Doctrine and Covenants 35
Historical Introduction
In the fall of 1830, as the missionaries who were called to preach to the Lamanites traveled westward toward the frontier, one of them, Parley P. Pratt, asked if they could make a stop near Mentor, Ohio. Parley wanted to visit one of his most important spiritual mentors, Sidney Rigdon. The missionaries arrived at the Rigdon home carrying bags full of copies of the Book of Mormon. Parley presented one to Sidney, saying, “You brought the truth to me. I now ask you as a friend to read this for my sake.” Sidney’s reaction was unfavorable at first. According to his daughter he took the book and “read it and examined it for about an hour and then threw it down, and said he did not believe a word of it.” According to another account he declared the book to be a “silly fabrication.” But he also kept reading all night.
Sidney was not yet fully convinced, but he did allow the missionaries to preach to his congregation. At the end of the missionaries’ talks, Parley P. Pratt asked Sidney if he wanted to make any remarks. Sidney arose and told the gathering that “the information they had that evening received, was of extraordinary character, and certainly demanded their most serious consideration: and as the apostle [Paul] advised his brethren to ‘prove all things and hold fast that which is good,’ so he would exhort his brethren to do likewise, and give the matter a careful investigation; and not turn against it, without being fully convinced of its being an imposition, lest they should, possibly, resist the truth.”
Sidney continued an intensive study of the Book of Mormon. His son, Wickliffe Rigdon, later recalled that his father was “so engaged in [reading the book] that it was hard for him to quit long enough to eat his meals. He read it both day and night.” Sidney spoke earnestly with Oliver Cowdery about Joseph Smith and whether it was possible that the book had been fabricated. Oliver told Sidney that Joseph was only twenty-two years old during most of the translation and had “hardly a common school education.” Sidney replied, “If that was all the education he had, he never wrote the book.” He further expressed his “utmost amazement that such a man should write a book which seemed to shed a flood of light on all the old scriptures, open all their profoundest mysteries, and give them perfect consistency and complete system,” adding, “[if] God ever gave a revelation, surely this must be divine.”
Soon after speaking with Oliver, Sidney saw a vision. He later wrote, “I saw the different orders of professing Christians passing before my eyes, with their hearts, exposed to view, and they were as corrupt as corruption itself. That society to which I belonged [the Reformed Baptists] also passed before my eyes, and to my astonishment it was as corrupt as the others. Last of all that little man who bro’t me the Book of Mormon [Oliver Cowdery], passed before my eyes with his heart open, and it was as pure as an angel; and this was a testimony from God; that the Book of Mormon was a Divine Revelation.”
In November 1830 Sidney called together a large group of his friends and neighbors to the Methodist church in Kirtland. Parley P. Pratt later wrote that Sidney “addressed them very affectionately for near two hours, during which most of the time both himself and nearly all the congregation were melted into tears. He asked forgiveness of everybody who might have had occasion to be offended with any part of his former life. He forgave all who had persecuted or injured him in any manner. And the next morning, himself and his wife were baptized by Elder O. Cowdery. . . . Most of the people were greatly affected. They came out of the water overwhelmed in tears.”
A few weeks after his baptism, Sidney traveled to New York in the company of his friend Edward Partridge. Both were determined to meet with the Prophet who brought forth the Book of Mormon. Church historian John Whitmer later wrote that Sidney “having much anxiety to see Joseph Smith Jr the Seer . . . took his journey to the state of New York.” Shortly after Sidney and Edward arrived at the home of the Prophet near Fayette, New York, Joseph Smith received this revelation on behalf of Sidney Rigdon.
Historical Introduction, Revelation, 7 December 1830 [D&C 35]
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
D&C 35:1–2
1 Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever.
2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.
