the Lord. I often wonder if Joseph had lost a little confidence during this period, we know that you needed to have confidence in the translation process as well as we look at Olivers experience in translation. ] but be diligent unto the end. [ Usually we are not over doing our work for the Lord - so he also says be diligent - keep at it. ]

5 Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; [ How does praying help us conqueror Satan? ] yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work. [ Follow up by God from D&C 3:11 where he was commanded to repent. There are three great intelligent powers in the universe: God, man, and Satan. There is no question about which of those powers is the greatest. God has all power and therefore no one has greater power than He. But of these, who has greater power—man or Satan? Before answering, read the following scriptures, thinking in terms of power. Man’s Power. Read D&C 10:5; Ephesians 6:10–13; Romans 8:35–39. Satan’s Power. Read Moses 4:4; 2 Nephi 2:29; 28:22–23; Alma 34:35. Whether man’s power is greater than Satan’s depends on man’s willingness to bind himself to God and draw on His power. If he does not, then he comes increasingly under Satan’s power and dominion. Man’s choice could be diagramed in this way. Either man binds himself to God and draws on His power. OR he comes under the power of Satan. Joseph Smith stated this truth in these words: “The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power.” (Teachings, p. 181.) What is the means of binding oneself to God? Read D&C 130:20–21; 82:4–10; 54:3–6. ]

6 Behold, they have sought to destroy you; yea, even the man [ Referring to Martin Harris specifically here. ] in whom you have trusted has sought to destroy you.

7 And for this cause I said that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted; [ Martin had a plan from the beginning, he was relentless in asking for the records - and once he had the records he followed thru with that plan. HIs plan was not the Lords plan nor was it the plan to which he had covenanted too. We might say that he is disobedient today - but as to the greater definition of wicked he was not as he repented and was a witness of the plates, and the message from Moroni. ] and he has also sought to destroy your gift.

8 And because you have delivered the writings into his hands, behold, wicked men have taken them from you.

9 Therefore, you have delivered them up, yea, that which was sacred, unto wickedness.

10 And, behold, Satan hath put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands.

11 And behold, I say unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written;

12 And, on this wise, the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work;

13 For he hath put into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate.

14 Verily, I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing. [ And what exactly was that design? The plan was very cunning, If Joseph produced another transcript then they would release their revised version, one set forth to suit their purposes - and as a result would prove Joseph to be a fraud or a pretender. ]

15 For behold, he has put it into their hearts to get thee to tempt the Lord thy God, in asking to translate it over again.

16 And then, behold, they say and think in their hearts—We will see if God has given him power to translate; if so, he will also give him power again;

17 And if God giveth him power again, or if he translates again, or, in other words, if he bringeth forth the same words, behold, we have the same with us, and we have altered them;

18 Therefore they will not agree, and we will say that he has lied in his words, and that he has no gift, and that he has no power;

19 Therefore we will destroy him, and also the work; and we will do this that we may not be ashamed in the end, and that we may get glory of the world.

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their hearts; he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is good;

21 And their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and abominations; and they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; therefore they will not ask of me.

22 Satan stirreth them up, [ Satan delights in contention, conspiracy theories...as a means to divide both the individuals study as well as the division of the member who pick sides, and become dividend and not united. See Alma 11:20, Hel 6:21; Mormon 4:5 Mormon 5:18. Luke 22:31; 3 Ne. 18:18, Mormon 5:18 ] that he may lead their souls to destruction.

23 And thus he has laid a cunning plan, thinking to destroy the work of God; but I will require this at their hands, and it shall turn to their shame and condemnation in the day of judgment.

24 Yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work.

25 Yea, he saith unto them: Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that ye may destroy; behold, this is no harm. And thus he flattereth them, and telleth them that it is no sin to lie that they may catch a man in a lie, that they may destroy him.

26 And thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls [ One should come to realize that if someone is being dragged then then it suggests that it is against their agency, if it where their agency they would walk or run or at least follow. Dragging is something the adversary does. There is no gentilness, love or persausation as with Gods way - it is unrighteous dominion - dominion because they can. This who have hooked their wagon to the wrong master. ] down to hell; and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare.

