Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Note: In all editions of the Doctrine and Covenants before 1921, the date of section 10 was given as May 1829. However, Elder Brigham H. Roberts, who edited the History of the Church for publication in 1902, gave as his opinion that the date May 1829 was "clearly in error," that the revelation was received in the summer of 1828
The "Manuscript History of the Church" for the years 1828 29 was written by James Mulholland, the Prophet's scribe, in the summer of 1839. An insert in that section of the history places section 10 immediately after section 3. Although the May 1829 date of reception for section 10 (contained in both the 1833 and 1835 editions of the Doctrine and Covenants) was not altered by Mulholland, his work clearly attests to the 1828 reception of section 10.
Lucifer as the ‘destroyer’ or ‘great destroyer’
How does Lucifer attempt to destroy?
Section 10 teaches how to beat the tactics of the devil:
President Ezra Taft Benson: “In the usual sense of the term, Church membership means that a person has his or her name officially recorded on the membership records of the Church … But the Lord defines a member of His kingdom in quite a different way. In 1828, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, He said, `Behold, this is my doctrine whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church’ (10:67). To Him whose Church this is, membership involves far more than being a member of record.” (Ensign, Oct. 1989, p. 2).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “In the episode involving the lost manuscript from the Book of Mormon, we see the interplay of the foreknowledge of God and the agency of man (with our freedom to fail) and the perfect foresight of a loving Lord who 1,500 years before the `emergency' was ready with an alternative.” (Ensign, Dec. 1978, p. 6).
Joseph Smith: After a few days, however, feeling it to be our duty, we commenced to reason out of the Scriptures with our acquaintances and friends, as we happened to meet with them. About this time my brother Samuel H. Smith came to visit us…
Oliver Cowdery baptized him; and he returned to his father's house, greatly glorifying and praising God…
Not many days afterwards, my brother Hyrum Smith came to us to inquire concerning these things, when at his earnest request, I inquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim, and received for him the following. (History of the Church 1:44, 45).
Lucy Mack Smith watched as her thirteen-year-old son, Hyrum, sat down on the bed next to seven-year-old Joseph and cradled his younger brother's painfully infected leg in his hands. There young Hyrum sat, "almost day and night for some considerable length of time …”
Lucy recalled, “holding the affected part of [Joseph's] leg in his hands, and pressing it between them, so that his afflicted brother might be enabled to endure the pain which was so excruciating,” she described Hyrum as “rather remarkable for his tenderness and sympathy” (History of Joseph Smith, 87).
First Presidency: “Gold is good in its place it is good in the hands of good men to do good with, but in the hands of a wicked man it often proves a curse instead of a blessing. Gold is a good servant, but a miserable, blind, and helpless god, and at last will have to be purified by fire, with all its followers.” (First Presidency: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Millennial Star, August 15, 1850, 12:241).
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “The Lord declared that Hyrum Smith had a gift. The great gift which he possessed was that of a tender, sympathetic heart, a merciful spirit. The Lord on a later occasion said: "Blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord." (D&C 124:15.) This great gift was manifest in his jealous watch care over the Prophet lest some harm come to him.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1947, 1:52.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "God is no respecter of persons. He will give revelation to me and to you on the same terms and conditions." (Conference Report, Oct. 1969, p. 82.)
Elder David A. Bednar: “My earnest hope for each of you young men is that you will not simply go on a mission—but that you will become missionaries long before you submit your mission papers, long before you receive a call to serve, long before you are set apart by your stake president, and long before you enter the MTC.” (“Becoming a Missionary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 45).
President Dallin H. Oaks: From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. (The Challenge to Become, Oct 2000 General Conference).
Teaching Thoughts:
The "Manuscript History of the Church" for the years 1828 29 was written by James Mulholland, the Prophet's scribe, in the summer of 1839. An insert in that section of the history places section 10 immediately after section 3. Although the May 1829 date of reception for section 10 (contained in both the 1833 and 1835 editions of the Doctrine and Covenants) was not altered by Mulholland, his work clearly attests to the 1828 reception of section 10.
Lucifer as the ‘destroyer’ or ‘great destroyer’
- You (10:6)
- Your gifts (10:7)
- The work (10:12)
- Souls of men (10:27)
- Your testimony (10:33)
How does Lucifer attempt to destroy?
