Hearken, Give Ear, Listen, and Hear

As an introduction to one of Joseph Smith’s 1831 revelations in Kirtland, the Lord said this, “Hearken, O ye people, and open your hearts and give ear from afar; and listen, you that call yourselves the people of the Lord, and hear the word of the Lord and his will concerning you. Yea, verily, I say, hear the word of him whose anger is kindled against the wicked and rebellious” (Doctrine and Covenants 63:1-2). What impressed me by these words was the Lord’s repeated invitation to hear Him, just as President Nelson has invited us. The Savior invited us here to hearken, to open our hearts, to give ear, to listen, to hear the word of the Lord, to hear the word. It is as if he was trying to list every unique phrase He could to tell us to hear Him. So, if we take that invitation for this revelation specifically, what does He say to us that we should hear?

               Here are some of the key messages I believe the Lord wanted us to hear and remember and take away from this revelation: 

·        He is in control and has all power: “Who willeth to take even them whom he will take, and preserveth in life them whom he will preserve; Who buildeth up at his own will and pleasure; and destroyeth when he pleases, and is able to cast the soul down to hell. Behold, I, the Lord, utter my voice, and it shall be obeyed…. Behold, I am from above, and my power lieth beneath. I am over all, and in all, and through all, and search all things, and the day cometh that all things shall be subject unto me” (v3-5, 59). The Lord can save and take life, He can build and destroy, and He governs who must suffer in hell for their own sins. His voice is always obeyed, except by us. We can trust that He has all power over all things, even the wicked who may seem to have power and prosperity for a time.

·        He will punish the wicked: “Let the wicked take heed, and let the rebellious fear and tremble; and let the unbelieving hold their lips, for the day of wrath shall come upon them as a whirlwind…. Let such beware and repent speedily, lest judgment shall come upon them as a snare, and their folly shall be made manifest… Wherefore, I, the Lord, have said that the fearful, and the unbelieving, and all liars, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie, and the whoremonger, and the sorcerer, shall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (v6, 15, 17). Someday those who rebel against God and who commit grievous sin will receive the recompense for their actions. We must reject wickedness in our own lives and turn to Him in righteousness.

·        Those who have faith and keep the commandments are blessed: “Nevertheless, he that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come…. But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life…. He that is faithful and endureth shall overcome the world” (v20, 23, 47). With faith in Him and obedience to His commandments, we will overcome the world and ultimately receive everlasting life. This should lead us to warn and invite others to follow Him.   

·        The righteous must preach the gospel: “And that every man should take righteousness in his hands and faithfulness upon his loins, and lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth; and declare both by word and by flight that desolation shall come upon the wicked…. Those who desire in their hearts, in meekness, to warn sinners to repentance, let them be ordained unto this power. For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words” (v37, 57-58). Given the punishment that will come upon the wicked, a warning must be sent forth to invite the inhabitants of the earth to repent.  

So how do we “hear” Him in these things? We must learn to trust in His power, and continue in faith and righteousness, inviting the world to come unto Him to be saved. We must seek to repent ourselves and live according to His commandments. And this weekend in particular we invite all to hear His word through His servants at general conference, to open their hearts and hearken, give ear, listen, and hear the message He has for each of us.