The Lectures on Faith, which Sidney Rigdon assisted in writing, uses the sequence established in these verses to describe the mission of Jesus Christ and how He helps men and women become the sons and daughters of God. Lecture five teaches,
The Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle, made, or fashioned like unto man, or being in the form and likeness of man, or, rather, man was formed after his likeness, and in his image;—he is also the express image and likeness of the personage of the Father: possessing all the fulness of the Father, or, the same fulness with the Father; being begotten of him, and was ordained from before the foundation of the world to be a propitiation for the sins of all those who should believe on his name, and is called the Son because of the flesh—and descended in suffering below that which man can suffer, or, in other words, suffered greater sufferings, and was exposed to more powerful contradictions than any man can be.
But notwithstanding all this, he kept the law of God, and remained without sin: Showing thereby that it is in the power of man to keep the law and remain also without sin. And also, that by him a righteous judgment might come upon all flesh, and that all who walk not in the law of God, may justly be condemned by the law, and have no excuse for their sins. And he being the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fulness of the glory of the Father—possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son. . . .
The lecture continues,
“All those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace, and become heirs of the heavenly kingdom, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ; possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fulness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one.”
D&C 35:3–12
3 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work.
4 Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great things. Behold thou wast sent forth, even as John, to prepare the way before me, and before Elijah which should come, and thou knewest it not.
5 Thou didst baptize by water unto repentance, but they received not the Holy Ghost;
6 But now I give unto thee a commandment, that thou shalt baptize by water, and they shall receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, even as the apostles of old.
7 And it shall come to pass that there shall be a great work in the land, even among the Gentiles, for their folly and their abominations shall be made manifest in the eyes of all people.
8 For I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name.
9 And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick; they shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk.
10 And the time speedily cometh that great things are to be shown forth unto the children of men;
11 But without faith shall not anything be shown forth except desolations upon Babylon, the same which has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
12 And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation.
The Lord Himself testified that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the “only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth” (D&C 1:30). This does not mean, however, that Latter-day Saints hold a monopoly on inspiration, the influence of the Holy Ghost, or miracles, signs, and wonders: “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.” The Lord’s words to Sidney Rigdon here demonstrates that the Savior works among and inspires people of all faiths, not only the Latter-day Saints. This principle was affirmed in a statement made by the First Presidency in 1978:
Based upon ancient and modern revelation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gladly teaches and declares the Christian doctrine that all men and women are brothers and sisters, not only by blood relationship from common mortal progenitors, but also as literal spirit children of an Eternal Father.
The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. The Hebrew prophets prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, who should provide salvation for all mankind who believe in the gospel. Consistent with these truths, we believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation, either in this life or in the life to come.
We also declare that the gospel of Jesus Christ, restored to His Church in our day, provides the only way to a mortal life of happiness and a fullness of joy forever. For those who have not received this gospel, the opportunity will come to them in the life hereafter if not in this life. Our message therefore is one of special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.” (First Presidency Statement, February 15, 1978)
D&C 35:13–16
13 Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;
14 And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them.
15 And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand—
16 And they shall learn the parable of the fig tree, for even now already summer is nigh.
In the 2013 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants the word thrash was replaced with thresh. This change was in agreement with the earliest versions of the revelation published in the 1833 Book of Commandments and the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. In Joseph Smith’s time either thrash or thresh would have carried the same meaning, specifically meaning “to beat out grain from the husk or pericarp with a flail.” Threshing or thrashing was an agricultural practice intended to separate the useful part of a plant from the unusable portions.
In the years since the revelation was published, the word thrash has taken on a new meaning, specifically “to beat soundly in punishment; flog” or, alternatively, “to defeat thoroughly.” The original word used in the revelation, thresh, captures more accurately the Lord’s directive to Sidney and to other missionaries called in the last days. Missionaries’ objective is not to beat or flog thoroughly their opponents but simply to separate the elect from those who will not choose to hear the voice of the Lord (D&C 29:7). Those who choose to heed the voice of the Lord are left “in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day” (Alma 26:7).
