D&C 10–11

Structure your personal scripture study by following a 15-minute, day-by-day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come, Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study. For the best experience, use our Reading Plan in the free ScripturePlus app! You can track your progress and have access to the best resources.

Monday

• Commentary: Section 10 Context, Steven C. Harper
• Scripture: D&C 10:1–13
• KnoWhy 344: Why Does Jesus Say that “Ye Must Watch and Pray Always”?

Further Reading

• KnoWhy 409: Is There Evidence That Joseph Smith Possessed a Urim and Thummim and Breastplate?

Tuesday

• Scripture: D&C 10:14–26
• Bio: Martin Harris, Susan Easton Black
• KnoWhy 452: What Was on the Lost 116 Pages? (1 Nephi 9:5)

Wednesday

• Scripture: D&C 10:27–43
• KnoWhy 503: How Does the “Mosiah-First” Translation Sequence Strengthen Faith?
• Video: Dealing With Regrets – John Hilton III (D&C 10)

Thursday

• Scripture: D&C 10:44–52
• KnoWhy 497: Where is the Land of Promise?
• KnoWhy 11: Why Did Nephi Write His Small Plates? (1 Nephi 9:4)

Friday

• Scripture: D&C 10:53–70
• KnoWhy 58: What is the Doctrine of Christ?
• Commentary: While in the Doctrine and Covenants most references to “the church” refer to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, here the Lord expands the definition of the church to include anyone who repents and comes unto him (D&C 10:67). This definition aligns with later statements in the revelations, such as Doctrine and Covenants 97:21, which defines Zion as “the pure in heart,” a term encompassing not only Latter-day Saints but all sincere people who strive to live according to the truth they possess. In this sense, the church becomes a large typology, embracing all who do good.
  Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “The church of the devil is every evil and worldly organization on earth. It is all of the systems, both Christian and non-Christian, that have perverted the pure and perfect gospel: it is all of the governments and powers that have run counter to divine will. . . . It is the man of sin speaking in churches, orating in legislative halls, and commanding the armies of men.” Taken typologically, the church of the devil is a powerful symbol for the influence of evil in all its manifestations.
  If we apply Elder McConkie’s logic in both directions, texts such as Doctrine and Covenants 10 allow us to visualize the pavilion under which the church of the Lamb resides to be enlarged to include “every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ” (Moroni 7:16). Membership in the church of the Lamb in this context expands beyond denominational lines to include all who genuinely strive to do good according to the light they have been given.
  Casey Paul Griffiths, Doctrine and Covenants Minute, D&C 10:64–70.
• Video: Modern Urim and Thummim – Taylor Halverson (D&C 10)

Saturday

• Commentary: Section 11 Context, Steven C. Harper
• Scripture: D&C 11:1–14
• Bio: Hyrum Smith, Susan Easton Black

Sunday

• Scripture: D&C 11:15–30
• Commentary: Though Hyrum eventually became one of the most powerful leaders in the Church, he was instructed here to be patient and study the word of God before embarking on a mission to declare the gospel. At the time this revelation was given, the Book of Mormon was still being translated, the Church was still unorganized, and Hyrum was still unbaptized. Hyrum was baptized in June 1829, at Seneca Lake near Fayette, New York (JS History, vol. A-1, p. 23, JSP). He also served as one of the original six members of the Church when it was organized (Richard Lloyd Anderson, “Who Were the Six Who Organized the Church of 6 April 1830?” Ensign, June 1980).
  Most importantly, in every copy of the Book of Mormon the name of Hyrum Smith is found as one of the eight witnesses who saw and handled the gold plates. Hyrum’s witness was a direct fulfillment of the Lord’s promise that Hyrum would “assist in bringing to light those things of which has been spoken—yea, the translation of my work” (verse 19). Hyrum never denied his testimony of the reality of the gold plates, eventually dying a martyr’s death alongside Joseph in Carthage Jail. Because of his integrity, his name, along with Joseph’s, “will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world” (D&C 135:6).
  Casey Griffiths, Doctrine and Covenants Minute, D&C 11:15–22.
• Commentary: Like other members of the small group gathering around Joseph Smith at this point, Hyrum was not to deny the spirit of revelation and prophecy (verse 25). This instruction implied a broad application of prophetic gifts among people who seek the Lord. In an echo of the Gospel of John, the Lord renewed His promise that those who receive Him will “become the sons of God” (John 1:12). This promise was repeated to several other early seekers of counsel during this time, including Orson Pratt (D&C 34) and James Covel (D&C 39). Women are also brought into this exalted relationship when a revelation to Emma Smith promised that “all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom” (D&C 25:1). While commenting on a vision shown to him and Sidney Rigdon, Joseph taught that through Jesus Christ the inhabitants of all worlds created by divine power “are begotten sons and daughters unto God” and that those who enter into exaltation are “gods, even the sons of God” (D&C 76:58).
  Casey Griffiths, Doctrine and Covenants Minute, D&C 11:23–30.
• Video: God Always Has a Backup Plan – Casey Griffiths (D&C 10–11)