|
|
|
|
SECTION 30Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to David Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jun., and John Whitmer, at Fayette, New York, September 1830, following the three-day conference at Fayette, but before the elders of the Church had separated. HC 1:115-116. Originally this material was published as three revelations; it was combined into one section by the Prophet for the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. |
||
5—8, Peter Whitmer, Jun., is to accompany Oliver Cowdery on a mission to the Lamanites; 9—11, John Whitmer is called to preach the gospel. | ||
|
1 BEHOLD, I say unto you, David, that
you have afeared man and have not brelied
on me for strength as you ought.
2 But you mind has been on the things of the aearth more than on the things of mea, your Maker, and the ministry whereunto you have been called; and you have given heed unto my bSpirit, and to those who were set over you, but have been persuaded by those whom I have not commanded. 3 Wherefore, you are left to inquire for yourself at my hand, and aponder upon the things which you have received. 4 And your home shall be at your afather's house, until I give unto you further commandments. And you shall attend to the bministry in the church, and before the world, and in the regions round about. Amen. |
2a the things of the earth more than on the things of me As one considers that the things of this earth are those which pertain to the natural temporal world as opposed to the things of God and heaven, which pertain unto eternity and the spiritual relm, is it any wonder that God would expect and require men to place of first priority the things of God over the things of men if man truly expects to come to and obtain Heaven? If one's mind is preoccupied by that which is of this earth, and that is its goal, it concern, even its item of concern of 'worship'; then how does such a person every expect to achieve heaven? Only by placing God and those 'things' of His Heaven as our mind's priority and prime concern, does one so place the reality of how 'things' ought to be if one indeed is seeking for and expects to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven. A person will end up at the destination that he attempts to achieve, and only by placing God and the Kingdom of God first as man's primary objective, goal and item of 'worship', can man truly anticipate and expect to so achieve heaven. That is the straight and narrowness of the path. It is an eye single to the objective and the way of ariving at it. If man's prime concern and objective is the things of this world, he will go not further than this kingdom, the telestial kingdom, which he is preoccupied with. Only when man becomes properly preoccupied with heaven and the 'things' there of, will man enable himself to rise above this telestial world to the heights of God's Celestial Kingdom. | |
|
5 Behold, I say unto you, Peter, that you shall take your
ajourney with your brother Oliver; for the
btime has come that it is expedient in me that you shall
open your mouth to declare my gospel; therefore, fear not, but give
cheed unto the words and advice of your brother, which he shall give you.
6 And be you afflicted in all his
aafflictions, ever blifting up your heart
unto me in prayer and faith, for his and your cdeliverance;
for I have unto him power to dbuild my
echurch among the fLamanites;
|
||
|
9 Behold, I say unto you, my servant John, that thou shalt
commence from this time forth to aproclaim my gospel, as
with the bvoice of a trump.
10 And your labor shall be at your brother Philip Burroughs', and in that region round about, yea, wherever you can be heard, until I command you to go from hence. 11 And your whole labor shall be in Zion, with all your soul, from henceforth; yea, you shall ever open your mouth in my cause, not afearing what bman can do, for I am cwith you. Amen.
|
||