top of page

Part 2 “If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”

Updated: 3 days ago


CFM:




 Videos, Podcasts, & Weekly Lesson Material



VIDEOS & PODCASTS

Media

Resource Links

BYU RSC Library

Come Follow Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson

Come Follow Me Kid

Come Follow Me Scott Woodward & Casey Griffiths

Come Follow Up

D&C Historical Background


Don't Miss This

Follow Him

Grounded with Barbara Morgan

Gospel For Kids


Hurricane Adult Religion Class

Seminary Decks


Latter Day Kids

Line Upon Line

Meridian Magazine Podcast

Our Mother's Knew It

Saving Talents

Scripture Study Central

Scripture Explorers

Scripture Gems

Scripture Insights

Talking Scripture

The Interpreter Foundation

The Red Crystal

The Scriptures are Real

Unshaken



Chapter Outlines Continued



D&C 38 Chapter Outline & Study Chart

Overview

  • Date: January 2, 1831

  • Location: Fayette, New York

  • Recipient: Entire Church

  • Revelation Context: This revelation was given at the third and final conference held in Fayette. It builds upon the command in D&C 37 and gives deeper spiritual and doctrinal reasoning behind the call to gather in Ohio. The Lord promises protection, greater laws, and unity—if the Saints will obey.


Timeframe & Setting

  • The Church was still small but growing rapidly in New York. Hostility and persecution were escalating.

  • Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge were present. The command to relocate the Church’s center of activity to Ohio marked a turning point in organizational structure and future temple instruction.


Key Circumstances

  • Joseph Smith had temporarily paused his translation work (per D&C 37). This revelation provides the spiritual motivation and urgency behind that pause.

  • Section 38 shifts the tone from practical to theological and covenantal.


Purpose of the Revelation

  • To explain the spiritual purpose behind the physical move to Ohio.

  • To warn of unseen dangers and promise blessings to those who obey.

  • To emphasize unity, the law of consecration, and the need for preparedness to receive greater law (D&C 42).


Significance

  • Introduces the Lord’s attribute as the One who “knows all things” and sees what the Saints cannot.

  • Reinforces the connection between gathering, consecration, and covenant community.

  • Shows how early Saints were led by faith into the unknown—echoing Abraham’s call and Israel’s exodus.


Main Themes & Language Insights

Cross-References & Supporting Resources

1–4 – The Lord Who Knows All Things

Summary: The Lord introduces Himself as Alpha and Omega, the one who knows all things and is present among them. He sees what is hidden.


Language Insights: “I am the same which spake” echoes Exodus 3:14, “I AM THAT I AM.” The Hebrew verb הָיָה (hayah) means “to be,” the root of YHWH. The Lord’s self-identification draws authority from eternity and covenant. 

The use of the word “seraphic” calls to mind the seraphim (שָׂרָף – sârâph), the “burning ones” described in Isaiah 6:2 as celestial beings who dwell in the presence of God, proclaiming His holiness and carrying out acts of purification. Interestingly, the same Hebrew root is used in Numbers 21 to describe the fiery serpents that afflicted the Israelites in the wilderness—blending the imagery of divine fire, judgment, and ultimately, healing. These fiery serpents remind us of the serpent in Eden, who introduced Adam and Eve to the knowledge of good and evil, resulting in the Fall and subsequent mortality.


Yet in a divine inversion, what began as a curse becomes a symbol of redemption. When the Israelites cried out in repentance, the Lord commanded Moses to create a brazen serpent and raise it upon a pole, instructing the people to look upon it and live (Numbers 21:8–9, Alma 33:19–22, John 3:14–15). In this moment, the seraphic symbol of the serpent, once associated with sin and death, is transformed into a representation of faith, obedience, and healing—ultimately foreshadowing Jesus Christ, who would be lifted up on the cross.


Just as the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision purify Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar (Isaiah 6:6–7), the fiery serpents in the wilderness serve as instruments of purification, reminding us that divine fire both burns and sanctifies. This paradox encapsulates the Atonement: what once brought pain now brings healing. The call to “look to God and live” (Alma 37:46) becomes a sacred echo of both Eden and Sinai, both judgment and mercy—ultimately fulfilled in Christ’s triumph over sin and death.


