D&C Section Eighty Two

Joseph Smith has made the second of four trips to Missouri. A conference is held there where he is sustained by the saints as the President of the Church in the same manner he had been sustained in Ohio by the saints there. In an intermission of the conference, Edward Partridge and Sidney Rigdon settled some differences they had had between themselves. In this revelation, the Lord uses this instance of forgiving to teach important principles concerning forgiveness and how he forgives. He first warns the saints that having received greater light, were they to sin, there would be greater condemnation. When the Lord gives us sacred knowledge, if we ignore it and sin against it, the sin is greater than someone who never knew and sinned in the same manner. The sobering thing about this is, when we seriously sin, we lose the benefits of baptism and all our former sins return that had previously been made clean. On the other hand, when a person repents, all the sins removed and the Lord promises he will never mention them to us. He says he will not lay any sin to our charge. This is something he is bound to by divine law.

The other principle taught here is something that was taught to the Ohio saints concerning the Law of Consecration and is made more clear here. He says he is doing this because he want them to be equal, "or in other words, you are to have equal claims on the properties... so that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents... " Talents in this case refers to wealth.

D&C Section Eighty One

You have to wonder how a person can be highly esteemed enough to be called as a counselor to the prophet and then shortly thereafter fall far enough to be excommunicated. What a great opportunity was squandered by Jesse Gause. One key point in verse two is the Lord saying that the keys of the kingdom always belong in the first presidency of the church. A prophet can fall, a counselor can fall, but the keys remain with the presidency. A year from the date of this revelation, the first presidency will be formally organized. Eventually, they keys will be also be given to the 12 apostles, but not the right to exercise those keys unless they become a part of the first presidency.

The basic duties of a counselor in the presidency (or in any presidency) are listed in this revelation.

1. Be faithful in counsel. To me a good counselor never holds back, but speaks frankly, even if those words are contrary to what others are saying. Once the decision is made, the counsel ends and should turn to absolute support of the decision.
2. Pray always. A good counselor always maintains his spiritual power so that he can be in tune with the Lord and the quorum.
3. Proclaim the gospel. A counselor should have a strong grasp of the doctrine and be able to teach and speak convincingly.
4. Be faithful. A good counselor is a rock. He can be counted on to be steadfast and immovable in his allegiance.
5. Stand in the office to which you have been appointed. To me, this means fulfill all of your duties to the best of your ability.
6. Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, strengthen the feeble knees. Like the Savior did, the most important thing a priesthood holder does is care for those who have needs beyond their means.

D&C Section Seventy Nine & Eighty

Joseph Smith called Jared Carter a man of mighty faith. Section 79 is a four verse revelation that is typical of the missions men were called on. Carter is called to the eastern countries, from place to place, city to city. No specific location, not specific time frame, and not quite the same as being called to the New York Rochester Mission for one and a half or two years. The Lord promises Carter that he will have the Holy Ghost with him to teach him what is true and to show him the way that he should go. In Section 80, the mission call to Stephen Burnett and Eden Smith is even more general. They are called to preach and the Lord says it doesn't matter if they go north, south, east or west. The Lord promises that no matter where they go, they "cannot go amiss."

Once in Salt Lake City, the mission locations would become more specific as would the mission assignments. The only challenge then was that you never knew when, if or where you would be called until your name and mission was announced in general conference. I am always amazed how these people would uproot themselves, sometimes more than once, and go to places that they knew were going to be extremely difficult. They considered St. George to be a tough call to receive so I can imagine how difficult it would have been to be the first ones called to the Las Vegas area. Two of the men called to be the first to settle in the Vegas area reacted in opposite ways as told by their daughters. One man refused making his daughter very happy. The other daughter cried when her father's name was also called. The first daughter asked her if she was crying because her father accepted the call. The other daughter replied that she would have been disappointed in her father if he hadn't accepted. But the fact that she was crying showed how difficult it was

D&C Section Seventy Eight

This is the first revelation that gives details into establishing a Bishop's Storehouse to make sure that all the saints are provided for. In the second verse, the Lord specifies that he has ordained Joseph Smith and is giving the commandment through him. One thought on ordination. Ordination gives a person authority, but does not give them power. Power comes as a result of God's help because we are worthy to receive it. Sometimes, unfortunately, priesthood holders assume that because they have authority, they have power. A priesthood holder who understands the nature of his authority, know he has no power to exercise that authority unless he is receiving power beyond his own abilities.

