D&C 10 was part of the the Come, Follow Me reading for this week and the revelation that Joseph Smith received as he and Oliver tried to figure out how to go on with the translation after the loss of the 116 pages (which according to church historian Don Bradley probably were much more than 116). As I read it, I noticed all the Book of Mormon language in this Section. This is of course language from the Book of Mormon we have today, not the part that was lost. At the time of this revelation, this part had not been translated yet. Consequently, God gives Joseph Smith a revelation about a record that he is about to translate containing some of the language that God uses in the revelation.
Consider these examples:
|
D&C 10 |
Book of Mormon |
|
I will show unto them
that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil. (v.
43) |
I will show unto them
that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.
(3 Nephi 21:10) |
|
build up churches unto themselves to get gain (v.56) |
build up churches unto themselves to get gain (4 Nephi 1:26) |
|
I am Jesus Christ, the Son of
God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received
me not. (v.57) |
I am Jesus
Christ the Son of God.
I created the
heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father
from the beginning. I am in
the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his
name. I came unto my
own, and my own received me not. (3 Nephi 9:15-16)
|
|
I am he who said—Other sheep have I which are not of this fold—unto my
disciples, and many there were that understood me not. (v.59) |
And verily I say unto you, that ye are
they of whom I said: Other sheep
I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall
hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And
they understood me not (3 Nephi 15:21-22)
|
|
And this I do that I
may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these
things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them
(v.63) |
29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he
that hath the spirit of contention is
not of me, but is of the devil,
who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to
contend with anger, one with another. 30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir
up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my
doctrine, that such things should be
done away. (3 Nephi 11:29-30) |
|
For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,
if they will not harden their hearts (v.65) |
O ye house of Israel
whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart. (3 Nephi 10:6) |
|
Yea, if they will come,
they may, and partake of the waters of life freely. (v.66) |
Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely
(Alma 42:27) |
|
And now, behold,
whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I
establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. (v.69) |
Verily, verily, I say
unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. (3
Nephi 11:39) |
Most of this comes from 3 Nephi where Christ himself speaks to the Nephites. But Joseph Smith has not translated this part at the time when D&C 10 was given. The language Jesus Christ uses when giving this revelation to Joseph Smith is a sort of precursor to what is going to come when he later reveals to Joseph Smith the English translation of the Book of Mormon of his own words to the Nephites of old.
I think the standard works are given to us not only to be considered as separate witnesses of Christ to different people at different times, but also as a unified whole set of God's words to us today. Comparing the word of God across different standard works and seeing how they both confirm and supplement each other enriches my studies.
