Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 85–87

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Christmas Day is usually a time to ponder messages like “peace on earth” (see Luke 2:14). But on December 25, 1832, Joseph Smith’s mind was occupied with the threat of war. The state of South Carolina in the United States had just defied the government and was preparing for battle. And the Lord revealed that this was only the beginning: “War,” He declared, “will be poured out upon all nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:2). It seemed like this prophecy would be fulfilled very soon.

But then it wasn’t. Within a few weeks, South Carolina and the United States government reached a compromise, and war was averted. Prophecy, however, is not always fulfilled at the time or in the way we expect. Nearly 30 years later, long after Joseph Smith was martyred, South Carolina rebelled and civil war followed. Today, war throughout the world continues to cause “the earth [to] mourn” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:6). The value of this revelation is less in predicting when calamity will come and more in teaching what to do when it comes. The counsel is the same in 1831, 1861, and 2025: “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved” (verse 8).

D&C 85: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, November 27, 1832. This section is an extract from a letter of the Prophet to William W. Phelps, who was living in Independence, Missouri. It answers questions about those Saints who had moved to Zion but who had not followed the commandment to consecrate their properties and had thus not received their inheritances according to the established order in the Church.

D&C 86: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, December 6, 1832. This revelation was received while the Prophet was reviewing and editing the manuscript of the translation of the Bible.

D&C 87: Revelation and prophecy on war, given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at or near Kirtland, Ohio, December 25, 1832. At this time disputes in the United States over slavery and South Carolina’s nullification of federal tariffs were prevalent. Joseph Smith’s history states that “appearances of troubles among the nations” were becoming “more visible” to the Prophet “than they had previously been since the Church began her journey out of the wilderness.”

The Spirit may lead you to study principles in sections 85–87 that are not highlighted in this outline. Follow His promptings.

D&C 85: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, November 27, 1832. This section is an extract from a letter of the Prophet to William W. Phelps, who was living in Independence, Missouri. It answers questions about those Saints who had moved to Zion but who had not followed the commandment to consecrate their properties and had thus not received their inheritances according to the established order in the Church.

D&C 86: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, December 6, 1832. This revelation was received while the Prophet was reviewing and editing the manuscript of the translation of the Bible.

D&C 87: Revelation and prophecy on war, given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at or near Kirtland, Ohio, December 25, 1832. At this time disputes in the United States over slavery and South Carolina’s nullification of federal tariffs were prevalent. Joseph Smith’s history states that “appearances of troubles among the nations” were becoming “more visible” to the Prophet “than they had previously been since the Church began her journey out of the wilderness.”

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)
•   “Where Love Is,” Children’s Songbook, 138–39.

• Section 85, Those Who Put Their Hands “to Steady the Ark”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 186–88
• Chapter 32: Doctrine and Covenants 85–87, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
• Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation, Revelations in Context
• Section 86, The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 189–92
• Peace and War, Revelations in Context
• Section 87, War in the Last Days, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 192–96
•   Prophecy of War, Prescription for Peace – Doctrine and Covenants 87, Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants

Resources on Interpreter Foundation

•   Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 32: D&C 85–87, Jonn Claybaugh
•     Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 32 (D&C 85–87)

Resources on Other Sites

•   Doctrine and Covenants 85-87 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
•   Section 85, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 86, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 87, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•     Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 85-87, August 2-8), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 85-87, August 2-8), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 85-87, Aug 2-8), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 85-87, August 2-8), Book of Mormon Central
•     Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 85-87, Aug 2-8), Book of Mormon Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 85, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 86, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 87, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•     Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 85-87 (Aug. 2-8) Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
•     Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 85-87: “Wheat & Tares”, Unshaken
•   Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “Stand Ye in Holy Places”, Doctrine and Covenants 85-87, Meridian Magazine
•     Come Follow Me Podcast #32: “Stand Ye in Holy Places”, Doctrine and Covenants 85-87, Meridian Magazine
•     August 2–8, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
•   Doctrine and Covenants 85 to 87 – “Stand Ye in Holy Places”, BYU Studies