THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 11
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to his brother Hyrum Smith, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 1829. HC 1: 39—46. This revelation was received through the Urim and Thummim in answer to Joseph’s supplication and inquiry. “History of the Church” suggests that this revelation was received after the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.
1—6, Laborers in the vineyard will gain salvation; 7—14, Seek wisdom, cry repentance, trust in the Spirit; 15—22, Keep the commandments and study the Lord’s word; 23—27, Deny not the spirit of revelation and of prophecy; 28—30, Those who receive Christ become the sons of God.
[ Addressed to Joseph’s older brother; Hyrum Smith. At the time Hyrum had married in 1826 about 3 years earlier and had moved out of the family home, but still lived nearby. From the history of the church it is evident ath Hyrum knew about the plates and Joseph’s involvement with them, how well we do not know exactly. Joseph moved from Manchester, NY to Harmony, PA nearby to Emma’s parents where he performed the bulk of the translation with Oliver Cowdery, out of presence of Joseph’s family. So when Samuel and Hyrum visit Joseph, they become convinced of the sincerity of Joseph’s endeavors. These two are early converts among Joseph’s family. Joseph Smith Senior, their father, was not baptized until April 1830, about a year later. ]
1 A
GREAT and
marvelous work [ This phrase "marvelous work" included the following definitions of what it means: 1) Events that God will use to sift the world( 1 Ne. 14:7); 2) Bare forth the arm of the Lord (1 Ne.22:8); 3)Two latter day Messiahs - One real and one fake( 2 Ne. 25:17-18); 4)The marvelous work will cause the wisdom of the world to perish (2 Ne. 27:26); 5)All of the records of Israel will testify of these things (2 Ne. 29:1,3,7,13,14); 6) Will bear record that Gos is the same yesterday, today, and forever(3 Ne.21:9); 7)The three Nephites and John The Beloved have a role to play in the marvelous work of the last days (3 Ne. 28:31,29,33) ] is about to come forth among the children of men.
2 Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful,
sharper than a two-edged sword,
[one that cuts both ways - symbolic that both the bearer and the one to whom it is used against are both judged the same - according to the Lord's word.] to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word.
[ This sword is so sharp that it can destroy both physical and spiritual life - similar to the word of the Lord. While these verses 1-5 are very similar to Section 4 they do vary in that these verse are a little more negative and present the harvest as a division of those who are willing to work and are called of God and those who do / will not. ]
3 Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.
4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.
5 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.
6 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.
7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold,
the mysteries of God [ The mysteries of God are the things that God knows and not everyone else does. ] shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.
9 Say nothing but repentance unto this generation. Keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed.
10 Behold,
thou hast a gift, or thou shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith,
[ Like Oliver Cowdery (see D&C 8:6–9) Hyrum Smith was promised a gift from the Lord. President Joseph Fielding Smith explained what the gift was: “The Lord declared that Hyrum Smith had a gift. The great gift which he possessed was that of a tender, sympathetic heart; a merciful spirit. The Lord on a later occasion said: ‘Blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.’ (D. & C., 124:15.) This great gift was manifest in his jealous watch care over the Prophet lest some harm come to him.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:57.) Hyrum’s gift was not promised unconditionally. It would come only after he exercised faith in Jesus Christ. (See D&C 11:10.) ] with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto thee;
11 For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee.
12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee,
put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea,
[ The formula for spiritual growth is first to listen to the spirit which leads you to do good things. ] to do justly,
[1) to be honest and fair with your fellowman. To see that no one is taken advantage of. ] to walk humbly,
[2) avoid pride. ] to judge righteously;
[3) follow your enlighten mind, what you are taught by the spirit pertaining to righteousness, and do those things which you feel will make you a more righteous person. ] and this is my Spirit.
[ And that my friend is how the spirit will operate in your life, this is how your gift will unfold vs 10. ]
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you,
I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind,
[ President Lorenzo Snow taught of the powerful influence that following the Spirit can have on one’s life: “There is a way by which persons can keep their consciences clear before God and man, and that is to preserve within them the spirit of God, which is the spirit of revelation to every man and woman. It will reveal to them, even in the simplest of matters, what they shall do, by making suggestions to them. We should try to learn the nature of this spirit, that we may understand its suggestions, and then we will always be able to do right. This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint. We know that it is our right to have the manifestations of the spirit every day of our lives. . . . From the time we receive the Gospel, go down into the waters of baptism and have hands laid upon us afterwards for the gift of the Holy Ghost, we have a friend, if we do not drive it from us by doing wrong. That friend is the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, which partakes of the things of God and shows them unto us. This is a grand means that the Lord has provided for us, that we may know the light, and not be groveling continually in the dark.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1899, p. 52.)] which shall fill your soul with joy;
14 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.
15 Behold,
I command you that you need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called.
[Byrum is told for the time being that his responsibility is to learn the gospel - to study it and not to preach yet.]
16 Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine.
17 And then, behold, according to your desires, yea, even according to your faith shall it be done unto you.
18 Keep my commandments; hold your peace; appeal unto my Spirit;
19 Yea, cleave unto me with all your heart,
that you may assist in bringing to light those things of which has been spoken [ So Hyrums responsibility will be when the time comes to show people the truth. ] —yea, the translation of my work; be patient until you shall accomplish
it.
