Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 97

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
             SECTION 97

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, August 2, 1833. HC 1:400-402. This revelation deals particularly with the affairs of the saints in Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, in response to the Prophet's inquiry of the Lord for information. Members of the Church in Missouri were at this time subjected to severe persecution, and on July 23, 1833, had been forced to sign an agreement to leave Jackson County.

     
    1-2, Many of the saints in Zion (Jackson County, Missouri) are blessed for their faithfulness;
    3-5, Parley P. Pratt is commended for his labors in the school in Zion;
    6-9, Those who observe their covenants are accepted by the Lord;
    10-17, A house is to be built in Zion in which the pure in heart shall see God;
    18-21, Zion is the pure in heart;
    22-28, Zion shall escape the Lord's scourge if she is faithful.
 1 Verily I say unto you my friends, I speak unto you with my avoice, even the voice of my Spirit, that I may show unto you my will concerning your brethren in the land of bZion, many of whom are truly humble and are seeking diligently to learn wisdom and to find truth.

 2 Verily, verily I say unto you, blessed are such, for they shall obtain; for I, the Lord, show mercy unto all the ameek, and upon all whomsoever I will, that I may be bjustified when I shall bring them unto judgment.

 3 Behold, I say unto you, concerning the school in Zion, I, the Lord, am well pleased that there should be a aschool in Zion, and also with my servant bParley P. Pratt, for he abideth in me.

 4 And inasmuch as he continueth to abide in me he shall continue to preside over the school in the land of Zion until I shall give unto him other commandments.

 5 And I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings, in expounding all scriptures and mysteries to the edificationa of the aschool, and of the church in Zion.

 5a expounding all scriptures and mysteries to the edification The covering 'all' scriptural subjects, even unto the mysteries is good, but not in and of themselves, for there must be a justification of so doing the the proper end of building up and 'edifying' of the person unto God. Thus bring them closer and nearer unto God and the ways of God unto goodness, mercy and righteousness, that man may be raise unto the level of God and eventually become even as the Gods are. And any delving in the scriptures and mysteries that do not edify man unto God are not of God and not for the benefit of man and must be avoided. The operative word here being 'delving', that is becoming envolved in mysteries for the pure sake of the mystery, it becoming the ends thereof and not unto God and his ways and purposes. Becoming overly envolved in any one aspect of the gospel to the exclusion of other viable parts of it is to so delve and to become preocupied by the singular when the gospel itself is made up of a multiplicity of matters unto the various blessings of man, bring him to God.
 6 And to the residue of the school, I, the Lord, am willing to show mercy; nevertheless, there are those that must needs be achastened, and their works shall be made known.

 7 The aax is laid at the root of the trees; and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire. I, the Lord, have spoken it.

 8 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are ahonest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are bwilling to observe their covenants by csacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are daccepted of me.

 9 For I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful atree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit.

 10 Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that a ahouse should be built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the bpattern which I have given you.

 11 Yea, let it be built speedily, by the tithing of my people.

 12 Behold, this is the atithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a bhouse built unto me for the salvation of Zion—

 13 For a place of athanksgiving for all saints, and for a place of instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry in all their several callings and offices;

 14 That they may be perfected in the aunderstanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the bkingdom of God on the earth, the ckeys of which kingdom have been dconferred upon you.

 15 And inasmuch as my people abuild a bhouse unto me in the cname of the Lord, and do not suffer any dunclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my eglory shall rest upon it;

 16 Yea, and my apresence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the bpure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.

 17 But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into aunholy temples.

 18 And, now, behold, if Zion do these things she shall aprosper, and spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very terrible.

 19 And the anations of the earth shall honor her, and shall say: Surely bZion is the city of our God, and surely Zion cannot fall, neither be moved out of her place, for God is there, and the hand of the Lord is there;

 20 And he hath sworn by the power of his might to be her salvation and her high atower.

 21 Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is aZion—THE PURE IN HEART; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn.

 22 For behold, and lo, avengeance cometh speedily upon the ungodly as the whirlwind; and who shall escape it?

 23 The Lord's ascourge shall pass over by night and by day, and the report thereof shall vex all people; yea, it shall not be stayed until the Lord come;

 24 For the aindignation of the Lord is kindled against their abominations and all their works.

 25 Nevertheless, Zion shall aescape if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her.

 26 But if she aobserve not to do whatsoever I have commanded her, I will bvisit her caccording to all her works, with sore affliction, with dpestilence, with eplague with sword, with fvengeance, with gdevouring fire.

 27 Nevertheless, let it be read this once to her ears, that I, the Lord, have accepted her offering; and if she sin no more anone of these things shall come upon her;

 28 And I will bless her with ablessings, and multiply a multiplicity of blessings upon her, and upon her generations forever and ever, saith the Lord your God. Amen.