D&C 6:1-2
So far we've dealt with Joseph Smith and Martin Harris, but now we are introduced to another main player in the game, Oliver Cowdery. The IM gives this historical background information: "In the winter of 1829 Oliver Cowdery taught school near the home of Joseph Smith Sr. It was the custom of the day for teachers to board in the homes of their pupils, and since the Smiths had children in Oliver's school, he came to stay with them. While there he heard stories about the Book of Mormon plates and asked Father Smith to tell him the details. Father Smith finally consented, and Oliver Cowdery became one of the few in whom the family confided the story. Lucy Mack Smith recorded the events that followed: 'Shortly after receiving this information, he (Oliver) told Mr. Smith that he was highly delighted with what he had heard, that he had been in a deep study upon the subject all day, and that it was impressed upon his mind, that he should yet have the privilege of writing for Joseph. Furthermore, that he had determined to pay him a visit at the close of the school... On coming in on the following day, he said, 'The subject upon which we were yesterday conversing seems working in my very bones, and I cannot, for a moment, get it out of my mind; finally, I have resolved on what I will do. Samuel (Smith), I understand, is going down to Pennsylvania to spend the spring with Joseph; I shall make my arrangements to be ready to accompany him thither,... for I have made it a subject of prayer, and I firmly believe that it is the will of the Lord that I should go. If there is a work for me to do in this thing, I am determined to attend to it.' In April Samuel and Oliver went to Harmony, Pennsylvania, to visit Joseph. Lucy Mack Smith recorded the following: 'Joseph had been so hurried with his secular affairs that he could not proceed with his spiritual concerns so fast as was necessary for the speedy completion of the work; there was also another disadvantage under which he labored, his wife had so much of her time taken up with the care of her house, that she could write for him but a small portion of the time. On account of these embarrassments, Joseph called upon the Lord, three days prior to the arrival of Samuel and Oliver, to send him a scribe, according to the promise of the angel; and he was informed that the same should be forthcoming in a few days. Accordingly, when Mr. Cowdery told him the business that he had come upon, Joseph was not at all surprised.' The narrative is picked up at this point in the history of the Prophet: 'Two days after the arrival of Mr. Cowdery (being the 7th of April) I commenced to translate the Book of Mormon, and he began to write for me, which having continued for some time, I inquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim, and obtained the following: (D&C 6.)" I guess I'm still confused about what exactly JS asked the Lord.
6:1-2 - Interestingly, the IM says that "Section 6 verses 1-9 are identical to section 11 verses 1-9. Verses 1-5 are identical to section 12 verses 1-5 and section 14 verses 1-5. The message in these verses is of universal importance to all Saints- indeed, the Lord has said, 'What I say unto one I say unto all.' The repetition stresses that great importance." I haven't gotten to those other sections yet, so that was kind of interesting to me. But there is definitely some interesting language here, the Lord says, "Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words." It's interesting because I had spent so much of the study of the Book of Mormon learning that God is loving and gentle and gracious and merciful, I mean, he obviously has all power and knowledge, but I had settled with Him in a light of compassion and empathy. Not that he's not that, because he is, but this seems to be a bit more intense and proactive than I had previously seen. The IM has an interesting explanation, saying, "The word quick in the King James Version of the Bible does not mean swift but rather 'living, alive.' To be quickened by the Spirit means to be given spiritual life. The word of the Lord is quick and powerful because it is a course of life, energy, and power. Many swords of ancient times had only one cutting edge. When someone decided to make a two-edged sword, the effectiveness of the weapon was increased tremendously. Now it could cut in any direction, no matter how the blow was struck. Thus, the likening of the word of God to the two-edged sword is a vivid simile. Just as a sharp sword can cut deep enough to sever limbs and destroy life, so the word of the Lord is powerful enough that it can bring destruction of the soul (spiritual death) to those who do not give heed to it. The word of God also has power to pierce the soul as a sword and penetrate the inmost parts of man. It can cut through error and falsehood with double-edged efficiency." That's a pretty in depth explanation, makes it a little less "God of War" type and more "God of Power" type, if that makes sense. I'm trying to think about this is a way that is more applicable to my life, like, how do I see the word of God in my life wielding sword like power? I'm going to have to think about this. I know that this was short, but I really do want to get more out of this and I feel like I want to stop and spend tonight and tomorrow thinking about verse 2 and make it more applicable to me.
6:1-2 - Interestingly, the IM says that "Section 6 verses 1-9 are identical to section 11 verses 1-9. Verses 1-5 are identical to section 12 verses 1-5 and section 14 verses 1-5. The message in these verses is of universal importance to all Saints- indeed, the Lord has said, 'What I say unto one I say unto all.' The repetition stresses that great importance." I haven't gotten to those other sections yet, so that was kind of interesting to me. But there is definitely some interesting language here, the Lord says, "Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words." It's interesting because I had spent so much of the study of the Book of Mormon learning that God is loving and gentle and gracious and merciful, I mean, he obviously has all power and knowledge, but I had settled with Him in a light of compassion and empathy. Not that he's not that, because he is, but this seems to be a bit more intense and proactive than I had previously seen. The IM has an interesting explanation, saying, "The word quick in the King James Version of the Bible does not mean swift but rather 'living, alive.' To be quickened by the Spirit means to be given spiritual life. The word of the Lord is quick and powerful because it is a course of life, energy, and power. Many swords of ancient times had only one cutting edge. When someone decided to make a two-edged sword, the effectiveness of the weapon was increased tremendously. Now it could cut in any direction, no matter how the blow was struck. Thus, the likening of the word of God to the two-edged sword is a vivid simile. Just as a sharp sword can cut deep enough to sever limbs and destroy life, so the word of the Lord is powerful enough that it can bring destruction of the soul (spiritual death) to those who do not give heed to it. The word of God also has power to pierce the soul as a sword and penetrate the inmost parts of man. It can cut through error and falsehood with double-edged efficiency." That's a pretty in depth explanation, makes it a little less "God of War" type and more "God of Power" type, if that makes sense. I'm trying to think about this is a way that is more applicable to my life, like, how do I see the word of God in my life wielding sword like power? I'm going to have to think about this. I know that this was short, but I really do want to get more out of this and I feel like I want to stop and spend tonight and tomorrow thinking about verse 2 and make it more applicable to me.
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