Читать книгу History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Vol. 1-7) - Joseph F. Smith - Страница 110

1. At this point it may be well to note a singular thing with reference to nearly all the revelations that have been received in this dispensation; they came in response to enquiry, in response to prayer. "Ask and ye shall receive;" "Seek and ye shall find," seems to have been the principle on which the Lord has acted with reference to giving revelations. For instance, the Lord revealed Himself and His son Jesus Christ to the Prophet Joseph in answer to the latter's earnest prayer to know the truth respecting the various religions; Moroni came three years later in response to the young Prophet's earnest prayer to know his standing before the Lord; nearly all the early revelations to individuals in the Church, to Joseph Smith, Sen., Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Knight, David, Peter, John and Christian Whitmer were given in answer to the enquiry of these men to know their duty in respect of the work of the Lord then coming forth; the revelation on Church Organization and Government (Doc. and Cov. sec. 20), was given in response to Joseph and Oliver's prayers and enquiries concerning those things; so with reference to the revelations given to the Witnesses to the Book of Mormon; and in fact throughout the whole course of the work's development. This great revelation on Priesthood and the relations of the quorums to each other in the Church is also given in response to a most humble petition to the Prophet on the part of the Twelve; and, the Prophet says: "I inquired of the Lord, and received for answer the following revelation," then follows the revelation.

2. According to the explanatory note in the Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 107, the fore part of this revelation, the first fifty-eight verses, was given March 28th, the same day the Twelve ask the Prophet to enquire of the Lord for them, the other items were revealed at sundry times.