The reasons for establishing the storehouse are:

1. v.3 There has to be an organization in place for providing for the poor.
2. v. 5-6 There must be equal opportunity for all members to obtain heavenly things, so there must be equal opportunity to obtain temporal things. This doesn't mean everyone is equal, only that all have an equal opportunity to achieve.
3. v. 7 This is a celestial law and is based on celestial principles.
4. v. 14 Regardless of what happens to the church or what may be happening in the world, the church needs to be able to stand independent so that it never relies on an outside source for assistance. Were that the case, say if it called upon the government for help, it would then always be beholding to the government and the government could then exercise some control over the church. The church has shown that this principle is inspired. There are few, if any, organizations, who can claim the self reliance the church does.

D&C Section Seventy Seven

This is a series of questions that Joseph had concerning the Book of Revelations and the answers he received. Since we've already covered the Book of Revelations, there is just one thing I would like comment on in this section and it's verse two. In this verse, we learn that everything that lives as a physical presence and a spiritual presence and the two of them are in likeness of each other. In other words, our spirits pretty much look like our bodies. I am convinced that our conception of what is beautiful is going to change drastically when it is no longer limited to this world's standards. I think we will see more beauty in more things, and what we previously would have cast aside as not beautiful will look beautiful to us. The lesson to me is I should see more beauty in the things and in the people around me. I have a feeling I would enjoy life a bit more if I did.

D&C Section Seventy Six

This section is always referred to in terms of the three kingdoms of glory. But what is often ignored are the numerous and wonderful promises the Lord makes to those who believe in him and follow him. The other thing that's often overlooked is the fact that this is a vision that encompasses everything with Joseph and Sidney seeing things from the beginning premortal life to after the millennium. Joseph is only sharing a very small portion of what he and Sidney saw. And like Nephi in 1 Nephi 14, and people the Lord appeared to in 3 Nephi 26 and 27, and the Lord's instructions to his apostles in Mark 9, Joseph is commanded not to write what he saw. In this case, the Lord says that it's not possible for man to know these things unless it's shown them by Holy Ghost. Which means that the power of the Holy Ghost was the "engine" in this vision.

In the first vision, Joseph was overcome by the glory of the Father and Son. One can only wonder how more overwhelming seeing the Father and the Son in their celestial glory surrounded by numberless angels must have been. And then the contrast of getting a glimpse of outer darkness must have been monumental. In describing 11 different qualities the people have who are worthy of the celestial kingdom, there is one key verse for me, verse 69. The Lord says that these people are those "who are just men [and women] made perfect through Jesus" and his atonement. They did not make themselves perfect, but the Savior completed this last level of growth. This is comforting to me, especially when I get on myself for falling short.

Another thing that is interesting to me is that in describing the different degrees of glory, the Lord points out that it isn't just a difference of brightness, but a difference of glory. For example, the moon's glory is a reflection of the sun's while the sun produces it's own brilliance and is not a reflection of something.

When Joseph and Sidney say this vision, there were others in the room. They say that Joseph and Sidney were translucent, glowing white in their countenance. Joseph would say something like "I'm see this" and Sidney would say "I see the same." When it was over and Joseph and Sidney were riding back in the wagon, Sidney had to lay down in the wagon's bed as he was totally overcome with exhaustion. Joseph laughed and remarked to another person with them, "Sidney isn't as used to this as I am."

D&C Section Seventy Five

At the conference of the church, a number of the missionaries wanted to know what their duties were. Joseph received this revelation which paired up a number of them and sent them either north, south, east, or west. It's interesting how it's very rare that they are sent to a specific place. It's as if the Lord is saying spread out across the land and cover it as best you can. This is a good missionary section of the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord commands the missionaries to put their whole heart into the work, to call on the Holy Ghost to teach them all things, to pray, and to preach the truth according to the revelations they have received from the Lord, not the ones they've received from Paul, or Moses, or an ancient apostle. What the ancient prophets said was important, but what is more important is what the Lord is saying in our time. Missionaries who try to convince people by the Bible are missing the whole point of the restoration and that is, God speaks to mankind today just as he did anciently. He speaks to prophets today just as he did in previous eras. There can't be any more important religious message for our times than that. Missionaries who try to show people that "we're just like you" are going to fail. We aren't like any other religion and for those who are seeking the truth, that is of the key. For those who aren't, it will be a thorn in their side that irritates them to no end. This is why, to me, it's so important to know the doctrine, not get caught up in the social elements, but know the scriptures so your decisions are based on truth.