1 LISTEN to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Lord, your God, and your Redeemer, [ Authority statement like D&C 1:1-3; 6:2. ] whose word is quick and powerful.

2 For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, [ This was not something that Joseph Smith had been praying about, as were most of the revelations that were received in the Doctrine and Covenants. Not here, he was just going out to get some wine for the sacrament that they would have later on. They are going to have a confirmation meeting to confirm some members that were baptized, the ones that couldn't be confirmed at the water side. Emma Smith is one of them. So Joseph goes to get some wine. Remembering the Savior (the spiritual aspects) during the partaking of the sacrament is more important than the physical elements used to administer the sacrament. ] if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—< [ But we need to make sure that we read this part as well. So it does not matter what you use so long as your intentions are in line with what Gods intentions are. Or the Lord said, some things don't really matter as long as you take care of other things. ] remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, [ Eat -> bread -> body -> resurrection -> physical salvation. Note that it is in remembrance to the Father the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. Or partake of the sacrament with the same intent that I suffered the atonement. The intent to do the will of the father. This sacrifice all started in the council in heaven when the Savior said that he was willing to do the will of the Father. This is not about the Savior here, it is not selfish, it's not about remembering me for my sake, it is more than that. What it is, is about remembering what the Savior did unto the father. This goes back to D&C 19, when the Lord is explaining what he went through in Gethsemane. There he says glory be to the father. I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. To the father be all the glory. It is the same thing he said in the council in heaven, and he has done nothing different since. It is ALL ABOUT THE FATHER. We need to take the time to ask ourselves are we focusing our thoughts as the Savior instructed us to? ] and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins. [ Drink -> wine -> blood -> sin remission -> spiritual salvation. The Torn bread represents the love that the Father had for us in that he allowed his only begotten Son to be torn apart on the cross, because he loves us so much. IN summary then - the sacrament is what matters, what is used to administer it is not as important. ]

3 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, that you shall not purchase wine neither strong drink of your enemies;

4 Wherefore, you shall partake of none except it is made new among you; [ Make your own grape juice for use - don't purchase it. There are many enemies to the church - So this advice keeps both the sacrament and well as the saints pure and safe. The standard interpretation on this verse is the Lord is implicitly warning Smith against being poisoned by his enemies, cp. Alma 55:30-31. However, an alternate reading would be v. 3 placing constraints on the statement of v. 2. Verse 2 says “the physical aspect doesn’t matter”, but v. 3 then places a constraint on this statement by saying “while it doesn’t matter, that doesn’t mean you can be careless about it”. In v. 2 the Lord is emphasizing the spiritual over the physical, then v. 3 informs us that even though this is the case that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use wisdom in dealing with the physical aspects. ] yea, in this my Father’s kingdom which shall be built up on the earth.

5 Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, [ From verse 5 through 12 this is all reverse genealogy, the only place in the scriptures that a genealogy is done in a reverse order, and there is a reason for it. This is in a way the great role call. It all begins with Moroni who introduced the last dispensation just as Gabriel did in the meridian of time, and then moves back in reverse chronological order back not to Adam but to Peter James and John who introduced Adam to the gospel. The last person to have charge of delivering the gospel after Moroni was Elias. Moroni led the way with the Book Of Mormon and then Elias follows up with the full package. Anyone who acts in the capacity of bringing the gospel back works in and inder the spirit of Elias. Why Elias and not Elijah? Because Elijah was one man with a specific assignment and message - he was acting as an Elias. Elias, like Caesar, is both a name and an office. Elias may have been a prophet who lived in Abraham’s day. In addition to a name, Elias is a title meaning forerunner or restorer. ] for the hour cometh [ There will be a time in the future - it is not now. The Lord is going to teach Joseph Smith a little more about this great sacrament meeting held in the future at Adam-Onmi-Ahman. He will further instruct Joseph about all of those who will be in attendance with their specific keys. ] that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, [ The Lord sermonizes on the next time he will partake of the sacrament on the earth. Which will be 1) After all of the keys from all of the dispensations have been committed back to him see vs 5-13( this we know will take place in Adam-Onmi-Ahman). Aside from the obvious sacramental theme, additional symbolism can be derived from cross reference with Deut. 32:14 as a historical reference and Isa. 65:21 as an eschatological reference. In the latter eschatological reference from Isaiah, Israel is blessed in the promised land with peace, security, and bounty. ] and with Moroni, [ This reverse line of authority begins with Moroni who lived in 400 A.D. He is the holder of the keys to the record of the stick of Ephraim. ] whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim; [ The BofM is then the stick of Ephraim. How is this so since we read in Alma 10:3 that Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh? Lehi was from Manasseh so where did this blood of Ephraim come from? [ The son's of Lehi as you recall married Ishmael's daughters. According to Erastus R Snow JD Vol 23 Pg 184-185 He suggested that Joseph Smith had said "Lehi and Ishmaels families were quite close as three prior weddings had happened between the two families. The Prophet Joseph informed us that the record of Lehi was contained on the 116 pages that were first translated and subsequently stolen, and of which an abridgment is given us in the first Book of Nephi, which is the record of Nephi individually, he himself being of the lineage of Manasseh; but that Ishmael was of the lineage of Ephraim, and that his sons married into Lehi's family, and Lehi's sons married Ishmael's daughters, thus fulfilling the words of Jacob upon Ephraim and Manasseh in the 48th chapter of Genesis, which says: "And let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the land. (Journal of Discourses 2 :184)" ] ;

