Doctrine & Covenants 67 Study Guide
Overview
Date of Revelation: Early November 1831
Location: Hiram, Ohio
Recipient(s): Elders of the Church assembled at a special conference
Section Summary: This revelation was given during a special conference where the decision was made to publish the Book of Commandments. Some questioned the language and literary style of the revelations. The Lord rebukes their doubts and testifies of the truth of the revelations. He offers a challenge: to replicate even the “least” of these words if they doubt they are divine. He promises those who humble themselves and cast out fear and jealousy will be spiritually quickened and see God.
Timeframe & Setting
Following the receipt of D&C 1, the Lord’s “preface” to the compiled revelations.
A pivotal conference was held to formally approve the publishing of the Book of Commandments (see Historical Resources).
W.W. Phelps had just established the Church printing press in Independence, Missouri.
Some elders were troubled by the imperfect literary style of the revelations and questioned whether they were truly the word of the Lord.
Key Circumstances
The conference of elders discussed the language of Joseph Smith’s revelations.
Doubts arose regarding Joseph’s linguistic expression vs. divine origin.
The Lord responds directly to their concerns, affirming the divinity of the revelations and addressing their inner fears.
Purpose of the Revelation
To confirm the divine origin of Joseph’s revelations.
To challenge the doubters to replicate even the least of the revelations if they believe they are not from God.
To extend the promise of seeing God to those who are humble, faithful, and spiritually prepared.
Significance
Introduces the Lord’s test for authenticity: a divine literary challenge.
Emphasizes spiritual humility, preparation, and sanctification required to see God (cf. Hebrews 12:14).
Reinforces the sacredness of prophetic utterance even when filtered through imperfect human vessels.
Links to temple themes: veil, quickening, presence of God, and ordination.
SECTION OVERVIEW SUMMARY
In Section 67, the Lord addresses a growing concern among the elders regarding the literary style of the revelations received through Joseph Smith. Some were uncomfortable with what they perceived as imperfect language, and this revelation offers both a rebuke and an invitation.
The Lord challenges the wisest among them to replicate even the “least” of the revelations if they believe they are merely the words of Joseph and not divine. This echoes patterns of divine testing found in scripture, such as Elijah’s challenge to the prophets of Baal or the Lord’s questioning in Job. The Lord affirms that righteousness comes “from above, from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).
He then extends a remarkable promise to those ordained to the ministry: if they will humble themselves, cast out jealousy and fear, and become spiritually prepared, they may have the veil lifted and see Him—not with carnal minds, but by the Spirit. This reflects early temple theology and mirrors Moses 1:11: “But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes…”
This section calls the Saints to patience and purity as they await the fullness of divine revelation, teaching that vision and understanding are proportionate to spiritual sanctification.
VERSE-BY-VERSE SUMMARIES
D&C 67:1–3 — The Lord Knows the Hearts of His Servants
Verses 1–3
1 Behold and hearken, O ye elders of my church, who have assembled yourselves together, whose prayers I have heard, and whose hearts I know, and whose desires have come up before me.
2 Behold and lo, mine eyes are upon you, and the heavens and the earth are in mine hands, and the riches of eternity are mine to give.
3 Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive.
Summary
God is omniscient and hears the sincere prayers of His servants.
Fear is a spiritual barrier to receiving divine blessings.
Blessings are not withheld due to God's unwillingness but due to the condition of our hearts.
Language & Cultural Insights
“Assembled Yourselves Together”
Hebrew Roots:
Greek Equivalent:
Insight: These terms imply sacred gathering, echoing temple convocations and covenant assemblies like those in ancient Israel.
“Mine eyes are upon you”
Hebrew Phrase:
ʿêynê YHWH (עֵינֵי יְהוָה) — “the eyes of the Lord”; seen in Proverbs 15:3
Insight: God's “eyes” signal His active covenantal care and divine attentiveness—not just watching, but intimately knowing.
“The heavens and the earth are in mine hands”
Insight: This phrase affirms God’s omnipotence and creative dominion. In temple and prophetic imagery, God’s “hand” is a symbol of deliverance, covenant-making, and will.
