1 IT is my will that my servant Warren A. Cowdery should be appointed and ordained a presiding high priest over my church, [ The calling of Warren Cowdery as the branch president over the Freedom NY branch. Warren Cowdery is not well known in the Church today, but he made several important contributions to the Church in his time. Warrant worked as a clerk for Joseph Smith, and in the publishing office in Kirtland, where he helped edit a newspaper published by the Church. Serving as a clerk for Joseph Smith, Warren recorded the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple, later included in the Doctrine and Covenants as section 109. Warren also served as a member of the high council of the Church in Kirtland. ] in the land of Freedom and the regions round about;

2 And should preach my everlasting gospel, and lift up his voice and warn the people, not only in his own place, but in the adjoining counties;

3 And devote his whole time to this high and holy calling, which I now give unto him, seeking diligently the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and all things necessary shall be added thereunto; [ compare this verse with with D&C 84:62-116; as well as D&C 4 & 12. ] for the laborer is worthy of his hire. [ D&C 42:70-73. The combined call of missionary and high priest over the Branch will effectively be his full-time job, so he is to be compensated for his labors. ]

4 And again, verily I say unto you, the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, and it overtaketh the world as a thief in the night [ notice who it is referencing here. The world, so can we conclude from that that it will take the world as a thief in the night but the church; or those that understand - not so? ] — [ compare this verse with with D&C 29:7-8; as well as D&C 4 & 12. ]

5 Therefore, gird up your loins, that you may be the children of light, and that day shall not overtake you as a thief. [ Who are the children of the light? They are the faithful saints who have knowledge and truth. Here it implies that these will not be overtaken as a thief in the night because the have the knowledge and understanding to prepare. See 1 Thes 5:1-6,9,14,20,21. ] [ Compare this verse with with D&C 75:22; as well as D&C 4 & 12. ]

6 And again, verily I say unto you, there was joy in heaven when my servant Warren bowed to my scepter, and separated himself from the crafts of men; [ The Lord recognized Warren’s struggles to join the Church. The Lord delights when one of his servants puts the Lord first; becomes submissive to his will. Just as the son is to the will of the Father. see D&C 101:42. ]

7 Therefore, blessed is my servant Warren, for I will have mercy on him; and, notwithstanding the vanity of his heart, [ Warren’s service as the presiding elder in Freedom was marred when, a year later, he was accused of writing a letter containing “reports derogatory to the character and teaching of the twelve.”(Minutes, 26 September 1835, p. 119, JSP. ) In the letter, Warren told Church leaders that the Twelve had failed to provide instruction to the members of the Church at Freedom about the need to donate funds for the construction of the Kirtland Temple.(Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 4 August 1835, p. 90, JSP. ) In response, the Twelve charged Warren with “unchristian conduct.”(JS, Journal, 16 Jan. 1836, p. 119, JSP.) The matter was dropped when Warren “confessed his mistake” in a meeting with the Twelve on March 5, 1836. (“Historical Introduction,” Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 4 August 1835, p. 90, JSP). ] I will lift him up inasmuch as he will humble himself before me.

8 And I will give him grace and assurance wherewith he may stand; and if he continue to be a faithful witness and a light unto the church I have prepared a crown for him in the mansions of my Father. Even so. Amen.

 

[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 106 Excerpt from History of the Church It now being the last of the month, and the Elders beginning to come in, it was necessary to make preparations for the school for the Elders, wherein they might be more perfectly instructed in the great things of God, during the coming winter. A building for a printing office was nearly finished, and the lower story of this building was set apart for that purpose (the school), when it was completed. So the Lord opened the way according to our faith and works, and blessed be His name. No month ever found me more busily engaged than November; but as my life consisted of activity and unyielding exertions, I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it.... I continued my labors daily, preparing for the school, and received the following: [text of D&C 106 quoted] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 2, pages 169-80) Excerpt from Doctrine and Covenants Commentary On his journey among the churches to gather up the strength of the Lord's House, the Prophet came to the City of Freedom, N.Y., where he was entertained by Warren A. Cowdery. He held several meetings there. One of the converts was Heman Hyde, and shortly after his baptism, March 11, 1834, his parents and thirty or forty others were baptized and organized into a Branch, from which nucleus the light spread and souls were gathered into the fold in all the regions round. In this Revelation, Warren A. Cowdery is called to the office of presiding High Priest over the Branch in Freedom and vicinity (v. 1). His duties are stated (w . 2, 3). He was to preach the everlasting gospel, and warn the people. He was to devote his whole time to the ministry, and depend upon the Lord for his reward, “for the laborer is worthy of his hire.” He was to remember that “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (v. 4) and warn the world, lest the day should overtake them “as a thief.” Gracious promises are given (vv. 7, 8). (Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjodhal, Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, page 690). Unfortunately, Warren was swept up in the tumult that overthrew the Church in Kirtland and became disaffected from Church leadership in 1838. The excommunication of Oliver Cowdery (which occurred in April 1838) undoubtedly affected Warren’s feelings toward Church leadership. Warren stayed behind after most active Church members left Kirtland. According to an 1850 census, he was living with his wife and six children in Kirtland in 1850. He passed away in 1851. Unlike his brother Oliver, he never returned to the Church in his lifetime. Warren A. Cowdery, biography, JSP. ]