Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 101

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
           SECTION 101

Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, December 16, 1833. HC 1:458—464. At this time the saints who had gathered in Missouri were suffering great perscution. Mobs had driven them from their homes in Jackson County, and some of them had tried to establish themselves in Van Buren County, but persecution followed them. The main body of the saints was at that time in Clay County, Missouri. Threats of death against individuals of the Church were many. The people had lost household furniture, clothing, livestock, and other personal property, and many of their crops had been destoryed.

    1—8, The saints are chastened and afflicted because of their transgressions;
    9—15, The Lord's indignation shall fall upon the nations, but his people will be gathered and comforted;
    16—21, Zion and her stakes shall be estabished;
    22—31, The nature of life during the Millennium is set forth;
    32—42, The saints shall be blessed and rewarded then;
    43—62, Parable of the nobleman and the olive trees signifying the troubles and eventual redemption of Zion;
    63—75, The saints are to continue their gathering together;
    76—80, The Lord established the Contitution of the United States;
    81—101, The saints are to importune for the redress of grievances, according to the parable of the woman and the unjust judge.
 1 VERILY I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and apersecuted, and bcast out from the land of their inheritance—
 2 I, the Lord, have suffered the aaffliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their btransgressions;
 3 Yet I will own them, and they shall be amine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.

 4 Therefore, they must needs be achastened and tried, even as bAbraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.
 5 For all those who will not aendure chastening, but bdeny me, cannot be sanctified.

 6 Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and acontentions, and benvyings, and cstrifes, and dlustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances.
 7 They were slow to ahearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble.
 8 In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their atrouble, of necessity they bfeel after me.

 9 Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with acompassion towards them. I will not utterly bcast them off; and in the day of cwrath I will remember mercy.
 10 I have sworn, and the decree hath gone forth by a former commandment which I have given unto you, that I would let fall the asword of mine indignation in behalf of my people; and even as I have said, it shall come to pass.
 11 Mine indignation is soon to be poured out without measure upon all nations; and this will I do when the cup of their iniquity is afull.

 12 And in that day all who are found upon the awatch-tower, or in other words, all mine Israel, shall be saved.
 13 And they that have been scattered shall be agathered.
 14 And all they who have amourned shall be comforted.
 15 And all they who have given their alives for my name shall be crowned.

 16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine ahands; be still and bknow that I am God.
 17 aZion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.
 18 They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their ainheritances, they and their children, with bsongs of everlasting joy, to cbuild up the waste places of Zion—

 19 And all these things that the prophets might be fulfilled.
 20 And, behold, there is none other aplace appointed than that which I have appointeda; neither shall there be any other place appointed than that which I have appointedb, for the work of the gathering of my saints—
 21 Until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them; and then I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called astakes, for the curtains or the strength of Zion.

The Work of the
Gathering of My Saints 
This particular 'Work' of the 'Gathering of My Saints' is for a very particular purpose. While the work of gathering the saints from among the nations of the earth goes forward as they are brought unto the gospel and become members of the Kingdom of God, that 'general gathering' is preliminary to this more particular gathering. Not that the preliminary gathering is of less significance but that it must be undertaking first. Before the Coming of Christ, the gospel must be taken to all the earth and those who will hear come unto Christ and His Church. This is the work that precedes the coming of Christ, but when the Coming draws near, not in haste but according to the command of God and not by the 'preasures of man', my the word of the Lord will the saints be drawn and gathered specifically to the center place for the very purpose of welcoming the Lord at His Second Advent particlularly at Adam-Ondi-Ahman with the center place of Zion being established at Jackson County where the center temple of the Lord will be built. The early saints, though somewhat premature due to early unauthorized revealings of the center place proceeded, did do the work of laying an initial claim and foundation to the lands of that region. It was premature in the fact that the gospel had not yet been taken to all the world for the purpose of the 'general gathering' out of those in all the world. And yet it did play two very significant rolls. If moved many of the saints from their eastern states confines to the then fronteer of America which boarder upon the Land of the Indian. And it worked to the ends of a sifting out of those who were solidly entrenched in the gospel and those who would only move according to the spur of the moment and the temporary fever of Zionism. Many in the spur of the moment would rush out to meet the Second Coming of Christ, but few there are that would endure worthly and so be counted righteously capable to stand before the presence of the Coming of the Lord in all of His Glory. I'm reminded of the fictionalized movie the 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. When the Ark was opened by those not worthy to stand before it, the movie depicted a horrendous fate for those who did look upon it. They were not able to stand and live before it. Only those who are prepared to stand before God in all of His Glory are able to so stand before Him. Thus it was a 'blessing' for the early saints to be so further tempered and tried and refined before the Lord.
 22 Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should agather together, and bstand in holy places;
 23 And aprepare for the revelation which is to come, when the bveil of the covering of my temple, in my tabernacle, which hideth the earth, shall be taken off, and all flesh shall csee me together.
 24 And every acorruptible thing, both of man, or of the beasts of the field, or of the fowls of the heavens, or of the fish of the sea, that dwells upon all the face of the earth, shall be aconsumed;

