Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 81–83

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In March 1832, the Lord called Jesse Gause to be a counselor to Joseph Smith in the Presidency of the High Priesthood (now called the First Presidency). Doctrine and Covenants 81 is a revelation to Brother Gause about his new calling. But Jesse Gause did not serve faithfully, so Frederick G. Williams was called to replace him. Brother Williams’s name replaced Brother Gause’s name in the revelation.

That may seem like a minor detail, but it implies a significant truth: most revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are addressed to specific people, but we can always seek ways to apply them to ourselves (see 1 Nephi 19:23). When we read the Lord’s counsel to Frederick G. Williams to “strengthen the feeble knees,” we can think of people we might strengthen (Doctrine and Covenants 81:5). When we read the Lord’s invitation to members of the United Firm to “bind yourselves by this covenant,” we can think of our own covenants. And we can read His promise, “I … am bound when ye do what I say,” as if He’s speaking to us (Doctrine and Covenants 82:10, 15). We can do this because, as the Lord declared, “What I say unto one I say unto all” (verse 5).

D&C 81: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, March 15, 1832. Frederick G. Williams is called to be a high priest and a counselor in the Presidency of the High Priesthood. The historical records show that when this revelation was received in March 1832, it called Jesse Gause to the office of counselor to Joseph Smith in the Presidency. However, when he failed to continue in a manner consistent with this appointment, the call was subsequently transferred to Frederick G. Williams. The revelation (dated March 1832) should be regarded as a step toward the formal organization of the First Presidency, specifically calling for the office of counselor in that body and explaining the dignity of the appointment. Brother Gause served for a time but was excommunicated from the Church in December 1832. Brother Williams was ordained to the specified office on March 18, 1833.

D&C 82: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, April 26, 1832. The occasion was a council of high priests and elders of the Church. At the council, Joseph Smith was sustained as the President of the High Priesthood, to which office he had previously been ordained at a conference of high priests, elders, and members, at Amherst, Ohio, January 25, 1832 (see the heading to section 75). This revelation reiterates instructions given in an earlier revelation (section 78) to establish a firm—known as the United Firm (under Joseph Smith’s direction, the term “order” later replaced “firm”)—to govern the Church’s mercantile and publishing endeavors.

D&C 83: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Independence, Missouri, April 30, 1832. This revelation was received as the Prophet sat in council with his brethren.

As you study Doctrine and Covenants 81–83, make note of principles that can help you do good among your family, your friends, and others.

D&C 81: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, March 15, 1832. Frederick G. Williams is called to be a high priest and a counselor in the Presidency of the High Priesthood. The historical records show that when this revelation was received in March 1832, it called Jesse Gause to the office of counselor to Joseph Smith in the Presidency. However, when he failed to continue in a manner consistent with this appointment, the call was subsequently transferred to Frederick G. Williams. The revelation (dated March 1832) should be regarded as a step toward the formal organization of the First Presidency, specifically calling for the office of counselor in that body and explaining the dignity of the appointment. Brother Gause served for a time but was excommunicated from the Church in December 1832. Brother Williams was ordained to the specified office on March 18, 1833.

D&C 82: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, April 26, 1832. The occasion was a council of high priests and elders of the Church. At the council, Joseph Smith was sustained as the President of the High Priesthood, to which office he had previously been ordained at a conference of high priests, elders, and members, at Amherst, Ohio, January 25, 1832 (see the heading to section 75). This revelation reiterates instructions given in an earlier revelation (section 78) to establish a firm—known as the United Firm (under Joseph Smith’s direction, the term “order” later replaced “firm”)—to govern the Church’s mercantile and publishing endeavors.

D&C 83: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Independence, Missouri, April 30, 1832. This revelation was received as the Prophet sat in council with his brethren.

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 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; see also “Ideas to Improve Your Family Scripture Study.”

•   Our Work Is to Go About Doing Good, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Gordon B. Hinckley
• Jesse Gause: Counselor to the Prophet, Revelations in Context
• Section 81, The Call of Frederick G. Williams, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 175–77
• Chapter 30: Doctrine and Covenants 81–83, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
• Newel K. Whitney and the United Firm, Revelations in Context
•   An Eye Single to the Glory of God, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, Elder Russell M. Nelson
•   The Lord Is Bound, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, Elder David A. Bednar
• Section 82, “I, the Lord, Am Bound When Ye Do What I Say”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 177–79
• Section 83, The Laws of the Church Concerning Widos and Orphans, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 179–80
•   Ministering to Our Fellow Travelers – Doctrine and Covenants 81–83, Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants

Resources on Interpreter Foundation

•   Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 30: D&C 81–83, Jonn Claybaugh
•     Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 30 (D&C 81–83)

Resources on Other Sites

•   Doctrine and Covenants 81-83 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
•   Section 81, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 82, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 83, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•     Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 81-83, July 19 – 25), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 81-83, Jul 19-25), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 81-83, Jul 19-25), Book of Mormon Central
•   Why Did Rebecca Swain Williams Defend the Book of Mormon?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #612
•     Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 81-83, July 19-25), Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 81, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 82, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 83, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•     Doctrine and Covenants 82, with Scott Woodward, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•     Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 81-83 (July 19-25) Don’t Miss This, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•     Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 81-83: “Much Given, Much Required”, Unshaken
•   Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “Where Much Is Given Much Is Required”, Doctrine and Covenants 81-83, Meridian Magazine
•     Come Follow Me Podcast #30: Sections 81-83—”Where ‘Much is Required’”, Meridian Magazine
•     July 19-25, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
•   Doctrine and Covenants 81 to 83 – Where “Much Is Given Much Is Required”, BYU Studies