Doctrine and Covenants 53

Doctrine and Covenants 53

Historical Context

Algernon Sidney Gilbert was the business partner of Newel K. Whitney. The two men had opened a small store in Kirtland under the name of N. K. Whitney and Company. Their store became a hub for Church activity after Joseph Smith arrived in Kirtland. Along with his business partner, Sidney Gilbert was baptized in 1830 when Oliver Cowdery and the first missionaries arrived in Kirtland.1 He may have been present at the conference of elders held in Kirtland in early June, but he was not among those who were called to travel to Missouri in the revelation given at that time (D&C 52). Two days later, at the request of Sidney Gilbert, Joseph received this revelation on his behalf.2

See “Historical Introduction,” Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53]

Verse-by-Verse Commentary

D&C 53:1–7

1 Behold, I say unto you, my servant Sidney Gilbert, that I have heard your prayers; and you have called upon me that it should be made known unto you, of the Lord your God, concerning your calling and election in the church, which I, the Lord, have raised up in these last days.

2 Behold, I, the Lord, who was crucified for the sins of the world, give unto you a commandment that you shall forsake the world.

3 Take upon you mine ordination, even that of an elder, to preach faith and repentance and remission of sins, according to my word, and the reception of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands;

4 And also to be an agent unto this church in the place which shall be appointed by the bishop, according to commandments which shall be given hereafter.

5 And again, verily I say unto you, you shall take your journey with my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon.

6 Behold, these are the first ordinances which you shall receive; and the residue shall be made known in a time to come, according to your labor in my vineyard.

7 And again, I would that ye should learn that he only is saved who endureth unto the end. Even so. Amen.

Doctrine and Covenants 53 is the only place in the Doctrine and Covenants where the phrase “calling and election” appears (D&C 53:1). However, in this case, the calling in question refers only to Sidney Gilbert’s church calling, or his appointed role among the Saints, at the time. Sidney is the first person asked in the revelations to serve as an agent for the Church. He was commanded to travel along with Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to Missouri. Once he arrived there, he was commanded by the Lord to “establish a store, that he may sell goods without fraud . . . and thus provide for my saints” (D&C 57:8, 10). Sidney did establish a store in Missouri and served among the Saints in Zion. In 1833, his store was ransacked during the persecutions against Church members in Jackson County, and Sidney was taken to jail. The only possessions he took with him when he was arrested were a Bible and several revelations of Joseph Smith that he had personally copied. Sidney later died during a cholera outbreak among the volunteers in Zion’s Camp, a relief mission sent to the Saints in Missouri.3

Sidney lived for only four years after joining the Church, but his influence lived on through the family members he helped bring into the gospel. After his sister’s husband died in a shipwreck on Lake Ontario, Sidney had taken his sister and her children into his home. When the missionaries arrived in Kirtland a few years later with the Book of Mormon, Sidney helped introduce the book to his sister and her family, which included his niece, Mary Elizabeth Rollins. When Mary first heard of the Book of Mormon, she went to the home of Isaac Morley, who had a copy of the book. When he saw Mary’s interest in it, Morley agreed to loan her the book. Mary ran home, proclaiming to Sidney, “Oh Uncle I have the Golden Bible.” She stayed up late that night, studying the book with her family.

Mary woke up early the next day to study the book. She later remembered, “I learned the first paragraph by heart.” When she brought the book back to Brother Morley, he told her, “You are early, I guess you did not read much of it.” Mary showed him how far she had read and repeated an “outline of the history of Nephi.” In response, Morley looked at her in surprise, telling her, “Child, you take this back and finish it, I can wait.” A few days later, Joseph Smith visited Sidney Gilbert’s home, saw the copy of the Book of Mormon, and remarked, “I sent that book to Brother Morley.” Sidney explained how Mary had obtained it, and Joseph sent for her. She later remembered, “He came and put his hands on my head and gave me a great blessing, the first I ever received, and made me a present of the book, and said he would give Brother Morley another.” Mary later moved with her uncle to Missouri and was instrumental in saving the early manuscripts of Joseph Smith’s revelations from a mob.4

Footnotes

• 1. Cook, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 84.
• 2. Joseph Smith—History, vol. A-1, 121, JSP.
• 3. Black, Who’s Who in the Doctrine and Covenants, 102–103.
• 4. “Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner,” Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 17 (July 1826): 193–205, 250.