[ Specifically reference to him assisting in bringing the translated work and the gospel to the light - preaching these things to the world. ]
20 Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength.
21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.
22 But now hold your peace;
study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men,
[ The bible. ] and
also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men,
[ The Book Of Mormon. ] or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto.
23 Behold thou art Hyrum, my son;
seek the kingdom of God,
[ See verse 7 as well. ] and all things shall be added according to that which is just.
24
Build upon my rock, which is my gospel;
[ On several occasions the Lord used the word rock to refer to the gospel (see Matthew 7:24–25; 3 Nephi 11:32–39; D&C 18:4–5, 17; 12:12–13). 25The word rock also refers to a principle of the gospel as explained by the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Jesus in His teachings says, ‘Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ What rock? Revelation.” (History of the Church, 5:258.) Another use of the word rock in the scriptures applies directly to the Lord Himself (see D&C 50:43–44; Deuteronomy 32:2–4). ]
25
Deny not the spirit of revelation,
[ President Joseph Fielding Smith explained that this counsel to Hyrum Smith would serve as “good counsel for all of us today. There are some members of the Church who seemingly complain because the Lord is not giving revelations to be placed in the Doctrine and Covenants, as in the beginning, and they ask why revelation has ceased in the Church. Usually it is the case that these critics are not faithfully keeping the commandments the Lord has already given and their eyes are blind to the fact that revelation and the guidance of the Lord is being meted out to the Church constantly. No one with the spirit of discernment can fail to see that the hand of the Lord has guided this people from the beginning and this guidance is manifest today as in other times to all who are Revelation to Joseph Knight Sr. Historical Background “For fifteen years he has been faithful and true, and even-handed and exemplary, and virtuous and kind, never deviating to the right hand or to the left. Behold he is a righteous man . . . and it shall be said of him, by the sons of Zion, while there is one of them remaining, that this man was a faithful man in Israel; therefore his name shall never be forgotten.” (History of the Church, 5:124–25.) This tribute was written by Joseph Smith of his true and trusted friend, Joseph Knight Sr., on 22 August 1842. Joseph Knight Sr. had early in the history of the Church become a close and helpful friend of the Prophet. Joseph Smith first met him in 1826 when Joseph Knight hired him to work at his farm and grist mill in Colesville, Broome County, New York. From that time forth Joseph Knight offered both material and spiritual support to Joseph Smith, including provisions that allowed the Prophet and his scribe to work on the translation of the Book of Mormon at a very crucial time of its production. Joseph Smith wrote: “About the same time an old gentleman came to visit us of whose name I wish to make honorable humble and have a contrite spirit. (See Jacob 4:8.)” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:57.) President Hugh B. Brown also taught the central importance of revelation in the Church: “The things of God can only be understood by the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God is a revealing spirit. The Master promised before he left the earth to send another Comforter which would lead men into all truth. [See John 15:26; 16:7.] Divine revelation had always been a characteristic of the living Church—it is absolutely essential to its continued existence in an organized state on the earth.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1961, pp. 93–94.) Enrichment C in the Appendix contains a further discussion of personal revelation. ] nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things;
26 Therefore,
treasure up in your heart until the time which is in my wisdom that you shall go forth.
[ See Doctrine and Covenants 84:85 for insight into the significance of this command and the blessings that result from obedience to it. ]
27 Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.
28 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the son of God. I am the life and the light of the world.
29 I am the same who came unto mine own and mine own received me not;
30 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, [ What are the implications of such a blessing? See Doctrine and Covenants 76:51–60; 84:33–38; 132:22–24; Moses 6:57–68; 1 John 3:1–10. This is the definition then of the Sons of God. ] even to them that believe on my name. Amen.
[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 11 Joseph and Oliver had received the Aaronic Priesthood from John Baptist on May 15, 1829 and baptized one another. Joseph’s brother Samuel visited later that month and was baptized on May 25th. Then, at some point before the end of May, Hyrum came and visited as well, apparently prompted by Samuel’s visit, and Joseph obtained this revelation for him. Hyrum was not baptized during the initial visit as was Samuel. He was baptized the following month by Joseph, June 1829, after Joseph and Oliver had moved into the Whitmer home in Fayette, NY, in Seneca County, in the Finger Lakes region. Excerpt from History of the Church After a few days [of translation without interruption], however, feeling it to be our duty, we commenced to reason out of the Scriptures with our acquaintances and friends, as we happened to meet with them. About this time my brother Samuel H. Smith came [from Manchester, NY] to visit us [at Harmony, PA]. We informed him of what the Lord was about to do for the children of men, and began to reason with him out of the Bible. We also showed him that part of the work which we had translated, and labored to persuade him concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was now about to be revealed in its fulness. He was not, however, very easily persuaded of these things, but after much inquiry and explanation he retired to the woods, in order that by secret and fervent prayer he might obtain of a merciful God, wisdom to enable him to judge for himself. The result was that he obtained revelation for himself sufficient to convince him of the truth of our assertions to him; and on the twenty-fifth day of that same month [of May, 1829] in which we had been baptized and ordained, Oliver Cowdery baptized him; and he returned to his father's house, greatly glorifying and praising God, being filled with the Holy Spirit. Not many days afterwards, my brother Hyrum Smith came to us to inquire concerning these things, when at his earnest request, I inquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim, and received for him the following: [text of D&C 11 follows] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Volume 1, pages 44-45) ]