Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 6

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
SECTION 6 Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829. HC 1:32—35. Oliver Cowdery began his labors as scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon, 'April 7, 1829. He had already received a divine manifestation of the truth of the Prophet's testimony respecting the plates on which was engraved the Book of Mormon record. The Prophet inquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim and recieved this response.
1—6, Laborers in the Lord's field gain salvation; 7—13, There is no gift greater than the gift of salvation; 14—27, Witness of truth comes by the power of the Spirit; 28—37, Look unto Christ and do good continually.
D&C 6:1 A GREAT and ^amarvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men. D&C 6:2 Behold, I am God; give heed unto my ^aword, which is quick and powerful, ^bsharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words.
D&C 6:3 Behold, the ^afield is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day ^blasts, that he may ^ctreasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God. D&C 6:4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is ^acalled of God.
D&C 6:5 Therefore, if you will ^aask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. D&C 6:6 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and ^aseek to bring forth and establish the cause of ^bZion; D&C 6:7 ^aSeek not for the ^briches but for ^cwisdom, and behold, the ^bmysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, then shall you be made ^erich. Behold, he that hath ^feternal life is rich.
D&C 6:8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you ^adesire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much ^bgood in this generation. D&C 6:9 Say nothing but ^arepentance unto this generation; keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to the commandments, and you shall be blessed.
D&C 6:10 Thou hast a gift, and blessed art thou because of thy ^agift. Remember it is ^bsacred and cometh from above— D&C 6:11 And if thou wilt ^ainquire, thou shalt know ^bmysteries which are great and marvelous; therefore thou shalt exercise thy ^cgift, that thou mayest find out mysteries^a, that thou mayest bring ^dmany to the knowledge of the truth, yea, ^econvince them of the error of their ways. D&C 6:12 Make not thy gift known^a unto any save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with ^asacred things^b. D&C 6:13 If thou wilt do ^agood, yea, and ^bhold out ^cfaithful to the ^dend, thou shalt be saved in the ^ekingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the ^fgifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of ^gsalvation^a. Thou Hast a Gift Oliver was told that he had a 'gift' a sacred 'gift', which cometh from above. This gift was not the priesthood power of God which would not be given until the next month of April. Joseph Smith had had a special gift, a manifestation of the Father and the Son while still a lad. And he was not charged to NOT tell of it, though to some he told it to did not seem a wise choice to do so. Oliver Cowdery had has some special manifestation and direction given him of God which the Lord reminds him about in verses 14-17 which seems to be a special gift of receiving direct revelations from God whereupon he also earnestly had sought them. Was Oliver also a 'visionary man' like unto Joseph Smith or merely enlightened and empressed in his mind. Later Oliver will not be able to translate from the lack of being about to search out and receive such enlightened impressions which would enable him to translate. What then was Oliver's special gift? Thus far we have only seemed to narrow it down to Oliver being able to receive direct revelation enlightenment when he did earnestly seek it. Moses, Jonah and other prophets of God did also seem to have such a direct revelation link to the heavens and God. These men spoke directly to and with God. Though Joseph Smith was God's chosen prophet, did Oliver Cowdery have a like gift of direct revelation from God? There is some evidence that Oliver did have such a gift for it was Oliver who did first proclaim, though prematurely that Independence, Missouri was the sight of the New Jerusalem. And Oliver's falling out with the Prophet seemed to center around Oliver's pride that he two was able to receive revelations just as Joseph Smith was able to, and he felt himself not just second to the Prophet of God, but on an equal stading, not being subject to the Lord's mouth piece as the order of heaven should be arranged.	11^a thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries Because of Oliver's sacred and special gift of revelation, just what mysteries of the Lord would Oliver be able to 'divine'? Did it include vision even to the extend of seeing and being a personal witness of Jesus Christ. Oliver would be called and ordained to the high office of Apostle and Special Witness of Jesus Christ. And Oliver would, if he had not already be previlleged to a part of visitations of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. April 3, 1836 is one such well documented such vision of seeing the Lord Jesus Christ in the Kirtland Temple. Was that the first time Oliver had seen and witnessed the Lord? or was this experience as evidenced by the wording of verse 37 Oliver's first witness of Jesus Christ. Or had Oliver even seen Jesus Christ before this time and event? Joseph Smith had in the course of events beginnng