D&C 18:1-4

I realized that I’ve been going about this all wrong. I’ve been reading the revelation and trying to fit the backstory into it, when it would make more sense if I tried to fit the revelation into the backstory. Meaning, I should be looking at where the askers were coming from when the revelation was given, what they already knew and what they wanted to know. For instance, it appears to me that JS and OC went to the Lord to learn more about the Melchizedek priesthood, and this was their answer. That’s what this revelation was an answer to, this revelation, in the words of JS “will further illustrate the nature of our calling to this Priesthood, as well as that of others who were yet to be sought after.” This revelation is describing some of the responsibilities of the Melchizedek Priesthood. 18:1-4 - DJR begins us off by teaching, “First, in section 18, the Lord specifically addresses Oliver Cowdery, acknowledging that He is aware of a matter Oliver has had on his mind, and assuring him that he does have a testimony, especially of the Book of Mormon manuscript. This may sound a bit strange because of the great spiritual experiences Oliver has already had. But perhaps you know from personal experience or from the experience of others that a testimony needs constant nourishment. Thus, we see the Lord’s kindness here in strengthening Oliver’s testimony.” I have had this issue personally before, and I think that it all comes from perspective. When it is us, and we are in the moment, it’s easy to feel that these extraordinary circumstances are “normal” and so second guess them or not place them properly on the priority list. Because we don’t have any other perspective, it’s difficult to place our own, as far as what’s normal, what’s not, what things even mean. For instance, it’s easy for us to look back a say “well of course Oliver Cowdery had a testimony, he’s seen the plates and angels and heard the voice of God personally and through prophetic revelation addressed specifically to him.” It’s like looking back on Martha, who was irritated with her sister Mary for making her serve and work the party alone while Mary sat at the feet of the Savior. At the time, of course Martha thought that taking care of her guests was the proper thing to do, the thing that needed priority, but if she had known that people for the next thousands of years would have given anything to be in the presence of the Savior, she might have had a different reaction, maybe even the same as her sister’s. But she didn’t, it probably didn’t occur to her at all that the moment in which she was living was so precious and would be coveted throughout millennia, and so she acted accordingly, with the knowledge that she had at the time. Similarly, this happens to me, I’ll think about my faith and my testimony, and looking back, I’ll be able to see better, but right now, I just do what I think makes sense. The Lord says, “Now, behold, because of the thing which you, my servant Oliver Cowdery, have desired to know of me, I give unto you these words: Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true; wherefore you know that they are true.” I think it’s interesting that the Lord referenced all the times with the Holy Ghost as the testimony builder and not the times of prophetic revelation or the times of angelic manifestations, again showing that miracles don’t convert, the Holy Ghost does. The IM teaches, “In this revelation, Oliver Cowdery was informed that he had received a witness by the Spirit of Truth of the work, especially of the Book of Mormon. Many times during the translating of the record, manifestations of this kind had come to him. Not only had the Spirit made this truth manifest, but he had previous to this revelation stood in the presence of a heavenly messenger and under his hand received the Holy Aaronic Priesthood. Therefore, the Lord could say to him: ‘I have manifested unto you by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written (i.e., as scribe) are true; wherefore you know that they are true.’” DJR says that the doctrine contained in verses 3-4 is “Studying the scriptures and sticking to the things contained in them is vital for our salvation.” Verse 3 says, “And if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written.” DJR comments “Specifically, Oliver is being reminded of the benefits which will come to him, personally, through studying the scriptures and sticking strictly to the teachings contained in them.” Interestingly, the Lord is pointing our personal advantages to keeping the commandments, when we just talked about this last week, the personal advantages of preaching the gospel and of living righteously. Verse 4 references “my rock” saying, “For in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my Church, my gospel, and my rock.” The IM says “when the Lord refers to His Church, He is referring to the assembled believers and disciples who have taken upon themselves His name and covenanted to be obedient to His gospel.” DJR comments, “The word ‘rock,’ used in verse 4, above, can have various meanings, depending on context. Obviously, it symbolizes something which is solid and safe to build our lives upon. Three of many scriptural definitions are as follows: 1. ‘Build upon my rock, which is my gospel’ (D&C 11:24). 2. ‘Jesus in His teachings sais, ‘Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt.16:18).’ What rock? Revelation.’ 3. Jesus Himself is ‘the Rock’ upon which we are invited to build. For example, ‘I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall.’’ I don’t have a definitive definition of “rock” used here, but how I personally interpret that is “the rock” as the commandments. As we keep the commandments, we grow closer to the Savior and we are blessed immensely, and our testimony becomes stronger. The strength of a rock is tested only when it is pushed against, and when trials come, turning to the Savior instead of the world is what it truly means to me to be built on a rock.