D&C 80

THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

SECTION 80

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, March 1832. HC 1: 257.

[ Stephen Burnett was only 18 years old when section 80 was received. He had joined the church at 16 years old. He was ordained an elder and a High Priest when he was only 17 years old, making him one of the youngest high priests ever ordained in church history. Stephen got married to Lamira Gardner when he was 18 (Jan 5, 1832). Then 20 days later was called in section 75 to serve a mission with Ruggles Eames. However it appears that do to companionship problems his mission never happened. So about 6 weeks later the prophet received section 80 on behalf of Stephen in what may have been a mission reassignment. ] 1—5, Stephen Burnett and Eden Smith are called to preach in whatever place they choose.

1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Stephen Burnett: [ see. D&C 75:35. Both Burnett and Eden Smith had been called some few weeks earlier with different companions. It is likely the previous missionary work was not far from home, given Eden Smith’s journal comments, so the missions were relatively short and they were reassigned. ] Go ye, go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of your voice.

2 And inasmuch as you desire a companion, I will give unto you my servant Eden Smith. [ The son of John Smith , cp. D&C 75:36. Two weeks later Stephen began his mission with Eden Smiths father - John Smith rather than Eden because Eden had taken ill and was sick for quite some time. lAter on in August Eden joins up with Stephen and they begin to preach together. Eden recorded that they held a great many meetings but were not successful in bring any converts to the church. ]

3 Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss. [As opposed to being called “into the eastern countries” or to Missouri, which would necessitate lengthy travel, suggesting they preach anywhere around the immediate vicinity.]

4 Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true. [ Compare D&C 52:9 ]

5 Behold, this is the will of him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

[ Section 80 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. Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Both Jared Carter and Eden Smith faltered in their faith and found themselves 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. Stephen Burnett became disaffected with the church in Kirtland in 1837, and joined with the apostate Warren Parrish to denounce Joseph Smith as a fallen prophet and vilified those who continued to stand with Joseph as heretics. IN the Journal of the CHurch in August 1838 it states "Stephen Burnett has become a little ignorant blockhead...whose heart was so set on money, that he would at any time, sell his soul for fifty dollars. Stephen had got wearied of the restraints of religion. And then, in his apostasy, rejoiced in the great victory he had obtained over the great God and all the holy angels, how he had discovered them liars and impostures." Covenants 80 Excerpts from Who’s Who in the Doctrine and Covenants Eden Smith's missionary labors in 1831–32 were of short duration and were performed within five to fifteen miles of his home. For example, his mission with Micah Welton began in Northampton, Ohio, on 10 December 1831 and ended in Northampton nine days later (see D&C 75:36). He kept a journal of his missionary activities from 25 September 1831 to 21 August 1832. A typical entry reads: "I went to Stow and preachd in the fore noon and did tonight and then attended in the afternoon and preachd and then returned home and Laboured for the support of my familey." In March 1832 at Hiram, Ohio, the Prophet received a revelation directing Eden to serve a mission with Stephen Burnett (see D&C 80:1–2). According to Eden's journal, they served in eastern Ohio on a number of missionary trips during the following months into the surrounding country; he held many meetings and baptized a few. He later joined Charles C. Rich in preaching near Eugene, Ohio, and served as the president of the branch there. (Susan Easton Black, Who’s Who in the Doctrine and Covenants, pages 271-272) Only a few of Eden Smith's missionary entries are preserved, one of which states: "We traveled on north two miles and Cald with A presbyterian Priest and told him Concerning the Bok of mormon and Concerning the Gosple of Jesus Christ and he Cald for proof of the Book of Mormon and we cited him to the bible and he said he did not Receive that and we told the Cituation he was in and what he must do left him and went on our way." (Susan Easton Black, Who’s Who in the Doctrine and Covenants, pages 39-40)]