with the Sacred Grove when but a lad. Was Oliver also such a visionary man? This does seem to be the criteria of an apostle of he Lord. 12^a Make not thy gift known If Oliver Cowdery was NOT to make his 'gift' generally known then how are we to dissect what it might have been. Would the Lord openly state what it was so that as it was latter printed as part of the Doctrine and Covenants, it would be written to and be accessible to the world while He had told Olive NOT to let it be known but to those of the faith? The Church was not yet established so the term 'faith' here seems not to apply to members of the Church but perhaps to those who did share a sure and pure faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 12^b Trifle not with sacred things Whatever the 'gift' was, it further seems to have been deemed as being of a highly sacred nature not to be trifled with. This was April 1829, on May 15, 1829 Joseph and Oliver would be ordained by John the Baptist to the Aaronic Priesthood and the power of the administering of of angels. And later that spring, Joseph and Oliver would be ordained to that High Priesthood of Melchizedek and to the postitions of being Apostles of the Lord. Apostles have a specific charge to be Especial Witnesses of Jesus Christ, having received a personal witness of Him, that He does exist and live. At the organization of the Church on April 6, 1830, Joseph and Oliver would be officially ordained as the Church's First and Second Elders, Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Had Oliver received his personal special witness of Jesus Christ by then or was it to be much later on April 3, 1836 when the Lord appeared to both of them in the Kirtland Temple. 13^a there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation. In one sense the gift of salvation is to all men whereas exaltation may or may not be included in the general usage of the term salvation. Was this the sacred gift which Oliver was told not to speak of? Faithful Christians have always proclaimed that through Jesus Christ they were or would be saved. It seems that this was likely not the special gift which Oliver was not to so publicly devulge.
D&C 6:14 Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou ^ainquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time. D&C 6:15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I have enlightened thy ^amind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been ^benlightened by the ^cSpirit of truth; D&C 6:16 Yea, I tell thee things, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that ^aknowest thy thoughts and of the ^bintents of thy ^cheart. D&C 6:17 I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee—that the words or the work which thou hast been writing are ^atrue.
D&C 6:18 Therefore be diligent; ^astand by my ^bservant Joseph, faithfully, in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the the word's sake. D&C 6:19 Admonish him in his faults, and also ^areceive admonition of him. ^bBe patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity. D&C 6:20 Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore ^atreasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and ^bdiligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my ^clove.
D&C 6:21 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the ^aSon of God. I am the same that came unto mine ^bown, and mine own received me not. I am the ^clight which shineth in ^ddarkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. D&C 6:22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might ^aknow concerning the truth of these things. D&C 6:23 Did I not speak ^apeace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater ^bwitness can you have than from God?
D&C 6:24 And now, behold, you have received a ^awitness; for if I have ^btold you things which no man knoweth have you not received a witness? D&C 6:25 And, behold, I grant unto you a gift, if you desire of me, to ^atranslate^a, even as my servant Joseph. D&C 6:26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that there are ^arecords which contain much of my gospel, which have been kept back because of the ^bwickedness of the people; D&C 6:27 And now I command you, that if you have good desires—a desire to lay up ^atreasures for yourself in heaven—then shall you assist in bringing to light, with your gift, those parts of my ^bscriptures which have been hidden because of iniquity.	25^a I grant unto you a gift, if you desire of me, to translate This gift of translation seems not to qualify as the previous gift was stated that 'thou hast a gift', not that it will be 'in the future granted if you desire'. This seems to mutually and exclusively set the prior gift which Oliver was already given to be apart from this other 'conditional gift' to be yet give upon an if then senario.
D&C 6:28 And now, behold, I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the ^akeys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or three ^bwitnesses shall every word be established. D&C 6:29 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if they ^areject my words, and this part of my gospel and ministry, blessed are ye, for they can do no more unto you than unto me. D&C 6:30 And even if they ^ado unto you even as they have done unto me, blessed are ye, for you shall ^bdwell with me in ^cglory. D&C 6:31 But if they ^areject not my words, which shall be established by the ^btestimony which shall be given, blessed are they, and then shall ye have joy in the fruit of your labors.