 25 And also that of element shall amelt with fervent heat; and all things shall become bnew, that my cknowledge and glory may dwell upon all the dearth.
 26 And in that day the enmity of man, and the aenmity of beasts, yea, the benmity of all flesh, shall cease from before my face.
 27 And in that day awhatsoever any man shall ask, it shall be given unto him.
 28 And in that day aSatan shall not have power to tempt any man.

 29 And there shall be no asorrow because there is no death.
 30 In that day an ainfant shall not die until he is old; and his life shall be as the age of a tree;
 31 And when he dies he shall not sleep, that is to say in the earth, but shall be achanged in the twinkling of an eye, and shall be acaught up, and his rest shall be glorious.

 32 Yea, verily I say unto you, in that aday when the Lord shall come, he shall areveal all things—
 33 Things which have passed, and ahidden things which no man knew, things of the bearth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof—
 34 Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven.

 35 And all they who suffer apersecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my bsake yet shall they partake of all this glory.
 36 Wherefore, afear not even unto death; for in this world your bjoy is not full, but in me your joy is full.
 37 Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the asoul, and for the life of the soul.
 38 And aseek the face of the Lord always, that in bpatience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.

 39 When men are called into mine aeverlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the bsalt of the earth and the savor of men;
 40 They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that asalt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
 41 Behold, here is wisdom concerning the children of Zion, even many, but not all; they were found transgressors, therefore they must needs be achastened—
 42 He that aexalteth himself shall be abased, and he that babaseth himself shall be exalted.

Parable of Nobleman, His Land and Olive Trees
 43 And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my will concerning the aredemption of Zion.
 44 A certain anobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my bvineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive-trees;
 45 And set awatchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive-trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.

 46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive-trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.
 47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?
 48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?
 49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.

 50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very aslothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.
 51 And the enemy came by nighta, and broke down the ahedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive-trees.

 51a And the enemy came by night October 31, 1833, on the night of Halloween, in the middle of the night did the mob actions against the Church begin first in the Whitmer Settlement and thence in the evenings that followed throughout the various Mormon communities. That first night they attacked one of the smallest of the settlements, tearing off the roofs of the houses and physically tormenting those they could get their hands on. At least one of my second great grandfathers was a member of that small community which was attacked that first night.
 
 52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the avineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?
 53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a awatchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?
 54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.

 55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his aservants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants, and take ball the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to tarry;
 56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money.
 57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the awalls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.

 58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, aavenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.
 59 And the servant said unto his lord: When shall these things be?
 60 And he said unto his servant: When I will; go ye straightway, and do all things whatsoever I have commanded you;
 61 And this shall be my seal and ablessing upon you—a faithful and bwise steward in the midst of mine house, a cruler in my kingdom.

 62 And his servant went straightway, and did all things whatsoever his lord commanded him; and aafter many days all things were fulfilled.
 63 Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me concerning all the churches, inasmuch as they are awilling to be guided in a right and proper way for their salvation—
 64 That the work of the agathering together of my saints may continue, that I may build them up unto my name upon bholy places; for the time of charvest is come, and my word must needs be dfulfilled.

 65 Therefore, I must gather together my people, according to the parable of the wheat and the atares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial bglory, when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father to reward every man according as his work shall be;
 66 While the atares shall be bound in bundles, and their bands made strong, that they may be bburned with unquenchable fire.
 67 Therefore, a commandment I give unto all the churches, that they shall continue to gather together unto the places which I have appointed.

 68 Nevertheless, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, let not your agathering be in haste, nor by flight; but let all things be prepared before you.
 69 And in order that all things be prepared before you, observe the commandment which I have given concerning these things—
 70 Which saith, or teacheth, to apurchase all the lands with money, which can be purchased for moneya, in the region round about the land which I have appointed to be the land of Zionb, for the beginning of the gathering of my saintsc;
 71 All the land which can be purchased in Jackson county, and the counties round about, and leave the residue in mine hand.