27 And thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men.

28 Verily, verily, I say unto you, wo be unto him that lieth to deceive because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for such are not exempt from the justice of God. [ We must be firm no matter what our enemy does - or the ends do not justify the means - the Lord always expects us to do the right and live righteously. ]

29 Now, behold, they have altered these words, because Satan saith unto them: He hath deceived you—and thus he flattereth them away to do iniquity, to get thee to tempt the Lord thy God. [ How would the altered words have been used to get Joseph to tempt God? Well the idea is that Joseph would pray for a translation that was exactly identical as the first one - word for word - anticipate the changes that evil men had done in the process of making changes so that they would be the same. Matt 4:5-7 If we expect God to perform miracles in our behalf, when we bring trouble upon ourselves by disobedience, we "tempt" God. ]

30 Behold, I say unto you, that you shall not translate again those words which have gone forth out of your hands;

31 For, behold, they shall not accomplish their evil designs in lying against those words. [ The plan to compare the first translation (plus the alterations made by men) with the second and discredit the Prophet. ] For, behold, if you should bring forth the same words they will say that you have lied and that you have pretended to translate, but that you have contradicted yourself.

32 And, behold, they will publish this, and Satan will harden the hearts of the people to stir them up to anger against you, that they will not believe my words.

33 Thus Satan thinketh to overpower your testimony in this generation, that the work may not come forth in this generation.

34 But behold, here is wisdom, [ The Lord had a plan fo Joseph to follow and part of that plan included Joseph keeping quite about the plan for now v.37 and then translate the plates of Nephi in stead of re-translation what you have already done see v.38-45 ] and because I show unto you wisdom, and give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do, show it [ The completed translation. ] not unto the world until you have accomplished the work of translation.

35 Marvel not that I said unto you: Here is wisdom, [ Listen to me I know what I am doing here - trust me] show it not unto the world—for I said, show it not unto the world, that you may be preserved. [ If others had access to what he was doing they would have altered the words and when the final printing came about they would claim it to be changed - ruined his creditability. ]

36 Behold, I do not say that you shall not show it unto the righteous; [ Just so we are clear here - I am not saying don't just show it to the unrighteous - I am saying do not show it to anyone because you cannot tell the righteous from the unrighteous. v.37. ]

37 But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace [ Do not tell anyone. ] until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter. [ This would have been accomplished when Joseph translated 2 Ne 30:16-18. ]

38 And now, verily I say unto you, that an account of those things that you have written, which have gone out of your hands, [ The 116 pages that you lost.

When Joseph Smith originally began translating with Martin Harris in 1828, he evidently started with the Book of Lehi from Mormon's abridgment of the large plates of Nephi (see heading to D&C 10). There is some indication from the historical record that when Joseph and Oliver began their translation activities one year later in April 1829, they translated the remainder of the large plates (from Mosiah to Moroni ) first, then translated the small plates from 1 Nephi to Words of Mormon to replace the lost 116 pages. Thus, by the time these replacement pages from the small plates were translated (June 1829), it had been nearly a year since the original 116 pages had been lost (July 1828).

One of the evidences of this is the fact that five weeks after they started, 15 May 1829, they were on 3 Nephi and the Savior's sermon on baptism to the Nephites. Not until arriving at the Whitmer residence in Fayette did Joseph translate the small plates of Nephi, which contain 1 Nephi through the Words of Mormon. We draw this conclusion from the fact that in the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon, John Whitmer's work as a scribe in Fayette , New York , only dealt with material from the small plates.

] is engraven upon the plates of Nephi; [ 1 Ne. 9: 2 (2-6). 2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the plates upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi. ]

39 Yea, and you remember it was said in those writings that a more particular account was given of these things upon the plates of Nephi.

40 And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of Nephi is more particular concerning the things which, in my wisdom, I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account—

41 Therefore, you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated, which you have retained;

42 And behold, you shall publish it [ The translation of the smaller plates of Nephi] as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words.

