This is part 3 of a series connecting the symbol of the covenant as the messenger as found in Section 45. Part 1 here. Part 2 here. In this post we will look at what it means to hearken together, especially in the context of building Zion and creating a covenant people.
The context of Doctrine & Covenants 45 is Enoch and his people. The Enoch chapters of what is now the Book of Moses had just been revealed. In verse 8, Christ explains that His intention is to offer the following to "as many as received me":
- power to do many miracles
- power to become the sons of God
- power to obtain eternal life
(Interestingly, that last item is a blessing connected to "believ[ing] on [Christ's] name." See Stisa's related posts here and here.)
These promises are fulfilled through divine authority, which is given to a group of believers seeking to build Zion (by "hearken[ing] together"). We are blessed to live in the dispensation of the fullness of times, when these blessings have been restored and temples dot the earth.
Following verses (9-11) each contain language that connects back to verse 8: "even so I have..." and "Wherefore, ..." In other words, verse 8 explains what Christ intends to give us and verses 9-11 explain how He intends to give it to us.
9 And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me.
10 Wherefore, come ye unto it, and with him that cometh I will reason as with men in days of old, and I will show unto you my strong reasoning.
11 Wherefore, hearken ye together and let me show unto you even my wisdom—the wisdom of him whom ye say is the God of Enoch, and his brethren...
In many ways, I believe the Doctrine & Covenants is a handbook for how to build Zion -- "the wisdom of the God of Enoch."
I looked for other examples in the Doctrine & Covenants where people are specifically commanded to hearken together. Here is what I found:
Section 1
1 Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together. (Doctrine & Covenants 1)
This is an excellent example. The very first verse of the revealed preface of the book tells us to "listen together." Verses 1-23 go on to explain why the voice of warning is being raised: "...that mine everlasting covenant might be established" (verse 22).
There are some additional references, each of which is associated with a voice of warning or the giving of commandments:
- Doctrine & Covenants 41:2
- Doctrine & Covenants 42:1-3
- Doctrine & Covenants 72:1
- Doctrine & Covenants 136:41-42
Book of Mormon Relevance
4 Nephi 1 offers us a glimpse into what it looks like to have a Zion people on earth over a sustained period of time. Among the many details given by Mormon, he includes the following:
- There was peace, prosperity, and miracles wrought "in the name of Jesus" (verses 4-7, 13).
- They met together oft "both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord" (verse 12).
- "surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God" (verse 16)
- "they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God" (verse 17) "and "partakers of the heavenly gift" (verse 3)
As the people thrive, the destruction that prededed Christ's appearance is reversed. The people become one, happy, children of Christ, and inherit eternal life. It is essentially the same formula outlined in Doctrine & Covenants 45 above!
I'll close this post with one final example. This example connects preparing for the second coming, gathering of a covenant people, the elements of creation, and the voice of the Lord:
16 Hearken and hear, O ye inhabitants of the earth. Listen, ye elders of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord; for he calleth upon all men, and he commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
17 For behold, the Lord God hath sent forth the angel crying through the midst of heaven, saying: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight, for the hour of his coming is nigh—
18 When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
19 Wherefore, prepare ye for the coming of the Bridegroom; go ye, go ye out to meet him.
20 For behold, he shall stand upon the mount of Olivet, and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the islands of the sea, and upon the land of Zion.
21 And he shall utter his voice out of Zion, and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people;
22 And it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, which shall break down the mountains, and the valleys shall not be found.
23 He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land;
24 And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.
25 And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people, and shall reign over all flesh. (Doctrine & Covenant 133)