Church News - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

This week in Church history

Published: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006

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175 years ago

In Section 67 of the Doctrine and Covenants, revealed through Joseph Smith the Prophet at Hiram, Ohio, in November 1831, the Lord Himself testified "of the truth of these commandments which are lying before you."

The Lord also challenged members to "appoint him that is the most wise among you" to write a commandment like it.

In History of the Church 1: 226, Joseph Smith recorded: "After the foregoing was received, William E. M'Lellin, as the wisest man, in his own estimation, having more learning than sense, endeavored to write a commandment like unto one of the least of the Lord's, but failed; it was an awful responsibility to write in the name of the Lord. The Elders and all present that witnessed this vain attempt of a man to imitate the language of Jesus Christ, renewed their faith in the fullness of the Gospel, and in the truth of the commandments and revelations which the Lord had given to the Church through my instrumentality; and the Elders signified a willingness to bear testimony of their truth to all the world."