D&C 35:17–19
17 And I have sent forth the fulness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and in weakness have I blessed him;
18 And I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world, and the things which shall come from this time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not, another will I plant in his stead.
19 Wherefore, watch over him that his faith fail not, and it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that knoweth all things.
In these verses the Lord affirms that the keys of the kingdom are in the hands of Joseph Smith (D&C 28:7). Later, when the original First Presidency of this dispensation was organized, Sidney Rigdon, who was chosen as First Counselor, was told that he was “accounted as equal with [Joseph Smith] in holding the keys of the last kingdom” (D&C 90:6). Today all three members of the First Presidency hold the keys necessary to lead the Church, though the President of the Church, as the presiding officer, is given the power to direct the use of the keys.
In a later revelation, the Quorum of the Twelve and the Quorums of the Seventy were revealed to hold a position “equal in authority and power” to the First Presidency (D&C 107:23–26). In the same revelation, the Twelve are directed to act “under the direction of the Presidency of the Church” and the Seventy “under the direction of the Twelve” (D&C 107:33–34). This system enables the Twelve to lead the Church in the absence of a First Presidency, justifying their equal authority, but places them under the direction of the First Presidency when fully constituted.
Near the end of his life, Joseph Smith met with the Quorum of the Twelve and bestowed all the keys of the priesthood upon them. Orson Hyde, a member of the Twelve during this time, later recalled,
We were in council with Brother Joseph almost every day for weeks, says Brother Joseph in one of these councils there is something going to happen; I don’t know what it is, but the Lord bids me to hasten and give you your endowment before the temple is finished. He conducted us through every ordinance of the holy priesthood, and when he had gone through with all the ordinances he rejoiced very much, and says, now if they kill me you have got all the keys, and all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others, and the hosts of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom, as fast as you will be able to build it up; and now says he on your shoulders will the responsibility of leading this people right, for the Lord is going to let me rest a while.
Today, all members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve hold the keys necessary to lead the Church, though all act under the direction of the President of the Church, and in accordance with the hierarchy explained in the Doctrine and Covenants.
D&C 35:20–27
20 And a commandment I give unto thee—that thou shalt write for him; and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect;
21 For they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure.
22 And now I say unto you, tarry with him, and he shall journey with you; forsake him not, and surely these things shall be fulfilled.
23 And inasmuch as ye do not write, behold, it shall be given unto him to prophesy; and thou shalt preach my gospel and call on the holy prophets to prove his words, as they shall be given him.
24 Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish;
25 And Israel shall be saved in mine own due time; and by the keys which I have given shall they be led, and no more be confounded at all.
26 Lift up your hearts and be glad, your redemption draweth nigh.
27 Fear not, little flock, the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen.
Sidney was directed to write for Joseph; this direction is a reference to the Bible translation project Joseph had embarked upon a few months earlier. Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer had previously acted as scribes, but both had been called to different responsibilities. Most of the original drafts of the Bible translation are in Sidney Rigdon’s handwriting. It appears that the first revelation for which Sidney served as scribe was the inspired translation of Genesis that is now Moses 7 in the Pearl of Great Price.
Joseph Smith’s history records of this time,
It may be well to observe here, that the Lord greatly encouraged, and strengthened the faith of his little flock which had embraced the fulness of the everlasting gospel, as revealed to them in the book of Mormon, by giving some more extended information upon the Scriptures; a translation of which had already commenced. Much conjecture and conversation frequently occurred among the saints, concerning the books mentioned and referred to, in various places in the Old and New testaments, which were now nowhere to be found. The common remark was, they are “lost books”; but it seems the apostolic churches had some of these writings, as Jude mentions or quotes the prophecy of Enoch the seventh from Adam. To the joy of the little flock, which in all, from Colesville to Canandaigua, numbered about seventy members, did the Lord reveal the following doings of olden time from the prophecy of Enoch.
Footnotes
