Note: This is the last lesson I teach as a Gospel Doctrine teacher. I will continue to post on the weekly Sunday School lesson, but they won't be as lengthy as my lesson posts.
We are covering the same sections as last week and including section 11 for this week. Last week we discussed how to prepare to receive revelation. This week we will discuss actually receiving revelations. We will discuss the gift of revelation, how revelation is a witness, what we need to know to receive answers, recognizing answers and what happens if you don’t recognize or listen to the answers.
Oliver Cowdery set the scene for us to learn about all these things and I will forever be grateful to him. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were engaged in translating the characters on the gold plates into English. The first three revelations occur in April of 1829. At this point, the priesthood had not been restored, which means no one had been baptized and the church had not been organized. Joseph and Oliver were in their spiritual infancy and were both taught what personal revelation is, it’s importance and how to receive it. So we will learn line by line just as Joseph and Oliver did.
We will begin with section 6. Joseph and Oliver were engaged in translating The Book of Mormon and through the Urim and Thummim, received this revelation. It is unclear to me what their exact question for the Lord was, or the subject leading to the revelation. The heading says it is to both Joseph and Oliver, though there are obvious words to Oliver within.
DC 6:10-13
What gift is the Lord talking about in verses 10-12?
Revelation. How can they have the gift of revelation without having the gift of the Holy Ghost?
They aren’t even educated about the Holy Ghost yet. This is the experience that will help them to know that. They must know about personal revelation first before they can use the tool to receive it.
The gift of revelation leads to a second gift, which is mentioned in vs 13: the gift of salvation, “which is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”
These verses and the next few verses tell us the purpose of the gift of revelation, which we will list after reading.
DC 6:14-17
What is the purpose of the gift of revelation?
• Reveals the mysteries (v11)
• Brings many to the knowledge of truth, convincing the error of ways (v 11)
• Gift of revelation leads to salvation (v12)
• Method of instruction (v14)
• Brings enlightenment (v 15)
• Witness that there is a God and he knows the thoughts and intents of your heart (v 16)
• Specific witness to Oliver and Joseph (and therefore to us) that the translated material is true (v 17)
To show that the gift of revelation brings witness to truth, the Lord recalls a night that he gave Oliver an answer to a sincere question of validity of The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. The experience he recalls is one that Oliver had told no one about, not even Joseph.
DC 6:22-25
• Remember! Remember is a word used often in the scriptures so that we do not forget witnesses and truths we have already received.
• Your answer was peace concerning the matter – THERE IS NO GREATER WITNESS!
• Peace is the one thing Satan cannot duplicate.
HOW CAN WE TRUST THE PEACE WE RECEIVE? Is that enough of an answer?
After this witness, Oliver is told he may have another gift.
DC 6:25-26
A gift to translate other records if he asks.
So then, Oliver asks for the gift to translate. This section is specifically to Oliver Cowdery in response to his inquiry to translate. In response, the Lord tells him about the gift of revelation, not much about the gift of translation. The first five verses are a great reference to put your own name in for application.
DC 8:1-5
• Know in your mind and heart
• This is a gift of power, for example, it is the gift that Moses used to part the red sea! It is available to you!
• In order to keep this gift, keep the commandments
Why didn’t the Lord tell him about translation?
He didn’t use the proper method of asking or receiving revelation. We are told about this in section 9.
DC 9:1-5
• You didn’t translate what YOU wanted (The Book of Mormon)
• But you did continue in what I asked you to do
• I told you about older records you could translate
• But right now, your work is to be a scribe for Joseph, so for now you don’t have the gift of translation
The Lord teaches him about being careful in asking for something to be revealed to you and also answers to watch for.
DC 9:6-9
HAVING READ THROUGH THE REASONS FOR REVELATION AND INDICATIONS OF ANSWERS, WHAT THINGS SHOULD OLIVER HAD STUDIED?
• His calling
• The will of the Lord and the timing of the Lord
• The information already given him (other ancient plates)
• Purpose of his desire
The Lord though does not hold him accountable for not fulfilling his end of the bargain, because Oliver was not aware of the process of revelation.
DC 9:10-14
• You feared because you were overwhelmed and didn’t know what translation included.
• It would’ve been helpful then, but the time is now past and I’ve given the strength to someone else.
• But keep working and you will be blessed.
In contrast to Oliver’s experience, Hyrum Smith was given information before his calling, to help him recognize the Spirit in section 11. At this time, Joseph and Oliver had received the Aaronic Priesthood keys and were baptized and confirmed. They were instructed to keep it secret for a while. At the proper time, Joseph talked to his brother Samuel about the two subjects and then Hyrum wanted to know about it too. Hyrum was given the revelation in section 11 regarding his calling and work.
DC 11:12-14, 21
• Trust the spirit
• It leadeth to do good, do justly, walk humbly and judge righteously
• It will enlighten your mind, fill your soul with joy
• You will know all things by the Spirit
• You will have the Spirit if you obtain understanding of the word first
How blessed we are to have the experiences of these men so that we can obtain the word first, have understanding of revelation, and know how to receive revelation. Because as the Savior said: “upon this rock (the rock of revelation) shall I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt 16:18. He will build his church generally and individually upon revelation.
I testify that personal revelation is the only way I get through life without going crazy. There are just too many decisions to make, too may choices that I think I would be paranoid my whole life whether I chose right or wrong. I very much appreciate the peace that comes when I’ve made good choices and also the perspective the spirit brings when I make poor choices. That peace and perspective come by the Spirit of Revelation from a loving Heavenly Father and an Older Brother who makes both peace and perspective hopeful.
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