The Importance of Doctrine and Covenants 7

While Oliver and Joseph were translating the Book of Mormon, they desired to know what had happened to John the Revelator. The student manual records, “During the work of translating the Book of Mormon in April 1829, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had a difference of opinion about whether the Apostle John had died or whether he continued to live on the earth. The Prophet Joseph Smith inquired of the Lord with the Urim and Thummim and received the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 7.” In many respects this revelation is quite unique compared to the other revelations he received at this time for specific individuals, and it might seem a bit out of place where it sits today among the early revelations. But as I have considered what it contains, I believe it was an important revelation that taught key principles of the Restoration that were also emphasized in other divine communications Joseph received.

                The most obvious principle that this section teaches is that the Lord will grant unto us our righteous desires. The Lord asked directly to John: “What desirest thou?” He granted unto both Peter and John their wishes to return to Him in His kingdom and to remain on the earth, respectively: “Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both joy in that which ye have desired” (v1, 8). This fits in well with revelations given to both to Oliver and Hyrum at this time. Oliver was told, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:8). Hyrum was given the same words in the next month plus this promise, “All things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive” (v8, 14). This somewhat unusual revelation with the words of John showed in a rather dramatic way that God will ultimately grant our righteous desires.

                A second principle that this revelation highlights is the importance of missionary work. John was allowed to stay on the earth in order to continue to preach the gospel, being told by the Lord, “Thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people” (v3). The Savior described to Peter what John would be doing, “but my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater work yet among men than what he has before done. Yea, he has undertaken a greater work; therefore I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel; he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth” (v5-6). This greater work was exactly what the Lord was telling these early Saints they needed to participate in: the preaching of the gospel. To Joseph’s father the Lord had said around this time, “For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:4). Oliver was told something very similar and encouraged to “say nothing but repentance unto this generation” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:3, 9). Within a couple of months the Lord said this to both John and Peter Whitmer: “And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father” (Doctrine and Covenants 15:6, 16:6). Surely this revelation about John the Revelator helped Joseph to understand just how important their call to preach the gospel was, and this was confirmed in many of the revelations at this time.

                Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, this translation of the parchment from John revealed the importance of authority and keys. The Lord told Peter, “And I will make thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come” (v7). Joseph and Oliver learned that Peter, James, and John held the keys or authority for the work of the Lord. This knowledge was very important for them because they would soon be visited by those same three heavenly beings who would confer the Melchizedek priesthood as well as those same keys. The Lord later described, “And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:12). Though this revelation about the apostle John may seem to have just been satisfying the curiosity of Joseph and Oliver, it proved much more important in how it revealed important truths of the gospel and helped prepared them for the Priesthood and the preaching of the gospel.