Doctrine & Covenants 3 All

Doctrine & Covenants > Section 3

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Verse 2

What does it mean that the God's "course is one eternal round?"

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Verse 2

“eternal round” Joseph Smith: That which has a beginning will surely have an end. Take a ring, it is without beginning or end; cut it for a beginning place, and at the same time you have an ending place. (Joseph Smith, The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 60. Webster’s 1828: 1. Anything round, as a ring. 2. A series of changes or events ending where it began; recurring in continuance; a cycle; 3. A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle. Neal A. Maxwell: "Repeatedly God has described His course as reiterative, "one eternal round" We mortals sometimes experience boredom in the routine repetition of our mortal tasks, including even good works; and thus vulnerable, we are urged not to grow weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9; D&C 64:33; 84:80; Alma 37:34). But given God's divine love, there is no boredom on His part amid His repetitive work, for his course, though one eternal round, involves continuous redemption for His children." Not My Will, But Thine, p 53.

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Verse 2

• One eternal round Neal A. Maxwell thought this meant that God did the same work over and over: 'Repeatedly God has described His course as reiterative, "one eternal round."' Not My Will, But Thine, p. 53. ISBN 088494672X

Doctrine & Covenants > Section 3

Questions

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

Verse 7

• "Feared man." Martin and/or his wife had probably threatened to withdraw support and funding.

Verse 9

• Thou art Joseph." It would seem unnecessary to remind him of his name, unless this is a reference to something Joseph had translated, such as the prophecy of a latter-day Joseph.

Related links

• The relevant Church history map is here, and here is a picture of the Smith house in Harmony.

• Marcus B. Nash, "The Great Plan of Happiness," Ensign, Nov 2006, pp. 49–50. Elder Nash said: "The Prophet Joseph Smith learned from firsthand experience that the Lord expects us to avoid misery by living His gospel and wants us to understand that we can repent... Such is the case for each of you young men: be faithful, and you will be supported by the hand of God."

Doctrine & Covenants > Section 3

Questions

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

Verse 15

• All of Section 3 could have been spoken by Moroni who was Joseph’s primary director and mentor. Notice, for example, that all the references to God and Jesus Christ are in the third person, and the parts that are in the first person could well fit the voice of Moroni. Interestingly, Section 10, which is clearly a sequel, is likely a conflation of two revelations: verses 1-6, which in the same voice as this revelation and was delivered in September 1928, and verses 7ff, which are in the voice of God and were delivered the following May. (See Max H. Parkin, "A Preliminary Analysis of the Dating of Section 10," The Seventh Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium, The Doctrine and Covenants, Brigham Young University, 1979, pp 68-84.)

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Doctrine & Covenants > Section 3

Questions

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Lexical notes

• Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes

Exegesis

Click the edit link above and to the right to add exegesis

Related links

• Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links