Doctrine and Covenants 67–70
“Worth ... the Riches of the Whole Earth”
June 23 - June 29
scripture
quote
We Must Forgive to be Forgiven
<p>Only as we forgive do we earn the right to be forgiven. This is an eternal principle, so taught by the Savior when he said: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).</p> <p>Paul certainly understood this great truth, for he taught: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).</p> <p>Not only need we forgive to be forgiven, but we must also repent to earn this great blessing. A prophet of our day has recorded that the repentant “shall be forgiven, according to the covenants and commandments of the church” (D&C 68:24) Then this sweet assurance followed: “. . . and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).</p>
Robert L. Simpson, "Forgiveness," October 1966 General Conference.
commentaries
Commentary on D&C 68:13–21
<p>The remainder of the revelation addresses the qualifications for a bishop to serve in the Church. At this time, there was only one bishop in the Church, Edward Partridge, though the Lord told the Church that “other bishops” would soon be set apart to carry out similar duties. The Lord specifies that bishops must be high priests and must be worthy to serve in this calling. The revelation mentions that literal descendants of Aaron have a legal right to the bishopric, but there are also several qualifying factors. </p> <p>First, if a literal descendant of Aaron was identified, he would only have the right to serve in the position of bishop, as head of the Aaronic Priesthood. When most members of the Church think of a bishop, they think of the head of their local ward, who is appointed as a bishop, or the head of the Aaronic Priesthood, and also as the presiding high priest in the ward. A legal descendant of Aaron would have the right to serve as bishop, but not as presiding high priest. Second, a person could not claim on his own to be a literal descendant of Aaron with a legal right to the bishopric. The revelation explains that the person would have to be identified, found worthy, and anointed by the First Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood. The individual could not identify himself as a literal firstborn son of Aaron through a patriarchal blessing or by his own revelation. God’s house is a house of order, and in this instance, the First Presidency would have to receive revelation to identify a literal descendant of Aaron.</p> <p>This particular revelation helps us to see Joseph’s understanding, like ours, as a gradual and sometimes messy process. For example, the original text of the revelation read “a conference of high priests” instead of the First Presidency in verse 19. This was a reference to the leadership of the Church during this time period. After the First Presidency was organized in 1833, verses 15 and 22–23 were changed to reflect the proper order of operations in the Church.<a href="#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a> One additional example will further illustrate the complexity of revelation. Although Joseph received a few revelations regarding the Aaronic Priesthood and descendants of Aaron in November of 1831 (one in early November, and one on November 11), he also received information about the Aaronic priesthood in the spring of 1835 in conjunction with a revelation to the newly organized Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and their call to serve a mission. At this time, God saw fit to teach Joseph more about the Aaronic priesthood. The revelations Joseph received during these three periods are somewhat mixed together in our current Doctrine and Covenants. Some of section 107 was received in 1835 and some in 1831. Some of Section 68 was received in 1835 and some was received in 1831. This shows that Joseph learned line upon line, precept by precept and may be more similar to how we experience personal revelation today.<a href="#_ftn2" id="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a></p> <p>Many promises are made in the scriptures, particularly in the Doctrine and Covenants, to the descendants of Aaron and the tribe of Levi (D&C 13; 68:15-20; 84:18, 27-35; 107:13-17, 69-76). At the same time, promises made to our ancestors are weighed against the Lord’s requirement of worthiness to serve in the work. While the Savior’s words here hint at a larger role of the descendants of Aaron in the latter-day work, these promises still await their fulfillment. John the Baptist told Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery that priesthood would never be taken again “until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness” (D&C 13). Joseph Smith and Malachi taught the Lord “shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 128:24). No doubt the sons of Levi, including the descendants of Aaron, will play an important part in the Lord’s work before His coming. </p> <div class="footnotes"> <p class="footnote"><a href="#_ftnref1" id="_ftn1" title="" class="footnote-label">[1]</a> Revelation, 1 November 1831-A [D&C 68], p. 114, JSP.</p> <p class="footnote"><a href="#_ftnref2" id="_ftn2" title="" class="footnote-label">[2]</a> Historical Introduction, circa June 1835 [D&C 68], JSP, see also “Instruction on Priesthood, between circa 1 March and circa 4 May 1835 [D&C 107], JSP.</p> </div>
Doctrine and Covenants Minute by Casey Paul Griffiths
Commentary on D&C 68:22–24
<p>This passage refers only to the members of the Presiding Bishopric. High priests who are set apart to serve as bishops typically serve under the direction of a stake president. If they commit a serious sin or transgression, they are held accountable before the presiding high priests of the stake, specifically the stake presidency. Since the members of the Presiding Bishopric of the Church serve without a geographical area of stewardship, they are accountable to the presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood generally, or the First Presidency.</p> <p>An 1835 revelation to Joseph Smith clarified this point of stewardship: “The most difficult cases of the church, inasmuch as there is not satisfaction upon the decision of the bishop or judges, it shall be handed over and carried up unto the council of the church, before the Presidency of the High Priesthood. . . . And after this decision it shall be had in remembrance no more before the Lord; for this is the highest council of the church of God, and a final decision upon controversies in spiritual matters” (D&C 107:78, 80).</p>
Doctrine and Covenants Minute by Casey Paul Griffiths
