Doctrine and Covenants 59
Historical Context
The first week of August 1831, the members of the Colesville Branch began arriving in the Independence region. Polly Knight, the matriarch of the Knight family, was ill during the entire journey to Missouri. Her son, Newel Knight, was leading the Colesville Branch during their journey. He was so concerned over his mother’s health that he purchased lumber in case he needed to make a coffin for her during the journey. He noted, “But the Lord gave her the desire of her heart, for she lived to stand upon that land [Missouri].” Newel later wrote, “On the Sixth [of August] my mother died. She quietly fell asleep in death rejoicing in the new and everlasting covenant of the gospel, and praising God that she had lived to see the land of Zion, and that her body would rest in peace after suffering as she had done from the persecution of the wicked, and journeying to this place.”
We do not know if Joseph Smith was aware of Polly Knight’s death when the revelation was received, but the first two verses appear to acknowledge her death, speaking of “those that shall die and rest from their labors” (D&C 59:2).
Another concern addressed in the revelation is the local settlers’ coarse manner of living. William W. Phelps later noted that most of the residents of Jackson County were “emigrants from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas . . . with customs, manner, modes of living and a climate entirely different from the northerners.” In a later history, Joseph Smith noted that “we could not associate with our neighbors who were many of them of the basest of men and had fled from the face of civilized society, to the frontier country to escape the hand of justice, in their midnight revels, their sabbath breaking, horseracing, and gambling.”
It appears that Christian living, particularly Sabbath worship, was a low priority for the local settlers. In response to this lifestyle, the members of the Church who were settling in the region were commanded to live the commandments and to take special care to make the Sabbath day an important part of their lives. These basic instructions to the Church added to earlier commandments given in the Articles and Covenants (D&C 20) and The Laws of the Church of Christ (D&C 42).
See “Historical Introduction,” Revelation, 7 August 1831 [D&C 59]
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
D&C 59:1–4
1 Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments.
2 For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them.
3 Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its strength.
4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.
The opening words of this revelation were given to comfort the Knight family on the loss of their matriarch, Polly, and to reassure all those who made sacrifices on the road to Zion. The Knight family arrived in Missouri under difficult conditions. Joseph Knight Jr. recalled that “We had no tents, and my father and I slept in a hen coop two weeks, until we got a shelter.”
Polly Knight passed away the same day this revelation was received. Joseph Knight Sr. later wrote in his history, “There was one Joshua Lewis that had Come into the Church the winter Before, he and his wife. And they ware faithful and good to us and took us in to their house, my wife Being sick as before stated. She Died the Seventh Day of August and Joseph and Sidney attended her funeral on the Eighth. She was buried in the woods a spot chosen out by ourselves.” Further noting the difficult conditions, Father Knight added, “I was along by where she was buried a few Days after, and I found the hogs had begun to root where she was Buried. I being very unwell, but I took my axe the next Day and went and built a pen round it. It was the last [thing] I done for her.”
Joseph Smith preached Polly Knight’s funeral sermon the next day, declaring, “I can say a worthy member sleeps in Jesus till the resurrection.”
D&C 59:5–8
5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
6 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.
7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
8 Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
While the Ten Commandments were originally given to Moses on Mount Sinai, they are also part of the higher law of Jesus Christ and not just a part of the “law of carnal commandments” given to the Israelites (Hebrews 7:16; D&C 84:7). Given anew in this dispensation, these commandments remain hallmarks of Jehovah’s followers in any age.
While several of the original commandments remain in these verses, the wording of some commandments was updated to reflect the conditions of our time. For instance, instead of “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), the commandment given here is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength” (D&C 59:5). Instead of “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images” (Exodus 20:4), the Lord teaches us to serve “in the name of Jesus Christ” (D&C 59:5). The Lord further commands us to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (D&C 59:6). He builds on the command “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13) by adding “nor do anything like unto it” (D&C 59:6). He also commands his disciples to “thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C 59:7) and expounds greatly on the meaning and purpose of the Sabbath day (D&C 59:9–12).
