D&C 112:34 "But O what have I lost?!"

Thomas B. Marsh’s falling away and return to the Church:

For a time, President Marsh followed the counsel he had received. He worked to strengthen the Church and sustain Joseph Smith. However, he soon returned to his contentious feelings about the way the Church was led. These feelings combined with concerns about conflicts between disobedient and aggressive Church members and their neighbors in Missouri. In September 1838, while he was beset by this spirit of apostasy, his wife, Elizabeth, became involved in a dispute. She and another woman, both members of the Church, had agreed to regularly exchange milk to have enough to make cheese, but Sister Marsh was accused of violating her agreement by keeping the part of the milk that was richest in cream. The matter was brought before Church leaders more than once. It was even brought before the First Presidency. Each time, it was decided that Sister Marsh was at fault. President Marsh was angry and unsatisfied with these decisions (see George A. Smith, “Discourse,” Deseret News, Apr. 16, 1856, 44).

While this situation did not lead him to leave the Church, it compounded with his other frustrations. He became increasingly critical of other Church leaders, and he eventually turned against the Saints. He later recalled, “I became jealous of the Prophet . . . and overlooked everything that was right, and spent all my time in looking for the evil” (“Remarks,” Deseret News, Sept. 16, 1857, 220).

In October 1838, Thomas B. Marsh swore before a magistrate that Joseph Smith and the Latter-day Saints were hostile toward the state of Missouri. This affidavit contributed to the government issuing an extermination order that resulted in the expulsion of more than 15,000 Saints from their homes in Missouri.

Eighteen years after Thomas B. Marsh left the Church, he humbly wrote a letter to President Heber C. Kimball of the First Presidency, asking for forgiveness and permission to rejoin the Church. He explained what he had learned through his mistakes: “The Lord could get along very well without me and He has lost nothing by my falling out of the ranks; But O what have I lost?!” (Thomas B. Marsh letter to Heber C. Kimball, May 5, 1857, Brigham Young Collection, Church History Library, as quoted in Kay Darowski, “The Faith and Fall of Thomas Marsh,” Revelations in Context, history.lds.org).

D&C 112:10. Being humble doesn't mean thinking less of ourselves

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency:

“We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman. “. . . The moment we stop obsessing with ourselves and lose ourselves in service, our pride diminishes and begins to die” (“Pride and the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 58).

D&C 112:1 Events leading up to receiving 112

Thomas B Marsh:

Soon after Thomas B. Marsh was called to be an Apostle in 1835, he was appointed President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the spring of 1837, President Marsh learned that one of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Parley P. Pratt, was planning a mission to England without President Marsh’s direction. President Marsh, who was in Missouri, wrote to Elder Pratt and the other members of the Twelve and invited them to meet him in Kirtland, Ohio, on July 24, 1837, so they could be unified in their plans for missions. However, a month before that meeting took place, two other members of the Twelve, Elders Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, departed for England after receiving mission calls from the Prophet Joseph Smith. President Marsh was apparently upset that members of the Twelve were proceeding to preach the gospel in England without his involvement.

President Marsh shared his concerns with the Prophet Joseph Smith and sought his counsel. In response, the Lord gave the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 112.

D&C 109:1. Stories from the Kirtland Temple dedication

Eliza R Snow

“A notice had been circulated that children in arms would not be admitted at the dedication of the temple. A sister who had come a long distance with her babe, six weeks old, having, on her arrival, heard of the above requisition, went to the patriarch Joseph Smith, Sr., in great distress, saying that she knew no one with whom she could leave her infant; and to be deprived of the privilege of attending the dedication seemed more than she could endure. The ever generous and kind-hearted father volunteered to take the responsibility on himself, and told her to take her child, at the same time giving the mother a promise that her babe should make no disturbance; and the promise was verified.  But when the congregation shouted hosanna, that babe joined in the shout. As marvelous as that incident may appear to many, it is not more so than other occurrences on that occasion.” (Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom (New York: Tullidge & Crandall, 1877), 95.

Joseph Smith

“Brother George A. Smith arose and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation.  The people of the neighborhood came running together, hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple, and were astonished at what was taking place.” (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2: 428.)

Oliver Cowdrey

“In the evening I met with the officers of the church in the Lord’s house. The Spirit was poured out--I saw the glory of God, like a great cloud, come down and rest upon the house, and fill the same like a mighty rushing wind. I also saw cloven tongues, like as of fire rest upon many, for there were 316 present, while they spake with other tongues and prophesied.” (Leonard J. Arrington, “Oliver Cowdery’s Kirtland Ohio ‘Sketch Book,’” BYU Studies, (Summer 1972).