“Bosom” (Greek: kolpos – κόλπος) conveys intimacy, acceptance, trust, and eternal rest—see Luke 16:22 (“Abraham’s bosom,” the bosom of a garment, i.e. a pocket for holding sacred and treasured things… the breastplate of righteousness, Urim & Thummim, symbols pertaining to the covenant).


“Zion” (צִיּוֹן – Tziyyon) denotes a sanctified community united under covenant with God.


Verse 4: The Zion of Enoch is a prototype of what the Lord expects Zion to be in the last days:


Reflection Questions:

  • What comfort comes from knowing the Lord sees what we cannot?

  • How does the Lord’s eternal nature affect our trust in His timing?

  • What characteristics of Enoch’s Zion can I strive to cultivate in my own life?

  • In what ways can I contribute to a Zion-like community today?

  • How can remembering that God is unchanging strengthen my resolve to follow Him during uncertainty?


Steven C. Harper, “Section 38


Why the Ohio? Why Anything in My Life? Lessons from the Command to Gather


Endowment of Power


Exodus 3:14 – “I Am That I Am”


Hebrews 13:8 – “The same yesterday, today…”


Mosiah 3:5 – The Lord is omniscient and omnipresent


Conference:

Trust in the Lord – Richard G. Scott, Oct 1995


The Infinite Power of Hope – Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct 2008

5–12 – Hidden Dangers & Promised Deliverance


Summary: The Saints are warned of unseen enemies and assured that deliverance will come if they obey the Lord’s voice. Although they cannot yet see Him, the Lord promises that the veil will soon be lifted and they will behold His presence. This section weaves together themes of hidden divine presence, covenantal protection, angelic readiness, and the sacred trust required of those who walk by faith and not by sight.

The passage concludes with a sobering image:


“The angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned; and, behold, the enemy is combined.” 

This evokes apocalyptic harvest scenes and emphasizes that divine judgment is imminent, even if presently delayed. The Saints are being gathered for protection, while the forces of opposition are combining.


Language Insights: The phrase “I am in your midst” echoes the covenantal language of God dwelling among His people:

  • Hebrew: בְּקֶרֶב (beqerev) — “in the midst” Used in texts like Exodus 29:45–46 – “I will dwell among [בְּתוֹךְ betokh] the children of Israel…” and Deuteronomy 23:14 – “For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp.” This signifies God's intimate, covenantal nearness, even when not visibly perceived.

  • Greek (LXX/New Testament):

    • ἐν μέσῳ (en mesō) – “in the midst” Used in John 1:26 – “There standeth one among you, whom ye know not.” And Revelation 1:13 – Christ walks “in the midst of the seven candlesticks,” symbolizing His presence among the churches.

  • The phrase “ye cannot see me” recalls the veiling of divine glory, found in:

    • Exodus 33:20 – “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”

    • But now, in this dispensation, the veil will be rent, a direct echo of Matthew 27:51, where the temple veil is torn at Christ’s death—symbolizing direct access to God through the Atonement.

  • Mine eyes are upon you” is a Hebrew idiom denoting watchful care and protection.

    • Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct thee… I will guide thee with mine eye.”

    • The Hebrew for “deliver” is נָצַל (natsal) – to snatch away, rescue, or preserve, often in covenant contexts (e.g., Exodus 3:8; 1 Samuel 10:18).

  • “Angels are waiting to reap” Greek: θερίζω (therizō) – to reap or harvest; used in Matthew 13 and Revelation 14 to describe divine judgment. The “tares” (ζιζάνια – zizania) are the counterfeit plants among the wheat, representing wickedness or hypocrisy within the covenant community.

  • “The enemy is combined” This phrase suggests a deliberate coalition of evil, recalling Revelation 16:14–16 and Psalm 83:5 – “They have consulted together with one consent.” It symbolizes the increasing polarization of good and evil in the last days.


Reflection Questions:

  • What does it mean for God to be in your midst, even when you cannot see Him?

  • How can we recognize divine presence in times of spiritual darkness?

  • Why does the Lord often conceal the full reason for a command until after obedience?

  • How does this passage deepen your understanding of what it means to walk by faith and not by sight?

  • In what ways has the veil—literal or spiritual—been “rent” in your life through personal revelation or deliverance?

  • How do the Lord’s reaping angels represent both mercy and justice in the last days?

  • What does it mean to live as wheat in a field where tares are still growing?

  • How do I respond when I feel the “enemy combined” against me or against truth?

