Class 5 – Sections 83, 85, 92, and 104

The Lord’s Social Order

Sect. 82• Given in Jackson County• Joseph Smith ordained to the Presidency of the High Priesthood.• On the “Order of Enoch”

What was the High Priesthood?1- The office of High Priest?

2- The Melchizedek Priesthood?

The term “Priesthood” first used in June 1831 when the “High Priesthood” was first conferred.

Some Teachings from Sect. 82• v. 3 For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.

Some Teachings from Sect. 82• v. 4 Ye call upon my name for revelations, and I give them unto you; and inasmuch as ye keep not my sayings, which I give unto you, ye become transgressors.

• v. 10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

Some Teachings from Sect. 82• v. 22 Make unto yourselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousness, and they will not destroy you.

Some Teachings from Sect. 82• Church leaders to be bound in the this covenant (Law of Consecration) to administer to the poor and coordinate the storehouses in Zion and Kirtland.

• v 17 And you are to be equal, or in other words, you are to have equal claims on the properties, … every man according to his wants and his needs, inasmuch as his wants are just.

Some Teachings from Sect. 82 v 18-19 And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church — Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.

Times and Places• Section 83: April 1832 – Independence• Section 85: November 1832 – Kirtland (letter to W.W. Phelps)

• Section 92: March 1833 – Kirtland• Section 104: April 1834 – Kirtland (Zion’s Camp left May 1834)

What if we need financial assistance from the Church today?

• What can the Church pay for?

• Whom do we see?• “Order of reliance” – who’s responsible first?

Women and ChildrenWomen have claim on their husbands for their maintenance…. All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age. And after that, they have claim upon the church, or in other words upon the Lord’s storehouse, if their parents have not wherewith to give them inheritances. -- D&C 83:2,4-5

A Warning about Section 85!• Letter of instruction to W. W. Phelps.

• Some of this material pertains to specific individuals and circumstances.

Consecration and TithingIt is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God.

-- D&C 85:3

Genealogy•Neither is their genealogy to be kept, or to be had where it may be found on any of the records or history of the church.

-- D&C 85:4

Still, Small Voice• v. 6 Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest, saying:

One Mighty and Strong• v. 7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong… to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God.

Steady the Ark• v. 8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.

Lively Member…• v. 8 …you shall be a lively member in this order …

• What is appropriate enthusiasm?

Section 104• Economic situation in Kirtland becoming difficult.

• People moving in without resources. Debt for building increasing.

• Saints lost property in Missouri.

• United Order in Kirtland and Missouri decoupled.

Does it matter if we don’t keep covenants?

• Therefore, inasmuch as some of my servants have not kept the commandment, but have broken the covenant through covetousness, and with feigned words, I have cursed them with a very sore and grievous curse.

-- D&C 104:4

What are our stewardships?• v. 13 For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.

The Lord can and will provide...

v. 14-16 I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. But it must needs be done in mine own way…

The Lord’s Way…

v. 16-17 … and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low. For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare.

Common Consent

v. 70-71 And let not any among you say that it is his own; for it shall not be called his, nor any part of it. And there shall not any part of it be used, or taken out of the treasury, only by the voice and common consent of the order.

Debts v. 78 And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts—behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts. v. 80 And inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance. v. 83 I give unto you a promise, that you shall be delivered this once out of your bondage.