August 7, 1831 – D&C 59 was received

[Hemidakota]

August 7, 1831— Kaw Township, Jackson County, Missouri. Joseph Smith attended the funeral of Sister Polly Knight, the first Church member to pass away in Missouri, and received D&C 59, a revelation about Sabbath observance. History of the Church, 1:199–200

Place. Jackson County, Missouri.

Publication Note. Section 59 was first published in the Evening and Morning Star (July 1833) and was included as chapter 60 in the Book of Commandments in 1833.

Historical Setting:

B.H. Roberts - Polly Knight's health had been failing for some time, according to a statement made by her son, Newel. She was very ill during her journey from Kirtland to Missouri, "Yet," says her son, "She would not consent to stop traveling; her only, or her greatest desire was to set her feet upon the land of Zion, and to have her body interred in that land. I went on shore and bought lumber to make a coffin in case she should die before we arrived at our place of destination— so fast did she fail. But the Lord gave her the desire of her heart, and she lived to stand upon that land."—Scraps of Biography, p. 70. (HC, Vol. 1, p. 199, Footnote)

Joseph Smith, Jun. – On the 7th I attended the funeral of Sister Polly Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight, Sen. This was the first death in the Church in this land, and I can say, a worthy member sleeps in Jesus till the resurrection.

I also received the following: [section 59, follows.] (HC 1:199, August 7, 1831; Zion, Jackson County, Missouri.)

Background Narration:

Richard O. Cowan - Soon after the arrival of the Colesville Saints, Sister Polly Knight (wife of Joseph Knight, Sr.) passed away, the first Latter-day Saint to die in the land of Zion. Her funeral was held on Sunday, August 7, 1831. It was in this setting that D&C 59 was received. Verses 1-4 were a message of comfort and encouragement to the Saints. Beginning in verse 5, the Lord reviewed with them some of the basic commandments which can be grouped under the two great commandments-love of God and love of neighbor. Verse 21 warns that one should recognize the Lord's hand in all things, and verse 23 summarizes the fruits of righteous living in a most meaningful way. (Doctrine and Covenants, Our Modern Scripture by Richard O. Cowan)

Steven C. Harper

Doctrine and Covenants 59 begins by blessing those who have come to Zion to serve God with all they have and are. Those who live shall inherit the earth; those who die shall rest for the present and receive exaltation after the resurrection. The Lord is well pleased with the first Saints to gather obediently to Zion. He rewards them with the earth and its bounty.

The revelation reiterates the law of consecration, which, simply put, is the two great commandments: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him" (v. 5). Then follows a review of the Decalogue, or the Ten Commandments, to which the Lord adds commandments to thank God in all things and to offer him a broken heart. He gives a specific purpose for observing the Sabbath day: "That thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day" (v. 9). The Sabbath is for offering oblations—that is, time, talents, and material resources—for the establishment of Zion. It is a day of fasting and prayer (v. 14).

The Lord makes a covenant with the Saints in Zion: if they will keep the commandments thankfully and cheerfully yet soberly, he will give them the fullness of the earth—its plants and animals "for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul" (v. 19). (Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants by Steven C. Harper)

Section Header Notes: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, 7 August 1831 (see History of the Church, 1:196–201). Preceding his record of this revelation, the Prophet writes descriptively of the land of Zion, wherein the people were then assembled. The land was consecrated, as the Lord had directed, and the site for the future temple was dedicated. The Lord makes these commandments especially applicable to the Saints in Zion.

1–4, The faithful Saints in Zion will be blessed; 5–8, They are to love and serve the Lord and keep his commandments; 9–19, By keeping the Lord’s day holy, the Saints are blessed temporally and spiritually; 20–24, The righteous are promised peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come.

Versus amount: 24

Suggested link: D&C

Summary and Conclusion: As the Lord declared in the beginning of this revelation, commandments are given as blessings for His people. One of these blessings is the receiving of additional commandments in their time. (See D&C 59:4) The commandments of the Lord provide the formula by which one masters the flesh and remains unspotted from the world. This is the doorway to obtaining " . . . peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come." (D&C 59:23)

Pres. George Q. Cannon emphasized the value of keeping the Lord's commandments when he said:

Jesus, the Son of God, has attained to His exalted station by obeying the very principles that constitute our religion. The angels that surround the throne of our Almighty Father have received their exaltation and glory by obeying these principles, observing one law after another until the whole character is transformed and becomes Godlike. (Gospel Truth, Vol. 2, p. 12)

This is the spirit of this revelation and the purpose of Zion. (Sacred Truths of the Doctrine and Covenants , vol. 1 by L. G. Otten, C. M. Caldwell, p.292)

Reference Chart: LDS.org - Ensign Article - Doctrine and Covenants Times at a Glance