Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 115

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
           SECTION 115

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, April 26, 1838, making known the will of God concerning the building up of that place and of the Lord's House. HC 3:23—25. This revelation is addressed to the presiding officers of the Church.

    1—4, The Lord names his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;
    5—6, Zion and her stakes are places of defense and refuge for the saints;
    7—16, The saints are commanded to build a House of the Lord at Far West:
    17—19, Joseph Smith holds the keys of the kingdom of God on earth.
D&C 115:1 VERILY thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and also my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also my servant Hyrum Smith, and your acounselors who are and shall be appointed hereafter;
D&C 115:2 And also unto you, my servant aEdward Partridge, and his counselors;

D&C 115:3 And also unto my faithful servants who are of the high council of my achurch in Zion, for thus it shall be called, and unto all the elders and people of my Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, scattered abroad in all the world;
D&C 115:4 For thus shall amy bchurch be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day cSaints.

D&C 115:5 Verily I say unto you all: aArise and shine forth, that thy blight may be a cstandard for the dnations;
D&C 115:6 And that the agathering together upon the land of bZion, and upon her cstakes, may be for a defense, and for a drefuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be epoured out without mixture upon the whole earth.

D&C 115:7 Let the city, Far West, be a holy and consecrated land unto mea; and it shall be called most holy, for the ground upon which thou standest is aholy.
D&C 115:8 Therefore, I command you to abuild a house unto me, for the gathering together of my saints, that they may bworship me.

 7a Far West, be a holy and consecrated land unto me Between Independence and Adam Ondi Ahman, nearly on a line, stands the city of Far West. Independence was the stipulated site of the 'center stake' of Zion. Adam Ondi Ahman was the place where Adam dwelt and administered to his children. It will be where the Second Coming of the Savior will be and the return of he city of Enoch. Independence Missori had had a temple stipulated to be built there. Now Far West also was to have a temple built there.
D&C 115:9 And let there be a beginning of this work, and a foundation, and a preparatory work, this following summer;
D&C 115:10 And let the beginning be made on the fourth day of July next; and from that time forth let my people alabor diligently to build a house unto my name;

D&C 115:11 And in aone year from this day let them re-commence laying the foundation of my bhouse.
D&C 115:12 Thus let them from that time forth labor diligently until it shall be finished, from the corner stone thereof unto the top thereof, until there shall not anything remain that is not finished.

D&C 115:13 Verily I say unto you, let not my servant Joseph, neither my servant Sidney, neither my servant Hyrum, get in adebt any more for the building of a house unto my name;
D&C 115:14 But let a house be built unto my name according to the apattern which I will show them.

D&C 115:15 And if my people build it not according to the pattern which I shall show unto their presidency, I will not accept it at their hands.
D&C 115:16 But if my people do build it according to the pattern which I shall show unto their presidency, even my servant Joseph and his counselors, then I will accept it at the hands of my people.

D&C 115:17 And again, verily I say unto you, it is my will that the city of Far West should be built up speedily by the gathering of my saints;
D&C 115:18 And also that other places should be appointed for astakes in the regions round about, as they shall be manifested unto my servant Joseph, from time to time.
D&C 115:19 For behold, I will be with him, and I will sanctify him before the people; for unto him have I given the keys of this kingdom and ministry. Even so. Amen.