 72 Now, verily I say unto you, let all the churches gather together all their moneys; let these things be done in their time, but not in ahaste; and observe to have all things prepared before you.
 73 And let honorable men be appointed, even awise men, and send them to purchase these lands.
 74 And the churches in the aeastern countries, when they are built up, if they will hearken unto this counsel they may buy lands and gather together upon them; and in this way they may establish Zion.

 75 There is even now already in store sufficient, yea, even an abundance, to redeem Zion, and establish her waste places, no more to be thrown down, were the churches, who call themselves after my name, awilling to hearken to my voice.
 76 And again I say unto you, those who have been scattered by their enemies, it is my will that they should continue to importune for redress, and redemption, by the hands of those who are placed as rulers and are in authority over you—

Constitution and Its Purpose of God
 77 According to the laws and aconstitution of the peoplea, which I have suffered to be establishedb, and should be maintained for the brights and protection of all fleshc, according to just and holy principlesd;
 78 That every man act in doctrine and principlea pertaining to futurityb, according to the moral aagencyc which I have given unto himd, that every man may be baccountable for his own sins in the day of cjudgment.
 79 Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in abondage one to anothera.
 80 And for this purpose have I established the aConstitution of this landa, by the hands of wise men whom I have raised up unto this very purposeb, and redeemed the land by the bshedding of bloodc.

 77a constitution of the people Is it significant that the establishment of this nation and its constitution was performed 'by the people'. In a secular sense 'the people' refers to 'mankind'. In an eternal, religious and spiritual sense 'the people' are the 'sons and daughters of God' who were given their 'right to the exercise of moral free agency' directly from God. And it needs be that any laws of government be so established based upon that 'free agency' of the people, by the people, and for the people and their benefit, affording them all of the God given unalienable rights of man.
 77b I have suffered to be established Though is was 'by the people' that the constitution and this nation was established, it was under the guiding hand and aid of Jesus Christ who did 'suffer it to be established', it was according to and by His Will that it was done.

Parable of Woman and Unjust Judge
 81 Now, unto what shall I liken the children of Zion? I will liken them unto the aparable of the woman and the unjust judge, for men ought always to bpray and not to faint, which saith—
 82 There was in a city a judge which feared not God, neither regarded man.
 83 And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him, saying: Avenge me of mine adversary.
 84 And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself: Though I fear not God, nor regard man, yet because this widow troubleth me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

 85 Thus will I liken the children of Zion.
 86 Let them importune at the afeet of the judge;
 87 And if he heed them not, let them importune at the feet of the governor;

 88 And if the governor heed them not, let them importune at the feet of the president;

 89 And if the president heed them not, then will the Lord arise and come forth out of his ahiding place, and in his fury vex the nation;
 90 And in his hot displeasure, and in his fierce anger, in his time, will cut off those wicked, unfaithful, and aunjust bstewards, and appoint them their portion among chypocrites, and dunbelievers;
 91 Even in outer darkness, where there is aweeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

 92 Pray ye, therefore, that their ears may be opened unto your cries, that I may be amerciful unto them, that these things may not come upon them.
 93 What I have said unto you must needs be, that all men may be left without aexcuse;
 94 That wise men and rulers may hear and know that which they have never aconsidered;
 95 That I may proceed to bring to pass my act, my astrange act, and perform my work, my strange work, that men may bdiscern between the righteous and the wicked, saith your God.

 96 And again, I say unto you, it is contrary to my commandment and my will that my servant Sidney Gilbert should sell my astorehouse, which I have appointed unto my people, into the hands of mine enemies.
 97 Let not that which I have appointed be polluted by mine enemies, by the consent of those who acall themselves after my name;
 98 For this is a very sore and grievous sin against me, and against my people, in consequence of those things which I have decreed and which are soon to befall the nations.

 99 Therefore, it is my will that my people should claim, and hold claim upon that which I have appointed unto them, though they should not be permitted to dwell thereon.
 100 Nevertheless, I do not say they shall not dwell thereon; for inasmuch as they bring forth fruit and works meet for my kingdom they ashall dwell thereon.
 101 They shall build, and another shall not ainherit it; they shall plant vineyards, and they shall eat the fruits thereof. Even so. Amen.