6 And also with Elias, [ It is unclear precisely who this person is, but verse 7 suggests that it is Gabriel. Some are obviously called in the "spirit of Elijah/Elias" as was John Baptist, but there appears to be some specific person named Elias probably from the Abrahamic dispensation (although not necessarily, he may hold the keys to the Patriarchal Priesthood, which is also called the Abrahamic Priesthood) that we just don't know much about, cf. D&C 110:12. See the LDS edition Bible Dictionary entry for "Elias" for additional discussion on this confusing person/calling. In Luke 1:19 we read that it was Gabriel that visited Zacharias in the temple, and yet here we are taught that it is Elias. There he was told that he would have a son "and he would be filled with the spirit of Elias". Who knew before Joseph Smith that it was Elias. in June 1831 "The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Joseph in an unusual manner. And prophecied [sic] that John the Revelator was then among the ten tribes of Israel who had been lead away by Salmanaser [sic] King of israel [sic], to prepare them for their return, from their long dispersion, to again possess the land of their father's. He prophecied [sic] many more things". ] to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things [ So there are some things that have been restored, but ALL THINGS have not been restored yet. For example how does a whole city like in the days of Enoch get taken up to God - the Law of Translation? The ten tribes need to be restored... ] spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;

7 And also John the son of Zacharias, [ Or John The Baptist. ] which Zacharias he (Elias) [ New Testament says Gabriel. Luke 1:19. This Elias is acting as the preparer for John The Baptist. ] visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias;

8 Which John [ John The Baptist. Who is a preparer and a restorer(acting as an Elias with the restoration of the Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery - Section 13) ] I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron; [ It was John the Baptist of whom the Lord said(Matt 11:9-14) "A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." Because of him it is written "I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." It was this Elias (John The Baptist) which was sent to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to retore the priesthood or Aaron. He was the Elias who turned the hearts of the fathers to the children(Luke 1:72-77) when he showed "the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;" It was John the Baptist acting as the Elias who turned the hearts of the fathers to the children. His work of baptizing is the liberation of the fathers, who are dead-- it can only be baptism for the dead that he instituted; John the Baptist is ties with a special closeness to the temple, though his habitat was the wilderness, where he wandered like Enoch. In his day many wondered if he was really Enoch for he was a wild man(a strange thing in the land) and people came out to him as they did with Enoch. (Hugh Nibley Notes on D&C) ]

9 And also Elijah, [ Elijah was another counter part to Elias. This shifting of names while confusing either attests to the understanding that was had by Joseph Smith which was far beyond his scope as a young man, or the fact that it was indeed revelation from God, a rather strong testament to the restoration. We learn more of Elias in D&C 110:12 Lived 8-900 B.C. Elijah will restore his keys tp Joseph Smith on 1836. Elijah will once again bring those keys to earth at the great sacrament meeting held at Adam-Onmi-Ahman. ] unto whom I have committed the keys of the power [ Elijah has the responsibility and power to bring all generations together. ] of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse; [ What would the curse be then if the hearts of the children are not turned to their fathers and vice versa? That they children of Abraham; might receive the blessings promised to Abraham. If they did not receive those blessings than the earth would not have completed its mission as such would be cursed - or it would have not done what it was created to do. See Mal 3:1. ]

10 And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, [ Guess who else will be in attendance at Adam-Onmi-Ahman? Joseph, Jacob, Issac and Abraham. So Elijah has the power to bring the generations together and the patriarchs of old provide the covenants to bind the generations together through the ordinances. These are in reverse order. Everywhere in scripture it is Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But notice here that it is in reverse order it is written as "Jacob, Isaac and Abraham". Why is this of any importance? Because it is identifing the Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.(Verse 12) But here from verse 5 on we have been going in a reverse line of authority. Pushing the reverse line of authority back to about 1700 B.C. ] your fathers, by whom the promises remain;

