Lesson 25: "The Everlasting Covenant: The Fulness of the Gospel"

Lesson 25: "The Everlasting Covenant: The Fulness of the Gospel"

Sections 66, 67, and 68

Section 66

William Earl McLellin

In the September 2014 Ensign, there was an article on the stories behind some of the revelations included in the Doctrine and Covenants.  Written by a member of the Church History Department, it provides some interesting backstories.  One of the sections featured is 66. Link:  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/09/stories-behind-the-revelations?lang=eng

Verse 1 of Section 66 seems to indicate that salvation is conditional.  Under what conditions may we be saved?

We hear often of the (or a) "New and Everlasting Covenant."  In V.2, however, the Lord does not refer to the covenant as "new," merely as "everlasting."  Why do you think the Lord does not call it His "new and everlasting covenant" but rather designates it only as "everlasting?"  What is the everlasting covenant?  

Verse 9 counsels Brother McLellin (and us) to be patient in affliction.  How may we obey this counsel?

In V.10, Brother McLellin receives a commandment to "[s]eek not to be cumbered."  What cumbers us?  How can we seek to avoid the things that cumber us?  Is seeking not to be cumbered the same as seeking to avoid responsibility or performing work?  What is the difference?

In Verse 11, Brother McLellin is told that he will be instrumental in "pushing many people to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads."  How do we push people to Zion?  What does it mean to have a song of everlasting joy upon one's head?  

Section 67

From the Student Manual:

   “On the first day of the conference, November 1, 1831, the Lord approved the publication of the revelations by giving what is commonly referred to as the Lord’s own preface to the Book of Commandments. (D&C 1.) Its purpose was to serve as an introduction to the contents of the entire book. In this revelation the Lord proclaimed to the whole world his message of repentance and the fact that through his servant Joseph Smith, Jr., the gospel for the salvation of mankind was restored. ‘Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear: Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.’ (D&C 1:11, 37.)
   “At the conference the elders decided that ten thousand copies of the sixty-five revelations should be printed under the title, ‘Book of Commandments.’ Oliver Cowdery read the Lord’s preface, and several brethren arose and bore witness to its truth and the truth of all the revelations received by the Prophet. The Prophet expressed his deep gratitude for the Lord’s commandments. He entertained no doubts concerning the divine inspiration of the revelation he received for the guidance of the Church. …
   “Not all those present at the conference fully approved the revelations. One at least, questioned the language of them: William E. McLellin. The challenge was answered in a revelation: [D&C 67:5–8].
   “McLellin, who, in the words of the Prophet, had ‘more learning than sense, endeavored to write a commandment like unto one of the least of the Lord’s.’ [History of the Church, 1:226.] McLellin had taught school rather successfully in five states of the Union and had acquired considerable learning. His attempt to write a revelation was a miserable failure. Joseph Smith said: ‘… It was an awful responsibility to write in the name of the Lord. The Elders and all present that witnessed this vain attempt of a man to imitate the language of Jesus Christ, renewed their faith in the fulness of the Gospel, and in the truth of the commandments and revelations which the Lord had given to the Church through my instrumentality. …’ [History of the Church, 1:226]
   “After the conference adjourned, Joseph arranged the revelations, and Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer carried them to Independence for William W. Phelps to print.” (Barrett, Joseph Smith, pp. 200–202.)



An original copy of the Book of Commandments

https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-60-68/section-67-i-give-you-a-testimony-of-the-truth-of-these-commandments?lang=eng

In vv 6-9 of Section 67, the Lord challenges all comers to write a revelation.  Brother McLellin, a recent convert and well-educated man, took Him up on that and ended up being unsuccessful in his attempt.  Why do you feel he failed?

   "Elder Orson F. Whitney stated:
   “Well, one of them, who thought himself the wisest, and who possessed some learning, took up the challenge and actually attempted to frame a revelation; but it was a flat failure. He could utter, of course, certain words, and roll out a mass of rhetoric; but the divine spirit was lacking, and he had to acknowledge himself beaten.
   “It is not so easy to put the spirit of life into things. Man can make the body, but God alone can create the spirit.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1917, p. 42.)"  (https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-60-68/section-67-i-give-you-a-testimony-of-the-truth-of-these-commandments?lang=eng)

Verse 13 informs us that we "are not able to abide the presence of God now," but tells us how we may prepare to be able to abide His presence.  What must we do?

Section 68

According to verse 4, when does "scripture" occur?  What qualifies something as scripture?  How can you know if it really is scripture?

From the Student Manual:
D&C 68:3–5. What Is Scripture?
   Scripture is the mind and will of God revealed through His servants. Peter declared, “Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Such scripture has been written and preserved in the standard works as priceless gems of eternal truth. The standard works are not the only source of scripture, however. As President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “When one of the brethren stands before a congregation of the people today, and the inspiration of the Lord is upon him, he speaks that which the Lord would have him speak. It is just as much scripture as anything you will find written in any of these records, and yet we call these the standard works of the Church. We depend, of course, upon the guidance of the brethren who are entitled to inspiration.