“The riches of eternity are mine to give”
Greek Word:
Insight: The “riches” here refer to eternal truths, ordinances, divine knowledge, and eventual exaltation—see D&C 84:38.
“Endeavored to believe”
Insight: Suggests intent and effort, but not complete faith. A spiritual wrestling, like in Mark 9:24: “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
“Receive the blessing which was offered unto you”
Implies agency. Spiritual blessings must be received by faith and not merely acknowledged as possible. The Lord can extend a gift, but the recipient must prepare and act to claim it.
Parallels:
Hebrews 4:6 – entering into rest withheld due to unbelief
D&C 88:68 – “...the day will come when you shall see him...”
“Fears in your hearts”
Greek Word:
Hebrew Word:
Insight: Fear counteracts faith and restricts spiritual reception and progression. See 2 Timothy 1:7: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear…”
Reflection Questions
In what ways does fear keep us from recognizing or receiving spiritual blessings?
What might the Lord say about the condition of your heart today?
Cross-References & Conference Connections
D&C 121:45–46 – Let virtue garnish thy thoughts… thy confidence shall wax strong.
Matthew 14:30–31 – Peter walking on water, but sinking through fear.
GC: Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe,” Apr. 2013 – Addressing belief in the midst of fear.
Genesis 18:14 – “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Doctrine & Covenants 84:19–22 – The power of godliness is manifest in ordinances.
Exodus 33:11– “The Lord spake unto Moses face to face…”
General Conference: Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear,” April 2021
Reference Notes
Compare to OT temple language: God knowing the heart is a prerequisite for entering His presence (e.g., Psalm 24:3–4).
D&C 67:4–9 — The Divine Challenge to Replicate Revelation
Verses 4–9
4 And now I, the Lord, give unto you a testimony of the truth of these commandments which are lying before you.
5 Your eyes have been upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and his language you have known, and his imperfections you have known; and you have sought in your hearts knowledge that you might express beyond his language; this you also know.
6 Now, seek ye out of the Book of Commandments, even the least that is among them, and appoint him that is the most wise among you;
7 Or, if there be any among you that shall make one like unto it, then ye are justified in saying that ye do not know that they are true;
8 But if ye cannot make one like unto it, ye are under condemnation if ye do not bear record that they are true.
9 For ye know that there is no unrighteousness in them, and that which is righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights.
Summary
The Lord boldly declares the truth of the revelations before the Saints.
He acknowledges Joseph Smith’s human limitations but separates prophetic message from mortal messenger.
The Lord issues a divine challenge—if any can replicate even the least of His commandments, then doubt may be justified. If not, a testimony is required.
All truth and righteousness come from “the Father of lights,” a title rich in biblical symbolism and temple resonance.
Language & Cultural Insights
“I, the Lord, give unto you a testimony of the truth”
The Lord Himself is bearing witness—a legal and covenantal act.
Greek Word for “testimony”:
martyria (μαρτυρία) – witness, evidence, a formal declaration of truth Used in John 5:31–39 where Jesus speaks of multiple testimonies of His divinity.
Insight: This is divine legal language. God's self-witness invokes a covenantal obligation—His word is both judge and standard (see Isaiah 55:11).
“These commandments which are lying before you”
The revelations were physically present before the assembled elders—this is both literal and symbolic.
Similar to Moses laying the tablets before Israel in Exodus 24:7: “And he took the book of the covenant, and read…”
Insight: The “lying before you” echoes temple and legal settings in which covenants are read and accepted by the community.
“His language you have known, and his imperfections you have known”
Hebrew Terms for “Language”
sāphāh (שָׂפָה) – lip, speech, language, edge
Common in the Old Testament to denote spoken language (e.g., Genesis 11:1: “The whole earth was of one language [sāphāh]…”)
Also connotes boundary or edge, suggesting the limits of human speech.