11 And also with Michael, or Adam, [ Adam lived in the creation essentially zero or about 4,000 B.C., Michael is really Adam. Joseph Smith taught: “The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed, as in Genesis 1:26, 27, 28. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel,(Arch means chief) spoken of in the Scriptures. Then to Noah, who is Gabriel: he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven. The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam’s authority.”(TPJS 157) While Adam held the priesthood when he left the garden he did not have the gospel. It was the three chosen ones who taught him the gospel some three generations or so after he was driven from the garden. This shows the responsibility of the three chosen ones - to bring the things or heaven to the earth. ] the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days; [ But Adam is not the last as it did not all begin with him. Adam holds the keys to the salvation of the entire himan family, I believe that he also holds the keys to the great pit. Adam will be the one who gets to lock the gates on Satan at the beginning of the millennial reign of the Messiah. ]

12 And also with Peter, and James, and John, [ Peter, James, and John are last in this line of authority because they constitute the Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Again, Christ does not have Priesthood; He has inherent Authority, and when that is delegated, it is called Priesthood. Peter, James, and John are the Presidency of that Priesthood. These verses explain in reverse order the authority given to administer in the various capacities of the Priesthood and its keys. The Presidency for the power and authority of Christ for this earth is Peter, James, and John. Peter, James, and John form the Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood after the holy order of the son of God in all generations. Their true character is revealed to those upon whom they bestow the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood. They appeared to Adam and they also appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to confirm the priesthood upon them. The officiating Presidency for the power and authority of Christ for this earth is Peter, James, and John as we discover here in verse 5-12, beginning with Moroni and moving backwards until Peter, James, and John. Adam received the Priesthood and his keys and authority from Peter, James, and John, the presidency from the foundation of the world. In other words, Peter, James, and John had that responsibility before Adam's creation. Christ does not have priesthood he inherently has the power of the priesthood in his Godliness. So in a way we can say the the keys belong to Peter, James and John. This is the reason for the reverse line of authority as they are the ones who have to give it back to Adam. They are the ones who have been charged with the administration of the Gospel through-out the world. ] whom I have sent unto you, [ Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. ] by whom [ Or you received the Priesthood under that hands of Peter James and John. ] I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, [ This completes the cycle for the gospel on the earth. It was the three chosen ones(Peter, James and John) who brought the gospel to Adam, and it is again these three chosen ones who are now giving the gospel and the priesthood to Joseph Smith. It begins and ends with the three chosen one (Peter, James and John). ] and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys [ The keys where given by those who held them - specifically as we see here Peter James and John. ] of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them; [ Or the gospel is the same through out all time, it is consistent. It was the same gospel given to Adam as was given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery here. ]

13 Unto whom [ Peter, and James, and John. Vs 12. When did they receive these keys from the Savior? "The Savior, Moses and Elijah, gave the keys to Peter, James, and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured." HC 3:387. D&C 63:20-21. ] I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, [ Then our reverse line of authority concludes with the presidency of the authority of Christ in all ages, and perhaps even before this world. “And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you.” (D&C 27:12). ] both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;

14 And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world. [ Who are they? How many spirits come to earth have never really lived in the world? Those who needed no rigorous probation, those who did not need to participate in the activities, the temptations, sins and triumphs of this world. ]

[ Verse 5-18 paraphrasing Eph. 6:11-17 while omitting some material and adding some new material. The imagery is declares that the saints are in a struggle against the adversary for their spiritual lives, cf. Eph. 6:12. This passage has to be interpreted figuratively and spiritually, as the Lord surely doesn't intend us to gird on literal armor, emphasizes the spiritual aspects of the sacrament. He expects us to literally administer and eat the sacrament, but the spiritual symbolic meaning is what He wants to think about when we do it. Taking the sacrament and recognizing its symbolic meaning is one of the ways we put on this spiritual armor of God. ]

15 Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, [ See the next verse for further definition on what he means by this "Having your loins girt with truth". ] and take upon you my whole armor, [ Why do they need to put on armor? Because there is war ahead. ] that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, [ The time that is coming when satan will have unleashed his myriad of lies upon the world and the world has accepted them as truth. ] having done all, [ Here we are told that the burden of survival is upon us, we have to do something. God is not just going to bless us through some kind of rapture where we are just taken up, no we need to prepare ourselves in every way that we can. The promise is that if we will do all that we can then the Lord will take care of us. ] that ye may be able to stand. [ Stand; which is an action as opposed to laying there not able to move. Having reference to standing in holy places and not be moved by the destruction visited upon the wicked on the Day of the Lord, cp. D&C 45:32, D&C 87:8, D&C 101:22. It may also have reference to being at the Judgement Bar if using a figurative spiritual interpretation, cf. 3 Ne. 27:20, D&C 128:24. ]