   “There is only one man in the Church at a time who has the right to give revelation for the Church, and that is the President of the Church. But that does not bar any other member in this Church from speaking the word of the Lord, as indicated here in this revelation, section 68, but a revelation that is to be given as these revelations are given in this book, to the Church, will come through the presiding officer of the Church; yet, the word of the Lord, as spoken by other servants at the general conferences and stake conferences, or wherever they may be when they speak that which the Lord has put into their mouths, is just as much the word of the Lord as the writings and the words of other prophets in other dispensations.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:186.) 

Elder Harold B. Lee further defined scripture when he said: “It is not to be thought that every word spoken by the General Authorities is inspired, or that they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in everything they read and write. Now you keep that in mind. I don’t care what his position is, if he writes something or speaks something that goes beyond anything that you can find in the standard church works, unless that one be the prophet, seer, and revelator—please note that one exception—you may immediately say, ‘Well, that is his own idea.’ And if he says something that contradicts what is found in the standard church works (I think that is why we call them ‘standard’—it is the standard measure of all that men teach), you may know by that same token that it is false, regardless of the position of the man who says it.” (The Place of the Living Prophet, Seer, and Revelator [address delivered to seminary and institute of religion faculty, 8 July 1964], p. 14.)

   President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said:
  “How shall we know when the things they have spoken were said as they were ‘moved upon by the Holy Ghost?’
   “I have given some thought to this question, and the answer thereto so far as I can determine, is: We can tell when the speakers are ‘moved upon by the Holy Ghost’ only when we, ourselves, are ‘moved upon by the Holy Ghost.’
   “In a way, this completely shifts the responsibility from them to us to determine when they so speak.” (When Are the Writings or Sermons of Church Leaders Entitled to the Claim of Scripture? [address delivered to seminary and institute of religion personnel, 7 July 1954], p. 7.)  (https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-60-68/section-68-scripture-is-the-will-mind-word-voice-and-power-of-god-unto-salvation?lang=eng)

Verse 6 counsels us to "be of good cheer, and do not fear."  Is it possible to be cheerful and fearful at the same time?  

Verse 24 indicates that if a person repents, "he shall be forgiven."  Does this mean that he shall be forgiven of the Lord, or that we should forgive those who repent?  When is our forgiveness required?  How can we demonstrate that we are forgiving?  How does the Lord demonstrate that He is forgiving?

Vv 25-28 inform us of what the Lord feels are the responsibilities of parents.  What are they?

"President N. Eldon Tanner noted: “Children who are taught obedience, to honor and obey the law, to have faith in God and to keep his commandments, will, as they grow up, honor their parents and be a credit to them; and they will be able to meet and solve their problems, find greater success and joy in life, and contribute greatly to the solution of the problems now causing the world such great concern. It is up to the parents to see to it that their children are prepared through obedience to law for the positions of leadership they will occupy in the future, where their responsibility will be to bring peace and righteousness to the world.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1970, p. 65.)"  (https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-60-68/section-68-scripture-is-the-will-mind-word-voice-and-power-of-god-unto-salvation?lang=eng)

Is it guaranteed that children taught in this manner will not turn away?

   "Regarding rebellious children of righteous parents, President Spencer W. Kimball observe
   “I have sometimes seen children of good families rebel, resist, stray, sin, and even actually fight d:God. In this they bring sorrow to their parents, who have done their best to set in movement a current and to teach and live as examples. But I have repeatedly seen many of these same children, after years of wandering, mellow, realize what they have been missing, repent, and make great contribution to the spiritual life of their community. The reason I believe this can take place is that, despite all the adverse winds to which these people have been subjected, they have been influenced still more, and much more than they realized, by the current of life in the homes in which they were reared. When, in later years, they feel a longing to recreate in their own families the same atmosphere they enjoyed as children, they are likely to turn to the faith that gave meaning to their parents’ lives.
   “There is no guarantee, of course, that righteous parents will succeed always in holding their children, and certainly they may lose them if they do not do all in their power. The children have their free agency.

   “But if we as parents fail to influence our families and set them on the ‘strait and narrow way,’ then certainly the waves, the winds of temptation and evil will carry the posterity away from the path.
   “‘Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ (Prov. 22:6.) What we do know is that righteous parents who strive to develop wholesome influences for their children will be held blameless at the last day, and that they will succeed in saving most of their children, if not all.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1974, p. 160; or Ensign, Nov. 1974, pp. 111–12.)  (https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-60-68/section-68-scripture-is-the-will-mind-word-voice-and-power-of-god-unto-salvation?lang=eng)

Vv 29-30 enumerate the responsibilities of Zion's inhabitants.  What are these?  How do the Commandments help us to uphold these responsibilities?

The Lord ends this revelation in verse 35 by identifying Himself as Alpha and Omega.  What is the significance of this designation?