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THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 4
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to his father, Joseph Smith, Sen., at Harmony, Pennsylvania, February 1829. HC 1: 28.

1—4, Valiant service saves the Lord’s ministers; 5—6, Godly attributes qualify them for the ministry; 7, Things of God must be sought after.

[Outline of the requirements set forth for those who will be involved in the missionary work as detailed in D&C 5:6]

1 NOW behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth [ See Isaiah 29:14; 1 Ne. 14:7 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) ] among the children of men.
2 Therefore, O ye that embark [ To engage a person in a cause or affair. ] in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; [ Ye are called to the work - which may or may not be the "Calling" that you wanted, For example Hyrum wanted to preach but was extended another calling by the hand of the Lord. see D&C 11:15 ]
4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; [ See D&C 33:3 ] and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, [ Simply going through the motions; just moving it back and forth cuts very little grain. You have to put some effert in it to really cut straw - to get the harvest done. IT IS WORK - that's why they call it missionary work! see D&C 33:7 ] the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; [ We bring about our own salvation thru labor in the Lord's grain field. Part of the work here on earth for our Father in Heaven needs to be accomplished by his people; he needs us. It is as we help him fulfill his mission for us that we also bring salvation unto ourselves. See also D&C 11:4 ]
5 And faith, [ Why is faith important? If we do not have faith in the power of God then we put limits on what he can or cannot do in our behalf. Faith is the stubborn resolve to see God blessing us in all circumstances. Even in our struggles and disappointments, faith requires us to believe God is ministering to us. ] hope, [] charity [ What role does charity play in the process? Do you think the Lord is going to do something for you that you can do for yourself? Is he going to help someone out that you can help? So how does charity play out in the Lord's work. We have to work as if it all depends on us - right! It is through the combination of effort that the real miracles happen.Compare with D&C 18:19 ] and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, [ What do we mean with an eye single to the glory of God? We must think and act in the manner that he would; we must not think or act to or for individual gain. ] qualify him for the work.
6 Remember faith, [ In God. ] virtue, [ Virtue means ~ conformity to a standard of right. Being virtuous so that your confidence can wax strong in the presence of God. ] knowledge, [ Acquiring the knowledge of the mysteries of God. If you are going to teach you need to be educated in the doctrine to know what to teach. ] temperance, [ Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions, calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion; So you need to have your passions in line with what God would want you to do and not the appetites of natural man. ] patience, [ Patience in God's timing which is not always our timing. ] brotherly kindness, [ “Mutual affection” or simply “genuine concern for others”. ] godliness, [ Careful observance of the laws of God and performance of religious duties, including revelation. ] charity, [ Love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow man, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. True power from God is safeguarded by one attribute alone and that is charity. This is one of the foremost attribues of Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. So when we talk about charity what God is saying is in order to wield my power I need to know that you have an eye single to the glory of God - the immortality and eternal life of man. ] humility, [ Freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth. My definition - submission in all things to the will of God. ] diligence. [ So even if one is willing to work hard they must also have the charastics of a true saint - their heart needs to be soft, they need to have true love and compassion. ]

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen. [ See also Matt 7:7; 12-17; James 1:5. Also as a note brought forward from verse 1 - if you go back to the chapers in Isiah 28-29 were the people do not want to ask and they do not want any additional revelation, but if they do they shall be able to see the marvelous work as it comes forth; while others may miss it because they choose not to ask to see. ]

 

