THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 9
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829. HC 1: 37—38. Oliver is admonished to be patient, and is urged to be content to write, for the time being, at the dictation of the translator, rather than to attempt to translate.
1—6, Other ancient records are yet to be translated; 7—14, The Book of Mormon is translated by study and by spiritual confirmation.
1 BEHOLD, I say unto you, [ Oliver Cowdery ] my son, that because you did not translate according to that which you desired of me, [ You asked for a gift - I gave it to you, but because it was hard you did not follow thru. ] and did commence again to write for my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., even so I would that ye should continue until you have finished this record, which I have entrusted unto him.
2 And then, behold, other records have I, that I will give unto you power that you may assist to translate.
3 Be patient, my son, for it is wisdom in me, [ It is really ok that you could not translate; as that is not what I really need you to do right now any way. ] and it is not expedient that you should translate at this present time.
4 Behold, the work which you are called to do is to write for my servant Joseph. [ This is your assignment - your spot in the vineyard so to speak. Tend it well. ]
5 And, behold, it is because that you did not continue as you commenced, [ Or Oliver you changed. You did not continue to do as you did when you started to translate. We are not told more detail, but some thing s that come to my mind id that Oliver started and was very prayerful at the first but was not as much as he moved forward, Oliver started but lost confidence in what he was doing, like fear. I can relate his lack of confidence to that of Peter who started to walk on the water but later sank. Whatever the reason he did not continue as he had started. ] when you began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you.
6 Do not murmur, [ Do not get of feel rejected, do not complain of your lack of ability to do it. ] my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this manner.
7 Behold, you have not understood;
you have supposed that I would give it unto you, [ There is a difference between simply wanting, and making a personal investment - Jesus told the apostles of old these kind cometh not out save it be by fasting and prayer (work in other words). ] when you took no thought
save it was to ask me. [ You see simply asking was not enough. Oliver Cowdery seeming had only been instructed to do that to translate. He was to ask in faith. But implicit in asking in faith is the proceeding requirement that WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER to accomplish the goal that we seek.We must use the agency with which we have been endowed. We must use every faculty, and capacity and ability that we posses, to bring about the eventuality that might be involved. Whatever that is. Translating the Book of Mormon, choosing a wife or doing any one of ten thousand important things that arise in our lives. ]
8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it
out in your mind;
[ Our part in the equation in order to get an answer. Joseph had already learned the process as far as translating. He had become able enough to repeat the process very quickly in order to translate at the phenomenal rate of 4500 words per day. You need to come up with your own answer; what you think you need to do (related to the law of agency). ] then
you must [ Ask for confirmation that your decision is correct! ] ask me
if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom [ Heart - the poetic seat of one’s desires, see D&C 8:2. ] shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. [ So here is the test and the formula: An individual needs to deliberately ponder over a specific matter and come to their own conclusion. With that conclusion in mind they seek validation from the Lord which; if the Spirit ratifies it, then there is intellectual and spiritual enlightenment. If the Spirit does not ratify it, then there is no intellectual or spiritual enlightenment, there is stupor instead. If a person has an experience that seems similar to a manifestation of the Spirit, but there is no intellectual and spiritual enlightenment attending it, then it is simply a subjective experience and not an objective manifestation of the Spirit. ]
9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me. [ So in your case Oliver - you cannot translate unless the Lord desires to bless you with inspiration. ]
10 Now, if you had known this you could have translated; [ So was Oliver just trying to translate using his own logic and power, and not linking himself withlord in the process. Now think about that, the same process must have applied to Joseph Smith - Joseph would have to study out what the characters meant in his mind, ask the Lord, get a confirmation thru the burning of his bosom, speak the words, then move on. How tired would you be at the end of a session? ] nevertheless, it is not expedient that you should translate now. [ Joseph has progressed to the point were the help that he needs now is in for Oliver to act as a scribe not to help translate. ]
11 Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; [ When you first asked for the gift of translation Oliver it would have been well; it would have served both the Lord and Joseph well to have had some help. expedient at the time - or the work was not progressing at a fast enough pace at that time; but now it is and if Oliver were to begin translating it would slow the work down. ] but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now; [ Now at this point that time has passed - Joseph has invested the effort to become efficient enough in translation - So you will better serve the process now by being the scribe. ]
12 For, do you not behold that I have given unto my servant Joseph sufficient strength, whereby it is made up? [ Since Oliver was not successful in helpping translate; the Lord gave Joseph additional strength to make up the difference, The work must go on so to speak. So the question is, How hard did Oliver try to translate? Was he successful with any translation? At what point did he give up or not try hard enough? How often do we give up, not exercise enough faith, not work hard enough, give up before the reward? ] And neither of you have I condemned.