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11 Proving to the world that the holy scriptures aretrue, and that God does inspire men and call them tohis holy work in this age and generation, as well asin generations of old;12 Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday,today, and forever. Amen.In the 2013 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, theheading for Section 20 states, “Revelation on Churchorganization and government, given through Joseph Smith theProphet. at or near Fayette, New York. Portions of thisrevelation may have been given as early as summer 1829. thecomplete revelation, known at the time as the Articles andCovenants, was likely recorded soon after April 6, 1830(the day the Church was organized). The Prophet wrote, ‘Weobtained of Him [Jesus Christ] the following, the by thespirit of prophecy and revelation which not only gave usmuch information, but also pointed out to us the preciseday upon which, according to His will and commandment, weshould proceed to organize His Church once more her uponthe earth.” (Heading: Section 20. The Doctrine andCovenants. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints, 1981, [2013], 34).In these verses, the Lord bears his witness as to thedivine inspiration Joseph Smith received in preparing thetranslation of the Book of Mormon, including angelicdirection. He also declares the truthfulness of the holyscriptures as was revealed to inspired men now as well asin the past.Doctrine and Covenants 27:55 Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not,for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit ofthe vine [partake of the emblems of the sacrament]with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I havesent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containingthe fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I havecommitted the keys of the record of the stick ofEphrium;This revelation was given to Joseph Smith regarding hisseeking to obtain wine for the sacrament. He was instructedit “mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drinkwhen ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that do itwith an eye single to my glory—-remembering unto my Father7

my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which wasshed for the remission of your sins” (D&C 27:2). In theseverses, the Lord also confirmed sending Moroni to revealthe Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of myeverlasting gospel” (D&C 27:5).Bruce R. McConkie states regarding “the stick of Ephraim,”“The Book of Mormon is the stick of Ephraim in that it is arecord of God’s dealings with a people who were of thetribe of Ephraim; it is the stick of Joseph in the hands ofEphraim in that it records God’s dealings with a portion ofthe tribe of Joseph, the record of which came forth by wayof latter-day Ephraim and is now in the hands of churchmembers who nearly all are of Ephraim (D&C 27:5).” (MormonDoctrine. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, [SecondEdition], 767).Doctrine and Covenants 42:1212 Andchurchare inis theagain, the elders, priests and teachers of thisshall teach the principles of my gospel, whichthe Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the whichfulness of the gospel.In the 2013 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, theheading for Section 42 states, “Revelation given in twoparts through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio,February 9 and 23, 1831. The first part, consisting ofverses 1 through 72, was received in the presence of twelveelders and in fulfillment of the Lord’s promise previouslymade that the ‘law’ would be given in Ohio (see section38:32). The second portion consists of verses 73 through93. The Prophet specifies this revelation as ‘embracing thelaw of the Church.” (Heading: Section 42. The Doctrine andCovenants. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints, 1981, [2013], 69).This section was specifically given to the elders who arecalled to preach the gospel, baptize coverts, and build upthe church. The Lord states that they are to teach theprinciples of my gospel, which are in the Bible and Book ofMormon. Since this revelation was given, the Doctrine andCovenants and the Pearl of Great Price have also been addedto the canonized scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christof Latter-Day Saints.8

Doctrine and Covenants 84:56-5756 and this condemnation resteth upon the children ofZion, even all.57 And they shall remain under this condemnation untilthey repent and remember the new covenant, even theBook of Mormon and the former commandments which Ihave given them, not only to say, but to do accordingto that which I have written-In the 2013 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, theheading for Section 84 states, “Revelation given throughJoseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, September 22and 23, 1832. During the month of September, elders hadbegun to return from their missions in the eastern statesand to make reports of their labors. It was while they weretogether in this season of joy that the followingcommunication was received. The Prophet designated it arevelation on priesthood.” (Heading: Section 84. TheDoctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City: The Church of JesusChrist of Latter-day Saints, 1981, [2013], 153).In these specific verses the Lord indicate that He is notpleased with the members of his Church for they haveneglected to apply the teachings found in the Book ofMormon in their daily lives. For this neglect, they wereplaced under condemnation, until they repented of theiractions. Here the Lord makes clear the teachings of theBook of Mormon are to not only be studied, but to be givenapplication in the lives of the members of His Church.Doctrine and Covenants 135:1,4-61 To seal the testimony of this book [Doctrine andCovenants] and the Book of Mormon, we announce themartyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smiththe Patriarch 4 --The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready togo—-shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so itwas—-he read the following paragraph, near the closeof the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book ofMormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:5 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord thathe would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they mighthave charity. And it came to pass that the Lord saidunto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not9

unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thygarments shall be made clean The testators are nowdead, and their testament is in force.6 Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February,1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December,1843; and henceforward their names will be classedamong the martyrs of religion; and the reader in everynation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, andthis book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church,cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bringthem forth for the salvation of a ruined world; Theylived for glory; they died for glory; and glory istheir eternal reward. From age to age shall theirnames go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified.In the 2013 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, theheading for Section 135 states, “Announcement of themartyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet and his brother,Hyrum Smith the Patriarch, at Carthage, Illinois, June 27,1844. This document was include at the end of the 1844edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, which was nearlyready for publication when Joseph and Hyrum Smith weremurdered.” (Heading: Section 135. The Doctrine andCovenants. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints, 1981, [2013], 280-281).These verses confirm that one of the reasons for themartyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith was in order to sealwith blood their testimonies of the truthfulness of theBook of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants as holyscripture given through revelation from the Lord.The preceding verses taken from sections of the Doctrineand Covenants as noted by Ezra Taft Benson, confirm thewitness of the Lord regarding the truthfulness of the Bookof Mormon as revealed mainly to Joseph Smith in theDoctrine and Covenants. The Doctrine and Covenants standsas a witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.Ezra Taft Benson states,“The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ. The Doctrine andCovenants brings men to Christ’s kingdom, even the Churchof Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ‘the only true andliving church upon the face of the whole earth” (D&C 1:30).I know that.10

“The Book of Mormon is the ‘keystone’ of our religion, andthe Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone, with continuinglatter-day revelation. The Lord has placed His stamp ofapproval on both the keystone and the capstone.” (“The Bookof Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants,” in Ensign, May1987, 83).We have, through these thirteen Doctrine and CovenantSections, provided confirming witness that the Lord wasoverseeing the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. We turnnow to the preparation of Joseph Smith to receive andtranslate the Book of Mormon. Moroni, a former abridger ofthe record, now a messenger sent by the Lord, will serve animportant role is this process.II. Preparation of Joseph Smith to Receive and Translatethe Book of MormonApproximately three years have passed since young JosephSmith experienced his first vision. He has experienced agreat deal of persecution as he shared with others hisvisionary experience. He wrote of this experience.PGP, Joseph Smith-History 1:23-2523 It caused me serious reflection then, and oftensince, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, ofa little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, whowas doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scantymaintenance by his daily labor, should be thought acharacter of sufficient importance to attract theattention of the great ones of the most popular sectsof the day, and in a manner to create in them a spiritof most bitter persecution and reviling. But strangeor not, so it was, and it was often the cause of greatsorrow to myself.24 However, it was nevertheless a fact that I hadbeheld a vision. I have thought since, that I feltmuch like Paul, when he made his defense before KingAgrippa, 25 So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, andin the midst of that light I saw two Personages, andthey did in reality speak to me; and though I washated and persecuted for saying that I had seen avision, yet it was true; and while they werepersecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all mannerof evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to11

say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling thetruth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am Ithat I can withstand God, or why does the world thinkto make me deny what I have actually seen? For I hadseen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it,and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; atleast I knew that by so doing I would offend God, andcome under condemnation.It is not easy to stand up for what you believe in the faceof ridicule or persecution. Joseph Smith was telling thereligious community that visions or revelations had notconcluded with the publishing of the Bible. God continuedto be concerned about his children. The heavens were notclosed. His Church had been taken from the earth, and theordinance had been polluted, but a new day of religioustruth was dawning. Both God the Father and His Son, JesusChrist, had appeared to a young boy in these latter days. Afact he knew was true.*How can we remain true to our testimonies even when weface persecution?Joseph further wrote of his experiences during the threeyear period [1820-1823].PGP, Joseph Smith-History 1:2828 During the space of time which intervened betweenthe time I had the vision and the year eighteenhundred and twenty-three—-having been forbidden tojoin any of the religious sects of the day, and beingof very tender years, and persecuted by those whoought to have been my friends and to have treated mykindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to haveendeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to havereclaimed me—-I was left to all kinds of temptations;and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequentlyfell into many foolish errors, and displayed theweakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature;which, I am sorry to say, led me into diverstemptations, offensive in the sight of God. In makingthis confession, no one need suppose me guilty of anygreat or malignant sins. A disposition to commit suchwas never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity,and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc.,not consistent with that character which ought to be12