Like Joshua


2 Nephi 2:24 – “God... seeth all things”


1 Nephi 4:6 – “Not knowing beforehand…”


Conference:

Obedience through Our Faithfulness – L. Tom Perry, Oct 2014


The Lord’s Way” – By Elder Stanley G. Ellis

13–20 – Call to Gather, Prepare for the Law


Summary:The Saints are commanded to go to Ohio to escape the encroaching influence of the adversary and to be prepared to receive “the law”—a reference to the more detailed organizational and communal commandments that would come in D&C 42. The Lord warns of hidden threats and unveils a mystery, calling His people to both spiritual vigilance and covenant preparation. In their upcoming Exodus, he promises them a promised land, “flowing with milk and honey.”  He is preparing the saints for the things that lie ahead, he is preparing them to receive the covenant through the blessings of the Temple.  This passage serves as both a prophetic warning and an invitation to sanctification through obedience and gathering.


Language Insights:

“I show unto you a mystery”

  • Greek: μυστήριον (mystērion) – “a hidden thing,” “a secret purpose or plan,” especially one revealed by divine disclosure.

    • Used frequently in Paul’s writings (e.g., 1 Corinthians 2:7, “we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery”).

    • Mystērion often refers to God’s redemptive plan that was once concealed but is now being revealed to the faithful.

    • In apocalyptic texts, it can also refer to hidden conspiracies or spiritual dynamics not evident to the natural eye.

 “A thing which is had in secret chambers”

  • Hebrew: סֵתֶר (sēther) – “secret,” “hiding place,” “concealed location.”

    • See Isaiah 45:19 – “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth…”

    • In contrast to the Lord who reveals openly, the adversary works in concealment, plotting in darkness.

    • “Secret chambers” also evokes hidden councils, schemes, or oaths, similar to the “secret combinations” of the Book of Mormon (see Ether 8:18–26).


Connection to Secret Combinations:

The Lord’s statement reveals not just a divine mystery but exposes a hidden opposition—a literal and spiritual conspiracy working behind the scenes. In the Book of Mormon, secret combinations are built upon:

The phrase in D&C 38 signals that the Lord is pulling back the veil to show His Saints what is happening in “secret chambers”—suggesting both the revealing of divine mysteries and the unmasking of satanic plots.


The Law and Preparation:

  • The phrase “the law” anticipates D&C 42, which introduces:

    • Church governance

    • Consecration

    • Commandments regarding morality, property, and community

  • Hebrew: תּוֹרָה (Torah) – “law,” but also “instruction” or “teaching”

    • Torah involves living in covenantal relationship with God

    • More than rules—it’s a way of being among a holy people


Reflection Questions:

  • How does the Lord prepare His people before giving them higher law?

  • What kind of spiritual preparation is required before receiving more light?

  • Are there “secret chambers” of influence or thought in today’s world that oppose God’s work?

  • How can I distinguish between true divine mysteries and counterfeit or conspiratorial voices?

  • What does it mean to “gather” in order to receive divine law and protection?


D&C 42 – The law that would be given in Ohio


D&C 132:5 – “Receive my law”


Isaiah 2:3 – “Out of Zion shall go forth the law…”


Conference:

Come: Let Israel Build Zion – Elder Bruce R. McConkie April 1977


Zion in the Midst of Babylon – David R. Stone, Apr 2006


Passage to the Promised Land



21–27 – A Society Governed by God: Unity, Equity, and Covenant Law


Summary: The Lord is not merely commanding external obedience—He is establishing the framework for a covenantal society, one that reflects His law because it is written upon their hearts (compare Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 8:10). In this society, the Saints have “no more disposition to do evil” (Mosiah 5:2), but actively desire to lift and help one another. Earthly hierarchies are replaced with divine order: the Lord Himself will be their King, Lawgiver, and Shepherd (v. 21–22).


This vision anticipates a Zion society where:

  • The Lord governs directly,

  • All are seen as equals before Him,

  • And unity is not imposed—but chosen freely out of love, reverence, and shared divine identity.


The Lord’s warning against favoritism (vv. 24–26) includes a parable of the father with twelve sons—a rebuke of inequality and injustice in spiritual communities. God is no respecter of persons, and His justice demands unity grounded in equity. Verse 27 declares a profound truth: “If ye are not one, ye are not mine.”


