Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 71–75

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Ever since he was a boy, Joseph Smith faced critics—even enemies—as he tried to do God’s work. But it must have been particularly difficult in late 1831 when Ezra Booth began publicly berating the Church, because in this case the critic was a former believer. Ezra had seen Joseph use God’s power to heal a woman. He had been invited to accompany Joseph on the first survey of the land of Zion in Missouri. But he had since lost his faith and, in an attempt to discredit the Prophet, published a series of letters in an Ohio newspaper. And his efforts seemed to be working, because “unfriendly feelings … had developed against the Church” in the area (Doctrine and Covenants 71, section heading). What should believers do in a case like that? While there is not one right answer for every situation, it seems that often—including in this case in 1831—part of the Lord’s answer is to declare the truth and correct falsehoods by “proclaiming [the] gospel” (verse 1). Yes, the Lord’s work will always have critics, but in the end, “no weapon that is formed against [it] shall prosper” (verse 9).

D&C 71: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of letters written by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.

D&C 72: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, December 4, 1831. Several elders and members had assembled to learn their duty and to be further edified in the teachings of the Church. This section is a compilation of three revelations received on the same day. Verses 1 through 8 make known the calling of Newel K. Whitney as a bishop. He was then called and ordained, after which verses 9 through 23 were received, giving additional information as to a bishop’s duties. Thereafter, verses 24 through 26 were given, providing instructions concerning the gathering to Zion.

D&C 73: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, January 10, 1832. Since the early part of the preceding December, the Prophet and Sidney had been engaged in preaching, and by this means much was accomplished in diminishing the unfavorable feelings that had arisen against the Church (see the heading to section 71).

D&C 74: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Wayne County, New York, in 1830. Even before the organization of the Church, questions had arisen about the proper mode of baptism, leading the Prophet to seek answers on the subject. Joseph Smith’s history states that this revelation is an explanation of 1 Corinthians 7:14, a scripture that had often been used to justify infant baptism.

D&C 75: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Amherst, Ohio, January 25, 1832. This section comprises two separate revelations (the first in verses 1 through 22 and the second in verses 23 through 36) given on the same day. The occasion was a conference at which Joseph Smith was sustained and ordained President of the High Priesthood. Certain elders desired to learn more about their immediate duties. These revelations followed.

Elder Quentin L. Cook taught, “The influence of the Holy Ghost most often accompanies individual scripture study and prayer in the home” (“Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 10).

D&C 71: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of letters written by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.

D&C 72: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, December 4, 1831. Several elders and members had assembled to learn their duty and to be further edified in the teachings of the Church. This section is a compilation of three revelations received on the same day. Verses 1 through 8 make known the calling of Newel K. Whitney as a bishop. He was then called and ordained, after which verses 9 through 23 were received, giving additional information as to a bishop’s duties. Thereafter, verses 24 through 26 were given, providing instructions concerning the gathering to Zion.

D&C 73: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, January 10, 1832. Since the early part of the preceding December, the Prophet and Sidney had been engaged in preaching, and by this means much was accomplished in diminishing the unfavorable feelings that had arisen against the Church (see the heading to section 71).

D&C 74: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Wayne County, New York, in 1830. Even before the organization of the Church, questions had arisen about the proper mode of baptism, leading the Prophet to seek answers on the subject. Joseph Smith’s history states that this revelation is an explanation of 1 Corinthians 7:14, a scripture that had often been used to justify infant baptism.

D&C 75: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Amherst, Ohio, January 25, 1832. This section comprises two separate revelations (the first in verses 1 through 22 and the second in verses 23 through 36) given on the same day. The occasion was a conference at which Joseph Smith was sustained and ordained President of the High Priesthood. Certain elders desired to learn more about their immediate duties. These revelations followed.

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)
•   “Let Us All Press On,” Hymns, no. 243.

• Newel K. Whitney and the United Firm, Revelations in Context
• Ezra Booth and Isaac Morley, Revelations in Context
• Section 71, “If Any Man Lift His Voice against You”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 150–51
• Chapter 26: Doctrine and Covenants 71–75, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
• Section 72, Duties of a Bishop, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 151–53
• Section 73, Revision of the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 153–54
• Section 74, Little Children Are Holy, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 155
• “I Quit Other Business”: Early Missionaries, Revelations in Context
• Section 75, “Neither Be Idle but Labor with Your Might”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 156–58
•   Overcoming Opposition – Doctrine and Covenants 71–75, Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants

Resources on Interpreter Foundation

•   Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 27: D&C 71–75, Jonn Claybaugh
•     Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 27 (D&C 71–75)

Resources on Other Sites

•   Doctrine and Covenants 71-75 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
•     Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 71-75, Jun 28-Jul 4), Book of Mormon Central
•   Section 71, 73, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 72, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 74, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 75, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•     Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 71-75, June 28-July 4), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 71-75, Jun 28-Jul 4), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 71-75, Jun 28-Jul 4), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 71-75, Jun 28-Jul 4), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 71-75, June 28 – July 4), Book of Mormon Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 71, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 72, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 73, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 74, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 75, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•     Doctrine and Covenants 71 & 73, with Scott Woodward, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•     Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 71-75 (June 28-July 4) Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
•     Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 71-75: “No Weapon…Shall Prosper”, Unshaken
•   Come Follow Me for Sunday School: “No Weapon That Is Formed Against You Shall Prosper”, Doctrine & Covenants 71-75, Meridian Magazine
•     Come, Follow Me Podcast #27: “No Weapon That Is Formed against You Shall Prosper”, Doctrine & Covenants 71-75, Meridian Magazine
•   Doctrine and Covenants 71 to 75 – “No Weapon That Is Formed against You Shall Prosper”, BYU Studies