Come Follow Me: D&C 111-114

 Come Follow Me: D&C 111-114

D&C 111

In this revelation, the Lord sent Joseph to Boston to obtain loans/money to help the Church with its debts. When the money didn't pan out, the Lord told him there were other important things in Boston, such as souls to save.

Interestingly, the Lord told Joseph not to worry about his debts and that they would be taken care of. However, within two years, the Kirtland Safety Society Bank would collapse, along with hundreds of other banks throughout the country.

Joseph would struggle with debt the rest of his life, in fact, and in death, would leave huge debt for both Emma and the Church.

We will see here and in a few other points where the Lord instructs Joseph and the Saints, and the revelation isn't fulfilled as expected. Other moments include the saints gathering to Zion and the building of the temple in Zion. Those prophecies failed, partially because of the evil of the saints and partially because of the Missourians. 

Another example of this comes in the story of Jonah. God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell the people he is going to destroy them. After Jonah's escape antics, he finally obeys God and tells the great city to prepare for destruction. But then something happens. The king and the people repent. They wear sack cloth not only on themselves, but on their animals. So humble are they that God chooses instead to protect the city from death and destruction.

It seems God has two types of prophecies: those that will definitely come to pass (like the birth and life of Jesus Christ), and those that are contingent on the actions of the people. 

In this instance, Boston wasn't ready in Joseph Smith's time to give up any treasures. However, since then it has provided much value to the Church in converts, opportunities for members to receive higher learning, and a place to build a temple.

D&C 112

Thomas Marsh was the president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. Upon returning from a mission, he bristled to know that Joseph had sent several of the apostles to England on a mission. Marsh felt it was his duty to make the assignments, being president of the quorum. He also believed he should have been the person to head up such an important assignment, rather than be left behind.

This revelation clarifies that Joseph, as President of the Church, held the authority over the Twelve to send them where the Lord desired.

It also gave counsel to Thomas and the other Twelve regarding their work, which applies to the Twelve and us today.

"Let thy heart be of good cheer...." (vs 4)

"Contend thou, therefore, morning by morning; and day after day let thy warning voice go forth; and when the night cometh let not the inhabitants of the earth slumber, because of thy speech." (vs 5)

 "...gird up they loins..." (vs 7)

"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers." (vs 10)

"let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name." (vs 11)

"And pray for thy brethren of the Twelve." (vs 12)

 D&C 113

This revelation regards answers to questions regarding Isaiah 11.

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. (Isa 11:1-5)

 It explains that Jesus is a descendant of Jesse, father of King David, seen here as the "Stem" or branch that would come forth. 

From this Stem (Jesus Christ) would come another (rod - or smaller stem) which would be from both the line of David and from Ephraim. This is Joseph Smith, who would be brought forth by Christ in the last days to be the Prophet of the Restoration. 

Also asked regarding the root in verse 10:

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."

The answer is somewhat awkward:

"Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days." (vs 6)

The priesthood rightly belongs, not to Joseph, but to Jesus Christ.  The keys of the kingdom are the Lord's. It is He who is an ensign and who shall gather the righteous in the last days.

 

D&C 114

Owing to his continued anger at Joseph Smith for sending the Twelve to England without him, Thomas Marsh left the Church. In this revelation, David Patten is called to replace him as President of the Quorum of the Twelve.

 It was a short-lived appointment, as Patten would die in a skirmish just six months later in Missouri. At that point, Brigham Young would become president of the Twelve.