Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 129–132
Detail from Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, 1840, by Theodore Gorka
Through Joseph Smith, the Lord took some of the mystery out of eternity. The greatness of God, the glory of heaven, and the vastness of eternity can seem almost familiar in the light of the restored gospel, even to finite minds like ours. The revelations in Doctrine and Covenants 129–32 are a good example. What is God like? He “has a body … as tangible as man’s.” What is heaven like? “That same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22, 2). In fact, one of the most joyous truths about heaven is that it can include our cherished family relationships, if sealed by the proper authority. Truths like these can make heaven feel less distant—glorious yet reachable.
But then, sometimes God may ask us to do things that seem uncomfortable and unreachable. For many early Saints, plural marriage was one such commandment. It was a severe trial of faith for Joseph Smith, his wife Emma, and almost everyone who received it. To make it through this trial, they needed more than just favorable feelings about the restored gospel; they needed faith in God that went far deeper than that. The commandment no longer stands today, but the faithful example of people who lived it still does. And this example inspires us when we are asked to make our own “sacrifices in obedience” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:50).
D&C 129: Instructions given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, February 9, 1843, making known three grand keys by which the correct nature of ministering angels and spirits may be distinguished.
D&C 130: Items of instruction given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Ramus, Illinois, April 2, 1843.
D&C 131: Instructions by Joseph Smith the Prophet, given at Ramus, Illinois, May 16 and 17, 1843.
D&C 132: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant and the principle of plural marriage. Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, evidence indicates that some of the principles involved in this revelation were known by the Prophet as early as 1831. See Official Declaration 1.
- 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
Sections 129–32 teach many precious principles, only a few of which are highlighted in this outline. What other truths do you find?
D&C 129: Instructions given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, February 9, 1843, making known three grand keys by which the correct nature of ministering angels and spirits may be distinguished.
D&C 130: Items of instruction given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Ramus, Illinois, April 2, 1843.
D&C 131: Instructions by Joseph Smith the Prophet, given at Ramus, Illinois, May 16 and 17, 1843.
D&C 132: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant and the principle of plural marriage. Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, evidence indicates that some of the principles involved in this revelation were known by the Prophet as early as 1831. See Official Declaration 1.
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)
- “Families Can Be Together Forever,” Children’s Songbook, 188.
- “Our Hearts Rejoiced to Hear Him Speak”, Revelations in Context
- Chapter 50: Doctrine and Covenants 129–30, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Chapter 51: Doctrine and Covenants 131; 132:1–33, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Mercy Thompson and the Revelation on Marriage, Revelations in Context
- Section 129, Keys for Determining If Administrations Are from God, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 319–21
- Section 130, Items of Instruction, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 321–24
- Section 131, Keys to Exaltation, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 324–26
- Section 132, Marriage: An Eternal Covenant, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 327–34
- Chapter 52: Doctrine and Covenants 132:34–66; Official Declaration 1, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
Resources on Interpreter Foundation
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 46: D&C 129–132, Jonn Claybaugh
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 46 (D&C 129–132)
Additional Posts & Roundtables on the Interpreter Foundation Website
- Interpreter Radio Show — July 22, 2018, Administration, August 9, 2018
- “The Kingdoms of Glory”: D&C 76; 131; 132:19-24; 137, Taylor Halverson, December 7, 2013
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 20, "The Kingdoms of Glory", Administration, June 16, 2017
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 31, "Sealed … for Time and for All Eternity", Administration, July 6, 2017
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42, Continuing Revelation to Latter-day Prophets, Administration, October 12, 2013
- Scripture Roundtable: Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 7, The Abrahamic Covenant, Administration, January 28, 2014
Articles in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship
- A Compelling Case for Theosis, John C. Hancock, September 14, 2018
- Hagar in LDS Scripture and Thought, Andrew C. Smith, January 10, 2014
- Joseph Smith and the Doctrine of Sealing, A. Keith Thompson, July 8, 2016
- Much More than a Plural Marriage Revelation, Craig L. Foster, July 20, 2018
- Seers and Stones: The Translation of the Book of Mormon as Divine Visions of an Old-Time Seer, Stan Spencer, March 10, 2017
- The Case of the Missing Commentary, Brian C. Hales, July 20, 2018
- “Thou Art the Fruit of My Loins”: The Interrelated Symbolism and Meanings of the Names Joseph and Ephraim in Ancient Scripture,, Matthew L. Bowen, January 0, 1900
Resources on Other Sites
- Come, Follow Me Week 46 – Doctrine and Covenants 129-132, FAIR
- Come, Follow Me Week 46 – Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 (additional post), FAIR
- Section 129, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 130, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 131, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 122, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 129-132, November 8-14, Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 129-132, Nov 8-14), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 129-132, November 8-14), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 129-132, Nov 8-14), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 125-132, November 8-14), Book of Mormon Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 129, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 130, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 131, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 132, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Week 46a (D&C 129-132, Nov 8-14), Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Week 46b (D&C 132, Nov 8-14), Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine and Covenants 131, with Scott Woodward, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 (Nov. 8-14) Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 129-131: “The New & Everlasting Covenant” (part 1 of 2), Unshaken
- Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 132: “The New & Everlasting Covenant” (part 2 of 2), Unshaken
- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “When We Obtain Any Blessing from God, It Is by Obedience”, Sections 129-132, Meridian Magazine
- Come Follow Me Podcast #46: “When We Obtain Any Blessing it is from God”, Doctrine and Covenants 129-132, Meridian Magazine
- November 8–14, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
- Doctrine and Covenants 129 to 132 – “When We Obtain Any Blessing from God, It Is by Obedience”, BYU Studies