Doctrine & Covenants Lesson 06 (D&C 10–11)
January 30–February 5
SATAN SEEKS TO DESTROY THE WORK OF GOD (D&C 10)
● D&C 3 & 10 Headings God’s revelations concerning the loss of the 116 pages of manuscript
— D&C 3 was given in July 1828.
— D&C 10 was given in September of 1828, though this fact was missed in versions of the D&C prior to 1921.
— D&C 4 came after D&C 10
● D&C 3:1–3 The works of God cannot be frustrated—he knows the end from the beginning. This should give us absolute confidence in his promises to us.
● D&C 3:16–20 The Lord’s work will go forward—with or without Joseph Smith—and his promises to the seed of Lehi will all be fulfilled.
The Designs of Evil Men
● D&C 10:1–3 Although Joseph Smith’s disobedience caused him to lose his calling temporarily, it was at this time restored to him.
● D&C 10:4–5 The Lord’s advice on how to fulfill our callings:
— Do all things with reason—don’t over-do things or go beyond your strength.
— But be diligent—keeping at it until the assignment is finished.
— Pray always, recognizing that we need the Lord’s help to succeed.
— Joseph was not to “make up for lost time,” but proceed with wisdom & order.
— Joseph heeded this advice and did not return immediately to translating.
— He farmed his land and provided for his family for a while.
● D&C 10:6–14 God explains the conspiracy of Joseph’s enemies to try to destroy him.
● D&C 10:15–21 Testing God is Evil: Evil men try to “tempt” (test) God—set up tests to see if he will respond as they wish. Martin Harris was guilty of this—always seeking to have the Lord verify the truth of things by means of Martin’s choosing.
Proving God is Appropriate: The Lord invites us, however, to “prove” him—keep his commandments and reap the rewards of doing so (e.g., tithing).
● D&C 10:12, 22–29 Satan has a “cunning plan” to destroy God’s work.
— v. 20 He stirs up the wicked to iniquity against the righteous.
— v. 23 “I will require this at their hands” (they have agency & can’t blame Satan)
— v. 24 He inspires the wicked to anger against God’s work.
— v. 25–36 Satan Is the father of all lies, deception, and “flattery”—the notion that evil deeds are somehow justified and even superior ways to behave.
— v. 33 Satan seeks to overpower and contradict Joseph’s testimony of his work.
— v. 63 He encourages contention over doctrine and religion.
● Joseph F. Smith said, “By every possible means he seeks to darken the minds of men and then offers them falsehood and deception in the guise of truth. Satan is a skillful imitator, and as genuine gospel truth is given the world in ever-increasing abundance, so he spreads the counterfeit coin of false doctrine. Beware of his spurious currency, it will purchase for you nothing but disappointment, misery and spiritual death. The ‘father of lies’ he has been called, and such an adept has he become through the ages of practice in his nefarious work, that were it possible he would deceive the very elect.”1
● Spencer W. Kimball said, [Satan] “will use his logic to confuse and his rationalizations to destroy. He will shade meanings, open doors an inch at a time, and lead from purest white through all the shades of gray to the darkest black.”2
THE LORD’S WISDOM IS GREATER THAN THE CUNNING OF THE DEVIL
● D&C 10:40–45 The Lord instructs the Prophet not to retranslate the first 116 pages of material but to translate Nephi’s second set of records instead.
● D&C 10:53–56 The Lord will save truly converted members of his Church; only the wicked need fear.
● D&C 10:57–70 Some purposes of the Book of Mormon:
— v. 60 It shows that the Lord has other “sheep” and that they are of Israel.
— v. 61 It shows the marvelous works the Book of Mormon peoples did in his name.
— v. 62 It will bring to light true doctrine.
— v. 63 It will help stop the contention over doctrine that characterizes Christianity.
— v. 65 It foretells the gathering of Israel to the true Church in the last days.
— vv.67–68 It helps establish the doctrine of Christ.
INSTRUCTIONS TO HYRUM SMITH (D&C 11)
Hyrum Smith’s Role in the Restoration
— Soon after receiving this revelation, he became one of the earliest individuals to be baptized.
— He also was one of the eight witnesses.
— He became 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency in 1837 where he served until 1841.
— In 1841 he was called to be Patriarch to the Church (following his father’s death)
— The Lord called him “a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator” (D&C 124:91–96).
— He was called to act in concert with Joseph and to bear record.
— This he did admirably as he bore persecutions, watched over the Prophet, and with him sealed his testimony with his blood at Carthage in 1844.
● D&C 11:6, 20 Obedience is important in serving the Lord.
● D&C 11:7–8; D&C 14:7 To obtain eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God, we must listen to and obey the Spirit, keep the Lord’s commandments, and endure to the end.
● D&C 11:9 The instruction to “say nothing but repentance” applies also to us. No doctrine or message is more important to the salvation of souls.
● D&C 11:10–11 Hyrum was promised a gift from the Lord.
● Joseph Fielding Smith said, “The Lord declared that Hyrum Smith had a gift. The great gift which he possessed was that of a tender, sympathetic heart; a merciful spirit. The Lord on a later occasion said: ‘Blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.’ (D&C, 124:15). This great gift was manifest in his jealous watch care over the Prophet lest some harm come to him.”3
● D&C 11:12–14 We should put our trust in the Spirit when discerning truth.
● D&C 11:15 We must be properly called and ordained to the work.
● D&C 11:16–22 We must “obtain the word” before we attempt to teach or preach it.
Notes:
1. “Witchcraft,” Juvenile Instructor, Sept. 1902.
2. Faith Precedes the Miracle, 152; see also Moroni 7:17.
3. Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:57.