THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 39
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to James Covill, at Fayette, New York, January 5, 1831. HC 1: 143—145. James Covill, who had been a Baptist minister for about forty years, covenanted with the Lord that he would obey any command that the Lord would give to him through Joseph the Prophet.
[ This revelation is directed to James Covill who was an elderly Baptist minister at the time the revelation was received. Whether Covill was ever baptized per the command in v. 10 is up for debate. It is known that Covill’s interest waned quickly as is indicated by D&C 40. ]
1 HEARKEN and listen to the voice of him [ Compare v. 1-4 with D&C 34:1-4, D&C 35:1-2. ] who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I AM, even Jesus Christ—
2 The light and the life of the world; a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;
3 The same which came in the meridian of time [ In astronomy, the meridian is a north-south line passing exactly overhead that divides the sky in half. Meridian literally means “midday.” The sun culminates (reaches its high point) as it passes over the meridian. Time before that “passover” is called ante meridiem (A.M., or “before midday”), and afterward it is post meridiem (P.M., or “after midday”). (See Figure 1.) The scriptural meaning of “the meridian of time” has been interpreted by Church leaders to be essentially the same as the astronomical meaning: that is, the coming of Christ marked the high noon, so to speak, of the earth’s temporal existence. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “The meridian of time is the middle or high point of that portion of eternity which is considered to be mortal time. Since Christ lived, ministered, and worked out the atonement in time’s meridian, such era was truly the high point of history.” ] unto mine own, and mine own received me not;
4 But to as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons; and even so will I give unto as many as will receive me, power to become my sons.
5 And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me.
6 And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by
water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the
Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.
[ "When a man has the gift of the Holy Ghost, he has
that which is necessary to reveal to him every principle and ordinance
of salvation that pertains unto man here on the earth. " Born Of The
Spirit Harold B. Lee - Stand Ye in Holy Places: Selected Sermons and Writings
of President Harold B. Lee. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975), p.
p.47-65 ]
7 And now, behold, I say unto you, my servant James, [ Addressing specifically James Covill. Verses 7-9 address his past, v10 the present, and vs 11-14 the future. ] I have looked upon thy works and I know thee.
8 And verily I say unto thee, thine heart is now right before me at this time; and, behold, I have bestowed great blessings upon thy head;
9 Nevertheless, thou hast seen great sorrow, [ In this case pain and sorrow are accompanied by rejecting and not doing the will of the Lord. Have you ever felt the prompting of the spirit; and then dismissed that prompting - only to feel sorrow later as to what you might have done; or should have done? ] for thou hast rejected me many times because of pride and the cares of the world. [ James like many of us is not square with the Lord as he is often foresaken the Lord and the Lords work for the things or the world. He will repeat this again in verse 40. ]
10 But, behold, the days of thy deliverance are come, if thou wilt hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] to my voice, which saith unto thee: Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on my name, and you shall receive my Spirit, and a blessing so great as you never have known.
11 And if thou do this, I have prepared thee for a greater
work. [ Joseph’s work was to restore the gospel and priesthood authority in order to gather the house of Israel, which began with Abraham.
] Thou shalt preach the fulness of
my gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days, the bcovenant [ A contract or agreement between two parties, God and his people in which
God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return.
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word _berith_ is always thus translated. _Berith_
is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant
is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals
into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in
making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19) So in other words just as those
who are covenanted to the other shepard so to are we covenanted or belong to
a new master. ] which I have sent forth to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel.
[ Since Israel was scattered; therefore the gospel had to be sent to all nations in order to gather her back. D&C 14:10, D&C 38:33. ]
12 And it shall come to pass that power shall rest upon thee; thou shalt have great faith, and I will be with thee and go before thy face.
13 Thou art called to labor in my vineyard, and to build up my church, and to bring forth Zion, that it may rejoice upon the hills and flourish.
14 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou art not called to go into the eastern countries, but thou art called to go to the Ohio.
15 And inasmuch as my people [ Context for this scripture has now switched from James Covill to the church as a group now. ] shall assemble themselves at the Ohio, I have kept in store a blessing such as is not known among the children of men, and it shall be poured forth upon their heads. And from thence men shall go forth into all nations.
16 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the people in Ohio call upon me in much faith, thinking I will stay my hand in judgment upon the nations, but I cannot deny my word. [ The prayers of the righteous can only be extended so far. As was the case with Abraham trying to save sodom and Gomorrah. ]
17 Wherefore lay to with your might and call faithful laborers into my vineyard, that it may be pruned for the last time.
18 And inasmuch as they do repent and receive the fulness of my gospel, and become sanctified, I will stay mine hand in judgment.
19 Wherefore, go forth, crying with a loud voice, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand; crying: Hosanna! blessed be the name of the Most High God.
20 Go forth baptizing with water, preparing the way before my face for the time of my coming; [ The spirit of Elijah see D&C 2. ]
22 And he that receiveth these things receiveth me; and they shall be gathered unto me in time and in eternity.
23 And again, it shall come to pass that on as many as ye shall baptize with water, ye shall lay your hands, and they shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and shall be looking forth for the signs of my coming, and shall know me.
24 Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen.
[Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 39 Very little is known of this James Covill (properly spelled “Covell”). Aside from Joseph’s brief comments, we have no other information except the barest genealogical record of his birth (March 1, 1756), death (December 1, 1844), and parent’s names (James Covell and Sarah Grover). Excerpt from History of the Church Not long after this conference of the 2nd of January closed, there was a man came to me by the name of James Covill, who had been a Baptist minister for about forty years, and covenanted with the Lord that he would obey any command that the Lord would give to him through me, as His servant, and I received the following: [text of D&C 39 quoted] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 143) ]