Language Insights:

  • “If ye are not one, ye are not mine” The word “one” is אֶחָד (echad), the same word used in the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4). This isn’t mere numerical singularity—it signifies covenantal unity in purpose, heart, and identity. To be “one” as God is one involves spiritual alignment and mutual belonging.

  • “No king nor ruler… for I will be your king” Echoes the theocratic model of Israel before Saul (see 1 Samuel 8:7), when God Himself reigned through prophets. Compare Isaiah 33:22 – “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.”

  • “Ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come” Indicates the restoration of divine governance at the Second Coming—a society so sanctified that all live the law of Christ by nature, not by compulsion (compare Zion in 4 Nephi 1:15–17).

  • “Esteem his brother as himself” Ties to Leviticus 19:18 – “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”, and later reinforced by Christ in Matthew 22:39. This is a central law of Zion: equity through divine love.


Reflection Questions:

  • How does God’s vision of divine government challenge or uplift our modern view of leadership and community?

  • What would it mean for Christ to truly be your lawgiver and king—personally, spiritually, and communally?

  • Are there “robes and rags” in your heart—ways you subconsciously show favoritism or judgment?

  • What practical steps can you take to “esteem your brother as yourself”?

  • How can your family, ward, or community reflect the divine unity the Lord requires?

  • What helps you desire to live the law of God not just by rule, but by nature and love?


Mosiah 18:21 – “Their hearts knit together in unity”


John 17:11, 21 – Christ prays that they may be one



Conference:

That They May Be One in Us – Elder D. Todd Christofferson


Be One – President Nelson, June 2018 (Worldwide Devotional)


Types and Shadows


Among the Reeds


Prayer for the Prophet

28–32 – Treasure Up Wisdom


Summary: In these verses, the Lord issues a direct warning: while His people are watching for conflicts “in far countries,” they are blind to the hidden dangers among their own. The enemy in the secret chambers is not only a literal threat to life but a spiritual metaphor for secret combinations, misinformation, and divisive influences. These forces threaten to unravel the unity required to build Zion.


Despite these warnings, the Lord’s tone is pastoral and empowering: He reveals these truths “because of your prayers” (v. 30), and promises that if the Saints are prepared, they shall not fear. He commands them to gather in Ohio, not only for safety but to receive His law and power—a foreshadowing of the Law of Consecration (D&C 42) and later temple endowment.


This passage connects directly to the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, emphasizing spiritual foresight, oil in our lamps, and unity despite turmoil.


Language Insights

“Treasure up wisdom in your bosoms” Hebrew: ḥāḵmâ (חָכְמָה) = “wisdom,” but often connotes applied, covenantal knowledge (see Proverbs 3:13–15). Greek: phronimos (φρόνιμος) = “wise, prudent,” as used for the wise virgins in Matthew 25:1–13.

“Enemy in the secret chambers” See previous notes on סֵתֶר (sēther) and the theme of hidden conspiracies or dark influences. These chambers can represent spiritual or ideological hideouts—sources of disinformation, division, and subversion.

“Voice louder than that which shall shake the earth” May symbolize worldly chaos and deception becoming more persuasive and overwhelming than divine truth—unless the Saints are grounded in wisdom and covenantal preparation.

“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” This has become a prophetic refrain in Latter-day Saint thought, originating here in D&C 38:30. It pairs with Matthew 25's lesson of spiritual foresight and connects to personal revelation, temple ordinances, and unity.


Reflection Questions:

  • How does political discord or misinformation today reflect the "secret chambers" the Lord warned about?

  • In what ways are you “treasuring up wisdom” in your spiritual storehouse?

  • How does being spiritually prepared allow you to stand without fear, even in uncertain times?

  • What does it mean to be “endowed with power from on high” in both a personal and communal sense?

  • What voices today threaten to become “louder than that which shall shake the earth”? How do we silence them with faith?


Ether 12:27 – Weakness given to be humble


Psalm 103:8 – “The Lord is merciful and gracious…”


Moroni 10:32–33 – Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him


Conference:

The Tender Mercies of the Lord – David A. Bednar, Apr 2005


Elder Dale G. Renlund – “Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior Elder Renlund emphasized the importance of individual spiritual readiness, highlighting that the oil of conversion cannot be borrowed. He taught that consistent, personal devotion invites the Holy Ghost, enabling us to avoid deception and be prepared for the Savior's return.


