D&C 93: Word Studies (3)
Section 93 Word Studies
D&C 93 Word Studies
Complete Etymology and Linguistic Analysis Following Constitution v6.1
PRIMARY TERMS FROM D&C 93 (ALPHABETICAL)
Beginning (D&C 93:7, 8, 21, 23, 29)
Hebrew: רֵאשִׁית (reshit) — “beginning, first, chief”
Latin: principium — “beginning, origin, foundation”
Etymology: beginning — “Old English beginnan, to begin, start”
Webster 1828: beginning — “The first cause; origin; that from which a thing proceeds”
Cross-References:
Genesis 1:1 — “In the beginning God created”
John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word”
Abraham 3:18 — “If there be two spirits”
Significance: The premortal existence and eternal nature of Christ and intelligence
Elements (D&C 93:33)
Greek: στοιχεῖον (stoicheion) — “element, fundamental principle”
Latin: elementum — “element, first principle, matter”
Etymology: element — “c. 1300, from Latin elementum, rudiment, first principle”
Webster 1828: element — “The first or constituent principle or minutest part of any thing”
Cross-References:
2 Peter 3:10 — “The elements shall melt with fervent heat”
D&C 131:7-8 — “All spirit is matter”
D&C 88:15-16 — “Spirit and body is the soul”
Significance: Eternal nature of matter; physical and spiritual components necessary for fulness
Firstborn (D&C 93:21-22)
Greek: πρωτότοκος (prototokos) — “firstborn, preeminent”
Latin: primogenitus — “firstborn, eldest”
Etymology: firstborn — “Old English, first + born”
Webster 1828: firstborn — “First brought forth; eldest; most excellent”
Cross-References:
Colossians 1:15 — “The firstborn of every creature”
Hebrews 1:6 — “He bringeth in the firstbegotten”
D&C 76:24 — “Begotten sons unto God”
Significance: Christ’s preeminence in the Father’s spiritual family
Forsaketh (D&C 93:1)
Latin: derelinquo — “to abandon, forsake, leave behind”
Etymology: forsake — “Old English forsacan, to refuse, reject, deny”
Webster 1828: forsake — “To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart from”
Cross-References:
Matthew 19:29 — “Every one that hath forsaken houses”
2 Timothy 4:16 — “All men forsook me”
Alma 5:57 — “Come ye out from the wicked”
Significance: Complete abandonment of sin as prerequisite for seeing Christ’s face
Glory (D&C 93:6, 7, 15, 22, 26, 36)
Hebrew: כָּבוֹד (kabod) — “glory, honor, abundance, splendor”
Latin: gloria — “glory, fame, renown”
Etymology: glory — “c. 1200, from Old French glorie, splendor, magnificence”
Webster 1828: glory — “Brightness, luster, splendor; honor, praise, or distinction”
Cross-References:
Significance: The divine radiance and honor; synonymous with intelligence in D&C 93:36
Grace (D&C 93:12, 13, 20)
Latin: gratia — “favor, goodwill, grace”
Etymology: grace — “c. 1200, from Old French grace”
Webster 1828: grace — “Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another”
Cross-References:
2 Nephi 25:23 — “By grace we are saved”
Ephesians 2:8 — “By grace are ye saved through faith”
2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient”
Significance: Divine enabling power that helps us progress spiritually; Christ received “grace for grace”
Inheritance (D&C 93:45)
Hebrew: נַחֲלָה (nachalah) — “inheritance, heritage, possession”
Greek: κληρονομία (kleronomia) — “inheritance, heritage”
Latin: hereditas — “inheritance, heritage”
Etymology: inheritance — “late 14c., from Old French enheritance”
Webster 1828: inheritance — “An estate derived from an ancestor; that which is possessed or enjoyed”
Cross-References:
1 Peter 1:4 — “An inheritance incorruptible”
Ephesians 1:11 — “We have obtained an inheritance”
D&C 84:38 — “All that my Father hath shall be given”
Significance: The eternal blessings and glory promised to the faithful as friends of Christ
Intelligence (D&C 93:29, 30, 36)
Hebrew: בִּינָה (binah) — “understanding, discernment, insight”
Latin: intelligentia — “understanding, comprehension”
Etymology: intelligence — “Late 14c., from Latin intelligentia”
Webster 1828: intelligence — “The faculty of understanding; superior powers of mind”
Cross-References:
Abraham 3:18-19 — “Intelligence is eternal”
D&C 88:40 — “Intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence”
D&C 130:18-19 — “Intelligence is the glory of God”
Significance: The eternal, uncreated essence of conscious beings; capacity for understanding and moral agency
Keepeth (D&C 93:1)
Latin: servo — “to keep, preserve, maintain”
Etymology: keep — “Old English cepan, to seize, hold, observe”
Webster 1828: keep — “To hold; to retain in one’s power or possession; to preserve”
Cross-References:
John 14:15 — “If ye love me, keep my commandments”
Revelation 3:10 — “Thou hast kept the word of my patience”
D&C 42:61 — “Keep the commandments and ye shall receive”
Significance: Active, continuous obedience as gateway to revelation
Light (D&C 93:2, 9, 16, 28, 37, 40, 42)
Latin: lux — “light, brightness, illumination”
