Doctrine & Covenants 65-68

Doctrine & Covenants 65

“May the Kingdom of God Go forth, that the Heaven may come.” This revelation was designated by the Prophet as a “prayer” (Smith, History of the Church, 1:218).

Speaking of himself, the Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I calculate to be one of the instruments of setting up the kingdom of Daniel by the word of the Lord, and I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world” (Teachings, 366).

Doctrine & Covenants 65:2

“The Stone is rolling forward”

Elder Mark E. Peterson, one of the Quorum of the twelve apostles, testified; the church to which you and I belong is that stone (Daniel 2:45).

“Daniel’s Prophecy”

Surely this would have seemed an awesome thing to the then-infant Church struggling for survival in Kirtland, Ohio, and Jackson County, Missouri.

Doctrine & Covenants 65:6

Kingdom of God

Whenever there has been a righteous man on the earth, unto whom God revealed His word and gave power and authority to administer in His name, and where there is a priest of God… to administer in the ordinances of the gospel, and officiate in the priesthood of God, there is the kingdom of God… (Teachings, 271-72).

This is but another way of saying… “Where the kingdom of God is not there is nothing (Conference Report, Oct., 1953, 26).

Kingdom of Heaven = Millennial Era

Doctrine & Covenants 66

“William McLellin”

Joseph described William as the wisest man in his own estimation, have more learning than sense.

He endeavored to write a commandment and failed miserably. He later apostatized though at the time of this revelation he was in good standing.

In 1848 after McLellin’s disaffection from the Church and after Brigham Young had lead the Saints west, McLellin wrote of his occasion that “I had expected and believed that when I saw Brother Joseph, I should receive (a revelation) and I went before the Lord in secret, and on my knees asked him to reveal the answer to give questions through his prophet, and that too without his having any knowledge of my having made such a request.

I now testify in the fear of God, that every question which I had thus lodged in the ears of the Lord of Sabbath, were answered to my full and entire satisfaction. I desire it for a testimony of Joseph’s inspiration. And I to this day consider it to me an evidence which I cannot refute” (Journals of William E. McLellin, 57; spelling and syntax standardized). (We have no record of the questions themselves).

William was one of the original “Twelve Apostles.” He was excommunicated in 1838, after having been dis-fellowshipped in 1835 and returning to the church.

Shortly after the extermination order was issued and 17 men and boys were massacred at Haun’s Mill, Far West was surrounded by a hostile mob, led by William McLellin and others. Joseph was taken prisoner and put in Richmond jail. Heber J. Kimball was approached by McLellin who sarcastically said:

“What do you think of Joseph the fallen Prophet now?

Has he not led you blindfolded long enough; look and see yourself, poor, your family stripped and robbed and your brethren in the same fix, are you satisfied with Joseph?” Infuriated, Heber called McLellin a traitor and said, “Yes, I am more satisfied with him a hundred-fold than ever I was before, for I see you in the very position that he foretold you would be in; a Judas to betray your brethren, if you did not forsake your adultery…

Where are you now?... Have you not betrayed Joseph and his brethren into the hands of the mob, as Judas did Jesus? Yes you have;

I tell you Mormonism is true and Joseph is a true prophet of the living God; and you with all others who turn there from will be damned and will suffer in hell and Judas will rule over you” (Heber C. Kimball, Journal 94b, Nov 1, 1838, Church Archives).

After his rebuke, McLellin left and stole clothing, books, blankets, and other household items along with a horse-drawn carriage from Joseph’s home.

“While the brethren were imprisoned at Richmond…McLellin, who was a large and active man, went to the sheriff and asked for the privilege of (whipping) the Prophet.

Permission was granted on condition that Joseph would (be willing to) fight. The sheriff made known to Joseph, McLellin’s earnest request, to which Joseph consented, if his (chains) were (removed).

McLellin then refused to fight unless he could have a club, to which Joseph was perfectly willing; but the sheriff would not allow them to fight on such unequal terms (The sheriff knew McLellin would have no chance against the Prophet (History of the Church 3: 215).

In 1847 he attempted to organize a new Church in Kirtland and failed. He joined the Hedrickites in 1869, but left that group 5 months later. His wife joined the Reorganized LDS Church and they moved to Independence, Missouri in 1870. He spent the rest of his life trying to get David Whitmore to organize a Church. He died in Independence in 1883.

Doctrine & Covenants 66:10

Seek not to be cumbered. Forsake all righteousness. Commit not adultery --- a temptation with which thou has been troubled.

Elder Spencer W. Kimball said:

“To want, to desire, to crave – that is to lust, so when the thought is born which starts a chain reaction, a sin has already been committed. If the thought is sown, then develops into lust, it is almost certain to bring eventually the full harvest of the act of the heinous sin, adultery…

“…adultery is not the result of a single thought. There first is a deterioration of thinking. Many sinful chain – thoughts have been coursing through the offender’s mind before the physical sin is committed.

“Yes, as a man thinketh, so does he. If he thinks it long enough he is likely to do it, whether it be theft, moral sin, or suicide. Thus the time to protect against the calamity is when the thought begins to shape itself. Destroy the seed and the plant will never grow.

