THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 79
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, March 1832. HC 1: 257.
1—4, Jared Carter is called to preach the gospel by the Comforter.
[Jared Carter was 30 years old when section 79 was received. He was married and was living in Chenango, New York. In the prior January of 1831 John Peck shared the Book of Mormon with Jared who "became immediately convinced that it was a revelation of God." He was baptised a month later in Colesville, New York, and moved with the Colesville baranch to Ohio a few months later. He was preent at the 4th General Conference in Kirtland, Ohio June 1831 where he made this remark about the prophet: "Notwithstanding he is not naturally talented for a speaker yet he was filled with the power of the Holy Ghost so that he spoke as I never heard man speak for God." He taught the gospel in the fall and early winter of 1831 and 1832 Jared preached the gospel in Ohio, the eastern states of Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont. After the completion of his first mission he arrived home in Amherst, Ohio and wrote "I at length went to Hiram, Ohio to the Seer to inquire the will of the Lord concerning my ministry the ensuing season. And, the word of the Lord came forth." ]
1 V
ERILY I say unto you, that it is my will that my servant
Jared Carter [compare D&C 52:38, D&C 94:14. ] should
go again [ This will be his second mission to those states. According to his journal entries he was ordained an Elder in late September 1831 prior to departing on his first mission. ] into the eastern countries, from place to place, and from city to city,
in the power of the ordination wherewith he has been ordained,
[ Called as a missionary: Jared Carter recorded in his journal the following concerning section 79: I at length went to Hiram [Ohio] to the Seer to inquire the will of the Lord concerning my ministry the ensuing season; and the word of the Lord came forth that showed that it was his will that I should go forth to the Eastern countries in the power of the ordinance wherewith I had been ordained, which was to the high privilege of administering in the name of Jesus Christ even to seal on earth and to build up the Church of Christ and to work miracles in the name of Christ.... Now I have received a revelation of the will of the Lord to me by the mouth of Joseph the Seer, that I should not only preach the gospel from place to place, but from city to city. Upon returning from his mission in October 1832, Carter continued, Now while I make this record, I remember the goodness of the Lord to me in the mission that I have lately been to the East. I have enjoyed my health continually and the Lord, notwithstanding the great opposition to this glorious work, he has blessed me.... I have been gone 6 months and 2 days. The Lord permitted me to administer the gospel to 79 souls, and many others by my instrumentality have been convinced of this most glorious work. All that have been baptized while I have been in the regions where I have been in this mission is 98, and many others have been convinced of the work that sooner or later I think will obey the work. (Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 169) ] proclaiming glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting gospel.
2 And I will send upon him the Comforter, which shall teach him the truth
and the way whither he shall go;
[ Jared was faithful in his mission and went from Hiram, Ohio along the shores of lake Erie all the way up to Benson, Vermont. Preaching all the way along until he arrived at his home town of Benson Vermont. Upon returning he recorded "I have been gone six months and two days. The Lord has permitted me to administer the gospel to 79 souls, and mony others by my instrumentality have been convinced of this most glorious work." and continued with "God has blessed me according to the prophecy of Brother Joseph before I went from Ohio." ]
[ sounds like apostle John here see John 14:26, John 15:26. ]
3 And inasmuch as he is faithful, I will crown him again with sheaves.
4 Wherefore, let your heart be glad, my servant Jared Carter, and fear not, saith your Lord, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Section 79 can serve as a cautionary tale to all of those who have ever felt the warm glow of faith and the fire of resolve to share the good news of the gospel. We must stay diligent in nuturing our faith, keep our covenants and endure faithful to the end. Both Jared Carter faltered in his faith and found himself outside of the church. Jared Carter wrote that after a few more short mission he gradually became less faithful. He said that "The spirit of God in a measure has left me." Jared continued to fulfill various church assignments for several more years. He moved with the saints from Ohio to Far West and then to Nauvoo, Illinois. However; when the saints left Nauvoo Jared left the Church and settled in Chicago and later DeKalb County, Illinois where he eventually died at age 54. Excerpt from The Evening and Morning Star Brothers Simeon and Jared Carter, we understand, have done wondrous works in Vermont, in breaking down prejudice in a wonderful manner. Better than one hundred have been brought into the kingdom, in a few months past, by their instrumentality. (The Evening and Morning Star, volume 1, number 9, February 1833) 79.2 Excerpt from The Evening and Morning Star DEAR SIR: I am requested by brother Jared Carter, an elder in the church of Christ, to inform you, that he will pay one dollar over to the bishop in Kirtland, and wishes you to send the Evening and the Morning Star, directing it to Jeremiah Curtis, Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan Territory. Brother Carter has been laboring in the ministry for about five weeks past, in this county, and his labors have been blest by God, to a goodly degree; he has baptized 22 persons and received them into the church of Christ, myself, and wife, are two of the above named members, for which I desire to bless the Lord. He has ordained me an elder in the church of Christ, and I earnestly desire that God will bless me, and make me faithful, to become an instrument in his hands in building up his church and kingdom in this region. There is a great opposition to this cause in this section of country, but hope and trust, that the Lord, will over rule and glorify his name, & subdue the hearts of his people, and make them obedient to his will. I have been traveling with brother Carter, for two weeks past; I find him to be a faithful servant of our Lord and Master. When I view the dealings of God, towards me, I feel to adore his great and holy name, that he has opened my eyes to see the wondrous things of his kingdom, which he has commenced in these last days. I have been a professor of the Christian religion for twenty seven years, and stood among the sects, but never, until about four weeks past, have I been brought to see the errors which the different sects embrace. Be pleased to except these few lines from a brother in the church of Christ with you, & laborer in the same great cause; although I am not personally acquainted with you, yet my heart feels to unite with you in the same great cause of our great Redeemer. I hope, if God shall see fit to spare my life, I shall see you in Zion before long, and converse with you upon things appertaining to the kingdom of Christ. From your brother in the Lord. SAMUEL BENT. (The Evening and Morning Star, volume 1, number 11, April 1833)]