D&C Section Eleven

When Alvin, the oldest son of the Smith's was dying, he said to Hyrum, "Hyrum, I must die. Take care care of [our parents] in their old age, and do not any more let them work hard." Hyrum, from that point on, spent the rest of his life caring for them and the rest of the family. He was especially mindful of Joseph and was by his side through everything, including Liberty Jail and their martyrdom. It was Hyrum who hid pages of the translation under his vest and coat and took them to the printer and back. This was a more dangerous mission then we realize. He was one of the eight witnesses of the plates of the Book of Mormon and served as patriarch to the church. Joseph once said, "Brother Hyrum, what a faithful heart you have got! Oh may the Eternal Jehovah crown blessings upon you head, as a reward for the care you have had for my soul." At another time he said, "I could pray in my heart that all my brethren were like unto my beloved brother Hyrum, who possesses the mildness of a lamb, the integrity of a Job, and in short, the meekness and humility of Christ; and I love him with the love that is stronger than death, for I never had a occasion to rebuke him, nor he me."

One night, mother Smith had a vision of Hyrum and Joseph escaping from Liberty Jail and saw them struggling across the plains to get to the saints. She said they looked exhausted and pale. She stayed up the rest of the night preparing for them to come and they arrived the next morning.

In Section 11, a revelation given through Joseph to Hyrum who had come down to Harmony to see his brother and asked what the Lord would have him do, we learn more about revelation and how the Spirit works. We're taught that if we trust in the Spirit, it will lead us to do good, to be fair, to be humble. It will enlighten our mind and will fill us with joy. It is by the Spirit that we can know the desires of our hearts. Hyrum has desires to be a missionary, but the Lord wisely counsels him to wait until he has a knowledge of the restored gospel. When he has that, the Lord promises him that he will be able to teach by the power of the Spirit for that is how men will be convinced of the truth. I think there is a process there, not just of learning and having the Spirit before teaching, but if we follow what the Lord says, if we first have understanding, that is when the desire comes to serve the Lord, and after we have that understanding and desire, we will have the power of the Spirit.