D&C 35:3-28

35:3-4 - The Lord continues to speak to SR in a way that I don’t remember hearing towards anyone else. He says he “I have looked up thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work.” The Lord has been watching him, surely just like he watches all of us, but this is some sort of indication that SR has been praying for something to do with more light and revelation than was found on the earth at the time he was preaching. Verse 4 is very profound, as the Lord says, “Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great things. Behold thou wast sent forth, even as John, to prepare the way before me, and before Elijah should come, and thou knewest it not.” DJR comments, “Imagine how Sidney Rigdon must have felt as he heard the next words, addressed to him by the Savior! The Lord tells him, in verses 4-5, next, that he has been preparing the way, just like John the Baptist did, but Sidney wasn’t aware of it. This is a reminder to all of us that we are often prompted and led by the Lord to do something, without even being aware that we are being prompted.” The names mentioned in this verse are some pretty heavy hitters, John the Baptist and Elijah, is it pretty significant that SR is being compared to John the Baptist, there is a lot of responsibility implied there. The IM quotes President Joseph Fielding Smith as teaching, “The Lord told Sidney that be had looked upon him and his works, having reference to his ministry as a Baptist and later as one of the founders of the ‘Disciples’ with Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott. During those years the hand of the Lord was over him and directing him in the gathering of many earnest souls who could not accept the teachings of the sects of the day. His prayers in which he sought further light than the world was about to give, were now to be answered. The Lord informed him that he had been sent to prepare the way, and in the gathering of his colony and the building up of his congregation in and around Kirtland, the hand of the Lord was directing him, and the way for the reception f the fullness of the truth was being prepared. It should be carefully noted that a great number of forceful, intelligent men who became leaders in the Church had been gathered by Sidney Rigdon, with the help of the Lord, in this part of the land. Without any question, the Spirit of the Lord had rested upon these men, as it did on Sidney Rigdon and Parley P. Pratt, to direct them to gather in Kirtland at that early day. Where, therefore, Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson and their companions came to Kirtland they found the way prepared for them through the preaching, very largely, of Sidney Rigdon, so that it was not a difficult matter for these missionaries to convince this group of the truth. While Sidney was preaching and baptizing by immersion without authority, which the Lord informed him in this revelation, yet it all resulted in good when the Gospel message reached them. These men were not only convinced and ready for baptism, but were in a condition by which the Priesthood could be given them, and this was done.” I think it’s interesting that SR seemed to be a student of the Bible, because that’s the only scripture that they had at the time, and as a preacher that would have had to know the Bible, and apparently he knew it so well that he was able to distinguish truth from error in the teachings of other available religions of the day. He was able to discern enough from the word of God that he had to think critically about what was available and realize that the true gospel wasn’t on the earth. He had an intensely personal relationship with God, because otherwise, why would he turn to God with his questions, asking for more information so that he could have the truth and grow closer to him. Taking all this into consideration, what was it that convinced SR of the truthfulness of the gospel? The Book of Mormon. This man who seemed to be a master scriptorian, was able to read the Book of Mormon and recognize it as the true word of God and be converted, I just think that that’s really interesting. 35:6-12 - In reference to SR baptizing beforehand, the Lord now tells him that those baptisms weren’t valid because he did not have the proper Priesthood authority. Clearly SR understands the purpose of ordinances and the need to follow Jesus into the waters of baptism by immersion, and the Lord knows this, that’s why he doesn’t expand on the purpose or anything like that, he expands on the proper authority. The Lord continues, as DJR describes, “The Lord gives Sidney a perspective of the magnitude and importance of the Restoration, in which he would now be a significant participant.” This is something that I’ve noticed that the Lord does periodically, gives some perspective on just how huge and momentous the gospel is. The Lord continues, “For I am God, and mind arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wondered, unto all those who believe on my name. And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick; they shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk. And the time speedily cometh that great things are to be shown forth unto the children of men.” Miracles follow those who believe. Miracles are not meant to convert, but to strengthen those who already believe. There is a really interesting phrase in verse 11 which is, “drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The IM teaches, “This distinctive phrase appears in three sections of the Doctrine and Covenants: 35:11; 86:3; 88:94,105. In each instance it is used in connection with Babylon (representing the apostate world and church) or with the ‘great church, the mother of abominations’ (representing the apostate church of the devil). Those who ‘rink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication’ participate in the worldly pleasures and sins of the apostate world and church, and thus will reap the desolations and destruction that will come upon the wicked when they are judged.” 