Scholars have described the Whitmer home as a “celebrated dwelling place.” It is where the first conference was held, the Church was organized, and the revelation we are discussing this week was received. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22 describe the order in which God keeps His house, and as we study these sections, we can explore how to make our homes celebrated Christlike dwelling places.
Segment 1
Scriptures:
D&C 20:11 (God can direct us in His work)
D&C 20:38-45 (Elders administering)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
D&C 20 (Revelation on church organization in the Whitmer home)
Words of the General Authorities:
It was a very interesting period of my life, when but nineteen years of age, to visit the place where this Church was organized—the room of old father Whitmer—where the Lord spoke to His servant Joseph and others, as printed in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. In that same room a revelation, through the prophet Joseph, was given to me, November 4th, 1830, which is also printed [D&C 34]. That house will, no doubt, be celebrated for ages to come, as the one chosen by the Lord in which to make known the first elements of the organization of His Kingdom in the latter days.” (Orson Pratt, “Experience in Missionary Labors—Ancient Prophecies Concerning the People of God in the Last Days”, from Journal of Discourses vol. 12)
Study Helps:
Facts about the Whitmer Home:
- Peter and Mary allowed Joseph Smith, Emma Smith, and Oliver Cowdery to live in their home (for free) in 1829, so the two men could complete the translation of the Book of Mormon
- The Whitmer Farm was also the place where the angel Moroni the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated to the Three Witnesses: Oliver, Martin and their son David Whitmer
- 4 of 8 witnesses were Whitmer’s: Christian, Jacob, Peter Jr, John Whitmer
- The angel Moroni showed the plates to Mary Whitmer the 12th witness
- April 6, 1830, between 40 and 50 people gathered in the Whitmer’s home, where Joseph Smith presided over the organization of the restored Church of Jesus Christ.
- Nerve center of the expanded missionary effort after the church was organized
- June 9, 1830 First Conference held there
(from Larry C. Porter, “The Peter Whitmer Log Home: Cradle of Mormonism”, Religious Educator 12, no. 3 (2011): 177–201)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
D&C 20:1-2 (Christ’s church is organized)
D&C 20:37,72-73 (Baptism)
D&C 20:38 (Duties of the holders of the priesthood)
CR: D&C 107 (Offices of the Priesthood)
D&C 20:68 (Duties of the members of the church)
D&C 20:77-79 (Sacrament)
Words of the General Authorities:
The one thing that would make for the safety of every man and woman would be to appear at the sacrament table every Sabbath day. We would not get very far away in one week—not so far away that, by the process of self-investigation, we could not rectify the wrongs we may have done…The road to the sacrament table is the path of safety for Latter-day Saints. (Melvin J. Ballard, “The Sacramental Covenant”, M.I.A. Conference June 8, 1919, recorded in The Improvement Era October 1919)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
D&C 20:68-70 (Bringing the ward together)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
D&C 21:1-5 (The office of the prophet)
Words of the General Authorities:
Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come…It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come”, October 1999 General Conference, also included in “Good Things to Come” Inspirational Message formerly Mormon Messages)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
D&C 22:2 (Works are dead without the priesthood)
D&C 22:4 (Do not counsel God)
CR: Jacob 4:10
Words of the General Authorities:
It truly is folly for us with our mortal myopia to presume to judge God, to think, for example, “I’m not happy, so God must be doing something wrong.” To us, His mortal children in a fallen world, who know so little of past, present, and future, He declares, “All things are present with me, for I know them all.” Jacob wisely cautions: “Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.”
Some misunderstand the promises of God to mean that obedience to Him yields specific outcomes on a fixed schedule. They might think, “If I diligently serve a full-time mission, God will bless me with a happy marriage and children” or “If I refrain from doing schoolwork on the Sabbath, God will bless me with good grades” or “If I pay tithing, God will bless me with that job I’ve been wanting.” If life doesn’t fall out precisely this way or according to an expected timetable, they may feel betrayed by God. But things are not so mechanical in the divine economy. We ought not to think of God’s plan as a cosmic vending machine where we (1) select a desired blessing, (2) insert the required sum of good works, and (3) the order is promptly delivered. (D. Todd Christofferson, “Our Relationship with God”, April 2022 General Conference)
View transcript here.