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THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 74

Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, January 1832. HC 1: 242. The Prophet writes, “Upon the reception of the foregoing word of the Lord [D&C 73], I recommenced the translation of the Scriptures, and labored diligently until just before the conference, which was to convene on the 25th of January. During this period I also received the following, as an explanation of 1 Corinthians 7: 14.”

[Comments by the ancient apostle Paul contain a number of things which he (Paul) states are of his own admonition and not “of the Lord”, meaning they aren’t by way of commandment of the Lord. Here a particular passage dealing with marriage between Christians and Jews is discussed.]

1—5, Paul counsels the church of his day not to keep the law of Moses; 6—7, Little children are holy and are sanctified through the atonement.

1 FOR the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children unclean, but now are they holy. [verbatim quote of the KJV on 1 Cor. 7:14]

[Verses 2-4 Provide a little history from Paul on what prompted Paul’s statement; with Pauls statment on the matter in verse 5. ]

2 Now, in the days of the apostles the law of circumcision was had among all the Jews who believed not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
3 And it came to pass that there arose a great contention among the people concerning the law of circumcision, for the unbelieving husband was desirous that his children should be circumcised and become subject to the law of Moses, which law was fulfilled.
4 And it came to pass that the children, being brought up in subjection to the law of Moses, gave heed to the traditions of their fathers and believed not the gospel of Christ, wherein they became unholy.
5 Wherefore, for this cause the apostle wrote unto the church, [ because they had the idea that little children were with sin frim birth because of their forfethers traditions. The tradition referenced here may have been at the root cause of infant baptism. The act of circumcision among the Jews symbolized the removal of uncleanness as infant baptism among some Christian Sects is supposed to today. The JST on Gen. 17:11 indicates circumcision at 8 days old was originally intended as a type given to symbolize baptism at 8 years of age.] giving unto them a commandment, not of the Lord, but of himself, that a believer should not be united to an unbeliever; except the law of Moses should be done away among them,
6 That their children might remain without circumcision; and that the tradition might be done away, which saith that little children are unholy; for it was had among the Jews;

7 But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; [ Doctrine of the sanctified condition of little children can be found in Moroni 8:8, D&C 29:46, D&C 137:10. ] and this is what the scriptures mean.

[Excerpt from History of the Church Upon the reception of the foregoing word [i.e., D&C 73] of the Lord, I recommenced the translation of the Scriptures, and labored diligently until just before the conference, which was to convene on the 25th of January. During this period, I also received the following, as an explanation of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, 7th chapter, 14th verse: [text of D&C 74 quoted] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 1, page 242)]