D&C 6:32 Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as ^atouching ^bone thing, behold, there will I be in the ^cmidst of them—even so am I in the ^dmidst of you. D&C 6:33 ^aFear not to do ^bgood, my sons, for whatsoever ye ^csow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow ^dgood ye shall also reap good for your ^ereward. D&C 6:34 Therefore, fear not, little ^aflock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are ^bbuilt upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
D&C 6:35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and ^asin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. D&C 6:36 ^aLook unto me^a in every ^bthought; ^cdoubt not, fear not. D&C 6:37 ^aBehold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the ^bnails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall ^cinherit the ^dkingdom of heaven. Amen. Behold My Wounds "Behold the wounds which pierced by side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet." Had what began as an inquiry through the use of the Urim and Thummim just turned into a personal witness of Jesus Christ? Had Oliver Cowdery now been witness of the Savior and seen him in person 'beholding' His very wounds in his side, hands and feet? What does it mean when the Lord tells one to 'Behold My Wounds?' Some might consider it but a figurative invitation to the mind to so consider them. So do others seem to think that when the scriptures state that one spoke to the Lord face to face as one man speaketh to another, that it is but the felt influence of the spirit and not a personal being to being account. We know that Joseph Smith had seen the Father and the Son as two separte beings of flesh and bone. And we understand that the ancient prophets did so witness and visit with God, ' seeing his spirit body or being which is in the same image of the mortal body. Now just what is to be considered when the Lord tells Oliver Cowdery in the presence of Joseph Smith to, 'Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet.' Was Oliver a personal witness of Jesus Christ or not? This was in April of 1829 and in one years time Oliver would stand at the side of the Prophet Joseph Smith as the Second Elder and Apostle of the newly organized Church of Jesus Christ. Was he not such a special witness? Later in the history of the Church, it was Oliver Cowdery who gave to the Twelve Apostles their charge of responsibility, that they too would need to have a personal witness from heaven of Jesus Christ. (See 'The Promised Messiah', pages 592-594 and 'History of the Church', 2:192-98.)	36^a Look unto me Oliver Cowdery had been seeking a greater witness from the Lord concerning the work he was assisting Joseph Smith in bring forth. The Lord had reminded him of an instance when he had already received such a witness. Then the Lord tells him that only He could know of such private matters, and that this in itself was also a further witness to Oliver. But here in this verse and in the next verse there may have been given the greatest personal witness of them all. The Lord says, 'Look unto me' and is so looking what would Oliver see? Many who have been called to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ have received that personal witness of him with the command to not tell of the experience, but to keep it sacred unto themselves. As Second Elder and Apostle of the Lord, did Olive at this time receive such a witness? Consider verse 37. Oliver Cowdery, Apostle Though never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Oliver Cowdery and even David Whitmer were called to the position and calling of being Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as such to be special witnesses of Him. In June of 1829, both Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were stated in D&C 18:9, to have been called to the same calling with which the Apostle Paul was called. Both had seen the Angel Moroni upon their journey from Harmony to the residence of the Whitmer's when that messenger was called upon to convey the plates safely back to the 'Land of Cumorah' rather than to risk them traveling with Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer along the way. Mary Whitmer also saw this same messenger angel when he showed to her the plates as the only recorded female witness of the plates. In April 1830 at the organization of the Church, as recored in D&C 20:3, along with Joseph Smith being ordained as the First Elder and Apostle of the Chruch, Oliver Cowdery was so stated that he was called of God as an Apostle of Jesus Christ and to be the Second Elder of the Church. And D&C 21:10 clarely states that Oliver Cowdery was an Apostle of the Lord. In such a calling Oliver Cowdery did stand as a 'Special Witness of Jesus Christ'. Whether Oliver openly spoke of his personal witness of the Savior or not, here in section 18, we have such an opportunity as when it might have first occured.	APOSTLES Special Witnesses of Christ Apostles are Special Witnesses of Jesus Christ. They witness by their own personal witness of Christ to the divinity of His existence and His gospel. Often these Special Witnesses tend to keep the events of their personal special witness sacred to themselves and only share it upon the promptings of the spirit to do so. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were such witnesses. Joseph saw the Savior in the Sacred Grove when but a Lad and both Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith are recorded as witnesses to the visitation of the Lord to His Temple in Kirtland, Ohio on April 3, 1836 as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants section 110. While there may will have been other such personal visitations and witnesses, they are not all so openly recorded and told as the occations of these recorded visitations. Just as the resurrected Lord revealed himself to his ancient Apostles, that they might witness of Him, so has the Lord given such personal witnesses to those who are called to be his Apostles today, that they may so witness of him to the world, that He lives. That Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had been ordained by Peter, James and John, and at which time they where so ordained to be 'especial witnesses of Jesus Christ is so stated in D&C 27:12. John the Baptist had restored the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on May 15, 1829. A short time after, during that same spring, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were visited by Peter, James and John and ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood and as stated in D&C 27:12, they were also set forth to be Apostles and Especial Witness of Jesus Christ.