All of these commandments are encompassed in the Lord’s command to “offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness even that of a broken heart and contrite spirit” (D&C 59:8). The concept of a “broken heart and a contrite spirit” is where the law of Moses and the law of Christ connect. Both laws require a sacrifice to point toward the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But while the old law included a complex system of physical sacrifice, the new law asks that we give our whole heart and mind to God. Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained, “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. . . . When you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!”
D&C 59:9–14
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.
13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.
14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
Latter-day Saints do not worship on Sunday, or on any other day, in imitation of ancient people. We hallow and worship on the Sabbath day because of the Lord’s commandment in this dispensation to do so. The principle of the Sabbath is setting aside a day to rest from our ordinary labors and devote time to worshipping the Lord. An oblation, as defined in the time this revelation was given, is “anything offered or presented in worship or sacred service; an offering; a sacrifice.” Church members can present as their offering a testimony, a portion of their time devoted to Church service or study, or an act of kindness to others.
We must be careful not to become too legalistic about the Sabbath day. Some Church members become obsessed with rules about the Sabbath while overruling the general principles the Lord teaches about this day. President Russell M. Nelson counseled,
In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear. (“The Sabbath Is a Delight,” April 2015 General Conference)
D&C 59:15
15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance—
The Lord is not opposed to happiness, cheerfulness, or laughter, as evidenced by the last half of this verse (D&C 59:15). While humor can sometimes be inappropriate or even blasphemous, this verse does not constitute a ban on humor among the Saints. There are three places in the Doctrine and Covenants where the Lord gives commandments concerning laughter. He commands his disciples to avoid “much laughter” (D&C 59:15), to cast away an “excess of laughter” (D&C 88:69), and to cease from “all laughter” (D&C 88:121).
In each of these cases it is important to consider the context of these commandments. In Doctrine and Covenants 59, the setting the Lord speaks of is fasting, prayer, and Sabbath worship, a place where “much” laughter should be avoided. In Doctrine and Covenants 88, the Lord is speaking of his house, the temple, where the spirit of reverence must abide and laughter may be inappropriate.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was well known for his propensity toward laughter and merriment. Benjamin F. Johnson, a close friend of Joseph Smith, recalled that he “took great delight in his society and friendship. When with us, there was no lack of amusement for with jokes, games, etc., he was always ready to provoke merriment, one phase of which was matching couplets in rhyme, by which we were at times in rivalry; and his fraternal feeling, in great degree did away with his disparity of age or greatness of his calling.”
D&C 59:16–20
16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.
The earth and all of its resources exist for men and women to use, enjoy, and protect. Even the Word of Wisdom, given later, does not forbid the use of substances as much as it counsels against their misuse. There is an appropriate and functional purpose for everything in our environment. While these things are given for the “benefit and use of man” (D&C 59:18), we have an obligation to be wise stewards of the resources at hand. An official Church statement counsels, “The earth and all things on it should be used responsibly to sustain the human family. However, all are stewards—not owners—over this earth and its bounty and will be accountable before God for what they do with His creations. . . . The state of the human soul and the environment are interconnected, with each affecting and influencing the other.”
D&C 59:21–24
21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.
22 Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets; wherefore, trouble me no more concerning this matter.
23 But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.
24 I, the Lord, have spoken it, and the Spirit beareth record. Amen.
The Savior sums up the counsel given “according to law and the prophets” (D&C 59:22) by declaring that the root of many of our sorrows is a lack of acknowledgement of the Lord’s hand in our lives and a lack of appreciation for the blessings He has given to us. As the Saints in Missouri entered into their great experiment in consecration, the Lord reminded them that the central tenet of that law was that nothing is really consecrated to God because everything already belongs to Him. Rather, we make our blessings holy by recognizing the holy source of our blessings.
Like the Saints in Zion did, we live in a world filled with challenges and complexity. President Russell M. Nelson reminded the Saints that “there is no medication or operation that can fix the many spiritual woes and maladies that we face.” He added, “There is, however, a remedy—one that may seem surprising—because it flies in the face of our natural intuitions . . . nevertheless, its effects have been validated by scientists as well as men and women of faith. I am referring to the healing power of gratitude. Counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems.”
Footnotes
