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0 Martin Harris, pay for the Book of Mormon (15-20)

Episode 82: Martin Harris, pay for the Book of Mormon (Or you and your property will be destroyed)

Doctrine and Covenants 15-20

Section 15

Revelation through Joseph Smith to John Whitmer, Fayette, New York, June 1929

Things that only God and John Whitmer know

1 Listen, John, to the words of Jesus. 2 My arm is all over the earth. 3 I'll tell you things that no one knows except for me and you. 6 Amen.

Section 16

Revelation through Joseph Smith to Peter Whitmer, Fayette, New York, June 1929

Things that only God and Peter Whitmer know

1 Listen, Peter, to the words of Jesus. 2 My arm is all over the earth. 3 I'll tell you things that no one knows except for me and you. 6 Amen.

Section 17

Revelation through Joseph Smith to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris Fayette, New York, June 1829

You'll see the plates (and other things)

1 You must believe what I say. If you do, you'll see the plates, breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim (which were given to the brother of Jared when he talked to the Lord face to face), and the miraculous directors (which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness on the shore of the Red Sea). 2 You'll see them with faith. 3 After that, you'll se them with your eyes. 5 You'll testify that you have seen them, just like Joseph Smith, Jr. has seen them. (Because he had faith.) 6 He's translated the book. 9 I, Jesus Christ, have said so. Amen.

Section 18

Revelation to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer. Fayette, New York, June 1829

Fight against the church of the devil

1 I'm telling you these things, because you, Oliver Cowdery, have asked me. 2 You believe what you have written is true, because my spirit told you they were true. 3 So here's a commandment for you: Rely on the things that are written.

7 You were baptized by Joseph Smith Jr. 8 I have called him for my own reasons. His name is Joseph. 9 You, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer are apostles, just like the apostle Paul.

20 Don't fight against any church, except for the church of the devil. 22 Those who are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, are saved. 33 I'm Jesus. I said it.

37 I give you Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer. 39 When you find them, show these things to them. 44 By your hands, I'll work a marvelous work. 47 Amen.

Section 19

Revelation through Joseph Smith to Martin Harris Manchester, New York, March 1830

They won't be tormented forever, but it will be endless torment (Endless is my name)

1 I'm Christ the Lord. 5 Those who are found on my left hand will weep, wail, and gnash their teeth. 6 They won't be tormented forever, but it will be endless torment and endless damnation. 10 I am endless, so the punishment that I give is endless. Endless is my name. 11-12 God's punishment is eternal and endless.

Keep Joseph Smith's commandments (Or Jesus will smite you with the rod of his mouth)

13 So keep the commandments that Joseph Smith, Jr. has given you. 15 Repent, or Jesus will smite you with the rod in his mouth. You don't even know how bad your sufferings will be.

Martin Harris, pay for the Book of Mormon (Or you and your property will be destroyed)

24 I'm Jesus Christ. 26 Don't covet your own property but give it freely to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the word of God. 27 The Book of Mormon is Jesus's word to the Gentiles, Jews, and the Lamanites (who are remnants of the Jews) not to look for a Messiah to come who has already come.

32 This is the last commandment I'm going to give you. 33 If you don't obey, you and your property will be destroyed. 34 Give your property and lands to pay for the printing, leaving only enough to support your family. 35 Pay the printer. Release yourself from bondage. 41 Amen.

Section 20

Revelation through Joseph Smith, Fayette, New York, April 6, 1830

The Church of Christ (aka The Mormon church) was founded on April 6, 1830

1 The Church of Christ was founded in the last days, in accordance with the laws of the United States, by the will of God, 1830 years after Jesus was born, on 6 April 1830.

2 The commandments were given to Joseph Smith, Jr., an apostle of Jesus and the first elder of the church. 3 And to Oliver Cowdery, another apostle of Jesus, and the second elder of the church.

An angel with white clothes visits Joseph Smith

6 God sent an angel to visit Joseph Smith. The angel looked like lightning, with white clothes that were whiter than white. 7-8 The angel gave him commandments and the power to translate the Book of Mormon.

Those who reject the Book of Mormon are condemned

15 Those who reject the Book of Mormon will be condemned. 29 Only those who believe in Jesus can be saved.

We're not adding anything to the Bible

35 These things are in accordance with the revelations of John, neither adding to, nor diminishing from the prophecies of his book.

A few more words about this episode

Listen, John, to the words of Jesus. (15:1)
The "John" here is John Whitmer, whose house Joseph Smith and Olver Cowdery were living, rent-free, while working on the Book of Mormon.
I'll tell you things that no one knows except for me and you. (15:3)
I wonder what secret God told John Whitmer that no one else - not even Joseph Smith - knew.
Listen, Peter, to the words of Jesus. (16:1)
God is talking to Peter Whitmer, John Whitman's son, here.
It's a form revelation. God just removed the "John" in verse 1 of section 15 and replaced it with "Peter" in chapter 16, and he was good to go.
I'll tell you things that no one knows except for me and you. (16:3)
I'm guessing God must have shared a different little secret with Peter than the one that he shared with his father in section 15.
Oliver Cowdery (18:1)
Oliver Cowdery was Joseph Smith's scribe at the time of this revelation.
The church of the devil. (18:20)
Although the modern LDS church tries to deny it, "the church of the devil" was always understood my Mormons to be the Catholic Church. (See 1 Nephi 13 for what the Book of Mormon has to say about "the church of the devil".)
My name, which is Jesus Christ (18:22)
Jesus's name wasn't "Jesus Christ" - he never called himself that.
By your hands, I'll work a marvelous work. (18:44)
The "marvelous work" is, of course, the Book of Mormon.
The Church of Christ (20:1)
The LDS Church (The Mormons) started out with a simpler name: "The Church of Christ."
Joseph Smith changed the name to its current name on April 26, 1838 after receiving a revelation from God. (Doctrine and Covenants 115:4)
6 April 1830 (20:1)
Some LDS leaders have taken this statement to mean that the Mormon church was founded exactly 1830 years after Jesus was born - meaning that Jesus was born on April 6.
Neither adding to, nor diminishing from the prophecies of his book ()
Of course everything in the Book of Mormon and other Mormon scriptures adds to the things in the Book of Revelation and in the Bible.
"If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." Revelation 22:18
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