For those interested in my plan for the commentary on Doctrine and Covenants, see here.
Note: Although section 1 comes at the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants, it comes later chronologically. Section 2 was recorded in September 21, 1823, whereas section 1 was received and recorded on November 1, 1831 during a "special conference of the elders of the Church." Moreover, after this revelation, Joseph Smith was criticized. Revelation 67 is the Lord's response to this criticism.
Section 1
1 Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men [the Lord addresses his revelation to the church]; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together [the Lord also speaks to the entire earth]. 2 For [because] verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated. [the church and people are to listen because Lord's voice for everyone to hear, and no one can avoid it hearing -- to some degree or another] 3 And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for [because] their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed. [the sorrow of the rebellious will come from having their works/acts revealed to all.] 4 And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. 5 And they [the Lord's disciples of the last days] shall go forth and none shall stay them , for [because] I the Lord have commanded them. [nothing shall prevent the disciples from going forth because the Lord has given them authority]
6 Behold, this [what the Lord said in verses 1-5] is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments [later become D&C], which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth. [The Lord's authority is what he has spoken and declared -- it comes from his mouth alone] 7 Wherefore [Therefore], fear and tremble, O ye people [speaking to the world], for what I the Lord have decreed in them [His disciples] shall be fulfilled. [Question: Why should what the Lord decreed in his disciples cause the people fear?] 8 And verily I say unto you [speaking to the world], that they who go forth, bearing these tidings [not clear: could refer to the gospel or the book of commandments] unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious; 9 Yea, verily, to seal them [the unbelieving and rebellious] up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure [i.e., day of judgment]— 10 Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man. [verse 10 provides insight into what the Lord's judgment means -- it is when the Lord "awards" us the consequences/outcome of our actions]
11 Wherefore [Therefore, for this reason] the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that [in order that] all that will hear may hear: 12 Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; 13 And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth. 14 And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed [likely referring to the Davidic Servant, who represents the power and strength of the Lord]; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people; 15 For they [those who are cut off] have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; 16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world [our desire for the things of the world, whatever that may be, is our idol], and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.
- If verse 14 is referring to the Davidic Servant, then it means that when he comes onto the scene, the Lord anger is about the fall upon the earth. And from Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord's anger simply means that he withdraws his spirit. (32 I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth.) His withdrawing leaves a vacuum for Satan and his spirits to reign. This is why one reason why the end times will filled with tribulation -- Satan will have full power over this earth - see verse 35 below.
- The reason why the the wicked get cut off by the Lord is for the following reasons:
- They do not listen to the Lord's voice nor that of his servants.
- They strayed from the Lord's ordinances
- Broke His everlasting covenant
- They seek not the Lord
- And they walk after their "idol" -- the image of the world.
17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; 18 And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things [not clear. Could refer to the Book of Commandments (D&C) or to what the Lord spoke in the above verses] unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets— 19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh— 20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world; 21 That faith also might increase in the earth; 22 That mine everlasting covenant might be established; 23 That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.
- Because the Lord knows what will eventually happen to this earth due to the wickedness of the people, he called Jospeh Smith and gave him and others commandments in order for them to proclaim "these things" to the world so that the words of the prophets will be fulfilled, which said:
- The weak things shall break the strong
- Man should not trust in the arms of flesh
- Everyone man speak in the name of God and the Lord (i.e., that all people might be prophets)
- That faith might increase
- That the Lord's everlasting covenant might be established
- Fullness of His gospel proclaimed
- Question: Have these results been reached? Has faith truly increased? Remember that Moroni said if we have faith, we can do miracles and be ministered by angels. Does this happen in our lives? If not, what does this say about our faith and the faith of the world? What does this say about the state of the church?
24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments [referring to the D&C (formerly known as the Book of Commandments)] are of me [the Lord vouches for the revelations in D&C (those that were revealed to Joseph Smith up until 1831)], and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding. [the Lord reveals things to us according to our understanding so that we may learn. He uses our language to do so] 25 And inasmuch as they [the Lord's servants] erred it might be made known; 26 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed; 27 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent; 28 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time.
- The commandments in the D&C are given to the Lord's servants for the following reasons:
- That they may come to an understanding
- That they errors may be made known
- That as they sought wisdom the would receive instruction
- That as they sinned they would be chastened so that they might repent
- That as they humbled themselves they would be taught from on high to receive knowledge
29 And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon. [The Lord provides no allowance to any other statement other than that the Lord gave Joseph Smith power to translate the plates. Therefore, we must ignore some of the progressive theories about how it was translated.] 30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, [no other groups has the power to build up the church than those who have received the Lord's commandments -- i.e., the early church] might [subjunctive mood, meaning that the Lord hopes the early church brings about the church. It is no guarantee that the church would be brought out of darkness] have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually— 31 For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; 32 Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; 33 And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.
34 And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth: I the Lord am willing to make these things [Not clear. Could refer to what the Lord said in verses 29-33, could refer to the entire section, or the D&C (Book of Commandments)] known unto all flesh; 35 For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion [earth]. 36 And also the Lord shall have power over his saints [notice that the Lord's power is not over a region, but over a people], and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world.
- Notice that when the devil has power over his domain, peace is removed. This is because the devil's by his nature is contentious. It's against his nature to promote any modicum of true peace. And remember, peace is more than just the absence of war. Furthermore, this taking away of peace is accompanied by the devil having dominion over the world.
- What does the Lord mean by taking away peace? It's likely that the Lord is quoting Revelation 6, where John lays out the 7 seals that accompany the destruction of the world.
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (Revelation 6)
- Notice that in Rev 6, the removal of peace causes people to kill one another. If the Lord is referring to Revelation 6, then then the removal of peace is accompanied by mankind killing each other. And given that this statement from Rev 6 exists in a larger context, the removal of peace, as referred to by the Lord, has not happened -- yet.
37 Search these commandments, for [because] they are true and faithful [reliable and constant], and the prophecies and promises which are in them [D&C] shall all be fulfilled. 38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. 39 For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. [because the Spirit bears record that the D&C is true, its commandments remain forever] Amen.
- Verse 38: The Lord is not saying that whatever the prophet speaks is revelation. Instead he is saying that what he has declared in this revelation (section 1) will be fulfilled either by Him or his servants
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