- Stirs the heart “up to iniquity against that which is good.” (10:20)
- Lays “a cunning plan.” (10:22)
- Stirs the heart to anger “against this work.” (10:24)
- Flattery, lies, deception. (10:25)
- Leads them into “their own snare.” (10:26)
- Contention concerning doctrine. (10:63)
Section 10 teaches how to beat the tactics of the devil:
- “Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means … but be diligent unto the end” (10:4).
- “Pray always” (10:5).
- God has the ability to prevent Satan from “accomplish[ing] his evil design (10:14).
- God knows Satan’s playbook and the order that the plays will be called (10:20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 63).
- God will “show unto you wisdom, and give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do (10:34).
- “hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known” (10:37).
- “will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil” (10:43).
- “according to their faith in their prayers” (10:52).
- "I will establish my church…” (10:53).
- “I will also bring to light my gospel … and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine” (10:62).
- “… establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention” (10:63).
- “I will gather [on both sides of the veil]…” (10:65).
- “whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them” (10:69).
President Ezra Taft Benson: “In the usual sense of the term, Church membership means that a person has his or her name officially recorded on the membership records of the Church … But the Lord defines a member of His kingdom in quite a different way. In 1828, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, He said, `Behold, this is my doctrine whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church’ (10:67). To Him whose Church this is, membership involves far more than being a member of record.” (Ensign, Oct. 1989, p. 2).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “In the episode involving the lost manuscript from the Book of Mormon, we see the interplay of the foreknowledge of God and the agency of man (with our freedom to fail) and the perfect foresight of a loving Lord who 1,500 years before the `emergency' was ready with an alternative.” (Ensign, Dec. 1978, p. 6).
Joseph Smith: After a few days, however, feeling it to be our duty, we commenced to reason out of the Scriptures with our acquaintances and friends, as we happened to meet with them. About this time my brother Samuel H. Smith came to visit us…
Oliver Cowdery baptized him; and he returned to his father's house, greatly glorifying and praising God…
Not many days afterwards, my brother Hyrum Smith came to us to inquire concerning these things, when at his earnest request, I inquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim, and received for him the following. (History of the Church 1:44, 45).
Lucy Mack Smith watched as her thirteen-year-old son, Hyrum, sat down on the bed next to seven-year-old Joseph and cradled his younger brother's painfully infected leg in his hands. There young Hyrum sat, "almost day and night for some considerable length of time …”
Lucy recalled, “holding the affected part of [Joseph's] leg in his hands, and pressing it between them, so that his afflicted brother might be enabled to endure the pain which was so excruciating,” she described Hyrum as “rather remarkable for his tenderness and sympathy” (History of Joseph Smith, 87).
First Presidency: “Gold is good in its place it is good in the hands of good men to do good with, but in the hands of a wicked man it often proves a curse instead of a blessing. Gold is a good servant, but a miserable, blind, and helpless god, and at last will have to be purified by fire, with all its followers.” (First Presidency: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Millennial Star, August 15, 1850, 12:241).
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “The Lord declared that Hyrum Smith had a gift. The great gift which he possessed was that of a tender, sympathetic heart, a merciful spirit. The Lord on a later occasion said: "Blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord." (D&C 124:15.) This great gift was manifest in his jealous watch care over the Prophet lest some harm come to him.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1947, 1:52.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "God is no respecter of persons. He will give revelation to me and to you on the same terms and conditions." (Conference Report, Oct. 1969, p. 82.)
Elder David A. Bednar: “My earnest hope for each of you young men is that you will not simply go on a mission—but that you will become missionaries long before you submit your mission papers, long before you receive a call to serve, long before you are set apart by your stake president, and long before you enter the MTC.” (“Becoming a Missionary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 45).
President Dallin H. Oaks: From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. (The Challenge to Become, Oct 2000 General Conference).
Teaching Thoughts:
- Satan wants to destroy you, your faith, your spiritual gifts.
- Section 10 teaches how to beat the tactics of the devil.
- We will receive “a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith.”
- Importance for us to “seek to obtain my word.”