DOCTRINE and COVENANTS

Sections 6369

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Dating the revelations

D&C 63 D&C 64 D&C 65 D&C 66 D&C 67 D&C 68 D&C 69 30 August 1831 11 September 1831 30 October 1831 29 October 1831 1 November 1831 2 November 1831 312 November 1831 Kirtland, Ohio Kirtland, Ohio Hiram, Ohio Hiram, Ohio Hiram, Ohio Hiram, Ohio Hiram, Ohio

D&C 63
63:2531. The land of Zion shall not be obtained but by purchase or by blood. 63:6064. Let all men beware how they take my name in their lips.
1. Vain = empty, useless, pointless. 2. Casual blasphemy. 3. Oath-breaking.

Authority
God has bestowed upon us a gift most precious and wonderful. It carries with it the authority to govern the Church, to administer in its affairs, to speak with authority in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to act as His dedicated servants, to bless the sick, to bless our families and many others. It serves as a guide by which to live our lives. In its fulness, its authority reaches beyond the veil of death into the eternities that lie ahead. There is nothing else to compare with it in all this world. Safeguard it, cherish it, love it, live worthy of it. President Gordon B. Hinckley, April 2002
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D&C 63
63:2531. The land of Zion shall not be obtained but by purchase or by blood. 63:6064. Let all men beware how they take my name in their lips.
1. Vain = empty, useless, pointless. 2. Casual blasphemy. 3. Oath-breaking (Exodus 20:7; Matthew 5:33 37)

D&C 64
64:311. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

Forgiveness
Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us. History of the Church 3:383

Forgiveness
You cannot erase what has been done, but you can forgive. Forgiveness heals terrible, tragic wounds, for it allows the love of God to purge your heart and mind of the poison of hate. It cleanses your consciousness of the desire for revenge. It makes place for the purifying, healing, restoring love of the Lord. The Master counseled, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you. Bitterness and hatred are harmful. They produce much that is destructive. They postpone the relief and healing you yearn for. Let God be the judgeyou cannot do it as well as he can. Elder Richard G. Scott, April 1992
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D&C 64
64:2223, 3335. I, the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men. And verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the thing of my people. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.

God wants our hearts

Above all else, God wants our hearts. Imperfect performance can be corrected, sins can be remitted, mistakes can be erasedbut God can do nothing with an unwilling and rebellious heart until it repents. Weakness can be saved; rebellion cannot. . It is recorded in the Pearl of Great Price how the Holy Ghost confirmed to Adam that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will. (Moses 5:9.) Notice that it doesnt say, Even as many as are perfect. The point is clear: Adam is not perfect; Adam is imperfect and fallen (like you and me). Thats why he needed a Savior (like you and me). The promise is to as many as will (using will in the older sense of to be willing)thus, to all those who really want redemption from their imperfection. Another of the great promises of the new covenant is that all those who really want and work for the kingdom of God with all their strength, however great or little their strength may be, will inherit the kingdom. Stephen E. Robinson, Believing Christ, 5455
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Orange

John Hamer bycommonconsent.com/author/johnhamer

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The John Johnson home (Hiram, Ohio)

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D&C 65
65:2. From thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.

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The growth of the Church

The Prophet called on all who held the Priesthood to gather into the little log school house they had [in Kirtland]. It was a small house, perhaps 14 feet square. But it held the whole of the Priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were then in the town of Kirtland. There were no Apostles in the Church then except Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. When we got together the Prophet called upon the Elders of Israel with him to bear testimony of this work. When they got through the Prophet said, Brethren I have been very much edified and instructed in your testimonies here tonight, but I want to say to you before the Lord, that you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mothers lap. You dont comprehend it. I was rather surprised. He said it is only a little handfull of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South Americait will fill the world. President Wilford Woodruff, April 1898
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D&C 66
William E. McLellan (18061883). Hiram, Ohio, 29 October 1831.
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 five questions through his Prophet, and that too without his having any knowledge of my having made such 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 desired it for a testimony of Joseph's inspiration. And I to this day consider it to me an evidence which I cannot refute. William McLellan, 1848
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Conference of 13 November 1831

Held at the John Johnson home, Hiram, Ohio. Ten leading elders of the Church in attendance. Joseph received 5 revelations:
D&C 1 (the Lords preface to his revelations) D&C 67 D&C 68 D&C 133 (designated an appendix) D&C 69

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D&C 67
Oliver Cowdery previously directed to collect revelations for publication (55:4; 57:13). Now ready to return to Independence to publish Book of Commandments. D&C 1 received first morning of conference. Joseph wished the elders at the conference to testify to the truth of the revelations, but some were hesitant.
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D&C 67
67:34. Elders promised they would receive a spiritual confirmation of the truth of the revelations. 67:58. Lord challenged them to select the most wise among them who could attempt to write a revelation beyond [Josephs] language.

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Result of the 67:58 challenge

After the foregoing was received, William E. MLellin, as the wisest man, in his own estimation, having more learning than sense, endeavored to write a commandment like unto one of the least of the Lords, but failed; it was an awful responsibility to write in the name of the Lord. The Elders and all present that witnessed this vain attempt of a man to imitate the language of Jesus Christ, renewed their faith in the fulness of the Gospel, and in the truth of the commandments and revelations which the Lord had given to the Church through my instrumentality; and the Elders signified a willingness to bear testimony of their truth to all the world. History of the Church 1:226
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D&C 68
Received in response to a request from four elders to know the will of the Lord. This revelation edited by Joseph in 1835:
Verses 1521 added. Verses 2224 modified.

68:15. Whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture.
Specifically to Orson Hyde. This priesthood (68:2) refers to office of high priest. They (68:3, 4) refers to leaders of the Church.
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When moved upon by the Holy Ghost.

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 moved upon is what they say considered scripture. No exceptions are given to this rule or principle. It is universal in its application. The question is, how shall we know when the things they have spoken were said as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost? I have given some thought to this question, and the answer thereto, so far as I can determine, is: We can tell when the speakers are moved upon by the Holy Ghost only when we, ourselves, are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. In a way, this completely shifts the responsibility from them to us to determine when they so speak. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., July 1954
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Ask God if our leaders are inspired

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 selfsecurity, 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. Brigham Young, January 1862

D&C 68
68:15. Whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture.
Canonized scripture vs. anything said/written under the influence of the Holy Ghost. Public/collective vs. private/individual. To all men, or just to the Church? No scripture inerrant or infallible.

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D&C 68
64:2528. Commandment to teach and baptize children.
Parents have primary responsibility. Children should be taught the first principles and ordinances, to pray, to walk uprightly before the Lord. Parents who do not do this have sinned.

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The age of accountability

Accountability does not burst full-bloom upon a child at any given moment in his life. Children become accountable gradually, over a number of years. Becoming accountable is a process, not a goal to be attained when a specified number of years, days, and hours have elapsed. In our revelation the Lord says, They cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me. (D&C 29:47.) There comes a time, however, when accountability is real and actual and sin is attributed in the lives of those who develop normally. It is eight years of age, the age of baptism. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, April 1977
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D&C 69
Received between 3 and 12 November 1831. John Whitmer to accompany Oliver Cowdery to Missouri. They left Ohio 20 November 1831; arrived in Independence 5 January 1832.

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DOCTRINE and COVENANTS

In two weeks: Sections 71, 7375, 77, 86, 91, 113

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class