Lesson 14 Doctrine and Covenants 5

How did the Lord tell Joseph to answer Martin?

Why couldn’t Joseph Smith show Martin Harris the plates?

“Frequently when [people] … hear the story of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, they ask if the plates are in some museum where they may be seen. Some of them with some scientific training, [suggest] that if the scholars could see and examine the plates and learn to read them, they would then bear witness to the truth of the Book of Mormon and the veracity of Joseph Smith, and the whole world would then be converted” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:40).

What Kind of Evidence Had Martin Harris Desired?

“Martin Harris was a religious minded, prosperous farmer. He appears to have been a rather wilful but honest man, who wanted to be sure of everything he undertook. It was he who took the transcript of characters from the Book of Mormon plates to Professor Anthon for verification.” (Widtsoe, Joseph Smith, p. 53.) “Martin Harris had already received a remarkable proof of the truth of the claims made by the Prophet Joseph regarding the Book of Mormon, when he carried a facsimile of the engravings to New York scientists. Professor Anthon had told him, as he himself states, that the ‘hieroglyphics were true characters.’ He had also, through the Prophet received revelations (Sec. 3:12). But he was not yet satisfied. He seems to have asked for further evidence that the Prophet Joseph actually had the plates from which the lost manuscript had been translated.” (Smith and Sjodahl, Commentary, p. 25.)

What reasons did the Lord give for why Joseph Smith should not display the plates before the world?

What do we learn from Doctrine and Covenants 5:10 about Joseph Smith’s unique calling?

Why do you think it is important for us to have a testimony of this truth?

What Is Meant by “This Generation

Shall Have My Word through You”?

President Joseph Fielding Smith explained: “This revelation declared that this generation shall have the word of the Lord through Joseph Smith. There may be some who think that this is unreasonable, and the Lord should use some miraculous means to convert the world. Frequently when strangers . . . hear the story of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, they ask if the plates are in some museum where they may be seen. Some of them with some scientific training, express themselves to the effect that if the scholars could see and examine the plates and learn to read them, they would then bear witness to the truth of the Book of Mormon and the veracity of Joseph Smith, and the whole world would then be converted. When they are informed that the angel took the plates back again, they turn away in their skepticism, shaking their heads. But the Lord has said: ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. ” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:39–40.)

How is it helpful to know that in addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord called three witnesses who saw the plates and heard the Lord declare their truthfulness?

The Lord’s Use of Witnesses

Paul taught the principle that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). President Joseph Fielding Smith said of this law: “In giving the world the testimony of three witnesses in addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord fulfilled the law. We are called upon in this life to walk by faith, not by sight, not by the proclamation of heavenly messengers with the voice of thunder, but by the proclamation of accredited witnesses whom the Lord sends and by whom every word shall be established.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:40.)

President Ezra Taft Benson

“We each need to get our own testimony of the Book of Mormon through the Holy Ghost. Then our testimony, coupled with the Book of Mormon, should be shared with others so that they, too, can know through the Holy Ghost of its truthfulness” (“The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants,” Ensign, May 1987, 84).

Doctrine and Covenants 5:21–22

21 And now I command you, my servant Joseph, to repent and walk more uprightly before me, and to yield to the persuasions of men no more;

22 And that you be firm in keeping the commandments wherewith I have commanded you; and if you do this, behold I grant unto you eternal life, even if you should be slain.

How can someone avoid yielding “to the persuasions of men”?

What did the Lord promise that Joseph Smith would receive if he would be faithful—even if he was “slain”?