“Strengthen the Church”
Doctrine and Covenants 23:3
3 Behold, I speak unto you, Hyrum, a few words; for thou also art under no condemnation, and thy heart is opened, and thy tongue loosed; and thy calling is to exhortation, and to strengthen the church continually. Wherefore thy duty is unto the church forever, and this because of thy family. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote:
“The Lord . . . told Hyrum Smith that he was free from condemnation and that his heart was opened, his tongue loosed, and his calling was to exhortation, and to strengthen the Church continually. In a later revelation, the Lord said of Hyrum Smith that he loved him ‘because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loved that which is right before me, saith the Lord.’ Because of his integrity and because his heart was right, he had conferred upon his head all that once was given to Oliver Cowdery [see D&C 124:15, 94–96]. There is another thing of great significance in this brief blessing to Hyrum Smith [D&C 23:3], which is: ‘Wherefore thy duty is unto the church forever, and this because of thy family. Amen.’ It is doubtful if the Prophet Joseph fully understood the meaning of this expression when this revelation was given. In later years it was made clear. Evidently it has reference to the office of Patriarch, and in this office it was his duty and that of his family forever.”
(Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:121.)
