Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 25

by Don R. Hender

Though this is a section where the Lord speaks directly to Emma Smith concerning her specific callings and duties ino the kingdom, many of the principles expressed to her are applicable to as as the Lord ends this sectionby stating: 'I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all.', meaning that the various principles by which Emma is called upon to perform are also applicable unto all who are of the Chruch.

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

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Harmony, Pennsyvania, July 1830. See HC 1:103—104; see also heading to Section 24. This revelation manifests the will of the Lord to Emma Smith, the Prophet's wife.

1—6, Emma Smith, an elect lady, is called to aid and comfort her husband;
7—11, She is also called to write, to expound the scriptures, and to select hymns;
12—14, The song of the righteous is a prayer unto the Lord;
15—, Principles of obedience in this revelation are applicable to all.

D&C 25:1 HEARKEN unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who ^areceive my gospel are sons and daughters in my ^bkingdom.
D&C 25:2 A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and ^awalk in the paths of ^bvirtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an ^cinheritance in Zion.

D&C 25:3 Behold, thy ^asins are forgiven thee, and thou art an ^belect ^clady, whom I have ^dcalled.
D&C 25:4 ^aMurmur not because of the ^bthings which thou hast not seen, for they are ^cwithheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come.
D&C 25:5 And the office of thy calling shall be for a ^acomfort unto my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., thy ^bhusband, in his ^cafflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of ^dmeekness.

D&C 25:6 And thou shalt go with him at the time of his going, and be unto him for a scribe, while there is no one to be a scribe for him, that I may send my servant, Oliver Cowdery, whithersoever I will.
D&C 25:7 And thou shalt be ^aordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my ^bSpirit.
D&C 25:8 For he shall lay his ^ahands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much.

D&C 25:9 And thou needest not fear, for thy ^ahusband shall support thee in the church; for unto them is his ^bcalling, that all things might be ^crevealed unto them, whatsoever I will, according to their faith.
D&C 25:10 And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the ^athings of this ^bworld, and ^cseek for the things of a ^dbetter [world].

D&C 25:11 And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of ^asacred ⁿhymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.
D&C 25:12 For my soul ^adelighteth in the ^bsong of the ^cheart; yea, the ^dsong of the righteous is a prayer unto me^a, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.
D&C 25:13 Wherefore, ^alift up thy heart and ^brejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.

12^a the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me [the Lord] The sing of hymns are songs of praise unto the Lord and God. As stated they are of the nature of a prayer unto the Lord, a communication with him. And we should come to feel that 'two way' spirit of comfort and revelation to our minds and soul as we sing the hymns of the Church. Now not only are they 'prayers unto the Lord', but they are also a musical testimony of and unto him in prasie of his name. When we sing our hymns in church and even elsewhere in the course of our daily life, we ought to come to feel of that spirit which they bare, that they are such a communication and conversation unto God containing our praises of him and his gospel. And we should sing with that vigor and strength that is of the same spirit which attend the bearing of testimonies and of kneelig and praying unto the Lord, our God.

D&C 25:14 Continue in the spirit of meekness, and beware of ^apride. Let thy soul delight in thy ^bhusband, and the ^cglory which shall come upon him.
D&C 25:15 Keep my commandments continually, and a ^acrown of ^brighteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you ^ccannot come.

D&C 25:16 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my ^avoice unto all^a. Amen.

16^a this is my voice unto all Nephi in the Book of Mormon taught that we should 'liken' all scripture unto ourselves. Here the Lord confirms this in the revelation given directly to Emma Smith from th Lord. Thus what the Lord says to one is applicatble unto all. Though this section is specific to Emma and her calling and duties in the Church, the principles by which she is called to live and cautioned about are those things which can be 'likened' and 'applied' unto all.