Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 55

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
             SECTION 55

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to William W. Phelps, at Kirtland, Ohio, June 1831. HC 1:184-186. William W. Phelps, a printer, and his family had just arrived at Kirtland, and the Prophet sought the Lord for information concerning him.

     
    1-3, W. W. Phelps is called and chosen to be baptized, ordained an elder, and preach the gospel; He is also to write books for children in church schools;
    4, He is also to write books for children in church schools;
    5-6, He is to travel to Missouri, which will be the area of his labors.
 1 BEHOLD, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant William, yea, even the Lord of the whole aearth, thou art called and chosen; and after thou hast been bbaptized by water, which if you do with an eye single to my glorya, you shall have a remission of your sins and a reception of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of chands.

 2 And then thou shalt be ordained by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., to be an elder unto this church, to preach repentance and aremission of sins by way of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

 3 And on whomsoever you shall alay your hands, if they are contrite before me, you shall have power to give the Holy Spirit.

 1a with an eye single to my glory While this is metaphorically imagery of centering oneself in Christ, the 'eye' is the most physically direct input into the brain, mind or being of a person. Of course there is the other senses as well and there is certainly spirit communication, spirit to spirit. And yet, with and by the principle of agency, there is a matter of personal selection and choice. There takes an effort to so desire self to be in line and receptive to the avenue or path of God and righteousness. The natural man or creature's nature is to aline itself solely to the 'needs' of the flesh over all else. To be 'spiritually minded' is a personal selection of choice, of leting Christ in and being of one with HIM, that righteousness might enter in, that the spirit might so overcome the natural man and supject it unto the spirit of God, that spirit child of God, within. There are many ways in which we do so align ourselves unto being one with God, having our 'eye' single to him and his glory is metaphorically one such manner. By this we are on the path, that way and road which is narrow, strait and leads straight to Heaven by having our 'eye' single unto him.
 4 And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting and writing abooks for bschools in this church, that little cchildren also may receive dinstruction before me as is pleasing unto me.

 5 And again, verily I say unto you, for this cause you shall take your journey with my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that you may be aplanted in the land of your inheritance to do this work.

 6 And again, let my servant aJoseph Coe also take his journey with them. The residue shall be made known hereafter, even as I will, Amen.