Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 71

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
SECTION 71 Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. HC 1:238—239. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allow the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of some newspaper articles by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.
1—4, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are sent forth to proclaim the gospel; 5—11, Enemies of the saints shall be confounded.
1 BEHOLD, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in ^aproclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the ^bmysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will. 2 Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round about, and in the church also, for the space of a season, even until it shall be ^amade known unto you.		1^a Deut. 32:1; Isa. 1:2; Isa. 49:1 ^b 3 Ne. 27:3 (1-8); D&C 20:1; D&C 21:3; TG Jesus Christ, Head of Church ^c Ps. 33:18; Amos 9:8; D&C 38:7 (7-8); TG God, Omniscience of
3 Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you. 4 Wherefore, ^alabor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.		1^a Deut. 32:1; Isa. 1:2; Isa. 49:1 ^b 3 Ne. 27:3 (1-8); D&C 20:1; D&C 21:3; TG Jesus Christ, Head of Church ^c Ps. 33:18; Amos 9:8; D&C 38:7 (7-8); TG God, Omniscience of
5 Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him ^aunderstand and ^breceive also; 6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more ^aabundantly, even power. 7 Wherefore, ^aconfound your ^benemies; call upon them to ^cmeet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their ^dshame shall be made manifest.		1^a Deut. 32:1; Isa. 1:2; Isa. 49:1 ^b 3 Ne. 27:3 (1-8); D&C 20:1; D&C 21:3; TG Jesus Christ, Head of Church ^c Ps. 33:18; Amos 9:8; D&C 38:7 (7-8); TG God, Omniscience of
8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their ^astrong reasons against the Lord^a. 9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no ^aweapon that is formed against you shall prosper;	8^a let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord The reasoning and wisdom of men, the ] contrivance of man's self generated knowledge and understanding is the basis of all traditional Christianity, for men had contrived it and imagined up of their own inovations. Such concepts as the 3-in-1 God of the Nicene Creed is but the contrivance of man. That the administration of angels and that the signs of miracles which is but the gifts of the spirit are no longer necessary is but a lie of Satan which is used to cease the administration of the Holy Ghost among the children of men and to stop them from obtaining the kingdom of heaven. Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon, after 'correcting' much of the Bible, now had opportunity to fine tune their understanding of the truth as revealed through such administration of the Holy Spirit. That such truth should stand to confounding of the false doctrines of men is the eventuality of the Lord's work when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ and that the truth of the gospel is the one truth of God under heaven unto all men every where and in every time. To this end would the truth prevail and Joseph and Sydney were to get exprience in presenting it verbally before the learned men of traditional Christianity. And the only way in which those of the false religions could temporarily prevail was to bring false charges againsts God's true ministers.	1^a Deut. 32:1; Isa. 1:2; Isa. 49:1 ^b 3 Ne. 27:3 (1-8); D&C 20:1; D&C 21:3; TG Jesus Christ, Head of Church ^c Ps. 33:18; Amos 9:8; D&C 38:7 (7-8); TG God, Omniscience of
10 And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be ^aconfounded in mine own due time. 11 Wherefore, ^akeep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen.