D&C 8 & 9

D&C Section 8

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829 (see History of the Church, 1:36–37). In the course of the translation of the Book of Mormon, Oliver, who continued to serve as scribe, writing at the Prophet’s dictation, desired to be endowed with the gift of translation. The Lord responded to his supplication by granting this revelation.

1–5, Revelation comes by the power of the Holy Ghost; 6–12, Knowledge of the mysteries of God and the power to translate ancient records come by faith.

1 ^aOliver Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a ^bknowledge of whatsoever things you shall ^cask in faith, with an ^dhonest heart, believing that you shall receive a ^eknowledge concerning the engravings of old ^frecords, which are ancient, which contain those parts of my scripture of which has been spoken by the ^gmanifestation of my Spirit.

2 Yea, behold, I will ^atell you in your mind and in your ^bheart, by the ^cHoly Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses ^abrought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

4 Therefore this is thy ^agift; apply unto it, and blessed art thou, for it shall ^bdeliver you out of the hands of your ^cenemies, when, if it were not so, they would slay you and bring your soul to destruction.

5 Oh, remember these ^awords, and keep my commandments. Remember, this is your gift.

6 Now this is not all thy ^agift; for you have another gift, which is the gift of Aaron; behold, it has told you many things;

7 Behold, there is no other power, save the power of God, that can cause this gift of Aaron to be with you.

8 Therefore, ^adoubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the ^bwork of God.

9 And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it.

10 Remember that without ^afaith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ^bask for that which you ought not.

11 Ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that you may ^atranslate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid up, that are ^bsacred; and according to your faith shall it be done unto you.

12 Behold, it is I that have spoken it; and I am the same that spake unto you from the beginning. Amen.

We all can receive revelation through the Holy Ghost but we need to have faith. READ section 9 also because it goes through more of the steps to receive revelation, that most people don't understand.

Section 9

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829 (see History of the Church, 1:37–38). Oliver is admonished to be patient and is urged to be content to write, for the time being, at the dictation of the translator, rather than to attempt to translate.

1–6, Other ancient records are yet to be translated; 7–14, The Book of Mormon is translated by study and by spiritual confirmation.

1 Behold, I say unto you, my son, that because you did not ^atranslate according to that which you desired of me, and did commence again to ^bwrite for my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., even so I would that ye should continue until you have finished this record, which I have entrusted unto him.

2 And then, behold, ^aother ^brecords have I, that I will give unto you power that you may assist to ^ctranslate.

3 Be patient, my son, for it is ^awisdom in me, and it is not expedient that you should translate at this present time.

4 Behold, the work which you are called to do is to ^awrite for my servant Joseph.

5 And, behold, it is because that you did not continue as you commenced, when you began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you.

6 Do not ^amurmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this manner.

7 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.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your ^dbosom shall ^eburn within you; therefore, you shall ^ffeel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a ^astupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is ^bsacred save it be given you from me.

10 Now, if you had known this you could have ^atranslated; nevertheless, it is not expedient that you should translate now.

11 Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you ^afeared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now;

12 For, do you not behold that I have ^agiven unto my servant ^bJoseph sufficient strength, whereby it is made up? And neither of you have I condemned.

13 Do this thing which I have commanded you, and you shall ^aprosper. Be faithful, and yield to no ^btemptation.

14 Stand fast in the ^awork wherewith I have ^bcalled you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall be ^clifted up at the last day. Amen.