Doctrine and Covenants 21

Regarding the events of April 6, 1830, when the Church was formally organized, the Prophet Joseph Smith said:

“The Holy Ghost was poured out upon us to a very great degree—some prophesied, whilst we all praised the Lord, and rejoiced exceedingly” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 138).

Joseph Knight Sr. recorded the joy the Prophet Joseph Smith felt on this memorable day, when his father, Joseph Smith Sr., was baptized:

“There was one thing I will mention [about] that evening [when] old Brother Smith and Martin Harris [were] baptized. Joseph was filled with the Spirit to a great degree to see his father and Mr. Harris that … he bast [burst?] out with … joy and seemed as though the world could not hold him. He went out into the lot and appeared to want to get out of sight of everybody and would sob and cry and seemed to be so full that he could not live. … He was the most wrought upon that I ever saw any man. But his joy seemed to be full. I think he saw the great work he had begun and was desirous to carry it out” (as quoted in Dean Jessee, “Joseph Knight’s Recollection of Early Mormon History,” BYU Studies, vol. 17, no. 1 [1976], 37; spelling and capitalization standardized).

Doctrine and Covenants 21:1

Elder John A. Widtsoe:

“A seer is one who sees with spiritual eyes. He perceives the meaning of that which seems obscure to [unclear to or hidden from] others; therefore he is an interpreter and clarifier of eternal truth. He foresees the future from the past and the present. This he does by the power of the Lord operating through him directly, or indirectly with the aid of divine instruments such as the Urim and Thummim. In short, he is one who sees, who walks in the Lord’s light with open eyes” (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, arr. G. Homer Durham, 3 vols. in 1 [1960], 258).

Guide to the Scriptures:

A prophet is “a person who has been called by and speaks for God. As a messenger of God, a prophet receives commandments, prophecies, and revelations from God. His responsibility is to make known God’s will and true character to mankind and to show the meaning of his dealings with them. A prophet denounces sin and foretells its consequences. He is a preacher of righteousness. On occasion, prophets may be inspired to foretell the future for the benefit of mankind. His primary responsibility, however, is to bear witness of Christ” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Prophet,” scriptures.lds.org).

Translator: someone who (1) converts written or spoken words to another language or (2) gives clearer meaning to an existing translation by improving or correcting it or by restoring lost material (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Translate,” scriptures.lds.org).

Bible Dictionary:

Apostle: a special witness of Jesus Christ to the world (see Bible Dictionary, “Apostle”).

Elder: “the proper title given to all holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood” and to someone who has been called to be a full-time minister for Jesus Christ (see Bible Dictionary, “Elders”).

Doctrine and Covenants 21:5–6

President Ezra Taft Benson:

“To help you pass the crucial tests which lie ahead I am going to give you today several facets of a grand key which, if you will honor them, will crown you with God’s glory and bring you out victorious in spite of Satan’s fury.

“… Here then is the grand key—follow the prophet—and here now are fourteen fundamentals in following the prophet, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. …

“First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

“Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

“Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

“Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.

“Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

“Sixth: The prophet does not have to say ‘Thus saith the Lord’ to give us scripture.

“Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

“Eighth: The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

“Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.

“Tenth: The prophet may be involved in civic matters.

“Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

“Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

“Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.

“Fourteenth: The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer” (“Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet” [Brigham Young University fireside address, Feb. 26, 1980], 1, 6, speeches.byu.edu).

President Harold B. Lee:

“The only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; … as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith’ (D&C 21:4–5). There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’ (D&C 21:6)” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 84–85; see also Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2nd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2001], 45).

Pres. M. Russell Ballard:

“It is no small thing, my brothers and sisters, to have a prophet of God in our midst. Great and wonderful are the blessings that come into our lives as we listen to the word of the Lord given to us through him. At the same time, knowing that [the current Church President] is God’s prophet also endows us with responsibility. When we hear the counsel of the Lord expressed through the words of the President of the Church, our response should be positive and prompt. History has shown that there is safety, peace, prosperity, and happiness in responding to prophetic counsel as did Nephi of old: ‘I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded’” (“His Word Ye Shall Receive,” Ensign,May 2001, 65).

Doctrine and Covenants 22:1

Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith:

“The new and everlasting covenant is the fulness of the gospel. [See D&C 66:2.] It is composed of ‘All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations’ that are sealed upon members of the Church by the Holy Spirit of promise, or the Holy Ghost, by the authority of the President of the Church who holds the keys. [See D&C 132:7.] The President of the Church holds the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood. He delegates authority to others and authorizes them to perform the sacred ordinances of the priesthood.

“Marriage for eternity is a new and everlasting covenant. Baptism is also a new and everlasting covenant [see D&C 132:22], and likewise ordination to the priesthood, and every other covenant is everlasting and a part of the new and everlasting covenant which embraces all things” (Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., 5 vols. [1957–66], 1:65).

Robert J. Matthews:

“Although it is not completely clear from either secular history or the scriptures that the Jews were actually baptizing one another at [the time of Jesus Christ], it was a regular practice among them to baptize gentile converts to Judaism. …

“It is noticeable that when John came among the people, they did not ask him, ‘What new thing is this that you do?’ but rather they asked, ‘Who are you?’ They did not question the ordinance” (Robert J. Matthews, “I Have a Question,” Ensign,Sept. 1974, 16.)

Doctrine and Covenants 22:1–4

Elder James E. Talmage:

“When the Lord established his Church amongst the Nephites upon this continent, he told those who were chosen and ordained, unto whom authority was given, just how to administer the ordinance of baptism. They were to say: ‘Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’ That does not give us in this age any such authority. The words that Christ spoke unto his apostles of old would be no authority unto the apostles today, nor unto any of the elders of the Church. I repeat, the words that he, the Lord, spoke unto the disciples who were chosen from among the Nephites would be no authority unto us; but in this day and age he has spoken again, and has given that same power and authority to speak in his name, and to administer the ordinances of the gospel, after the pattern that he has set; and therefore the elders and priests who take candidates, who have professed their faith, and who have repented of their sins, into the waters of baptism today, declare that they have authority given them; and, being commissioned of Jesus Christ, they baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1924, 68; see also Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2nd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2001] , 46).

President Joseph Fielding Smith:

“Immediately after the Church was organized, converts were made. Some of these had belonged to churches which believed in baptism by immersion. In fact, many of the early converts of the Church had previously accepted this mode, believing that it was right. The question of divine authority, however, was not firmly fixed in their minds. When they desired to come into the Church, having received the testimony that Joseph Smith [was a true prophet], they wondered why it was necessary for them to be baptized again when they had complied with an ordinance of baptism by immersion” (Church History and Modern Revelation [1953], 1:109).

Doctrine and Covenants 22:4

Elder John A. Widtsoe:

“I remember the man who baptized me into the Church, a very common, ordinary man … with a jug of beer two or three times a day, a glass of whiskey a little later, … tobacco mostly all day long, living a useless, purposeless life, except for three meals a day, and the satisfaction of some of the carnal appetites. He heard the Gospel and accepted it. It was good. It was something he had been longing for. The man grew in power and stature in the Church. As I recall it, he filled five or six missions and presided over one of the missions of the Church. He was the same man, with the same arms, same feet, same body, same mind, but changed because of the Spirit that comes with the acceptance of eternal truth” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1952, 34; see also Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2nd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2001] , 46–47).