“Man alone, of all creatures of earth, can change his thought pattern and become the architect of his destiny” (Miracle of Forgiveness, 113-14).

“Commit Not Adultery”

William E. McLellin’s wife, Cinthia, and an infant child had died before the summer of 1831. Extent information suggests that he had a warm and tender relationship with her and that the temptation here mentioned came only after her death and before he married again (Journals of William E. McLellin, 251, spelling and syntax standardized).

Doctrine & Covenants 67

I give you a Testimony of the Truth of these Commandments

Doctrine & Covenants 67:5-8

A Challenge from the Lord!

Some of the Elders at this time were questioning the language of the revelations. They were looking at misspellings, errors in grammar, and other peculiarities which they thought signaled these writings to be the product of Joseph Smith.

Doctrine & Covenants 67:9

“Father of Lights”

Still revelation, he is the embodiment, author, and source of light or in other words the “Father of Lights” (Mormon Doctrine, 278).

Doctrine & Covenants 68

Scripture is the will, mind, word, voice and power of God unto Salvation.

Doctrine & Covenants 68:1

“From people to people, and from land to land”

“The prophecy in this verse was literally fulfilled. Orson Hyde proclaimed the gospel from people to people, from land to land.’ In 1832, he and Samuel H. Smith traveled in the States of New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island --- two thousand miles --- on foot. In 1835 he was ordained an Apostle, and in 1837 he went on a mission to England. In 1840 he was sent on a mission to Jerusalem. He crossed the ocean, travelled through Cairo, and Alexandria, and finally, reached the Holy City. On October 24th, 1841, he went up on the Mount of Olives and offered a prayer, dedicating Palestine for the gathering of the Jews” (Smith and Sjodahl, Commentary, 409).

Doctrine & Covenants 68:2-4

President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said we can tell when the speakers are moved upon by the Holy Ghost only when we are, ourselves, are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.

In a way, this completely shifts the responsibility from them to us.

The very words of the revelation recognize that the Brethren may speak when they are not “moved upon by the Holy Ghost,” yet only when they do speak, as so “moved upon” is what they say Scripture. No exceptions are given to this rule or principle. It is universal in its application.

“I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 9, 150).

Joseph Smith said, a prophet is not always a prophet, but is a prophet only when acting as such, and that this means that not always may the words of a prophet be taken as prophecy or revelation, but only when he, too, is speaking as “moved upon by the Holy Ghost” (History of the Church, Vol. 5, 265).

Doctrine & Covenants 68:25-30

“8 things parents should teach their children!”

President Kimball has stated:

“No true Latter-day Saint, while physically or emotionally able, will voluntarily shift the burden of his own or his family’s well-being to someone else” (Conference Report Oct., 1978, 86).

1. Faith in Jesus Christ

2. Repentance (it cannot be taught without teaching the Atonement)

3. Baptism

4. Gift of the Holy Ghost

5. To Pray

6. To walk uprightly (to be honest)

7. To observe the Sabbath Day

8. To remember their labors (teach them to work)

Teach them to work:

In 1939, near the end of the Great Depression, Channing Pollock wrote “The Adventures of a Happy Man: Work Is Its Own Reward. In it he explained that the unhappiest people are those who are lazy and fight boredom, while the happiest are those who learn to work. He also pointed out that the best work is never done for a paycheck. It gets done by those who believe in what they are doing.

If…we truly want the best for our sons and daughters, we would want for them --- not status --- but more meekness, mercy, love, patience, and submissiveness (Neal A. Maxwell, Even As I Am, 62).

Doctrine & Covenants 75:3

“The Idler shall not have place in the church”

President David O. McKay has said, “Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, and the power of love of work is success.”

President Benson’s talk “What I hope you will teach your children about the Temple.”

Doctrine & Covenants 68:30

President Heber J. Grant said, “I have little or no fear for the boy or girl, the young man or the young woman, who honestly and conscientiously supplicate God twice a day for the guidance of His Spirit. I am sure that when temptation comes they will have the strength to overcome it by the inspiration that shall be given to them” (Gospel Standards, Salt Lake City: The Improvement Era, 1969, 26).

Paul Harvey Wrote:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse.

For my grandchildren, I’d like better.

I’d really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it’s all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he’s scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you’ll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don’t ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won’t be seen riding with someone as un-cool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy/girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don’t care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don’t like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor’s window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hanukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you – though times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it’s the only way to appreciate life.

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I’m here for you. And if I die before you do, I’ll go to heaven and wait for you.

Gospel Quote Sheet

The following is a Statement by President David O. McKay given in June 1965 in President McKay’s Hotel Utah apartment to a group of brethren in the Physical Facilities Department of the Church.

While engaged in explaining to them the importance of the work they were engaged in, he paused and told them the following:

“Let me assure you, Brethren, that some day you will have a personal Priesthood interview with the Savior, Himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.

First:

He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. Have you actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?

Second:

He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child.

Third:

He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.

Fourth:

He will want a summary of your activity in your Church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had, for in his eyes the home teacher and a mission president are probably equal, but He will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellowman in your Church assignments.

Fifth:

He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings.

Sixth:

He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, estate, country, and the world” (From notes of Fred A. Baker, Managing Director, Department of Physical Facilities).