D&C/CHURCH HISTORY - LESSON
SECTION 42

  1. Introductory Comments.
  2. Historical Background.
    1. After the conference in January 1831 in Fayette, the Saints returned to their homes to make preparations for their move westward to Ohio.
      1. Newel Knight stated: "As might be expected, we were obliged to make great sacrifices of our property." (JS&R, p163)
      2. A few of the converts protested their removal to Ohio. Joseph worked patiently with them attempting to explain the importance of gathering.
    2. One convert in Ohio, Newel K. Whitney, had been praying for the Prophet to come to Ohio.
      1. On February 1, 1831, Joseph, Emma, and Sidney Rigdon pulled up in front of the Gilbert & Whitney store in a sleigh.
      2. Joseph sprang up the steps into the store, walked up to the man at the counter, extended his hand and exclaimed, "Newel K. Whitney! Thou art the man!"
      3. Newel looked at the stranger and said, "You have the advantage of me....I could not call you by name as you have me."
      4. Joseph replied, "I am Joseph the Prophet. You have prayed me here, now what do you want of me?"
    3. Joseph found these new Saints in Kirtland striving to do their best, but also found that they were continuing practices not in keeping with the gospel.
      1. Joseph referred to them as "strange notions and false spirits". There was a group in Kirtland called the Morley Family. The lived an imperfect law of sharing all things, which caused some difficult feelings. They had a revelator known as "Black Pete". They claimed to see angels and to receive letters from heaven.
      1. They also lacked understanding of the principles and practices of the gospel.
        1. Joseph soon wrote Martin Harris and asked him to bring all copies of the Book of Mormon, for few of the Saints in Kirtland had read it.
      2. On February 4, Section 41 was given to the Prophet. In this revelation directions were given by the Lord to have the elders of the Church assemble in Kirtland to receive the law by which the Church should be governed.
        1. It was in this same revelation that Edward Partridge was called to the office of bishop.
      3. Five days after the call of Edward Partridge as the bishop, Section 42, the law of the Lord was given by revelation.
  3. Discussion of Section 42.
    1. The Law of Propaganda (v4-10).
      1. Law concerning the preaching of the gospel.
      2.  READ V6-7. How the gospel is to be taught.
        1. WHAT ARE SOME FUNDAMENTALS OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL?
          1. Go forth in the power of the Spirit.
          2. Go forth two by two.
          3. Go forth in the name of the Lord.
          4. Lifting up your voices...
          5. Preach repentance; the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
        2. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IN MAKE TO GO FORTH IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT? DO WE SOMETIMES GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS?
        3. WHY DO WE PREACH THE GOSPEL BY TWOS?
        4. JOSEPH SMITH SAID REGARDING THE TEACHING OF REPENTANCE: "Oh, ye elders of Israel, harken to my voice; and when you are sent into the world to preach, tell those things you are sent to tell; preach and cry aloud, 'Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; repent and believe the Gospel.' Declare the first principles, and let mysteries alone, lest ye be overthrown."
    2. The Law of Ordination (v11-17)
      1.  READ V11. Cannot preach without authority.
      2.  READ V14. Teach not without the Spirit.
        1. Once again the Lord emphasizes the vital significance of teaching with the Spirit.
        2. We have a responsibility to obtain the spirit by the prayer of faith or "ye shall not teach."
          1. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
            1. Spencer W. Kimball: "The great objective of all our work is to build character and increase faith in the lives of those whom we serve. If one cannot accept and teach the program of the Church in an orthodox way without reservations, he should not teach. It would be the part of honor to resign his position. Not only would he be dishonest and deceitful, but he is also actually under condemnation..." (CR, Apr. 1948)
            2. Joseph Fielding Smith: "...no one should be called upon to teach and no one should attempt to teach the doctrines of the Church unless he is fully converted and has an abiding testimony of their truth. This testimony can only be received through prayerful study and obedience to all the commandments of the Lord. No man or woman can teach by the Spirit what he or she does not practice. Sincerity, integrity and loyalty are essential factors, and these will be accompanied by the spirit of prayer. The Comforter, 'who knoweth all things,' we should rely on, and then our teachings shall be approved of our Father in Heaven." (CHMR, 1:184-185)
        3. WHAT IS THE PRAYER OF FAITH?
          1. Are we asking for the Spirit of the Lord as we seek to keep the commandments.
          2. Faith without works is dead. Our prayers will be backed up by obedience and righteous works.
    3. The Law Of Moral Conduct (v18-29).
      1. V18-19: Thou shalt not kill.
        1. V19: He that killeth shall die.
          1. APPEARS TO BE A CONFIRMATION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
            1. Joseph Fielding Smith said that the Church "cannot destroy men in the flesh, because we do not have power to pass sentences upon them which involve capital punishment. In the days when there was a theocracy on the earth, then this decree was enforced. What the Lord will do in lieu of this, because we cannot destroy in the flesh, I am unable to say, but it will have to be made up in some other way." (Doctrines of Salvation 2:97)
