D&C 108

THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

SECTION 108

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, December 26, 1835. HC 2: 345. This section was received at the request of Lyman Sherman, who had previously been ordained a high priest and a seventy, and who had come to the Prophet with a request for a revelation to make known his duty.

1—3, Lyman Sherman forgiven of his sins; 4—5, He is to be numbered with the leading elders of the Church; 6—8, He is called to preach the gospel and strengthen his brethren.

1 VERILY thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Lyman: Your sins are forgiven you, because you have obeyed my voice in coming up hither this morning to receive counsel of him whom I have appointed.

2 Therefore, let your soul be at rest concerning your spiritual standing, [ rest that is provided by the knowledge that he has been forgiven of his sins. ] and resist no more my voice.

3 And arise up and be more careful henceforth in observing your vows, which you have made and do make, and you shall be blessed with exceeding great blessings.

4 Wait patiently until the solemn assembly shall be called of my servants, then you shall be remembered with the first of mine elders, [ a term that represented those who were selected to receive an "endowment" D&C 105:33 ] and receive right by ordination with the rest of mine elders whom I have chosen.

5 Behold, this is the promise of the Father unto you if you continue faithful. [ We can look at verses 4 & 5 in a couple of different ways. One that he (Lyman) will receive the physical portion of the endowment with the rest of the brethern, but the he must remain faithful in order to receive the spiritual blessings of the endowment. OR that he needs to remain faithful until he can receive the endowment with the rest of the brethern. ]

6 And it shall be fulfilled upon you in that day that you shall have right to preach my gospel wheresoever I shall send you, from henceforth from that time.

7 Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.

8 And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever. Amen.

[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 108 Excerpts from History of the Church On the 28th of February, the Church in council assembled, commenced selecting certain individuals to be Seventies, from the number of those who went up to Zion with me in the camp; and the following are the names of those who were ordained and blessed at that time, to begin the organization of the first quorum of Seventies, according to the visions and revelations which I have received. The Seventies are to constitute traveling quorums, to go into all the earth, whithersoever the Twelve Apostles shall call them. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 2, pages 201-202) Commenced again studying the Hebrew language, in company with Brothers Parrish and Williams. In the meantime, Brother Lyman Sherman came in, and requested to have the word of the Lord through me; “for,” said he, “I have been wrought upon to make known to you my feelings and desires, and was promised that I should have a revelation which should make known my duty.” [text of D&C 108 quoted] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 2, page 345) Excerpt from LDS Biographical Encyclopedia Sherman, Lyman, one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies from 1835 to 1837, embraced the gospel at an early day and was ordained a High Priest. He also made the famous trip from Ohio to Missouri as a member of Zion’s Camp; and after his return to Ohio, he was ordained a Seventy, Feb. 28, 1835, at Kirtland, under the hands of Joseph the Prophet and others. When the first quorum of Seventy was organized, soon afterwards, he was chosen as one of its seven presidents. In December, 1835, he came to Joseph the Prophet and requested to have the word of the Lord through him; “for,” said he, “I have been wrought upon to make known to you my feelings and desires, and was promised that I should have a revelation which should make known my duty.” In answer to [p.191] his request a revelation was given (Doc. and Cov., Sec. 108), in which he was commanded “to be more careful henceforth” in observing his vows. Being numbered among those who had previously been ordained High Priests, he was released from his position as a president of Seventies April 6, 1837, and identified himself with the High Priests. Josiah Butterfield was chosen as his successor, Oct. 1, 1837, Elder Sherman was chosen a High Councilor at Kirtland, in place of Jared Carter who had removed to Missouri. (LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, entry for Lyman Sherman, pages 190-191) Excerpt from Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith The day after Christmas in 1835, Lyman Sherman approached the Prophet Joseph Smith and said, “I have been wrought upon to make known to you my feelings and desires, and was promised that I should have a revelation which should make known my duty.” The Lord’s promise was fulfilled to Sherman, for Joseph Smith received a revelation for him that very hour. The revelation informed Sherman that he would receive an ordination in conjunction with the “first of mine elders,” a term which referred to a chosen few who were to receive an “endowment.” The Kirtland endowment was to consist of a rich outpouring of God’s spirit upon the faithful elders. Preparation for the “endowment” occupied much of the Church leaders’ time during the early months of 1836. Brethren who had been selected to participate in this important event met regularly in the Kirtland Temple during January and February 1836. This preparation, intended to sanctify the brethren, involved the following: 1. Confessing the sins and asking forgiveness, 2. Covenanting to be faithful to God, 3. Having one’s body washed and bathed with cinnamon-perfumed whiskey, 4. Washing one’s own body with pure water and perfume, 5. Having one’s head anointed with holy oil, 6. Having the anointing blessing sealed with uplifted hands (the sealing blessing consisting of three parts: solemn player, a sealing prayer, and the hosanna shout), and 7. Washing of faces and feet and partaking of the Lord’s Supper. (Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith). ]