Doctrine and Covenants Section 4

Doctrine and Covenants section 4 was a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith to his father, Joseph Smith Sr. When that revelation was given to Joseph Smith, he was twenty-three years of age. The Book of Mormon was not yet published and no man had been ordained to the priesthood. The Church was not organized; yet the statement was made and written without qualification that " . . . a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men." (D&C 4:1)

Although this revelation was given to Joseph Smith Sr., the counsel applies to everyone who enters into God’s service. Joseph Smith said, “When you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 324). So this section and all other scriptures available applies to all members of the Church.

"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." (D&C 4:2)

To serve God with all your heart, might, mind, and strength is to worship God emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. It is an all-encompassing commitment without reservations, exceptions, or vacations. Do we imagine that God's commitment to us is half-hearted? When Christ suffered in the Garden, didn't he suffer with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength? Then doesn't he have a right to expect the same of our individual service?

To serve God with all your heart means to love him with all the affection your soul has power to muster. He becomes the object of your greatest affections and desires. You love him more than self, more than neighbor, and more than family.

"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37)

It seems clear the Lord is teaching that seeking the kingdom of God is the first priority, even if it must be that we choose it above friends, mentors, or family members. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that to ensure exaltation, we must be 'thoroughly proved' and demonstrate that we are 'determined to serve God at all hazards.' He also taught the apostles in Nauvoo that to be thoroughly proved may require the wrenching of the heartstrings. President John Taylor recalled: 

'I speak of these things to show how men are to be tried. I heard Joseph Smith say-and I presume Brother Snow heard him also-in preaching to the Twelve in Nauvoo, that the Lord would get hold of their heart strings and wrench them, and that they would have to be tried as Abraham was tried. Well, some of the Twelve could not stand it. They faltered and fell by the way. It was not everybody that could stand what Abraham stood. And Joseph said that if God had known any other way whereby he could have touched Abraham's feelings more acutely and more keenly he would have done so.'

What would wrench heartstrings more than to be torn between the kingdom of heaven and a dearly loved family member, friend, or leader? Yet the possibility exists, and if we are faced with such a difficult situation, the right choice is clearly given for us.

"For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul" (D&C 4:4)

A couple of weeks ago, Bishop shared a scripture about the field being white already to harvest and it had me thinking what does that really mean? Is there anything else I can find besides 'just missionary work'. Well...I did. I took a look at the footnote and I was able to find Doctrine and Covenants section 31 verse 4, and it states: "You shall declare the things which have been revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun. You shall begin to preach from this time forth, yea, to reap in the field which is white already to be burned." 

This scripture particularly had me thinking.... we are indeed living in the last days.

So how do we stand blamelss before God? 

"When we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated" (D&C 130:21). Accordingly, we are told that whole-hearted, diligent service is rewarded with a clear conscience at the judgment day. Jacob elaborated on this principle as follows:

"We did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day." (Jacob 1:19)

A similar concept, found in verse 4, states that those engaged in the work, particularly in relation to missionary work, bring salvation to their souls. Apparently, the Lord forgives our sins more readily when we are engaged in proclaiming the gospel. Someone once said, "The best time to die is on your mission." Lets hope that does not happen but this statement encompasses the principle that missionary work has a sanctifying effect on the missionary/member missionary, for "whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name's sake, shall find it again, even life eternal" (D&C 98:13).

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work." (D&C 4:5)

Jesus was limiting the scope when he cautioned us to keep our eye single . A single vision should also have a narrow focus. Jesus proclaimed this same philosophy when he said: "No man can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24).

"Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen." (D&C 4:7)

True, the Lord has said, "Ask, and ye shall receive" (D&C 4:7). But He also declared, "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me." (D&C 9:7)

It is evident that He intends that we do our part. But what, specifically, are we to do? No one would expect to receive a result from physical law without obeying it. Spiritual law is the same. As much as we want help, we must expect to follow the spiritual law that controls that help. Spiritual law is not mysterious. It is something that we can understand. The scriptures define it in significant detail. I will cite key scriptures that teach how to ask for help, then summarize the spiritual law they clarify.

The Savior declared, "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (D&C 82:10)

John taught, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." (1 John. 3:22)

Nephi counseled, "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said? If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you." (1 Nephi 15:11)

The Lord has the power to bless us at any time. Yet we see that to count on His help, we must consistently obey His commandments.

Here is the charge given to each of the members of the LDS Church