43 I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil. [ See 3 Ne.21:10. ]

44 Behold, they have only got a part, or an abridgment of the account of Nephi. [ Vs 44-56 answer purpose of the plates, their history and why they were made. ]

45 Behold, there are many things engraven upon the plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel; [ The Lord will have Joseph publish the content found in the small plates of Nephi and not the same material found in the large plates (known as the Book of Lehi) which was previously translated and lost. Theses two sets of records overlap, the small plates are more detailed regarding spiritual things, having been started after the large plates, see 1 Ne. 9. ] therefore, it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work.

46 And, behold, all the remainder of this work does contain all those parts of my gospel which my holy prophets, yea, and also my disciples, desired in their prayers should come forth unto this people.

47 And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto them according to their faith in their prayers;

48 Yea, and this was their faith [ Those who had kept the records including Mormon, and Moroni. ] —that my gospel, which I gave unto them that they might preach in their days, might come unto their brethren the Lamanites, and also all that had become Lamanites because of their dissensions.

49 Now, this is not all—their faith in their prayers was that this gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other nations should possess this land;

50 And thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers, that whosoever should believe in this gospel in this land might have eternal life;

51 Yea, that it might be free unto all of whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue, or people they may be.

52 And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up.

53 And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them.

54 Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church;

55 Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.

56 But it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my commandments but build up churches unto themselves to get gain, yea, and all those that do wickedly and build up the kingdom of the devil—yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that it is they that I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center.

57 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the son of God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. [ See Acts 13:46; 1 Ne.10:11; 3 Ne. 9:16 3 Ne.16:7; So verses 57-70 bring forth the mission of the Lord. When you compare the mission of the Lord with the purpose of the plates vs 44-56 you will note that the Lord uses the first person to denote his personal involvement in the process "I wil...", "This I do..." ]

58 I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

59 I am he who said—Other sheep have I which are not of this fold [ See John 10:16, 3 Ne. 15:21. ] —unto my disciples, and many there were that understood me not.

60 And I will show unto this people that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob;

61 And I will bring to light their marvelous works, which they did in my name; [ The Book Of Mormon is to shed light on how the gospel enlighten the people of the Book of Mormon. ]

62 Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, [ Provide direction and help avoid contention as is the purpose of satan found in the next verse. ] yea, and the only doctrine which is in me.

63 And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; [ The Lord try's to bring us together. ] yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention [ Satan's efforts are to try to divide us appart - to get us to content with each other. ] concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.

64 Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery; [ Mystery in Greek is "Musterion" which means: The counsels of God once hidden but now revealed, in the gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation. When we say "mystery" we might as well say ordinances. This is from Greek Mysterion (usually in plural mysteria) "secret right or doctrine (known and practiced by certain initiated persons only) consisting of purifications, sacrificial offerings, processions, songs, etc." from mystes "one who has been initiated," Myein "to close shut" (see nute(adj.)); perhaps referring to the lips (in secrecy) or to the eyes (only initiates were allowed to see the sacred rites). (Online Etymology Dictionary) So mystery as we know it today has been perverted to resemble something in a mystery novel when it came from the ancients to mean sacred rights, and initiations. So as we find in the scriptures that the word mystery is always tied to some form of Salvation and or sacred rights. ] ;

65 For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, [ Symbolic of a protective mother. see Isa 66:13. Usually the Lord is cast in a none gender specific role as compared to the feminine role cast here. Other examples include him as the groom to the bride (Israel), or as the Father to Israel... ] if they will not harden their hearts;

66 Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely.

67 Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. [ Is of my church; like verses 68 & 69 the ecclesia or the believers. His church is not the building - see 3 Ne. 11:30-41; 3 Ne.12:19. ]

68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, [ Declaration from the Lord that the proceeding or following text is to remain unaltered. It is not to be embellished or deleted from for a person's convenience. Usually denoting that the doctrine itself is a difficult doctrine to observe; hence the reason why many would seek to alter it - otherwise there would be not temptation to alter it. see Duet 4:2;Matt 5:37; Rev 22:18; 3 Ne. 11:40; 3 Ne. 18:13; D&C 20:35; D&C 68:34; D&C 93:25; D&C 98:7; D&C 124:120; Moses 1:41. ] the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church. [ As the Lord indicates in v. 67, those who repent are His church. If a person is altering the Lord's doctrine and declaring the altered version as the correct version they are not humble and repentant. Rather, they are prideful, self-promoting, and unrepentant, and therefore, by definition, not part of His church. They may belong to the institutional bureaucracy and visit the brick building with the steeple on it, but they are not of His ecclesia. ]

69 And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell [ The powers of the unseen world; also the power of death. ] shall not prevail against them.

