Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 36

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
             SECTION 36

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Edward Partridge, near Fayette, New York, December 1830. HC 1:131. See heading to Section 35. The Prophet said that Edward Partridge "was a pattern of piety, and one of the Lord's great men."

     
    1—3, The Lord lays his hand upon Edward Partridge by the hand of Sidney Rigdon;
    4—8, Every man who receives the gospel and the priesthood to be called to go forth and preach.
 1 THUS saith the Lord God, the aMighty One of Israel: Behold, I say unto you, my servant bEdward, that you are blessed, and your sins are forgiven you, and you are called to preach my gospel as with the voice of a trump;

 2 And I will lay my ahand upon you by the hand of my servant Sidney Rigdon, and you shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the bComforter, which shall cteach you the peaceable things of the kingdom;

 3 And you shall declare it with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna, ablessed be the name of the most high God.

 4 And now this calling and commandment give I unto you concerning all men--

 5 That as many as shall come before my servants Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith, Jun., embracing this calling and commandment, shall be aordained and sent forth to bpreach the everlasting gospel among the nations—

 6 Crying repentance, saying: aSave yourselves from this untoward generationa, and come forth out of the fire, hating even the bgarments spotted with the flesh.

 6a this untoward generation The word 'untoward' implies a lack of civilness, or rough and uncouth in in nature reather than refined and cultured. That Edward Partridge was to so warn the nations would imply that this generation would only be saved by coming to the gospel call and not as a result of the Second Coming, which it would be so intimated was not to occur during the current 'generation'. This rough nature of men was common among those of the frontier, particularly of Independence, Missouri, etc.
 7 And this commandment shall be given unto the elders of my church, that every man which will aembrace it with bsingleness of heart may be ordained and sent forth, even as I have spoken.

 8 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will bsuddenly come to my ctemple. Even So. Amen.