Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 115–120

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There was reason for the Saints to be optimistic about their newest gathering place, Far West, Missouri. The city was growing rapidly, the land seemed abundant, and nearby was Adam-ondi-Ahman, a place of great spiritual significance in the past and in the future (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:53–56; 116). Still, it must have been hard for the Saints not to think about what they had lost. Besides being driven from Independence, the center place of Zion, the Saints also had to flee Kirtland, leaving their beloved temple after only two years. And this time it wasn’t just enemies outside the Church causing trouble—many prominent members had turned against Joseph Smith, including four members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Instead of focusing on what they lost, the faithful just kept building Zion, this time in Far West. They made plans for a new temple. Four new Apostles were called. They understood that doing God’s work doesn’t mean you never fall; it means you “rise again.” And though you’ll have to make sacrifices, those sacrifices are sacred to God, even “more sacred … than [your] increase” (Doctrine and Covenants 117:13).

D&C 115: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, April 26, 1838, making known the will of God concerning the building up of that place and of the Lord’s house. This revelation is addressed to the presiding officers and the members of the Church.

D&C 116: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, near Wight’s Ferry, at a place called Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri, May 19, 1838.

D&C 117: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, concerning the immediate duties of William Marks, Newel K. Whitney, and Oliver Granger.

D&C 118: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, in response to the supplication, “Show us thy will, O Lord, concerning the Twelve.”

D&C 119: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, in answer to his supplication: “O Lord! Show unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing.” The law of tithing, as understood today, had not been given to the Church previous to this revelation. The term tithing in the prayer just quoted and in previous revelations (64:23; 85:3; 97:11) had meant not just one-tenth, but all free-will offerings, or contributions, to the Church funds. The Lord had previously given to the Church the law of consecration and stewardship of property, which members (chiefly the leading elders) entered into by a covenant that was to be everlasting. Because of failure on the part of many to abide by this covenant, the Lord withdrew it for a time and gave instead the law of tithing to the whole Church. The Prophet asked the Lord how much of their property He required for sacred purposes. The answer was this revelation.

D&C 120: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, making known the disposition of the properties tithed as named in the preceding revelation, section 119.

The Lord wants to speak to you. As you study the scriptures, pray and ask Him to help you discover His messages for you.

D&C 115: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, April 26, 1838, making known the will of God concerning the building up of that place and of the Lord’s house. This revelation is addressed to the presiding officers and the members of the Church.

D&C 116: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, near Wight’s Ferry, at a place called Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri, May 19, 1838.

D&C 117: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, concerning the immediate duties of William Marks, Newel K. Whitney, and Oliver Granger.

D&C 118: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, in response to the supplication, “Show us thy will, O Lord, concerning the Twelve.”

D&C 119: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, in answer to his supplication: “O Lord! Show unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing.” The law of tithing, as understood today, had not been given to the Church previous to this revelation. The term tithing in the prayer just quoted and in previous revelations (64:23; 85:3; 97:11) had meant not just one-tenth, but all free-will offerings, or contributions, to the Church funds. The Lord had previously given to the Church the law of consecration and stewardship of property, which members (chiefly the leading elders) entered into by a covenant that was to be everlasting. Because of failure on the part of many to abide by this covenant, the Lord withdrew it for a time and gave instead the law of tithing to the whole Church. The Prophet asked the Lord how much of their property He required for sacred purposes. The answer was this revelation.

D&C 120: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, making known the disposition of the properties tithed as named in the preceding revelation, section 119.

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)
•   “I Want to Give the Lord My Tenth,” Children’s Songbook, 150.

•   A Light and Standard to the Nations, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, Elder Quentin L. Cook
• Section 115, “For Thus Shall My Church Be Called in the Last Days”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 285–87
• Far West and Adam-ondi-Ahman, Revelations in Context
• Chapter 45: Doctrine and Covenants 115–20, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
• Section 116, Grand Council, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 287–88
•   When He Falls He Shall Rise Again, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Boyd K. Packer
• Section 117, Revelation to William Marks, Newel K. Whitney, and Oliver Granger, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 288–90
• Section 118, Revelation to the Twelve, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 291–92
• “Take Special Care of Your Family”, Revelations in Context
•   A Standing Law unto the Church, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Gordon B. Hinckley
•   The Miracle of Tithing, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Gordon B. Hinckley
•   Tithing Funds the Lord’s Work, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, Elder Dallin H. Oaks
• Section 119, The Law of Tithing, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 292–94
• “The Tithing of My People”, Revelations in Context
• Section 120, Dispositions of Church Funds, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 294–95
•   What does it mean to have integrity? – Doctrine and Covenants 124, Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants

Resources on Interpreter Foundation

•   Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 42: D&C 115–120, Jonn Claybaugh
•     Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 42 (D&C 115–120)
•     Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me D&C Lesson 42

Resources on Other Sites

•   Come, Follow Me Week 42 – Doctrine and Covenants 115-120, FAIR
•   Section 116, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 117, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 118, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 119, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 120, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 115-120, October 11-17), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 115-120, October 11-17), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 115-120, Oct 11-17), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 115-120, October 11-17), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 115-120, October 11-17), Book of Mormon Central
•   Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Week 42b (D&C 115-120, Oct 11-17), Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Week 42c (D&C 115-120, Oct 11-17), Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 115, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 116, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 117, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 118, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 119, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 120, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Week 42 (D&C 115-120, Oct 11-17), Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 115-120 (Oct. 11-17) Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
•   Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 115-120: “Sacrifice Shall Be More Sacred”, Unshaken
•     Come Follow Me Podcast #42–Far West: A Trial by Fire, Doctrine and Covenants Section 115-120, Meridian Magazine
•     Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “His Sacrifice Shall Be More Sacred unto Me Than His Increase” – Sections 115-120, Meridian Magazine
•   October 11–17, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
•   Doctrine and Covenants 115 to 120 – “His Sacrifice Shall Be More Sacred unto Me Than His Increase”, BYU Studies