16 Stand, therefore, having your loins [ What do our loins represent? Well in a nutshell they are our productive organs - either male or female. They are how we can multiply and replenish the earth. They are the path through which we have a posterity. ] girt about with truth, [ "To gird; to surround " Or have your loins surrounded with truth. What does that suggest? If we look back over time we can see a subtile changes in Satans tactics starting clear back in the late fifties and early sixties. Satan realized that he was not going to be able to stop the church by just killing of the members like he had tried to do since the church was created with the mobs of angry citizens. So his new tactic was to attack where he felt that we might be most venerable. And that was in essence the loins of the members of the church. His tactic included free love(having sex, procreating is just an expression of love and you should do it as often as you feel and with as many as you like, spread the wealth, enjoy it there is no harm in doing so only love. there is no sin in sex outside of marriage), destruction of the family(getting mother's to work, spend more time out of the home, defining a family as really any combination of people that are living together - the very definition of what a family is has eroded), Satan has attacked the very nature of what it means to be a male or a female(to the point that people testifying before congress even today say that they cannot define what is a male or a female). So back then to the question What does it mean to have your loins girt with truth? The gospel gives us very definite answers to these questions (we have the truth girded about our loins in direct opposition to the untruths brought on by the world through Satans lies). The gospel teaches the truth that there are male and female genders that God created - each with a specific purpose, they are to join together in marriage according to God's laws and bring forth a family, to grow and build up each other in that family relationship. The Gospel teaches that sexual relations are to be had only within the sacred bounds of marriage, and anything other than that will bring about pain to both those who experiment in it as well as their offspring. So then is one has a knowledge of truth about these things, as the gospel teaches us then they will have their loins girt about with truth. The lies of Satan will not be what they choose as their guiding light. Now we need to look at this in comparison to what the scriptures say that Satan will do in the last days - he will flood the earth with is lies in order to overcome the church. (Rev 12:15) ] having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;

17  Taking the shield of faith [ Faith is the shield, the defense - it can quench all the fiery darts if the adversary. ] wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;

18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.

 

[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 27 The first excerpt below from Smith’s writings is plain as to when the first section of revelation was received but ambiguous as to when the second part of the revelation was received. The second excerpt below contains a quotation from Knight that plainly indicates the two revelations comprising this section of the D&C were received at different times and later conjoined. Excerpt from History of the Church Early in the month of August Newel Knight and his wife paid us a visit at my place in Harmony, Pennsylvania; and as neither his wife nor mine had been as yet confirmed, it was proposed that we should confirm them, and partake together of the Sacrament, before he and his wife should leave us. In order to prepare for this I set out to procure some wine for the occasion, but had gone only a short distance when I was met by a heavenly messenger, and received the following revelation, the first four paragraphs of which were written at this time, and the remainder in the September following: [text of D&C 27 quoted] In obedience to the above commandment, we prepared some wine of our own making, and held our meeting, consisting only of five, viz., Newel Knight and his wife, myself and my wife, and John Whitmer. We partook together of the Sacrament, after which we confirmed these two sisters into the Church, and spent the evening in a glorious manner. The Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon us, we praised the Lord God, and rejoiced exceedingly. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 1, pages 106-108) Excerpt from The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith During the first week of August 1830, Newel Knight and his wife went to Harmony to visit Joseph and Emma Smith. Because neither Emma nor Sally Knight had been confirmed members of the Church, the two couples decided to attend to that ordinance and partake of the sacrament. Remembering this occasion, Newel Knight recorded, Brother Joseph set out to procure some wine for the occasion, but he had gone only a short distance, when he was met by a heavenly messenger, and received the first four verses of the revelation.... In obedience to this revelation we prepared some wine of our own make, and held our meeting, consisting of only five persons namely, Joseph Smith and wife, John Whitmer, and myself and wife. We partook of the sacrament, after which we 27.4 confirmed the two sisters into the Church, and spent the evening in a glorious manner. The Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon us. We praised the God of Israel and rejoiced exceedingly. [Newel Knight Journal, Church Archives] Newel Knight further stated that section 27 was originally two separate revelations: the first four verses were received in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and the remaining verses were received in Fayette, New York. (Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 39) 27.5 Comparison of Original 1833 Text with Emended 1835 Version We know from both Joseph Smith and Newell Knight that v. 1-5 of the 1833 version (which is v. 1-4 of the 1835 and subsequent versions) was received separate from the subsequent text, and are therefore two revelations placed together because of related themes. No change occurs in the text of the first revelation between the 1833 and 1835 revelations. Substantial changes in content occur in the second portion of text which is a second revelation. The changes consist of significant expansions in the 1835 version of themes only briefly introduced in the 1833 version. It is probable the 1833 version is a summarized version of the original second revelation and the 1835 version is the full content of the original. Unfortunately, we know very little about the origin of the second revelation, so we are left to speculate. The verse numbering in the 1835 D&C below is that of the contemporary 1981 LDS edition for ease of use. The textual emendations occurred in the 1835 Kirtland edition of the 1st Edition Doctrine & Covenants. ]