There Were Fears in Your Hearts

In September of 1831 Joseph Smith gathered with several of the elders of the church to discuss the possibility of printing the revelations from the Lord that he had received. Historian Steven C. Harper recounts what happened, “The question arose, ‘Was the simple language of Joseph Smith worthy of the voice of God?’ Joseph’s history says that a discussion followed ‘concerning Revelations and language.’ Some fears went unspoken during the discussion. After all, everyone in the room must have recognized how their council might appear to an outsider. A poorly educated, twenty-six-year-old farmer planned to publish ten thousand copies of revelations that unequivocally declared themselves to be the words of Jesus Christ…. Joseph was sure that his revelation texts were divine if imperfect productions. He promised the brethren that they could know for themselves as well. Just a few days earlier Joseph had predicted that if the Saints could all ‘come together with one heart and one mind in perfect faith the vail might as well be rent to day as next week or any other time.’ Seeking confirmation of the revelations, the brethren tried to rend the veil, as had the brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon. They failed. Joseph asked why, and in answer he received Doctrine and Covenants 67” (Making Sense of the Doctrine & Covenants). The Lord answered that question as to why they hadn’t had the powerful spiritual manifestation yet that they sought: “Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive” (v3). They had feared instead of having the “perfect faith” as the prophet had instruction, and they did not receive the revelation that they sought.

                So what were the fears in their hearts that held them back? They feared to fully commit themselves, to fully back these revelations from the young prophet given their concerns about the imperfections of the language used. They choose, at least for a moment, to let their fears override their faith in what they had already witnessed and experienced which had been evidence of his divine calling. Perhaps there is a lesson in this for all of us that we must learn to replace our fears and hesitations with faith if we want to hear His voice more fully. This was what Oliver Cowdery had learned when he first tried to translate the Book of Mormon with Joseph. The Lord explained at least part of the reason he had not succeeded to hear His voice in order to translate: “Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now” (Doctrine and Covenants 9:11). To often our fears of how we will look to others or our fears of failure or our fears of fully committing ourselves prevent us from receiving the blessings that the Lord has in store for those who will live with unrestrained faith. So many times in the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord instructed the Saints to “fear not” and surely that counsel is just as relevant for us today. To this group of elders in 1831 he commanded them, “strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me,” and then promised, “The veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual” (Doctrine and Covenants 67:10). Around the same time he gave this powerful instruction to Orson Hyde, “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:6). As we learn have faith instead of fear, to trust instead of doubt the words of the Lord in the scriptures, He will be with us and stand by us as we bear record of Him. This group of elders who originally had fears in their hearts did indeed bear that testimony, eventually declaring to the world, “The Testimony of the witnesses to the Book of the Lord’s commandments which he gave to his church through Joseph Smith Jr who was appointed by the voice of the Church for this purpose. We the undersigners feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of mankind to every creature upon all the face of all the Earth upon the Islands of the Sea that God hath born record to our souls through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us that these commandments are given by inspiration of God and are profitable for all men and are verily true.”