A Revelation of Loss Preparation and Divine Strategy
Doctrine and Covenants Section 10 addresses the loss of the 116 pages and reveals a divine plan prepared centuries earlier to ensure the work could not be frustrated
Its background includes layered revelation moments in both 1828 and 1829 demonstrating foreknowledge and adaptive instruction from the Lord
Dating and Composition of Section 10
The historical background of Section 10 is complex
The first manuscript page of this revelation is missing from the Manuscript Revelation Book leaving the original date uncertain
It appears in that record among April 1829 revelations while the 1833 Book of Commandments assigns it a date of May 1829
Joseph Smith’s own narrative places Section 10 shortly after Section 3 dating it to mid 1828
Because parts of the revelation clearly address the immediate aftermath of the lost manuscript while other parts apply to the 1829 translation period historians conclude that this section is composite first received in 1828 and expanded in 1829
Joseph Smith’s Translation Sequence After the Loss
Historical and scribal evidence shows Joseph did not restart the Book of Mormon at 1 Nephi
He resumed in Mosiah exactly where translation had stopped
Joseph and Oliver Cowdery then translated Mosiah through Moroni covering the abridgment on the large plates
Only after finishing Mormon’s record did they return to translate the small plates 1 Nephi through Omni
This sequence matches the instructions given in Section 10 not to retranslate the lost material
The Loss of the 116 Pages and the Lord’s Foreknowledge
The revelation explains that wicked men stole the manuscript and intended to alter it
Their plan was to reveal supposed contradictions if Joseph attempted a retranslation
God commanded Joseph not to retranslate the Book of Lehi preventing the conspirators from using manipulated pages against him
Nephi’s Preparation Centuries Earlier
A major theme of Section 10 is God’s long range planning
1 Nephi 9
Nephi explains that the Lord commanded him to create two sets of plates
The Large Plates
The large plates contained historical and political accounts
The Small Plates
The small plates focused on prophecy genealogy and sacred teaching
Nephi acknowledged he did not know the reason but trusted the Lord who knows all things from the beginning
These small plates written more than two millennia earlier would replace the lost manuscript
Mormon’s Role in Preserving the Solution
Centuries later Mormon discovered the small plates after abridging the large plates up through King Benjamin
He felt spiritually impressed to include them untouched
He echoed Nephi’s phrase that this was done for a wise purpose
This inspired decision became essential after the 116 pages were lost because the small plates covered the same time period from a spiritual perspective allowing the translation to continue seamlessly
Textual Note on the Term “Urim and Thummim”
The earliest printing of Section 10 in the 1833 Book of Commandments does not use the term Urim and Thummim
It appears in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants when Joseph Smith added clarifying language identifying the seer stones used in translation
This reflects Joseph’s practice of refining and clarifying scriptural text
Part 2 Insights from D&C 10
Joseph Loses and Regains His Gift
Joseph Smith is told that after giving the manuscript to Martin Harris he lost his gift and his mind became darkened
This consequence followed directly from breaking the commandment
He is then told that his gift has been restored and he must continue the translation
Instruction on Spiritual Balance
Joseph receives counsel
Key Instructions
Do not run faster than you have strength
Pray always to conquer Satan
These instructions emphasize steady effort humility and reliance upon God
Revealed Conspiracy Against Joseph Smith
The Lord explains that the manuscript was stolen by wicked men who altered the pages
Their intent was to expose differences if Joseph retranslated
The conspirators assumed Joseph could produce identical wording implying divine translation power
Their plan was inspired by Satan to destroy Joseph and the Restoration
Satan’s Work and Influence in the Revelation
Section 10 provides one of the earliest Restoration teachings on the reality of Satan
He works on the hearts of men
He inspires deception darkness and justification of sin
He tells them there is no harm in destroying the Lords servant
He goes about seeking to overthrow souls
This revelation affirms Satan as a real personal being not a mere symbol
The Prepared Solution The Small Plates of Nephi
God presents His answer to the conspiracy
Joseph must not retranslate the Book of Lehi
Instead he must translate the small plates down to the account of King Benjamin
This material contains spiritual and prophetic writings intended for the latter days
Publishing this replacement text makes the conspirators plan impossible
The Wisdom of God Overcoming the Cunning of the Devil
The Lord declares His wisdom is greater than the devil’s designs
The small plates contain material of great value not emphasized in the abridgment
Nothing of God’s work is ever truly lost
Christ’s Teachings About the Other Sheep
Section 10 expands on Christ’s New Testament declaration that other sheep He had were not of the Jerusalem fold
He identifies the Nephites and Lamanites as those other sheep
The Book of Mormon would reveal His ministry among them and bring forth marvelous works
The 1830 Preface to the Book of Mormon
Joseph explained publicly that
The manuscript was stolen
He was commanded not to retranslate
Satan inspired the conspiracy
God provided the small plates as the solution
This prefatory statement directly reflects Section 10
Historical Considerations on the Fate of the 116 Pages
Later stories suggested Lucy Harris may have burned the manuscript
However Section 10 states
A group of men stole the pages
They altered them
They still possessed them months after their disappearance
The revelation does not support immediate destruction
The final fate of the 116 pages remains unknown
Divine Foreknowledge and Eternal Assurance
Doctrine and Covenants 10 teaches that
God foresaw the events long before they occurred
He prepared Nephi and Mormon to preserve the needed replacement text
Satan cannot frustrate divine purposes
The Restoration would go forward regardless of human or satanic opposition
The message is one of reassurance that God’s wisdom prevails
Listen to the full podcast here:
Season 5, Episode 7 – D&C 10 Part 1
Season 5, Episode 7 – D&C 10 Part 1
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