maintained by one who was called of God as I had been.But this will not seem very strange to any one whorecollects my youth, and is acquainted with my nativecheery temperament.It is now September 21, 1823. Joseph Smith is now 17 yearsold.PGP, Joseph Smith-History 1:2929 In consequence of these things [youthfultemptations], I often felt condemned for my weaknessand imperfections; when, on the evening of twentyfirst of September, after I had retired to my bed forthe night, I betook myself to prayer and supplicationto Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins andfollies, and also for a manifestation to me, that Imight know of my state and standing before him; for Ihad full confidence in obtaining a divinemanifestation, as I previously had one.*What was Joseph praying for on the night Moroni appearedto him?*What can we learn from Joseph’s example when we feel selfcondemned for [our] weakness and imperfections?Oliver Cowdery recorded what Joseph described happened nexton the evening of September 21st.Oliver Cowdery reports,“On the evening of the 21st of September, 1823, previous toretiring to rest, our brother’s mind [Joseph Smith] wasunusually wrought up on the subject which had so longagitated his mind-- all he desired was to be prepared inheart to commune with some kind of messenger of hisacceptance with God.“At length the family retired, and he, as usual, bent hisway though in silence, he continued still to pray “While continuing in prayer for a manifestation in some waythat his sins were forgiven; endeavoring to exercise faithin the scriptures, on a sudden a light like that of day,only of a purer and far more glorious appearance andbrightness burst into the room.— Indeed to use his own13

description, the first sight was as though the house wasfilled with consuming and unqu[e]nchable fire. This suddenappearance of a light so bright, as must naturally beexpected, occasioned a shock or sensation, visible to theextremities of the body. It was, however, followed with acalmness and serenity of mind, and an overwhelming raptureof Joy that surpassed understanding, and in a moment apersonage stood before him.” (“Letter IV. Messenger andAdvocate, quoted in The Papers of Joseph Smith, Vol. 1.Edited by Dean C. Jesse. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book,1989, 50-51).Joseph states,PGP, Joseph Smith-History 1:30,33-3530 While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, Idiscovered a light appearing in my room, whichcontinued to increase until the room was lighter thanat noonday, when immediately a personage appeared atmy bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did nottouch the floor.33 He called me by name, and said unto me that he wasa messenger sent from the presence of God to me, andthat his name was Moroni; that God had a work for meto do; and that my name should be had for good andevil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or thatit should be both good and evil spoken of among allpeople.34 He said there was a book deposited, written upongold plates, giving an account of the formerinhabitants of this continent, and the source fromwhence they sprang. He also said that the fulness ofthe everlasting Gospel was contained in it, asdelivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;35 Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breast plate,constituted what is called the Urim and Thummin-—deposited with the plates; and the possession and useof these stones were what constituted “seers” inancient or former times; and that God had preparedthem for the purpose of translating the book.The angel Moroni then quoted a number of scriptures whichwe shall address in the next section [III].14

Joseph Smith continues his narrative of the visit of theAngel Moroni.PGP, Joseph Smith-History 1:42-4342 Again, he told me, that when I got those plates ofwhich he had spoken-—for the time that they should beobtained was not yet fulfilled—-I should not show themto any person; neither the breastplate with the Urimand Thummin; only to those to whom I should becommanded to show them; if I did I should bedestroyed. While he was conversing with me about theplates, the vision was opened to my mind that I couldsee the place where the plates were deposited, andthat so clearly and distinctly that I knew the placeagain when I visited it.43 After this communication, I saw the light in theroom begin to gather immediately around the person ofhim who had been speaking to me, and it continued todo so until the room was again left dark, except justaround him; when, instantly I saw, as it were, aconduit open right up into heaven, and he ascendedtill he entirely disappeared, and the room was left asit had been before this heavenly light had made itsappearance.We learn from Joseph Smith that three times during thenight the Angel Moroni appeared and gave him instructions.The following occurred during the angel’s third visit.PGP, Joseph Smith-History 1:46-4746 By this time, so deep were the impressions made onmy mind, that sleep had fled from my eyes, and I layoverwhelmed in astonishment at what I had both seenand heard. But what was my surprise when again Ibeheld the same messenger at my bedside, and heard himrehearse or repeat over again to me the same things asbefore; and added a caution to me, telling me thatSatan would try to tempt me (in consequence of theindigent circumstances of my father’s family), to getthe plates for the purpose of getting rich. This heforbade me, saying that I must have no other object inview in getting the plates, but to glorify God, andmust not be influenced by any other motive than that15

of building his kingdom; otherwise I could not getthem.47 After this third visit, he again ascended intoheaven as before, and I was again left to ponder onthe strangeness of what I had just experienced; whenalmost immediately after the heavenly messenger hadascended from me for the third time, the cock crowed,and I found that day was approaching, so that ourinterviews must have occ

("The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants," in Ensign, May 1987, 83). Let us begin by addressing each of the references in the . gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved.