When the Church was barely 19 months old, the Prophet Joseph Smith and other Church leaders laid out ambitious plans to compile God’s latter-day revelations into one volume and print 10,000 copies—double the first print run of the Book of Mormon. Unfortunately, high costs tempered these plans, and mobs attacked the Church’s press while printing was in progress. They scattered the unbound pages, and although courageous Saints preserved some of them, no complete copies of the Book of Commandments are known to have survived.
What we now know as section 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants was meant to be the appendix to the Book of Commandments, like an exclamation point at the end of the Lord’s published revelations. It warns of a coming day of judgment and reechos the call found throughout modern revelation: flee worldliness, as symbolized by Babylon; build Zion; prepare for the Second Coming; and spread this message “unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (verse 37). While the original plans for the Book of Commandments were not fulfilled, this revelation is a reminder and a witness that the Lord’s work cannot be thwarted, “for he shall make bare his holy arm … , and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God” (verse 3).
I am so sad I missed seeing and hearing you!! I live in Allen Texas, just by Mckinney. In fact we use to be all one stake until the split some year’s ago.
Thanks for your time and your testimony. I have had some huge struggles lately and you have encouraged me to read the Book of Mormon and that has been a great help to me personally. My mother passed away and with the struggles I have I have wanted to talk to her about how she got through it. Thanks for all you do!
A fan!!
Lorie Nelson
Dang! I wish you could have come! I would have loved to meet you!
Melanie, I have no idea if this comment will make it back to you but I’m trying. I just listened to last weeks episode and I can’t begin to tell you how much it touched me. I am being released from my Relief Society President job next week and being called with my amazing husband to be Stake missionaries. I have nerves and trepidation but if I can be half the missionary that you are, I will be thrilled. I would imagine that we will be asked to help so many people that have fallen away in our neighborhood. I will be telling people to not only read The Book of Mormon but to listen to your podcast. You have entertained and strengthened me. I look at you as my friend. All my love, and Happy Thanksgiving, WenDee Russon
Thank you so so much! Your kind words just made my whole day! You’ll be a great missionary!