President Dallin H. Oaks – “Divine Helps for Mortality President Oaks discussed the gift of the Holy Ghost as a vital aid in our mortal journey. He referenced the parable to illustrate that only those who are spiritually prepared will be ready to meet the Bridegroom, underscoring the necessity of continual personal preparation.


President Camille N. Johnson – “Spiritually Whole in Him President Johnson reflected on the parable, noting that the wise virgins' lamps were filled with the oil of conversion. She emphasized that making and keeping covenants, especially those in the temple, fills our lamps and prepares us to meet the Savior.


Elder Sergio R Vargas, “Our Heavenly Guidance SystemElder Vargas compares the promptings of the Holy Ghost to a divinely calibrated guidance system—a spiritual GPS designed to lead us safely through times of confusion, conflict, and moral complexity.


Where Did Joseph Smith Get His Ideas about the Physical and Spiritual Gathering of Israel?

33–42 – Instructions to Leaders and the Church:  Covenant Journey, Riches of Eternity, and Endowed Purpose


Summary: The Lord now reveals the deep spiritual significance behind the commandment to gather in Ohio: it is not merely a relocation for safety—it is a covenantal movement toward receiving greater law, deeper commitment, and eventual endowment with power from on high. This prepares the Saints to fulfill a global missionary commission (v. 33), establishing the Lord’s work throughout the nations.


The “riches” spoken of in verse 39 are not merely economic. They include the riches of eternity: temple blessings, priesthood power, revelation, unity, and the knowledge of God's mysteries. The move to Ohio is a prophetic echo of ancient Israel’s wilderness journey: physically challenging, but spiritually essential to become a people of promise. The Saints are warned to beware of pride, remembering the downfall of the Nephites when they placed worldly wealth above spiritual inheritance.


The final verses emphasize community stewardship (vv. 34–36), the preparation of resources, and the call to go forth with humility, labor, and a warning voice. The chapter ends with a call to separation and sanctification—“Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (v. 42), echoing Isaiah 52:11 and temple-worthy living.


Language Insights:

  • “Endowed with power from on high” Greek: enduo (ἐνδύω) – “to be clothed, invested with.” The phrase appears in Luke 24:49 and D&C 109:22, denoting temple power and spiritual authority. It implies a divine equipping for sacred labor, particularly missionary work and building Zion.

  • “Riches of eternity” Hebrew (conceptual): ‘osher (עֹשֶׁר) means “riches” but is often paralleled in Psalms and Proverbs with wisdom, righteousness, and the fear of the Lord (see Proverbs 10:22; 22:4). These are the heavenly treasures Christ referred to in Matthew 6:19–21.

  • “Let your preaching be the warning voice…” This is an echo of Ezekiel 33:7–9, where the prophet is called a watchman, responsible for warning others of coming danger.

  • “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” Direct quotation from Isaiah 52:11, also echoed in 3 Nephi 20:41. In temple language, “vessels” may refer both to sacred objects and to the people who carry priesthood covenants and divine responsibilities.



Reflection Questions:

  • What “riches” am I seeking—and how can I discern if they are eternal or fleeting?

  • How does the Lord’s pattern of gathering and endowing His people help me better understand the purpose of temples?

  • In what ways do pride and prosperity test covenant discipleship?

  • What does it mean to labor “with your might” to accomplish what the Lord has commanded?

  • How can I bear the Lord’s vessels (His name, His Spirit, His work) with greater purity and reverence?

  • What does it mean today to “go out from among the wicked” while still serving as a light to the world?


D&C 84:88 – “I will be on your right hand and on your left…”


Joshua 1:5 – “I will be with thee: I will not fail thee…”


Alma 37:6–7 – “By small and simple things…”


Conference:


Stand Strong in Holy Places – Elder Robert D. Hales, Apr 2013


Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” – Elder Richard G. Scott


How Can People Today Avoid Being Destroyed Like the Nephites Were?


Why Does the Book of Mormon Warn Against Seeking after Riches?


Why Did the “Pride Cycle” Destroy the Nephite Nation?


Why Did Moroni Refer to Vessel Impurity in Condemning the Central Government? (Alma 60:23)

D&C 39 Chapter Outline & Study Chart

D&C 40 Chapter Outline & Study Chart


Previous Chapter Outlines in Part 1

 



Maps:




 
 
 

Comments


Thanks for submitting!

© 2022 by Learning Inspired LLC   Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page