Episode 81: Jesus is more cunning than the devil

Doctrine and Covenants 8-14

Section 8

Revelation through Joseph Smith to Oliver Cowdery Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829.

Jesus gives Oliver Cowdery the gift of translation (again)

¹ Oliver Cowdery, you'll receive knowledge whatever you ask for, including knowledge about the engravings. ² I [Jesus] will put things in your mind and heart, by the Holy Ghost. ³ This is the spirit of revelation.

⁶ You have another gift - the gift of Aaron. ⁹ Whatever you ask me to tell you, I'll tell you. ¹¹ You'll be able to translate the ancient records. ¹² Amen.

Section 9

Revelation through Joseph Smith to Oliver Cowdery: Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829.

Jesus takes away Oliver Cowdery's translating privileges

¹ I [Jesus] say to you [Oliver Cowdery]: “Because you didn't translate what you wanted to translate, I'll only allow you to be Joseph Smith's scribe. ² But someday I'll let you translate some other things. ⁵ Because you didn't continue translating, I've taken away your translating privileges. ⁶ Don't whine. It's wise for me to deal with you this way.”

How to make a decision (If it feels good do it)

⁸ Here's how to make a decision: Think about it. Then ask me if it's right. If it's right, I'll make your bosom burn, so you'll feel that it's right. ⁹ But if it's not right, you won't have these good feelings. And you'll forget about it. That way, you'll only write sacred things from me.

¹⁰ If you had known this, you could have translated. But it's not expedient for you to translate now. ¹⁴ Amen.

Section 10

Revelation to Joseph Smith, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1828 [1]. This was the first revelation in the "Book of Commandments," which was later called the "Doctrine and Covenants."

Satan's plan for the lost 116 pages

¹ Because you [Joseph Snith] gave the writings you were translating with the Urim and Thummim to a wicked man [Martin Harris], you have lost them. ² You also lost your gift [to translate], and your mind was darkened. ³ But now it's returned to you, so you can translate again.

⁶ Martin Harris and others have tried to destroy you. ⁷ He is a wicked man. ⁸ And because you gave the writings to him, wicked men have taken them from you.

¹⁰ Now Satan has inspired them to change the words that you translated. ¹³ And they will say they have caught you in the words that you pretended to translate. ¹⁴ But I won't let Satan succeed in this. ¹⁵ He's trying to get you to translate it over again.

¹⁶ They'll say, we'll see if God has given him the power to translate. If so, he should be able to do it again. ¹⁷ But they will have altered the words, so the translations won't match. ¹⁸ And they'll say that he lied and has no gift of translation.

Jesus will provide new plates to translate (the plates of Nephi)

³⁰ But you won't translate again from the same plates that you had before. ³¹ That way they can't accuse you of lying about your ability to translate, and you won't be caught contradicting yourself.

³⁴ Here's what you're going to do: Don't show your translation to anyone until it's finished. ³⁶ I'm not saying that you won't show it to the righteous. ³⁷ But it's hard to tell the righteous from the wicked, so just hold off until I tell you.

³⁸ The account that you previously translated and lost, is written on the plates of Nephi. ³⁹ The plates of Nephi provide a more detailed account. ⁴¹ So you will translate from the plates of Nephi until you come to the reign of King Benjamin, or until you come to that that you previously translated.

Jesus is more cunning than the devil

⁴² You'll publish this as the record of Nephi. That way I'll confound those who have altered my words. ⁴³ That will show everyone that I am more cunning than the devil. ⁴⁴ They only have part of the account of Nephi. ⁴⁵ There are things in the plates of Nephi that weren't in the other account.

I'm Jesus Christ, the Son of God

⁵⁷ I'm Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ⁷⁰ Amen.

Section 11

Revelation through Joseph Smith to his brother, Hyrum. Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 1829, via Urim and Thummim

A great and marvelous work is coming soon

¹ A great and marvelous work is coming soon. ² I'm God. Listen to me. ²² Study my word which is now being translated.

You're Hyrum [Smith]. I'm Jesus.

²³ You're Hyrum [Smith]. ²⁸ I'm Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ³⁰ Amen.

Section 12

Revelation through Joseph Smith to Joseph Knight, Sen. Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 1829

A great and marvelous work is coming soon

¹ A great and marvelous work is coming soon. ² I'm God. Listen to me. ⁹ Amen.

Section 13

Harmony Pennsylvania, May 15, 1929

The priesthood of Aaron

¹ I confer the priesthood of Aaron upon you. It won't be taken away until the sons of Levi sacrifice animals in the temple again to the Lord.

Section 14

Revelation through Joseph Smith to David Whitmer, Fayette, New York, June 1829.

I'm God. I'm Jesus. And you're David [Whitmer].

¹ A great and marvelous work is coming soon. ² I'm God. Listen to me.

⁹ I'm Jesus. ¹¹ And you're David [Whitmer]. Amen.