Etymology: light — “Old English leoht, brightness, daylight”
Webster 1828: light — “That agent or force in nature by which objects are rendered visible to the eye”
Cross-References:
1 John 1:5 — “God is light”
John 8:12 — “I am the light of the world”
D&C 88:6-13 — “Light of Christ”
Significance: Divine illumination and the influence of Christ that gives life and understanding to all creation
Redeemed (D&C 93:38)
Hebrew: גָּאַל (ga’al) — “to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer”
Latin: redimo — “to buy back, redeem, rescue”
Etymology: redeem — “early 15c., from Latin redimere, buy back”
Webster 1828: redeem — “To purchase back; to liberate from captivity or bondage”
Cross-References:
Galatians 3:13 — “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse”
1 Peter 1:18-19 — “Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ”
Mosiah 15:9 — “Having redeemed them”
Significance: Christ’s role in purchasing our freedom from sin through His atonement
Tabernacle (D&C 93:4, 35)
Hebrew: מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan) — “dwelling place, sanctuary”
Latin: tabernaculum — “tent, booth, temporary dwelling”
Etymology: tabernacle — “c. 1200, from Latin tabernaculum, tent”
Webster 1828: tabernacle — “A temporary habitation; the human body as the temporary abode of the soul”
Cross-References:
2 Corinthians 5:1 — “Earthly house of this tabernacle”
1 Corinthians 3:16 — “Ye are the temple of God”
D&C 93:35 — “Man is the tabernacle of God, even temples”
Significance: Physical body as sacred dwelling place for spirit; temple of God
Temples (D&C 93:35)
Latin: templum — “temple, sacred place”
Etymology: temple — “Old English tempel, from Latin templum”
Webster 1828: temple — “An edifice erected to a deity and consecrated to religious uses”
Cross-References:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 — “Ye are the temple of God”
1 Corinthians 6:19 — “Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost”
D&C 124:38 — “Build a house to my name”
Significance: Human bodies as sacred dwellings of God, deserving reverence and care
Tradition (D&C 93:39)
Hebrew: מָסֹרֶת (masoret) — “tradition, teaching handed down”
Greek: παράδοσις (paradosis) — “tradition, teaching transmitted”
Latin: traditio — “handing over, tradition”
Etymology: tradition — “late 14c., from Latin traditio, a handing down”
Webster 1828: tradition — “Delivery; the act of delivering into the hands of another”
Cross-References:
Mark 7:8 — “Laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men”
Colossians 2:8 — “After the tradition of men”
Alma 3:8 — “Traditions of their fathers”
Significance: False teachings passed down that lead children away from light and truth
Translate (D&C 93:53)
Hebrew: תִּרְגֵּם (tirgem) — “to translate, interpret”
Greek: μεθερμηνεύω (methermeneuo) — “to translate, interpret”
Latin: transfero — “to carry across, translate”
Etymology: translate — “early 14c., from Latin translatus, carried across”
Webster 1828: translate — “To bear, carry or remove from one place to another”
Cross-References:
2 Samuel 3:10 — “To translate the kingdom”
Colossians 1:13 — “Translated us into the kingdom”
D&C 45:60-61 — “New Translation of scriptures”
Significance: Joseph Smith’s divine commission to restore plain and precious truths through inspired translation
Truth (D&C 93:24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 36, 39)
Latin: veritas — “truth, reality, fact”
Etymology: truth — “Old English trewth, faithfulness, quality of being true”
Webster 1828: truth — “Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be”
Cross-References:
John 14:6 — “I am the way, the truth, and the life”
John 17:17 — “Thy word is truth”
D&C 88:40 — “Intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence”
Significance: Truth is defined as “knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come” - eternal, unchanging reality
Word (D&C 93:8-10)
Latin: verbum — “word, expression, saying”
Etymology: word — “Old English word, speech, statement, promise”
Webster 1828: word — “The express declaration of the mind; the Logos or divine intelligence”
Cross-References:
John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word”
John 1:14 — “The Word was made flesh”
Revelation 19:13 — “His name is called The Word of God”
Significance: Christ as the divine Logos, the creative and revealing expression of God
Word Study Summary for D&C 93
This section reveals profound vocabulary related to:
Covenant progression: forsaketh, keepeth, redeemed
Divine nature: Word, Firstborn, Light, Truth
Eternal principles: Intelligence, Elements, Beginning
Sacred space: Tabernacle, Temples
Spiritual development: Grace, Tradition, Inheritance
Prophetic calling: Translate
Each term builds understanding of Christ’s nature and our eternal potential as described in this pivotal revelation about light, truth, and the eternal nature of intelligence.