SECTION 42
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio,
February 9, 1831. HC 1:148-154. It was received in the presence of twelve
elders, and in fulfilment of the Lord's promise previously made that the
"law" would be given in Ohio; see Section 38:32. The Prophet specifies this
revelation as "embracing the law of the Church."
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1-10, The elders are called to preach the gospel, baptize converts, and build
up the Church;
11-12, They must be called and ordained, and are to teach the
principles of the gospel found in the scriptures;
13-17, They are to teach and
prophesy by the power of the Spirit;
18-29, The saints are commanded not to
kill, steal, lie, lust, commit adultery, or speak evil against others;
30-39, Laws governing the consecrationof properties are set forth;
40-52, The sick are to be healed through administrations and by faith;
53-60, Scriptures govern the Church and are to be proclaimed to the world;
61-69, Site of the New Jerusalem and the mysteries of the kingdom shall be
revealed;
70-73, Consecrated properties are to be used to support Church officers;
74-93, Laws governing fornication, adultery, killing, stealing, and
confession of sins are set forth.
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The Doctrine of Christ and the Law
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi sets forth just what the Doctrine
of Christ is in 2 Nephi 31. Of that doctrine, it is faith unto repentance,
coupled with the baptism of new birth signified by the baptisms of water and
of fire (the Spirit), and thence on forward having a 'perfect brightness of
hope and a love of God and all men', which is charity. The initial commitment
and baptism unto Christ is but the 'gate' by which we enter. Concerning
what is next Nephi states:
"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait
and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for
ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken
faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a
perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and all men. Wherefore, if ye
shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the
end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
Now this pressing forward is to keep the Law of God and to endure to the end
with that faith of action, keeping the commandments of the word of God to the
extend to which they are so revealed by the spirit of God. Here then is the
Law of God which marks the 'path' that those who are of Christ's people, his
disciples, are to follow and keep, lest they wander off of the path into
forbidden by ways.
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1 HEARKEN, O ye elders of my
achurch, who have assembled yourselves together in my name,
even Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world;
inasmuch as ye believe on my name and keep my
commandmentsa.
2 Again I say unto you, hearken and hear and obey the
alaw which I shall give unto you.
3 For verily I say, as ye have assembled yourselves together
according to the acommandment wherewith I commanded you,
and are agreed as btouching this one thing, and have asked
the Father in my name, even so ye shall receive.
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1a keep my commandments In a
broad general sense this is the essence of the strait and narrow path, to
walk in the ways of the Lord as they are revealed to a person, line upon line,
precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:10, 13; 2 Nephi 28:30; D&C 98:11-12; D&C
128:21). And while we may be at a certain place, level or point upon that
path, it ought not be thought that all has been received or revealed as
pertaining to the ways, walk and commandments of God. For indeed, much is
still yet to be revealed by which we must live in order to be and to become
even as the Gods of eternity are. To some this may be but the 10 commandments,
to others as is in this section given, to live the 'Law of God', and to
others it may be to comply with the ordinances of the Temple of God. And yet
to others, it is to walk even further by ever advancing commands and ways of
God as further so revealed to them for the glory of God is such as that
intelligence of knowledge of all things and as to whatever degree and point
of that intelligence to which we obtain to here in this life, so much more
the advantage is to us in the life to come (D&C 130:18-21). And now another
point, that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel is true,
for it does contain this principle of continueous revelation from God line
upon line though it does not or could not contain every single command,
precept or principle so required of us to eventually become as the Gods are.
That continued path will go on even after this life ends as we will in that
realm also have further understandings given unto us for as to become even as
God is.
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