70 And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Amen.

 

[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 10 It is plain from comments made by Lucy Mack Smith in her biography of her son Joseph that the primary instigator of the plans to discredit Joseph was Martin Harris’ wife (see the historical material on D&C 3). There is little historical material directly pertaining to this revelation. The first is a comment by Smith giving the timing of the revelation relative to D&C 3. The second is a historical commentary regarding the timing of the revelation. Excerpt from History of the Church [text of D&C 3 precedes] After I had obtained the above revelation, both the plates and the Urim and Thummim were taken from me again; but in a few days they were returned to me, when I inquired of the Lord, and the Lord said thus unto me: [text of D&C 10 follows] I did not, however, go immediately to translating, but went to laboring with my hands upon a small farm which I had purchased of my wife's father, in order to provide for my family. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, pages 23-28). Excerpt from The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith In all editions of the Doctrine and Covenants before 1921, the date of section 10 was given as May 1829. However, Elder Brigham H. Roberts, who edited the History of the Church for publication in 1902, gave as his opinion that the date May 1829 was "clearly in error," that the revelation was received in the summer of 1828 [Footnote: History of the Church, 1:23. 122-123]. Roberts's interpretation undoubtedly influenced the committee that prepared the 1921 edition. But even though the date in the headnote was changed to "the summer of 1828," the revelation has not been moved from where it was placed in the earlier editions. The "Manuscript History of the Church" for the years 1828-29 was written by James Mulholland, the Prophet's scribe, in the summer of 1839. An insert in that section of the history places section 10 immediately after section 3. Although the May 1829 date of reception for section 10 (contained in both the 1833 and 1835 editions of the Doctrine and Covenants) was not altered by Mulholland, his work clearly attests to the 1828 reception of section 10. The "wicked man" reference to Martin Harris certainly suggests an 1828 setting, as do the instructions on the manner of proceeding with the translation of the Book of Mormon after the loss of the 116 pages of manuscript and the temporary withdrawal 10.8 of the Urim and Thummim and the gold plates in 1828. [Footnote: My own dating of this revelation would be fall 1828. See Max H. Parkin's thorough study of this dating problem in "A Preliminary Analysis of the Dating of Section 10," Seventh Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium (Provo: Brigham Young University, 1979), pp. 68-84. It is interesting to note that the words "by the means of the Urim and Thummim" in verse 1 were not part of this verse in the Book of Commandments; nor was section 17, which also makes use of the term Urim and Thummim, printed in the Book of Commandments. Both section 17 and verse 1 of section 10, as we now have them, first appeared in the 1835 edition. While the retroactive placement of the term in section 10 has led to some speculation relative to the Prophet's having the instrument in his possession, a preponderance of evidence confirms the Prophet's own testimony: "With the records was found a curious instrument, which the ancients called 'Urim and Thummim,' which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate" (History of the Church, 4:537). The problem here seems to be one of terminology, not whether or not the Prophet had possession of an ancient artifact. Until some time after the translation of the Book of Mormon, the sacred instruments may have been referred to as "Interpreters," or "spectacles." It is possible that Joseph Smith's inspired translation of the Bible played some part in designating the translating instrument "Urim and Thummim." The earliest use of the term Urim and Thummim in Mormon literature is in the Evening and Morning Star (January 1833). An article on the Book of Mormon, undoubtedly authored by W. W. Phelps, stated, "It was translated by the gift and power of God, by an unlearned man, through the aid of a pair of Interpreters, or spectacles—(known, perhaps in ancient days as Teraphim, or Urim and Thummim)." See also Richard P. Howard, Restoration Scriptures: A Study of Their Textual Development (Independence: Herald Publishing House, 1969).] (Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 17)]