Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 58–59
Independence, Missouri, 1831, by Al Rounds
When the elders of the Church first saw the site of the city of Zion—Independence, Missouri—it was not what they expected. Some thought they would find a thriving, industrious community with a strong group of Saints. Instead, they found a sparsely populated outpost, lacking the civilization they were used to and inhabited by rough frontier settlers rather than Saints. It turned out that the Lord wasn’t asking them just to come to Zion—He wanted them to build Zion.
When our expectations do not match reality, we can remember what the Lord told the Saints in 1831: “Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God … and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:3). Yes, life is full of tribulation, even wickedness, but we can still “bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in [us]” (verses 27–28).
D&C 58: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, August 1, 1831. Earlier, on the first Sabbath after the arrival of the Prophet and his party in Jackson County, Missouri, a religious service had been held, and two members had been received by baptism. During that week, some of the Colesville Saints from the Thompson Branch and others arrived (see section 54). Many were eager to learn the will of the Lord concerning them in the new place of gathering.
D&C 59: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, August 7, 1831. Preceding this revelation, the land was consecrated, as the Lord had directed, and the site for the future temple was dedicated. On the day this revelation was received, Polly Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight Sr., died, the first Church member to die in Zion. Early members characterized this revelation as “instructing the Saints how to keep the sabbath and how to fast and pray.”
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 19: D&C 46–48, Jonn Claybaugh
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 19 (D&C 46–48)
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 15, "Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts", Administration, March 20, 2017
- Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- “Have I Done Any Good?” Hymns, no. 223.
- Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation, Revelations in Context
- Gifts of the Spirit Come to the Obedient, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Section 46, “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 98–102
- Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts, Revelations in Context
- Chapter 18: Doctrine and Covenants 46–49, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Section 47, The Importance of Church Records, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 102–3
- The Book of John Whitmer, Revelations in Context
- Section 48, Ohio: A Temporary Abode, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 103–4
- “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance”, Elder Richard G. Scott, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 8
- 1 Corinthians 12:1–11
- 3 Nephi 18:22–23
- Moroni 6:5–9
- “Welcome”
- “Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts” , Revelations in Context, 105–11
- “Gifts of the Spirit”, Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Feb. 2002, 16
- “Spiritual Gifts”, Gospel Topics
- 2 Nephi 29:11–12
- Moses 6:5
- Abraham 1:28, 31
- “There Shall Be a Record Kept among You” , Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy, Ensign, Dec. 2007, 28, 33
- “Have I Done Any Good?”, Hymns, no. 223
- Doctrine and Covenants 46-48 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
- Section 46, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 47, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 48, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Why Did John Whitmer Continue to Testify of the Book of Mormon?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #602
- Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 46 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 47 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 48 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine and Covenants 46-48 (May 3-9) Come Follow Me Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 46-48: “The Best Gifts”, Unshaken
- Come, Follow Me Podcast #19: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, Meridian Magazine
- May 3-9, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
- Doctrine and Covenants 46 to 48 –“Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, BYU Studies
President Dallin H. Oaks taught, “The scriptures will help us resolve all of our personal questions because by reading them we invite and qualify ourselves for the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, which will guide us into all truth” (in David A. Edwards, “Are My Answers in There?” New Era, May 2016, 42).
D&C 58: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, August 1, 1831. Earlier, on the first Sabbath after the arrival of the Prophet and his party in Jackson County, Missouri, a religious service had been held, and two members had been received by baptism. During that week, some of the Colesville Saints from the Thompson Branch and others arrived (see section 54). Many were eager to learn the will of the Lord concerning them in the new place of gathering.
D&C 59: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, August 7, 1831. Preceding this revelation, the land was consecrated, as the Lord had directed, and the site for the future temple was dedicated. On the day this revelation was received, Polly Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight Sr., died, the first Church member to die in Zion. Early members characterized this revelation as “instructing the Saints how to keep the sabbath and how to fast and pray.”
Resources on ChurchofJesusChrist.org
- Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- “Choose the Right,” Hymns, no. 239.
- Chapter 21: Doctrine and Covenants 57–58, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- The Center Place, Revelations in Context
- Ezra Booth and Isaac Morley, Revelations in Context
- Section 58, The Land of Zion, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 119–24
- The Journey of the Colesville Branch, Revelations in Context
- Upon My Holy Day, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
- Section 59, “That Thou Mayest More Fully Keep Theyself Unspotted from the World”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 124–29
Resources Mentioned in the Lesson Manual
- “Are My Answers in There?”, President Dallin H. Oaks in David A. Edwards, New Era, May 2016, 42
- Saints, 1:127–33
- Doctrine and Covenants 105:9
- Genesis 2:2–3
- Exodus 20:8–11
- Exodus 31:13, 16
- Deuteronomy 5:12–15
- Isaiah 58:13–14
- Mark 2:27
- John 20:1–19
- Acts 20:7
- sabbath.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
- “The Sabbath Is a Delight”, Russell M. Nelson, Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 129–32
- “Sabbath”, Bible Dictionary
- “Choose the Right”, Hymns, no. 239
Resources on Interpreter Foundation
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 22: D&C 58–59, Jonn Claybaugh
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 22 (D&C 58–59)
Additional Posts & Roundtables on the Interpreter Foundation Website
- “Being Good Citizens” D&C 58:21-22, 26-28; D&C 98:4-10; 134; Articles of Faith 1:12, Taylor Halverson, October 13, 2013
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 16, "Thou Shalt … Offer Up Thy Sacraments upon My Holy Day", Administration, March 26, 2017
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 17, "The Law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast", Administration, March 26, 2017
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 22, "The Word of Wisdom", Administration, June 16, 2017
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 44, Being Good Citizens, Administration, October 12, 2013
Articles in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship
- “How long can rolling waters remain impure?”: Literary Aspects of the Doctrine and Covenants, Richard Dilworth Rust, October 6, 2017
Resources on Other Sites
- Doctrine and Covenants 58-59 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
- Section 58, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 59, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 58-59, May 24-30), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 58-59, May 24-30), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 58-59, May 24-30), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 58-59, May 24-30), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 58-59, May 24-30), Book of Mormon Central
- Why Did Oliver Cowdery Come Back to the Church?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #605
- Doctrine & Covenants 58, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 59, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Week 22-24 (D&C 58, 63, 65, May 24-30), Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine and Covenants 58, with Scott Woodward, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine and Covenants 58-59 (May 24-30) Come Follow Me Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 58-59: “Anxiously Engaged”, Unshaken
- Come Follow Me Podcast #22: “Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”, Doctrine and Covenants 58-59, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”, Doctrine & Covenants 58-59, Meridian Magazine
- Doctrine and Covenants 58 to 59 – “Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”, BYU Studies