Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 58–59

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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.”

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 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)

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