Lesson 9 -
Selected verses from D&C 20; 21; 27; 115
Ancient prophecies (Isaiah 11:1-12; 29:13-14; Jeremiah 31:31-33;
Daniel 2:44-45) were fulfilled in 1830 as the Church was
organized. This followed the publishing
of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the priesthood. Doctrine and
Covenants Section 20 contains instructions from the Lord to Joseph Smith about
the manner of organization of the Church.
The Church is organized in the latter days.
·
D&C 20:1 and its heading indicate the date for the
organization of the Church and why that date was selected—because it was the
Lord’s mortal birthday.
·
Ten years passed between the reception of the First Vision
and the formal organization of the Church.
Many important milestones had to be accomplished in that decade of
testing and preparation.
·
In 1980, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said: “This day of organization
was, in effect, a day of commencement, the graduation of Joseph from ten years
of remarkable schooling. It had begun with
the incomparable vision in the grove in the spring of 1820, when the Father and
the Son appeared to the fourteen-year-old boy. It had continued with the
tutoring of Moroni, with both warnings and instructions given on multiple
occasions. Then there was the
translation of the ancient record, and the inspiration, the knowledge, the
revelation that came from that experience.
There was the bestowal of divine authority, the ancient priesthood again
conferred upon men by those who were its rightful possessors—John the Baptist
in the case of the Aaronic Priesthood, and Peter, James, and John in the case
of the Melchizedek. There were
revelations, a number of them, in which the voice of God was heard again, and
the channel of communication opened between man and the Creator. All of these were preliminary to that
historic April 6” (Ensign, Apr. 1980, 11-12)
·
Both the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (see D&C
20:6-12) and the restoration of the priesthood were preparatory events and had
to be accomplished for the following reasons:
ü The Book
of Mormon contains a fullness of the gospel
ü The Book
of Mormon proves the holy scriptures are true
ü The Book
of Mormon proves that God does inspire men and call them as prophets in all
ages
ü The Book
of Mormon shows that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever
ü Priesthood
authority was necessary to govern the Church
ü Priesthood
authority was necessary to officiate in the ordinances of salvation
·
On April 6, 1830, the log home of Peter Whitmer Sr. in
Fayette, NY, was the gathering place for a group of more than 50 who met to
organize the Church according to the law and at the direction of the Lord. At least six members were required for legal
formation of a church according to New York’s statutes, so six men—all of whom
had previously been baptized and who had seen the gold plates of the Book of
Mormon—were chosen to be the first six official members of the Church. The six were Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdrey,
Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer Jr., Samuel H. Smith, and David Whitmer. (History of the Church, 1:76)
·
D&C 20:1 gives the original name of the Church at its
organization—“the Church of Christ”.
D&C 115:4 records “The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints” as the name the Lord gave to the Church in April
1838. 3 Nephi 27:8 teaches the
importance of the name by which the Church is known.
·
Of course, the world gave the Church a nickname, but we have
been asked by the Church leaders not to use that name when we refer to the
Church or its membership. Instead, we
should always refer to the full name of the Church or use the terms of
“Latter-day Saints” or “LDS”.
The Lord commands Church members to follow the prophet.
During the meeting at which the Church was organized, the presiding officers were sustained—Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey. Then, the Lord instructed members to follow the Prophet Joseph’s direction in D&C 21.
D&C 21:4-5 teaches us how to
regard the words of the living prophet (not just Joseph Smith). We find the words and counsel of the living
prophets in the Church magazines and publications, official letters, and at
General Conferences. (In class you may wish to volunteer comments about
what counsel or teachings of a living prophet have been special to you.)
D&C 21:5 gives the Lord’s
counsel to give heed to the words of a prophet “in all patience and
faith.” (In class you may wish to volunteer your
experience about when some counsel or teaching of the prophet has required
patience or faith from you.)
D&C 21:6 promises blessings
for following the prophet. These
promises are fulfilled in the lives of our members each day. These include:
·
“…the gates of hell shall not prevail against you”
·
“…the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from
before you, and…
·
“cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s
glory.”
In D&C 21:9 the Lord promises “a mighty blessing” to those who labor in his service.
(teacher’s comment: Note that the
operative word here is “labor”.)
The Lord encourages Church members to meet together often to
partake of the sacrament.
The meeting at which the Church
was organized included the partaking of the sacrament.
D&C 20:75-79 give direction
for the sacrament ordinance.
D&C 20:75 teaches that the
sacrament should be partaken “often”.
D&C 20:77, 79 contain promises
that we make when we partake of the sacrament.
Both prayers emphasize remembering Jesus Christ. We are to remember Him always. Promises are also made to us for partaking
worthily.
D&C 27:2 also contained
counsel to Joseph Smith about the sacrament.
The Lord explains the duties of church members.
·
President Wilford Woodruff told of a meeting in which the
Prophet Joseph Smith prophesied of the Church’s growth. The meeting was in “a small house, perhaps 14
feet square. But it held the whole of the Priesthood of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints who were then in the town of Kirtland, and who had
gathered together to go off in Zion’s camp.” After several of the men had borne
their testimonies of the work, the Prophet said: “Brethren I have been much
edified and instructed in your testimonies here tomight, but I want to say to
you before the Lord, that you know no more concerning the destinies of this
Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mother’s lap. You don’t comprehend it…It is only a little handful of Priesthood
you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America—it will
fill the world.” (Conference Report, April 1898, 57)
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