D&C 39:1-5

Section 39 is similar to many other revelations where the Lord gives instruction to those who are inquiring, and call them to the work. The IM gives background information as follows: “’Many are called, but few are chosen. Such is the story of James Covill, a man called by a personal revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith to labor in the Lord’s vineyard, and a man who failed to give heed to the counsel given him. Ever call to serve in the latter-day building of Zion requires personal sacrifice. James Covill had been a minister for about forty years. He was now called to be baptized into the Lord’s Church and to preach the gospel. To accept such a call would require him to forsake many of his former beliefs, to confess to his followers that he had now found a fullness of the truth, and to move to Ohio to join the Saints. It would also require that he find another way to make a living. Shortly after the Church conference of 2 January 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith recorded: ‘There was a man came to me by the name of James Covill, who had been a Baptist minister for about forty years, and covenanted with the Lord that he would obey any command that the Lord would give to him through me, as His servant, and I received the following: (D&C 39).’ Marvelous promises had been made to James Covill if he would obey the world of the lord that had been given to him. What thoughts might have filled his mind as he contemplated leaving the ministry he had been engaged in for forty years? What sacrifices would be required of him to join the Church and move to Ohio? Whatever his thoughts, James Covill decided to reject the revelation of God. The Prophet Joseph Smith recorded simply: ‘As James Covill rejected the world of the Lord, and returned to his former principles and people, the Lord gave unto me and Sidney Rigdon the following revelation (D&C 40), explaining why he obeyed not the world.’” There seems to be a strong similarity between this man and SR, who was in a very similar situation, he was a career minister who recognized the truth. But instead of accepting the gospel and forsaking all to join in the kingdom of God, James Covill apparently wanted to keep where he was more than he wanted accept the will and gospel of God. 39:1-5 - The Lord spends the first five verses introducing Himself to Mr. Covill, as DJR says, using “several Biblical words and phrases with which this Baptist minister is familiar.” The IM references verses 5 and 6 as showing that “James Covill was taught the true gospel,” and comments by quoting Elder Bruce R. McConkie as teaching, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan of salvation… Literally, gospel means good tidings from God or God-story. Thus it is the glad tidings or good news concerning Christ, his atonement, the establishment of his earthly kingdom, and a possible future inheritance in his celestial presence. ‘And this is the gospel,’ the Prophet recorded by way of revelation, ‘the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us- That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, ad to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him.” I’ve wondered why the angels came testifying of Christ’s birth saying that they were bringing “glad tidings of great joy.” What was so great about the gospel that we should be happy because we hear it? I think about what my life would be like, and what it was like, when I was not participating in it, it was terrible, I was lost, felt exposed, unprotected, it was really awful. I think about what my life would be without the gospel, and I think about this pretty often, I feel the deep sinking feeling in my chest, the void that can’t be filled any other way, I think of the peace and joy and guidance that the gospel has brought me, I think that no matter what, nothing else matters, ultimately, only the gospel and my standing before God matter, and I can’t live without that.