Doctrine and Covenants 6

Mormon History 1830-1844

Joseph

Bios

Doctrine and Covenants 6

April [7–30], 1829, Harmony, Pennsylvania.
For Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Great and marvelous work to be performed. All willing are called of God §. Ask, knock, receive. Seek wisdom, not riches. Declare only repentance. Oliver to use his gift to learn the mysteries. The Lord reassured Oliver on the night that he prayed for it. Like Joseph, he can translate ancient records, including those that have not yet been revealed.
Oliver and Samuel H. Smith arrived in Harmony on April 5 (¶ Oliver's History of the Church) and Oliver began writing for Joseph on the 7th. Verse 17 indicates Oliver had begun writing at the time of this revelation.
Book of Commandments 5 heading: A Revelation to Oliver, given in Harmony, Pennsylvania, April, 1829, when employed [as] a scribe fo[r] Joseph, while translating the book of Mormon.
1835 Doctrine and Covenants 8 heading: Revelation given April, 1829, to Oliver Cowdery, and Joseph Smith jr.
		Book of Commandments 5
Great and marvelous	1	[1] A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men:	1	BC verse numbers are in brackets. 1835 D&C verse numbers are to the right of the text.
Listen up	2	behold I am God, and give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow:— therefore give heed unto my words.		Turquoise: dropped after 1835 Verse 2 is also used as verse 2 of D&C 11, 12, and 14. Behold … marrow: used as the beginning of D&C 33.
Field is white	3	[2] Behold, the field is white already to harvest, therefore whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God:	2
Whoever wants to work is called	4	Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God;
Ask, knock	5	therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.
Keep commandments, establish cause of Zion	6	[3] Now as you have asked, behold I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion:	3
Seek wisdom, eternal life, not riches	7	seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold he that hath eternal life is rich.
If you want, you can do much good	8	[4] Verily, verily I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.	4
Say nothing but repentance	9	Say nothing but repentance unto this generation; keep my commandments and assist to bring forth my work according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed.
Oliver's sacred gift	10	[5] Behold thou hast a gift, and blessed art thou because of thy gift. Remember it is sacred and cometh from above;	5	Gifts of the spirit D&C 46:8–29.
Ask to know mysteries, use gift Convince others of their errors	11	and if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysteries which are great and marvelous: therefore thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, convince them of the error of their ways.
Don't tell others about gift	12	Make not thy gift known unto any, save it be those who are of thy faith.—Trifle not with sacred things.
Endure to end to be saved	13	If thou wilt do good, yea and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation.
When you asked, my spirit answered That's why you're here	14	[6] Verily, verily I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done, for thou hast inquired of me, and behold as often as thou hast inquired, thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.	6
You asked me and I enlightened you	15	[7] Behold thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me, and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things, that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;	7	Spirit of Truth
Only God knows thoughts and intents	16	yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God, that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart:
Words you have been writing are true	17	I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee, that the words or the work which thou hast been writing are is true:		Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835
Support Joseph	18	[8] Therefore be diligent, stand by my servant Joseph faithfully in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be, for the word's sake.	8
Admonish him, be admonished by him	19	Admonish him in his faults and also receive admonition of him. Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity.
Blessed	20	[9] Behold thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desire, therefore, treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will incircle thee in the arms of my love.	9
Jesus Christ	21	[10] Behold I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto my mine own, and my mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.	10	Turquoise: dropped after 1835 Pink: added after 1835
Remember the night when you cried to me	22	[11] Verily, verily I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things;	11	¶ 1832 History
I spoke peace to your mind	23	did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?—What greater witness can you have than from God?
I have told you things no one else knows	24	And now behold, you have received a witness, for if I have told you things which no man knoweth, have you not received a witness?
May translate like Joseph	25	And, behold I grant unto you a gift if you desire of me, to translate even as my servant Joseph.
Other records kept back	26	[12] Verily, verily I say unto you, that there are records which contain much of my gospel, which have been kept back because of the wickedness of the people;	12
You can help with your gift	27	and now I command you, that if you have good desires, a desire to lay up treasures for yourself in heaven, then shall you assist in bringing to light, with your gift, those parts of my scriptures which have been hidden because of iniquity.
You and Joseph shall bring them out	28	[13] And now behold I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or three witnesses, shall every word be established.	13
Blessed	29	[14] Verily, verily I say unto you, if they reject my words, and this part of my gospel and ministry, blessed are ye, for they can do no more unto you than unto me;	14
	30	and even if they do unto you, even as they have done unto me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory:
Joy in fruit of your labors	31	but if they reject not my words, which shall be established by the testimony which shall be given, blessed are they; and then shall ye have joy in the fruit of your labors.
Where two or three are gathered	32	[15] Verily, verily I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold there will I be in the midst of them: even so am I in the midst of you.	15	"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20
Sow good, reap good	33	Fear not to do good my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good, ye shall also reap good for your reward:
On my rock they cannot prevail	34	[16] Therefore fear not, little flock, do good, let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my Rock, they cannot prevail.	16	"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32 "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:16–18
Sin no more	35	Behold I do not condemn you, go your ways and sin no more: perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you:
Don't be afraid	36	look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not:
My wounds Inherit kingdom of heaven	37	behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet: be faithful; keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven: Amen.		"Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world" 3 Nephi 11:14.
		D&C 7 D&C 5 New York–Pennsylvania Revelations Doctrine and Covenants