Doctrine and Covenants Section 35

Historical Background

In September 1830, Oliver Cowdery received a commandment from the Lord to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. In October of that year he traveled with Peter Whitmer, Jr., Ziba Peterson, and Parley P. Pratt to fulfill that mission. Their travels took them to Mentor, Ohio, where Parley P. Pratt had lived prior to joining the Church. While there, they taught and baptized Sidney Rigdon, a 47 year old pastor in a religious movement known as the Campbellites. After his baptism in November 1830, Sidney traveled to Fayette, New York, to meet the Prophet Joseph. He arrived 7 December 1830. This revelation was given in response to Sidney’s request to know his role in the Restoration.

D&C 35:1-2 Sons of God
How is it that a person might become a “son of God”? What does it mean to become a son of God? Cross-reference: Moses 6:64-68; Mosiah 27:25-26.

D&C 35:3-6 Thou Wast Sent Forth
The Lord compared Sidney Rigdon to John the Baptist and Elijah the Prophet. How was he like these ancient prophets? How are all people who live the gospel preparing the way for Christ to come into the lives of their friends and neighbors?

D&C 35:7-12 I Will Show Miracles
List all the miracles that the Lord says His servants shall perform as He performs His great work among the Gentiles. What will happen to those who do not accept the gospel? How do people show that they are ready to accept the fullness of the gospel?

D&C 35:13-16 The Poor and the Meek
Who shall preach the gospel? Who shall accept the gospel? What does the Lord mean when he says, “learn the parable of the fig-tree”? Cross-reference: Matthew 24:32; Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:38.

D&C 35:17-27 Lift Up Your Hearts
In these verses the Lord gives instruction to Sidney Rigdon and defines the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. How is Sidney’s mission, or responsibility, different from Joseph’s? When the Lord commands Sidney to “write for him,” what does that mean? Joseph Smith began his inspired revision of the King James Bible in June 1830. When the Lord tells Sidney to write for Joseph “and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom,” he is assigning Sidney to be a scribe for Joseph Smith as he revises the Bible.