|
Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
|
Commentary & Explanation
|
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
|
SECTION 28
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at
Fayette, New York, September 1830. HC 1:109—111. Hiram Page, a member
of the Church, had a certain stone, and professed to be receiving revelations
by its aid concerning the unbuilding of Zion and the order of the Church.
Several members had been deceived by these claims, and even Oliver Cowdery
was wrongly influenced thereby. Just prior to an appointed conference, the
Prophet inquired earnestly of the Lord concering the matter, and this
revelation followed.
|
|
|
1—7, Joseph Smith hold keys of the mysteries, and only he receives
revelations for the Church;
8—10, Oliver Cowdery is to preach to the Lamanites;
11—16, Satan deceived Hiram Page and gave him false revelations.
|
1 BEHOLD, I say unto thee,
aOliver, that it shall be given unto thee that thou shalt
be heard by the church in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the
bComforter, concerning the revelations and commandments
which I have given.
2 But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee,
ano one shall be appointed to receive commandments and
brevelations in this church excepting my servant
cJoseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as
dMosesa.
|
2a he receiveth them even as
Moses At one time Miriam and Aaron sought to deride Moses and make
themselves the equal of the prophet of he Lord. They received an immediate
rebuke from the Lord himself who taught them this same principle, that only
the Lord's appointed prophet did so speak in behalf of the Lord. To Miriam
and Aaron the Lord established that it was Moses who was the prophet and that
it was only through him that the Lord did speak and minister unto the people
and that none others would so stand before the Lord to receive visions and
mouth to mouth revelation so as it were (Numbers 12:6-8). Now while it is
true that revelation and prophecy is open unto all, none who are true will
usurp such over the prophet of God. They may teach the gospel and preach by
the spirit of revelation but NOT to usurp the authority of the Lord's
anointed in declaring the word and commandments unto the people.
|
1a
Isa. 11:1 (1-5);
2 Ne. 21:1
(1-5);
TG
Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent
|
3 And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give
unto him, even as aAaron, to bdeclare
faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and
cauthority unto the church.
4 And if thou art aled at any time by the
Comforter to bspeak or to teach, ar at all times by the way
of commandments unto the church, thou mayest do it.
5 But thou shalt not write by way of
acommandment, but by wisdom;
|
|
|
6 And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church;
7 For I have given him the akeys of the
bmysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I
shall appoint unto them another in his stead.
|
|
|
8 And now, behold, I say unto you that you shall go unto the
aLamanites and preach my bgospel unto
them; and inasmuch as they creceive thy teachings thou
shalt cause my dchurch to be established among them; and
thou shalt have revelations, but write them not by way of commandment.
9 And now, behold, I say unto you that it is not revealed, and
no man knoweth where the acity bZion
shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter. Behold, I say unto you that
it shall be on the borders by the Lamanites.
10 Thou shalt not leave this place until after the conference; and my servant Joseph shall be appointed to preside over the conference by the voice of it, and what he saith to thee thou shalt tell.
|
|
|
11 And again, thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page,
abetween him and thee alone, and tell him that those things
which he hath written from that bstone are not of me and
that cSatan ddeceiveth him;
12 For, behold, these things have not been appointed unto him, neither shall anything be appointed unto any of this church contrary to the church covenants.
13 For all things must be done in aorder,
and by common bconsent in the church, by the prayer of
faith.
|
|
|
14 And thou shalt assist to settle all these things, according to the covenants of the church, before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites.
15 And it shall be agiven thee from the time
thous shalt go, until the time thou shalt return, what thou shalt do.
16 And thou must open thy mouth at all times, declaring my gospel with the sound of rejoicing. Amen.
|
|
|