I Am With You

It is well-known that there were four missionaries called to preach the gospel to the Lamanites in 1830. In a revelation to the prophet Joseph Smith the Lord said this, “And that which I have appointed unto [Parley P. Pratt] is that he shall go with my servants, Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, Jun., into the wilderness among the Lamanites. And Ziba Peterson also shall go with them.” But this revelation suggests there were actually five who would be part of this mission: “I myself will go with them and be in their midst; and I am their advocate with the Father, and nothing shall prevail against them” (Doctrine and Covenants 32:3). The Savior Himself promised to go with Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, and Ziba Peterson on this mission and that He would be in their midst. This is a common theme in the sections (30-36) this week in the Come, Follow Me reading: in addition to the above promise, the Lord said in all the other sections that He would be with or come to His servants.

                The first six sections of this week’s reading all contain a promise that the Lord would be with His servants. The Lord gave this powerful invitation and promise to John Whitmer: “And your whole labor shall be in Zion, with all your soul, from henceforth; yea, you shall ever open your mouth in my cause, not fearing what man can do, for I am with you” (Doctrine and Covenants 30:11). If John would open his mouth for the Lord and not fear man as he preached the gospel, the Lord would be with him. To Thomas B. Marsh, who was also called to preach the gospel, the Lord said, “Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. These words are not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your Redeemer” (Doctrine and Covenants 31:13). The Savior again promised to be with his servant if he was faithful. Ezra Thayre and Northrop Sweet were also called to preach the gospel, and the Lord gave them this assurance: “Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you” (Doctrine and Covenants 33:2). Again He told them that He would be with them if they opened their mouths to declare His word. Orson Pratt was given these words, “Lift up your voice and spare not, for the Lord God hath spoken; therefore prophesy, and it shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. And if you are faithful, behold, I am with you until I come” (Doctrine and Covenants 34:10-11). If he would remain faithful the Lord promised to be with him. To Joseph Smith the Lord revealed this about those who would be called in the last days to His service: “Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit; And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins” (Doctrine and Covenants 35:13-14). Again His promise is to be with His servants to be their shield and buckler against the world.

In the last section of this week’s study the Lord gave a slightly different promise. He said this to Edward Partridge, “I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will suddenly come to my temple” (Doctrine and Covenants 36:8). He promised to literally come to His temple, and that promise was fulfilled about 5½ years later when He did come to the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. The Prophet declared, “We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (Doctrine and Covenant 110:2-4). He showed in a powerful way that He was indeed with His people as He visited them in person in the temple they had labored to build. All of these chapters witness to us that the Lord will be with us when we seek to be in His service.