[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 4 The first excerpt is a historical overview. The second is Smith’s own brief introduction to the revelation. The third is Lucy Mack Smith’s, Joseph’s mother, recollection of the trip to visit Joseph and Emma wherein the text of D&C 4 was received but curiously enough she does not mention it at all. Joseph Fielding Smith states of this revelation: This section [4] was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith to his father, Joseph Smith, Sen., at Harmony, Pennsylvania, February, 1829. Joseph Smith, Sr., was the first person to believe the story of the Prophet and encouraged him to continue faithful to the teachings of the angel.... In February, 1829, he came to his son, the youthful prophet, and asked to know by revelation the will of the Lord. This section of the Doctrine and Covenants is the result of that humble inquiry. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation 1947, Vol. 1, page 33) He states the revelation was at the request of Joseph Smith Sr., but I have not been able to produce any contemporaneous evidence indicating as much. I would therefore conclude this is an assumption on Joseph Fielding Smith’s part. What exactly prompted the revelation is unclear. Excerpt from Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith After Joseph Smith had received section 3 (in July 1828), the plates and Urim and Thummim were again taken from him. Desiring to obtain them again, the Prophet continued his "supplication to God, without cessation," and on 22 September 1828 he had the "joy and satisfaction" of again receiving the Urim and Thummim and the plates. Joseph Smith did not immediately proceed to translate the plates, however, but "went to laboring with [his] hands upon a small farm" that he had purchased from Isaac Hale to provide for his family. The farm, consisting of about thirteen acres, was deeded to Joseph Smith on 25 August 1830 for $200. Speaking of the Prophet's dire circumstances during the winter of 1828, Joseph Knight, Sr., wrote, Now he Could not translate But little Being poor and nobody to write for him But his wife and she Could not do much and take Care of her house and he Being poor and no means to But work. His wifes father and familey 4.3 ware all against him and would not h[e]lp him. He and his wife Came up [to Colesville] to see me the first of the winter 1828 and told me his Case. But I was not in easy Circumstances and I did not know what it mite amount to and my wife and familey all against me about helping him. But I let him have a pair of shoes and three Dollars in money to help him a little. In early 1829, Joseph and Emma received a visit from the Prophet's father, and possibly other members of the Smith family. The call provided an opportunity for the Manchester Smiths to meet the Hales (Joseph's in-laws), to learn of the progress of the Book of Mormon translation, and to give moral support to their son. During the visit, section 4 was received for Joseph Smith, Sr., the Prophet's father. (Lyndon R. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 10) Excerpt from History of the Church [After having the plates and Urim and Thummim returned to me] I did not, however, go immediately to translating, but went to laboring with my hands upon a small farm which I had purchased of my wife's father, in order to provide for my family. In the month of February, 1829, my father came to visit us, at which time I received the following revelation for him: [text of D&C 4 quoted] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 28) Excerpt from History of Joseph Smith by his Mother For nearly two months after Joseph returned to his family, in Pennsylvania, we heard nothing from him, and becoming anxious about him, Mr. Smith and myself set off to make him a visit. When we came within three-quarters of a mile of the house, Joseph started to meet us, telling his wife, as he left, that father and mother were coming. When he met us, his countenance wore so pleasant an aspect, that I was convinced he had something agreeable to communicate with regard to the work in which he was engaged. When I entered, the first thing which attracted my attention was a red morocco trunk, lying on Emma's bureau, which Joseph shortly informed me contained the Urim and Thummim, and the plates. And, in the evening, he gave us the following relation of what had transpired since our separation: "On leaving you," said Joseph, "I returned immediately home. soon after my arrival, I commenced humbling myself in mighty prayer before the Lord, and, 4.4 as I was pouring out my soul in supplication to God, that if possible I might obtain mercy at his hands and be forgiven of all that I had done contrary to his will, an angel stood before me, and answered me, saying, that I had sinned in delivering the manuscript into the hands of a wicked man, and, as I had ventured to become responsible for his faithfulness, I would of necessity have to suffer the consequences of his indiscretion, and I must now give up the Urim and Thummim into his (the angel's) hands. "This I did as I was directed, and as I handed them to him, he remarked, 'If you are very humble and penitent, it may be you will receive them again; if so, it will be on the twenty-second of next September.'" Joseph then related a revelation which he received soon after the angel visited him. A part of which is as follows: [text of D&C 3:5-15 quoted] For the sake of brevity, I have omitted part of this revelation, but the reader will find it in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 3:5-16. I will now return to Joseph's recital. "After the angel left me," said he, "I continued my supplications to God, without cessation, and on the twenty-second of September, I had the joy and satisfaction of again receiving the Urim and Thummim, with which I have again commenced translating, and Emma writes for me, but the angel said that the Lord would send me a scribe, and I trust his promise will be verified. The angel seemed pleased with me when he gave me back the Urim and Thummim, and he told me that the Lord loved me, for my faithfulness and humility." A few months after Joseph received them, he inquired of the Lord, and obtained the following revelation: [quotes text of D&C 10:1-13] While on this visit, we became acquainted with Emma's father, whose name was Isaac Hale; also his family, which consisted of his wife, Elizabeth; his sons, Jesse, David, Alva, Isaac Ward, and Reuben; and his daughters, Phebe and Elizabeth. They were an intelligent and highly respectable family. They were pleasantly situated, and lived in good style, in the town of Harmony, on the Susquehannah river, within a short distance of the place where Joseph resided. The time of our visit with them, we passed very agreeably, and returned home relieved of a burden which was almost 4.5 insupportable, and our present joy far overbalanced all our former grief. (Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith by his Mother, pages 133-137)]