          2. WHAT ABOUT MILITARY SERVICE?
      2. V20: Thou shalt not steal.
        1. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
          1. Do we give a full measure at work?
          2. Do we honor copyrights? (sheet music, audio/video tapes, software)
          3. Do we pay fair wages?
      3. V21: Thou shalt not lie.
      4. V22: Thou shalt love thy wife, cleave unto her & none else.
        1. Spencer W. Kimball: "[Husbands,] you need to ask yourselves, 'Can I love my wife even as Christ also has loved the Church?' Can you think of how he loved the Church? Its every breath was important to him, its every growth, its every individual, was precious to him. He gave to those people all his energy, all his power, all his interest. He gave his life--and what more could one give?" (Men of Example [address delivered to religious educators, 12 Sep 1975], pp4-5)
        2. Spencer W. Kimball: "Marriage presupposes total allegiance and total fidelity. Each spouse takes the partner with the understanding that he or she gives self totally to the spouse: all the heart, strength, loyalty, honor, and affection with all dignity. Any divergence is sin--any sharing the heart is transgression. As we should have 'an eye single to the glory of God' so should we have an eye, an ear, a heart single to the marriage and the spouse and family." (CR, Oct. 1962)
        3. V23: He that lusts after another woman denies the faith and shall not have the Spirit.
        4. V24: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
        5. The D&C commentary states that nothing has caused more falling away from the church than impure behavior. George A. Smith stated: "I have been conversant with early elders, and I am satisfied that a large number of them fell from their positions in the Kingdom of God because they yielded to the spirit of adultery; this was the cause of their destruction."
        6. Melvin J. Ballard said: "There never was an immoral people who did not first entertain immoral thoughts."
      5. V27: Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him harm.
        1. Breaking this law does harm not only to the individual, but also ourselves.
        2. HOW DO WE FEEL WHEN WE SPEAK EVIL OF THOSE AROUND US? DOES IT EVER COME BACK TO HAUNT US?
      6. V29: "If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments."
    4. The Law of Charity & Consecration (v30-34).
      1.  READ V30. Consecration of property
      2. ACCORDING TO VERSES 30-34, HOW IS THE LAW OF CONSECRATION TO FUNCTION.
        1. Property to be deeded to the Bishop.
        2. Bishop then makes a man steward over his own property or that which he has received by consecration.
        3. He will retain that which is sufficient for the needs of his family and turn in the surplus to the Bishop.
      3. I am a great believer in capitalism & property rights. I think this will be a law that requires a great deal of faith and righteousness to follow. It has yet to succeed on a long term basis in the modern church. Consider the monetary success under capitalism/tithing & welfare.
      4. HOW DOES THE LAW OF CONSECRATION DIFFER FROM OTHER FORMS OF SOCIALISM?
    5. The Law of Discipline (37-39)
      1. Those that sin and do not repent to be cast out of the church. Their consecration cannot be returned.
    6. The Law of Sundry Duties (40-69)
      1. v40: Commanded to not be proud, to let your clothing be plain of made by your own hands.
      2. V42: Be not idle, he that is idle shall not eat the bread or wear the clothes of the laborer.
        1. WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE IDLE?
      3. V48: "...he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed."
        1. D&C Commentary: "It is a peculiar fact that it is easier to believe that the Lord is willing to give us celestial glory, than it is to feel absolutely certain that He will give us what we need in life. Many believe that He can give them back their body, in resurrection, but deny His power to heal them this side of the grave." (p233)
      4. V54: "Thou shalt not take thy brother's garment; thou shalt pay for that which thou shalt receive of thy brother."
        1. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REFERENCE TO THE PRACTICES OF THE MORLEY FAMILY. MIGHT IT ALSO SPEAK TO US ABOUT GOING INTO DEBT?
      5.  READ V61, 65, 68. If you ask, you shall know the mysteries.
        1. STUDY IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIVERSE COMES FROM HIM THAT IS THE CREATOR. HOW CAN WE COME TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES WITHOUT CONSULTING THE LORD?
          1. Impossible.
        2. Joseph Smith: "Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject." (TPJS, p324)
    7. The Law of Remuneration for Services (v70-73)
      1. The bishop and his counselors (and families) are to be supported out of the property that has been consecrated. A reference to the operation of the church under the law of consecration.
    8. The Law Concerning Transgressors (v74-93)
      1. V79: If a member commits murder, they are to be delivered up and dealt with by the law of the land.
      2. V80-83: Those that commit adultery to be tried by elders of the church and dealt with according to the law of God.
        1. In v25 & 26 it states that one that commits adultery shall be forgiven if they repent. If they do it again, they are not to be forgiven, but cast out.
      3. V84-86: Those that rob, steal, or lie to be delivered up to the law of the land.
      4.  READ V88-92. Procedures for dealing with those that offend brothers or sisters.
  4. Continue Reading.
    1. Lesson 14: D&C 43-45.