Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 31

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
             SECTION 31

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Thomas B. March, September 1830. HC 1:115—117. The occasion was immediately following a conference of the Church. See heading to Section 30. Thomas B. Marsh had been baptized earlier in the month, and had been ordained an elder in the Church before this revelation was given.

    1—6, Thomas B. Marsh is called to preach the gospel and is assured of his family's well-being;
    7—13, He is counseled to be patient, pray always, and follow the Comforter.
 1 aTHOMAS, my son, blessed are you, because of your faith in my work.
 2 Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your afamily, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church.
 3 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare aglad tidings of great joy unto this generation.
 4 You shall adeclare the things which have been revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun. You shall begin to preach from this time forth, yea, to reap in the field which is bwhite already to be burned.
 5 Therefore, athrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are bforgiven you, and you shall be laden with csheaves upon your back, for the dlaborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live.
 6 Behold, verily I say unto you, go from them only for a little atime, and declare my word, and I will prepare a place for them.
 7 Yea, I will aopen the hearts of the people, and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand;
 8 And you shall astrengthen them and prepare them against the time when they shall be gathered.
 9 Be apatient in bafflictions, crevile not against those that revile. Govern your dhouse in meekness, and be esteadfast.
 10 Behold, I say unto you that you shall be a physician unto the church, but not unto the world for they will not receive you.
 11 Go your way whithersoever I will, and it shall be given you by the aComforter what you shall do and whither you shall go.
 12 aPray always, lest you enter into btemptation and lose your creward.
 13 Be afaithful unto the bend, and lo, I am cwith you. These words are not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, by the dwill of the Fathera. Amen.

 13a by the will of the Father Though it is in and through Jesus Christ, who is the Creator of this temporal Heaven and Earth, the appointed ministering God of this Second Estate; for only those who pertain unto it do minister unto it (D&C 130:5), that all things are done for the benefit of man; it is important to understand that that which is done by Jehovah, even Jesus Christ, is always the mind and the will of God the Father of Spirits, even our very Father in Heaven. This is the reasurrance which Jesus here gives unto Thomas Marsh, that what is being said and done is under the direction and according to that which God the Eternal Father, our Father of our Spirits, wills of us. It is the added confidence to have this understanding that the Godhead is so united, that Jesus, who is Jehovah, or the Holy Ghost, who is the Comforter, will always be in harmony with what the will of God the Father of Spirits does so direct; that it is 'by the will of the Father' that all is so done.