Used metaphorically to express purity of speech (Zephaniah 3:9): “I will turn to the people a pure language…”
lāšôn (לָשׁוֹן) – tongue, speech, dialect
Literal “tongue,” but often metaphor for manner of speaking or regional language (e.g., Isaiah 66:18)
Greek Terms for “Language”
glōssa (γλῶσσα) – tongue, language, speech
Used in NT for spoken language (Acts 2:4, 11) and also spiritual tongues
Also metaphorically means distinctive expression or mode of communication
dialektos (διάλεκτος) – dialect, native tongue
Used in Acts 21:40: “in the Hebrew tongue”
The Lord acknowledges Joseph’s mortal voice and limitations.
Greek Word for “imperfection”:
astheneia (ἀσθένεια) – weakness, frailty, limitation Used in Hebrews 5:2 to describe the high priest's capacity to minister with compassion due to his own weakness.
Insight: God does not require a flawless mouthpiece—He sanctifies the vessel. This mirrors Ether 12:27, where weakness is a tool for humility and divine strength.
Theological & Contextual Insight:
In D&C 67:5, the Lord acknowledges that the Saints are familiar with Joseph’s language—his personal voice, vernacular, and perhaps even his grammatical imperfections. However, this does not disqualify his revelations from being divine.
This highlights a central principle of Restoration scripture:
God speaks “after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.” — D&C 1:24
Rather than being a flaw, the Lord affirms that the prophetic voice is incarnational—this reflects the pattern of God working through mortal, embodied, imperfect, or culturally specific human instruments to accomplish His divine purposes. Rooted in human tongue, shaped by culture, yet imbued with divine power. This aligns with the pattern of scriptural transmission across dispensations—from Moses to Paul—where inspiration flows through imperfect human vessels, but is justified and sanctified by the Spirit.
“Sought in your hearts knowledge that you might express beyond his language”
The elders desired to articulate revelations.
Hebrew Word for “knowledge”:
daʿat (דַּעַת) – intimate understanding, skill, discernment
Insight: This phrase reflects human yearning to perfect the vessel of revelation, but without divine authority, eloquence cannot replace inspiration.
“Most wise among you”
Hebrew Word:
ḥāḵām (חָכָם) – wise, skillful, learned Commonly applied to sages, priests, or skilled artisans of the tabernacle (cf. Exodus 35:10)
Greek Word:
sophos (σοφός) – wise, skilled in letters or theology Used in 1 Corinthians 1:20 to contrast worldly wisdom with divine foolishness.
Insight: This challenge exposes the limits of unaided human intellect. No degree of learning can fabricate divine utterance.
“Justified”
Greek Word:
dikaioō (δικαιόω) – to be declared righteous or legally acquitted Used in Romans 3:24: “Being justified freely by his grace…”
Insight: Justification here is conditional. Only if one could replicate divine words would doubt be legally and spiritually justifiable.
“Righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights”
Phrase from: James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights...”
Greek Word for “righteous”:
dikaios (δίκαιος) – just, upright, approved of God
Greek Phrase:
patēr tōn phōtōn (πατὴρ τῶν φώτων) – Father of lights Symbol of divine purity, source of celestial light, life, and enlightenment, echoing Genesis creation themes, particularly the 4th day of Creation (Genesis 1:3-5, and 14-19.)
Insight: “Righteousness” isn’t simply moral correctness—it’s divine origin. What is truly right descends from above, not generated below.
Reflection Questions
How do I respond when divine revelation comes through imperfect means?
Do I allow questions about style or presentation to interfere with recognizing spiritual truth?
In what ways can I bear record of divine truths I’ve received, even if others doubt?
Additional Cross-References & Study Links
Isaiah 55:8–11 (BLB) – God’s thoughts and words higher than man’s; His word shall not return void.
1 Corinthians 2:13–14 (BLB) – Spiritual truths are spiritually discerned.
2 Nephi 33:10–11 (LDS.org) – “If ye shall believe in Christ ye shall believe in these words…”D&C 1:24 (LDS.org) – The Lord speaks in “their weakness, after the manner of their language.”General Conference: D. Todd Christofferson, “The Doctrine of Christ,” April 2012
D&C 67:10–14 — Humility and Quickening Precede the Vision of God