Doctrine and Covenants 11
Historical Context
The 1833 Book of Commandments gives the date of the revelation recorded in section 11 as May 1829, though it was most likely received after May 15, when John the Baptist restored the Aaronic priesthood to Joseph and Oliver Cowdery. Not long after this event, Joseph’s younger brother Samuel visited Joseph and Oliver. Joseph later wrote in his history, “On the twenty-fifth day of that same month [May] in where we had been baptized and ordained; Oliver Cowdery baptized him [Samuel Smith], and he returned to his father’s house greatly glorifying and praising God, being filled with the Holy Spirit.” Samuel apparently shared his witness with Joseph’s oldest living brother, Hyrum, for in the spring of 1829 Hyrum, visited Joseph in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph records, “Not many days afterwards, my brother Hyrum Smith came to enquire concerning these things, when at his earnest request, I enquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummin, and received for him the following.”
If Samuel was baptized on May 25, and Joseph and Oliver left Harmony to move to Fayette, New York, on May 29, it leaves only a tight window for Hyrum to speak with Samuel and then travel to Harmony. Because of this time frame, it is best to assume that the dates in Joseph’s history are not exact but are approximations in a history written almost a decade later or are possible insertions by scribes assisting in the writing of the history.
See Historical Introduction, “Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11],” p. 28, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed October 2, 2020, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-may-1829-a-dc-11/1
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Doctrine and Covenants 11:1–6
1 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
2 Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word.
3 Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.
4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.
5 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.
6 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.
Hyrum’s father and brother Samuel had already witnessed spiritual manifestations of Joseph’s revelatory powers. The revelation to Joseph Smith Sr. is currently in the scriptural canon as Doctrine and Covenants 4, and much of the language in this portion of section 11 parallels the wording of that section. This call to service in the kingdom serves as a sort of standard preamble to revelations given to individuals during this period, including Oliver Cowdery (D&C 6), Joseph Knight Sr. (D&C 12), David Whitmer (D&C 14), John Whitmer (D&C 15), and Peter Whitmer Jr. (D&C 16).
Doctrine and Covenants 11:7–14
7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.
9 Say nothing but repentance unto this generation. Keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed.
10 Behold, thou hast a gift, or thou shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto thee;
11 For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee.
12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;
14 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.
Here the Lord explained and introduced the specific gifts given to Hyrum, along with the challenges Hyrum would face and the counsel that would prepare him for the work. The Lord commended Hyrum for having an honest heart and a belief in the power of Jesus Christ (verse 10). Hyrum’s honesty and uprightness became a hallmark of his work in the early Restoration. In the Book of the Law of the Lord, a record kept by Joseph during the Nauvoo period, Joseph recorded of Hyrum, “Blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith, for I the Lord loveth him; because of the integrity of his heart, and because, he loveth that which is right before me saith the Lord.”
The Lord considers integrity, honesty, and humility to be key characteristics of those who follow the Spirit of Truth. Honesty in dealing with others is still upheld as a one of the chief requirements of those who seek to serve the Lord and enter into sacred covenants with Him.
Doctrine and Covenants 11:15–22
15 Behold, I command you that you need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called.
16 Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine.
17 And then, behold, according to your desires, yea, even according to your faith shall it be done unto you.
18 Keep my commandments; hold your peace; appeal unto my Spirit;
19 Yea, cleave unto me with all your heart, that you may assist in bringing to light those things of which has been spoken—yea, the translation of my work; be patient until you shall accomplish it.
20 Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength.
21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.
22 But now hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto.
Though Hyrum eventually became one of the most powerful leaders in the Church, he was instructed here to be patient and study the word of God before embarking on a mission to declare the gospel. At the time this revelation was given, the Book of Mormon was still being translated, the Church was still unorganized, and Hyrum was still unbaptized. Hyrum was baptized in June 1829, at Seneca Lake near Fayette, New York. He also served as one of the original six members of the Church when it was organized.
Most importantly, in every copy of the Book of Mormon the name of Hyrum Smith is found as one of the eight witnesses who saw and handled the gold plates. Hyrum’s witness was a direct fulfillment of the Lord’s promise that Hyrum would “assist in bringing to light those things of which has been spoken—yea, the translation of my work” (verse 19). Hyrum never denied his testimony of the reality of the gold plates, eventually dying a martyr’s death alongside Joseph in Carthage Jail. Because of his integrity, his name, along with Joseph’s, “will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world” (D&C 135:6).
Doctrine and Covenants 11:23–30
23 Behold thou art Hyrum, my son; seek the kingdom of God, and all things shall be added according to that which is just.
24 Build upon my rock, which is my gospel;
25 Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things;
26 Therefore, treasure up in your heart until the time which is in my wisdom that you shall go forth.
27 Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.
28 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world.
29 I am the same who came unto mine own and mine own received me not;
30 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen.
Like other members of the small group gathering around Joseph Smith at this point, Hyrum was not to deny the spirit of revelation and prophecy (verse 25). This instruction implied a broad application of prophetic gifts among people who seek the Lord. In an echo of the Gospel of John, the Lord renewed His promise that those who receive Him will “become the sons of God” (John 1:12). This promise was repeated to several other early seekers of counsel during this time, including Orson Pratt (D&C 34) and James Covel (D&C 39). Women are also brought into this exalted relationship when a revelation to Emma Smith promised that “all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom” (D&C 25:1). While commenting on a vision shown to him and Sidney Rigdon, Joseph taught that through Jesus Christ the inhabitants of all worlds created by divine power “are begotten sons and daughters unto God” and that those who enter into exaltation are “gods, even the sons of God” (D&C 76:58).
Footnotes
