Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 59

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
SECTION 59 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, August 7, 1831. HC 1:196—201. Preceding his record of this revelation, the Prophet writes descriptively of the land of Zion wherein the people were then assembled. The land was consecrated, as the Lord had directed, and the site for the future temple was dedicated. The Lord makes these commandments especially applicable to the saints in Zion.
1—4, The faithful saints in Zion shall be blessed; 5—8, They are to love and serve the Lord and keep his commandments; 9—19, By keeping the Lord's day holy, the saints are blessed temporarlly ]and spiritually; 20—24, The righteous are promised peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come.
D&C 59:1 Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an ^aeye single to my glory, according to my commandments. D&C 59:2 For those that live shall ^ainherit the earth, and those that ^bdie shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a ^ccrown in the ^bmansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them.		1^a Matt. 6:22 (22-24) 2^a Matt. 5:5; D&C 57:5; D&C 63:20 (20, 48-49) ^b Isa. 57:1 (1-2); Rev. 14:13; TG Paradise ^c TG Celestial Glory; TG Exaltation ^d Ps. 65:4; John 14:2; D&C 72:4; D&C 76:111; D&C 81:6; D&C 98:18; D&C 106:8
D&C 59:3 Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its ^astrength. D&C 59:4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with ^acommandments not a few, and with ^brevelations in their time--they that are ^cfaithful and ^ddiligent before me.		3^a Gen. 4:12; Moses 4:23-24; Moses 5:37; TG Strength 4^a Alma 29:9; ^b D&C 42:61; D&C 76:7; D&C 98:12; D&C 101:32; D&C 121:28 (26-33); TG Revelation ^c TG Steadfastness TG Worthiness ^d TG Diligence
D&C 59:5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt ^alove the Lord thy God with all thy ^bheart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt ^cserve him. D&C 59:6 Thou shalt ^alove thy ^bneighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not ^csteal; neither commit ^dadultery, nor ^ekill, nor do anything ^flike unto it.		3^a Ps. 110:2 (1-4) 4^a Gen. 41:52 (50-52); D&C 133:34 (30-34); TG Israel, Joseph, People of ^b 2 Ne. 21:10 (10-12)
D&C 59:7 Thou shalt ^athank the Lord thy God in all things. D&C 59:8 Thou shalt offer a ^asacrifice unto the Lord thy God in ^brighteousness, even that of a broken heart and a ^ccontrite spirit. D&C 59:9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself ^aunspotted from the world^a, thou shalt go to the house of ^bprayer and offer up thy ^csacraments upon my ^dholy day; The Lord's Process If we fully understood the significance and intention of the Sacrament and our Sacrament Meeting, we would never miss attendance and participation in the Lord's process of the Sacrement. A central point of that process is stated here in verse 9, 'That thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world.' The purpose of the Sabbath and its Sacrament Meeting is for the benefit of man. It gives man the opportunity to 'rest' from the worldly cares of his existance and concentrate his thoughts solely upon the things of God. And in that frame of mind which is centered upon God, man is to go through the process of seeking God's forgiveness, concentrate upon that which the Lord would next reveal to him and have him do, and then to recommit himself to so live according to the guidance of the spirit which is to always be with him. This process of 'sacrament' is discussed more fully where the sacramental prayers are given. Here it is important to understand that this weekly process of 'sanctification' and partaking of the sacrament is designed to take man step by step, line upon line, on the ever advancing path to man's exaltation. And the process does not end with the partaking of the sacrament. If the bishop, who is the common judge in Israel is doing his job, he will have prepared a program with such topics as will instruct his people according to their needs so that they may further learn of God's word and the ways in which they should so advance. That is the sacrament meeting talks should be designed to be informative, that we might teache one another, the things which the Lord would have us do. And that too becomes a part of the sacramental process of expanding our horizons in the step by step, week by week process of advancing toward heaven and keeping ourselves more fully unspotted from the things of this world.	9^a that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world Man is not perfect and while that is our desired end to become perfect even as Christ and the Father are perfect, the Lord understands the nature of this existence. Through the course of time all fall short of perfect behavior. In order to keep man on the path to God, the Lord has provided that we may raise our level of life to be more consistant with His, renew our commitments and covenants, and gain God's forgiveness and promise of his Spirit to be with us to help us walk in his ways every week.	More Holiness Give Me "More holiness give me, More strivings within, More patience in suff'ring, More sorrow for sin, More faith in my Savior, More sense of his care, More jory in his service, More purpose in prayer. "More gratitufe give me, More trust in the Lord, More pride in his glory, More hope in his word, More tears for his sorrows, More pain at his grief, More meekness in trial, More praise for relief. "More purity give me, More strength to o'ercome, More freedom from earthstains, More longing for home. More fit for the kingdom, More used would I be, More blessed and holy—More, Savior, like thee." ~ Hymn 131 This hymn typifies and summarizes nicely what the sacramental process should be. It should be a process by which we become more like our example and more fit for God's kingdom. It is an on going process which should extend throughout the week and then be set in motion with complete dedication each Sunday in our Lord's process of the Sacrament and Sacrament Meeting.
D&C 59:10 For verily this is a ^aday appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High. D&C 59:11 Nevertheless thy ^avows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; D&C 59:12 But remember that on this, the ^aLord's day, thou shalt offer thine ^boblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, ^cconfessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.		3^a Ps. 110:2 (1-4) 4^a Gen. 41:52 (50-52); D&C 133:34 (30-34); TG Israel, Joseph, People of ^b 2 Ne. 21:10 (10-12)
D&C 59:13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy ^afasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy ^bjoy may be full. D&C 59:14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
D&C 59:15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with ^athanksgiving, with ^bcheerful ^chearts and countenances, not with ^dmuch ^elaughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance— D&C 59:16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the ^afulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
D&C 59:17 Yea, and the herb, and the ^agood things which come of the earth, whether for food or for ^braiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards; D&C 59:18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the ^abenefit and the ^buse of man, both to please the eye and to ^cgladden the heart; D&C 59:19 Yea, for ^afood and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to ^bstrengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
D&C 59:20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to ^aexcess, neither by extortion. D&C 59:21 And in nothing doth man ^aoffend God, or against none is his ^bwrath ^ckindled, save those who ^dconfess not his hand in all things, and ^eobey not his commandments.
D&C 59:22 Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets; wherefore, trouble me no more concerning this matter. D&C 59:23 But learn that he who doeth the works of ^arighteousness shall receive his ^breward, even ^cpeace in this world, and ^deternal life in the world to come. D&C 59:24 I, the Lord, have spoken it, and the Spirit beareth record. Amen.