D&C 24

I am so very short on time tonight. Section 24 is longer than the last couple of them, and is of a different sort. DJR gives a very detailed background about what might have led up to this revelation, but the IM gives a more brief and concise account saying, “During the month of April 1830, Joseph Smith spent time at the home of Joseph Knight Sr., of Colesville, New York. The Knights were willing to hear Joseph Smith’s message. While there, the Prophet cast out an evil spirit from Newel Knight, one of Joseph Knight’s sons. Most of those who witnessed the miracle eventually sought baptism. This brought increased opposition from neighbors, some trying to prevent baptisms, others bringing lawsuits against the Prophet based on trumped-up charges. The Prophet was always acquitted of the charges but lost much time. Joseph had the responsibility of caring for his family and at the same time leading, counseling, and directing the newly organized Church. After the Prophet returned from Colesville, New York, to his home in Harmony, Pennsylvania, the Lord gave him what is now known as section 24. Joseph did record a specific reason for this revelation, but the courtroom experiences certainly made him aware that efforts were being made to absorb his time and impede the work of the Restoration.” 24:1- - There are a couple of phrases in verse 1 that think are kind of interesting. The first is that the Lord tells JS that he “wast called and chosen to write the book of Mormon.” Now, we know that JS did not write the Book of Mormon in the sense that we think about it today, in that he did not create the Book of Mormon. He wrote it literally, into English, that was his contribution, and it was a great one, but that’s what he did, he literally wrote it, wrote the words that were already there. Another point that I think is interesting is that the Lord tells him “I have lifted thee up out of thine afflictions, and have counseled thee, that thou hast been delivered from all thine enemies, and thou hast been delivered from the powers of Satan and darkness!” It would be a difficult line to take, if I were JS, that I have been lifted up out of my afflictions, especially considering the loss of his children, and the innumerable hardships he suffered while restoring the gospel, I would say, “I’m still in the middle of them!” But I guess that’s not the point, the point isn’t for afflictions to go away completely, because they won’t in this life, but to be delivered from, what does that mean? How are we delivered from out afflictions even while we’re still in the midst of them? It’s kind of like the concept of “the rest of the Lord,” it doesn’t mean physical rest, it means emotional and spiritual rest. We might be physically exhausted, but spiritually we will be liberated because we know who we trust, we know that no matter what happens, the Lord will take care of us. It also doesn’t mean that we know everything, or that we have the whole plan out in front of us, usually we don’t have any solid plan to look forward to, but we know that everything that happens is for our ultimate eternal welfare. That seems to be in line with being delivered from affliction while we are still in the midst of it, we are spiritually delivered, even though we may be physically still in the throes of chaos. The IM commented on being delivered saying, “the mention of blessings and deliverance in the past was a reminder to the Prophet Joseph Smith as he contemplated the vastness of his call and witnessed the forces working in opposition. He must have experienced some of the feelings of Enoch and of Moses and of many others who have been called to perform a work beyond human capacity.” 24:3-9 - Interestingly, the Lord reminds JS of his responsibilities to “magnify thine office; and after thou hast sowed thy fields and secured them, go speedily unto the church which is in Colesville, Fayette, and Manchester, and they shall support thee; and I will bless them both spiritually and temporally.” It must have been unbelievably stressful for JS to not only be in charge of restoring the Church but also having to provide for his family, that must have been pretty unbearable, at least it would have been for me. It’s also probably difficult for a man with any self-respect to be told that he is to depend on others for his support, mainly the Saints in these other areas that he is to visit. The Im teaches, “In addition to his many responsibilities in the Church, Joseph Smith had a family, and he could not neglect them, although his responsibility was chiefly a spiritual one. Although not completely relieved from responsibility for his temporal needs at that time, the Prophet was told by the Lord to look to the Church for temporal support. Elder Bruce R. McConkie commented about those who are asked to give full-time service to the Church: ‘All our service in God’s kingdom is predicated on his eternal law which states: ‘The laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.’ We know full well that the laborer is worthy of his fire, and that those who devote all their time to the building up of the kingdom must be provided with food, clothing, shelter, and the necessaries of life. We must employ teachers in our schools, architects to design our temples, contractors to build our synagogues, and managers to run our businesses. But those so employed, along with the whole membership of the Church, participate also on a freewill and voluntary basis in otherwise furthering the Lord’s work. Bank presidents work on welfare projects. Architects leave their drafting boards to go on missions. Contractors lay down their tools to serve as home teachers or bishops. Lawyers put aside Corpus Juris and the Civil Code to act as guides on Temple Square. Teachers leave the classroom to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions. Musicians who make their livelihood from their artistry willingly direct church choirs and perform in church gatherings. Artists who paint for a living are pleased to volunteer their services freely’ Temporal support from the members is probably only part of what is implied in these verses, however, the members were encouraged to support and sustain the Prophet in every possible way.” Another interesting point is that not only does JS need to rely on others for his support, but “in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling.” If I was JS I would have a very difficult to hear this, and would be very difficult for me to follow. Thinking about this from almost 200 years later, it was vital that JS was not wealthy because if he was then all types of claims could be made that he made the church for profit, that he was in it for the money. In fact, to me, one of the facets of the truthfulness of the gospel is that JS couldn’t have been motivated by money in the restoration of the gospel because he was broke, plain old poor. His wealth could have driven a wedge into many opinions, it must have been difficult to live that reality as JS but ultimately it furthered the cause and that’s what matter, he laid up treasures in heaven. The IM teaches, “The Prophet Joseph’s gifts were of a spiritual, not financial nature, but the Lord promised him that, if he would magnify his calling, he would always have what he needed. Financial ability is also a gift that can be used for the glory of God, but the Prophet was not a financier. He did not live for the accumulation of wealth. The Kingdom of God was his first and chief concern.” 24:10-14 - The Lord turns his attention to OC saying, “And thy brother Oliver shall continue in bearing my name before the world, and also to the Church. And he shall not suppose that he can say enough in my cause; and lo, I am with him to the end. In me he shall have glory, and not of himself, whether in weakness or in strength, whether in bonds or free; And at all time, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, not day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men.” Even though OC wasn’t the prophet, he wasn’t the main player in the restoration, but he was A player in the work, and he was promised strength in order to fulfill his calling. We might not be prophets, we might not be bishops or Relief Society presidents, but all callings are for the furthering of the work, for the building up of the kingdom and we are all entitled to the Lord’s help in magnifying our calling if we are desirous to do so. The IM teaches, “All persons who are baptized as members of the Church covenant to take upon them the name of Christ and be known as Christians. They thus bear witness to all others by their words and deeds concerning the Savior and His mission.” Concerning the phrase “the voice of a trump” DJR comments, “Perhaps you have noticed that ‘the voice of a trump,’ verse 12, above, is a phrase used frequently in the scriptures. It carried with it the imagery of a message which is clear and simple, easy to pick out from other sounds. This, Oliver is to teach the gospel simply, clearly, and is to make his voice reach far and wide to be heard by many.” Preaching the gospel simply, or preaching repentance, as is taught in other scripture, feeds into the next concept which the Lord teaches, “Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and against deadly poisons. And these things ye shall not do, except it be required of you by them who desire it, that the scriptures might be fulfilled; for ye shall do according to that which is written.” DJR points out that “The miracles listed in verse 13, above, are listen in Mark 16:17-18, and are associated with missionary work and with faithful membership in the Church.” Mark 16:17-19 says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” We kind of got carried away with that, but the concept of “Require not miracles” is commented on by the IM saying, “Oliver Cowdery was commanded to avoid requiring miracles outside of those associated with the preaching of the gospel unless commanded of the Lord. It is expected that priesthood holders acting properly will do works of the priesthood. The miracles mentioned by the Lord in verse 13 are identical to the signs mentioned in Mark 16:16-120; Mormon 9:24-25; and Doctrine and Covenants 84:64-72. They are gifts of the Spirit (Holy Ghost) bestowed upon those who believe and obey the gospel of Christ and are intended not to convert people to the truth but to bless those who are already converted. By requiring the person who is in need of a miracle to request it, the scriptures are fulfilled, that is, the miracle is performed in behalf of one who believes and is, therefore, a sign of his faith.” That’s a really interesting concept, doing miracles when someone asks you for it. DJR says, “One example of ‘do according to that which is written’ at the end of verse 14, above, is found in James 5:14… ‘Is there any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.’ A serious difficulty which can arise when the proper order, given in verse 14, above is not followed, is that a blessing or administration could be imposed upon a member who does not feel comfortable having one, or who does not have faith. In such cases, damage can be done and embarrassment and alienation from the Church could occur. Obviously, in the case of a faithful member who is unconscious or a child who does not know enough to ask for a blessing, etc., family or friends could properly ask that he or she be administered to.” I think there’s a fine line between advocating for a blessing and forcing a blessing on someone. I know many people who won’t ask for a blessing because they feel that they are not worthy, but who I think would benefit greatly from one, but if they won’t do it, Jesus respects their agency and it’s hard for us to do that, but we must respect it too. 24:15-19 – There is an exceptionally heavy missionary tone to this last part of this section. The Lord says, “And in whatsoever place ye shall enter, and they receive you not in my name, ye shall leave a cursing instead of a blessing, by casting off the duct of your feet against them as a testimony, and cleansing your feet by the wayside.” The IM teaches, “Cursings as well as blessings may be administered by the power and authority of the priesthood and include the sealing up of the unbelieving and rebellious to punishment. The act of cleansing the feet as a testimony against those who reject the servants of the Lord is an ordinance of cursing and is not just a demonstration that a witness of the truth has been given and has been rejected. Through this cleansing ordinance, those who rejected the truth are on their own, and those who preached the gospel to them are no longer responsible for them before the Lord. It is apparent in this and other scriptures given later in the Doctrine and Covenants that this ordinance is to be performed only when the Lord expressly commands it.” That’s a lot of pressure to be given the ability to condemn a people, I would have to be completely guided by the Lord in order to ever consider doing that. I don’t even think that Jesus did that to those who crucified him, so that’s a pretty high standards of awfulness that the offenders would have to reach. DJR quotes President Joseph Fielding Smith as teaching, “The cleansing of their feet, either by washing or wiping off the dust, would be recorded in heaven as a testimony against the wicked. This act, however, was not to be performed in the presence of the offenders, ‘lest thou provoke them, but in secret, and wash thy feet, as a testimony against them in the day of judgment.’ The missionaries of the Church who faithfully perform their duty are under the obligation of leaving their testimony with all with whom they come in contact in their word. This testimony wills stand against those who reject the message, at the judgment.” The Lord continues, “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall lay their hands upon you by violence, ye shall command to be smitten in my name; and behold, I will smite them according to your words, in mine own due time. And whosoever shall go to law with thee shall be cursed by the law.” DJR says, “Perhaps you have found yourself wondering why it seems that the wicked get away with their evil deeds and don’t seem to get punished by the Lord, while their victims suffer. The scriptures are clear that they will be punished, but there is a key phrase in verse 16 which explains the delay… No doubt one of the key reasons for the Lord’s waiting to ‘smite’ the wicked, is that there is still a chance that they might repent and come unto Christ. Think of how many times you, yourself, may have deserved ‘smiting’ but it didn’t happen to you, and then if becomes easier to let the Lord smite others in His ‘own due time.’” Also, reward and punishment is delay or postponed because to do otherwise would negate our agency. Obedience would not be based on faith, but rather a desire for reward, or a avoidance of punishment. The Lord continues, “And thou shalt take no purse nor script, neither staves, neither two coats, for the church shall give unto thee in the very hour what thou needst for food and for raiment, and for shoes and for money, and for script. For thou art called to prune my vineyard with a mighty pruning, yea, even for the last time; yea, and also all those whom thou hast ordained, and they shall do even according to this pattern. Amen.” Concerning pruning the vineyard, the IM says, “In this dispensation the Lord’s vineyard covers the whole earth, and the laborers are going forth to gather scattered Israel before the appointed day of burning when the vineyard will be purified of corruption.”