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THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 40

Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Fayette, New York, January 1831. HC 1: 145. Preceding the record of this revelation, the Prophet wrote: “As James Covill rejected the word of the Lord, and returned to his former principles and people, the Lord gave unto me and Sidney Rigdon the following revelation.”

[ This section is a follow-up to D&C 39, stating that the promises made to Covill are withdrawn. While the section addresses one individual in specific, it serves to show the early church, only some 9 months old, how to deal with individual apostasy. ]

1—3, Fear of persecution and cares of the world cause rejection of the gospel.
1 BEHOLD, verily I say unto you, that the heart of my servant James Covill was right before me, [ Response to D&C 39:8] for he covenanted with me that he would obey my word.
2 And he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan tempted him; and the fear of persecution and the cares of the world caused him to reject the word. [ A persistent and common problem for James see D&C 39:9. This is a great example of how revelation can facilitate agency. Everyone possesses the power to act independently, even when they are aware what God wants them to do. James allowed Satan to place fear into the equation and James buckled from it. ]

3 Wherefore he broke my covenant, [ Hence the promises contained in D&C 39:10-14 are revoked. ] and it remaineth with me to do with him as seemeth me good. Amen.

[ Whereas James Covill had initially accepted the restored
gospel (v. 1), he rejects it in the face of opposition (v. 2-3).
The section presents typical covenant rejection speech, cp.
Matt. 13:1-23 (note that Matt. 13:14-15 quotes Isa. 6:9-10).
The text can be arranged as follows:
A - (v. 1) James Covel made a covenant with an honest heart.
B - (v. 2a) James Covel made a covenant with an honest heart.
C - (v. 2b-c) Then Satan tempted him to fear the persecution that would result, to worry about giving up his paid ministry for a lay one.
B - (v. 2c) He rejected the word
A - (v. 3) He broke My covenant

Historical Material Pertaining to D&C 40 James Covill, formerly a Baptist Minister, was converted to the restored gospel but rejected it the very same month and returned to associate with Baptists. Perhaps when other Baptists were unpersuaded as was he, he rejected it and fell in line with them. Or, maybe Covill did not want to relocate to Ohio, as 39:14 instructs him to do. See comments on D&C 39. Excerpt from History of the Church As James Covill rejected the word of the Lord, and returned to his former principles and people, the Lord gave unto me and Sidney Rigdon the following revelation, explaining why he obeyed not the word: [text of D&C 40 quoted] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 143). ]