35:13-18 - The Lord takes it to another level here saying, “Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to trash the nations by the power of my Spirit; and their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword on their behalf, and by the fire on mine indignation will I preserve them. And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand.” There is a lot of really intense imagery here, depicting battle and defeat and judgment, weapons and armor. There seems to be a tie to the “Armor of God” here, the Lord says that he will gird up their loins, and the loins represent virtue and chastity, and I read recently that it is through the Lord’s virtue that he has power, I’ll have to find the article. There seems to be a connection here, part of our ability to defeat Satan, both generally and individually, has to do with our ability to remain virtuous, and that gives us power with which the Lord works. It might be disheartening to realize that the Lord is referring to us, as members, as the “weak things of the world,” and “unlearned” and “despised” but that is the view point of the world towards us, not the Lord’s in fact, it’s quite the opposite. We are trying to be moldable, teachable and that’s what makes us be able to be tools in the Lord’s hands. The Lord continues by referencing the “parable of the fig tree,” which DJR reminds us that SR is no doubt familiar with, another nod to his in depth knowledge of the Bible. The IM quotes Elder Wilford Woodruff as teaching, “Here is laid the foundation of the fulfillment of that mighty flood of prophecy delivered since the days of Father Adam down to the last Prophet who breathed the breath of life. There has bee more prophecy fulfilled in the last forty-three years upon the face of the earth, than in two thousand years before. These might prophecies… like a band of iron, governed and controlled Joseph Smith in his labors while he lived on the earth. He lived until he received every key, ordinance and law ever given to any man on the earth, from Father Adam down, touching this dispensation. He received powers and keys from under the hands of Moses for gathering the House of Israel in the last days; he received under the hands of Elias the keys of sealing the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers; he received under the hands of Peter, James and John, the Apostleship, and everything belonging thereto; he received under the hands of Moroni all the keys and powers required to the stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim; he received under the hands of John the Baptist the Aaronic Priesthood, with all its keys and powers, and every other key and power belonging to this dispensation, and I am not ashamed to say that he was a Prophet of God, and he laid the foundation of the greatest word and dispensation that has ever been established on the earth.” The Lord continues in verse 18 “if he abide in me, and if not, another will I plant in his stead.” DJR comments “Did you notice that we have a guarantee from the Lord, Himself, in verse 18, above, that He will not let the Prophet lead us astray? In effect, at the last of verse 18, we are taught that if the Prophet were ever to depart from the Lord, He would remove him and replace him. Thus we are always safe in following our living Prophet.” I heard something once that I found interesting, funny, and very insightful, it was something to the effect of “if the prophet ever tells you to do something wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it. But don’t worry, the Lord won’t let that happen.” This is the same sort of concept. 35:19-28 – DJR comments on the next verse, “We feel the tenderness of the Lord as He instructs the much older and much more experienced Sidney Rigdon to ‘watch over’ His young Prophet.” The Lord instructs SR to “watch over” and “write for him.” I imagine that SR was very overwhelmed and excited with the possibility of receiving the missing pieces of the Bible by helping with the Joseph Smith translation of it. And I imagine that SR was very helpful to JS as a knowledgeable resource concerning many aspects of the Bible that he was able to talk to during the translation. The IM quotes Elder George Q Cannon as teaching, “To Sidney He gave a special command that he should write for Joseph. The Lord made known to Sidney what Joseph already understood- that the Scriptures should be given, even as they were in God’s own bosom, to the salvation of His elect. And soon after this time, Joseph began a new translation of the scriptures. While he labored, many truths, buried through scores of ages, were brought forth to his understanding, and he saw in their purity and holiness all the doings of God among His children, from the days of Adam unto the birth of our Lord and Savior.” Verse 23 is interesting and I’ll cite it here, but I’ll put DJR’s comments in the parenthesis. The Lord tells SR that in his down time “And inasmuch as ye do not write (when you are not involved in being a scribe for the Prophet), behold, it shall be given unto him (Joseph Smith) to prophesy; and thou shalt preach my gospel and call on the holy prophets (use your knowledge of the Bible, and the Book of Mormon) to prove his words, as they shall be given him.” DJR comments that this verse explains that “the role of our living Prophet includes that of revealing new doctrine, whereas, all others are limited to explaining and clarifying existing, revealed doctrine. This is one of the very significant safeguards for us, to prevent deception. It is often the case that apostates claim new doctrines and revelations, which change existing doctrines and the current order of the Church.” Some interesting insights there, especially considering that we dealt with this issue several times already with Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery. The Lord indicates the power that the gospel has and the power that righteousness beings, saying, “Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish.” We’ve heard that the “heavens to shake for your good” thing before, but I don’t remember the insight that I had, I’ll have to look up the talk that I heard. I don’t think that this verse is specific to SR, even though it might seem to be in a pretty specific context, this verse alone, by itself, is very powerful if we take it to heart for ourselves, which I think we can probably do. The Lord is commanding and covenanting that if we “keep all the commandments and covenants” by which we are bound, he “will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble.” This verse reminds me of Alma 48:17, where Mormon describes the righteousness of Captain Moroni saying, “Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.” With righteousness comes spiritual power, not power like that of power hungry people or control over others, power, as in God’s power, protection, comfort, steadfastness, rest, that is the kind of power that comes with righteousness, a settled and strong spirit, a love of God and fellow man. The last point that I want to touch on is verse 26 which says, “Lift up your hearts and be glad, your redemption draweth nigh.” DJR comments, “Have you noticed how many times the Lord tells these early Saints to be happy? This is counter to a commonly held notion, especially in the New England environment of Joseph Smith’s day, that truly religious people were unsmiling and sour of disposition.” For me, being happy has to do with the eternal perspective, knowing who we are, where we came from and where we’re going. Verse 27 touches on this as well, “Fear not.” We are to happy and not afraid, that takes faith in something great in this life, and that’s what the gospel provides for us, happiness and peace.