Eliza R Snow remembered:

“One striking feature of the ceremonies, was the grand shout of hosanna, which was given by the whole assembly, in standing position, with uplifted hands. The form of the shout is as follows: ‘Hosanna—hosanna—hosanna—to God and the Lamb—amen—amen, and amen.’ The foregoing was deliberately and emphatically pronounced, and three times repeated, and with such power as seemed almost sufficient to raise the roof from the building. The ceremonies of that dedication may be rehearsed, but no mortal language can describe the heavenly manifestations of that memorable day.  Angels appeared to some, while a sense of divine presence was realized by all present, and each heart was filled with ‘joy inexpressible and full of glory. …(Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom. New York: Tullidge & Crandall, 1877), 95.

D&C 137:5-6 Alvin Smith

Joseph Smith loved and admired his eldest brother, Alvin. Alvin loved Joseph too, and he supported Joseph in his preparation to receive the gold plates from the angel Moroni. In November 1823, when Alvin was 25 years old and Joseph was 17, Alvin suddenly became gravely ill. As his condition worsened and it became apparent that he would soon die, he counseled Joseph: “I want you to be a good boy and do everything that lies in your power to obtain the records. Be faithful in receiving instruction and keeping every commandment that is given you” (quoted in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 401; see also Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual, 2nd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 41–42).

Alvin’s death brought great sorrow to the Smith family. A Presbyterian minister in Palmyra, New York, officiated at Alvin’s funeral. “As Alvin had not been a member of the minister’s congregation, the clergyman asserted in his sermon that Alvin could not be saved. William Smith, Joseph’s younger brother, recalled: ‘[The minister] . . . intimated very strongly that [Alvin] had gone to hell, for Alvin was not a church member, but he was a good boy and my father did not like it’” (quoted in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 401, 403).

D&C 108:2 Forgiveness

President Packer:
The great morning of forgiveness may not come at once. Do not give up if at first you fail. Often the most difficult part of repentance is to forgive yourself. Discouragement is part of that test. Do not give up. That brilliant morning will come.
'Then 'the peace of God, which passeth...understanding' comes into your life once again. [Philip 4:7] Then you, like Him, will remember your sins no more. How will you know? You will know! [see Mosiah 4:1-3]" (The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness," Ensign Nov 1995, 20)

D&C 108:1 Lyman Sherman

Lyman Sherman was a faithful member of the Church who had served in Zion's Camp and had been called as one of the seven Presidents of the Seventy. The Prophet Joseph Smith recorded in his journal that on Dec 26, 1835, "Brother Lyman Sherman came in, and requested to have the word of the Lord through me; 'for,' said he, 'I have been wrought upon to make known to you my feelings and desires, and was promised that I should have a revelation which should make known my duty' " (in History of the Church 2:345; see also Journals, Volume 1: 1832-1839, vol. 1 of Journals series of The Joseph Smith Papers 2008, 137).

D&C 107:23 Apostles are special witnesses

“My testimony of the risen Lord is just as real as Thomas', who said to the resurrected Christ when he appeared to his disciples: 'My Lord and my God.‘ I know that he lives.” (David O. Mckay, CR., Apr. 1968, pp. 9-10.)

“In this dispensation, commencing with the Prophet Joseph Smith, the witnesses are legion. As one of those called as special witnesses, I add my testimony to those of fellow Apostles: He lives! He lives with resurrected body. There is no truth or fact of which I am more assured, or know better by personal experience, than the truth of the literal resurrection of our Lord.” (Ezra Taft Benson, New Era, Dec. 1980, 48)

“I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person. I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign, May 1985, 11)

“I know by experience too sacred to touch upon that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ.” Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Jan. 1983, 56)

“Mine is the certain knowledge that Jesus is our divine Savior, Redeemer, and the Son of God the Father. I know of his reality by a sure perception so sacred I cannot give utterance to it.” (James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1995, 63)

“I know that God lives. I know that Jesus Christ lives, said John Taylor, my predecessor, ‘for I have seen him.’ I bear this testimony to you brethren in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.” (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, May 1978, 48)

D&C 104:16. The rich are to help the poor.

Elder Joseph B Wirthlin of the 12 apostles taught:

“The Lord’s way consists of helping people help themselves. The poor are exalted because they work for the temporary assistance they receive, they are taught correct principles, and they are able to lift themselves from poverty to self-reliance. The rich are made low because they humble themselves to give generously of their means to those in need” (“Inspired Church Welfare,” Ensign, May 1999, 77).

D&C 103:13 Redemption of Zion

Elder Christofferson 

“Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember, ‘the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them’ (Moses 7:18). If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary (1) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen—Zion will come only as they happen” (“Come to Zion,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 38).

D&C 101:78 Will you be a servant of God or a servant of sin?

President Monson:
This is your world. Whether you like it or not, you are engaged in the race of your life. At stake is eternal life-yours. What shall be the outcome? Will you be a leader of men and a servant of God? Or will you be a servant of sin and a follower of Satan? (Pathway to Eternal Life, LDS Student Association Fireside, Nov 5 1967)