Doctrine and Covenants 7

 

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The section heading tells us, “The revelation is a translated version of the record made on parchment by John.” The original version of this revelation as printed in the Book of Commandments, Chapter VI, contains 141 words. Here in the Doctrine and Covenants, it contains 252 words. That's a 79 percent increase in verbiage in the translation of the same parchment.

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1 AND the Lord said unto me: John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you.
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While technically the Lord could use whatever words he would like to, it is strange that his words in modern revelation would be so unoriginal and highly dependent on the text of the KJV bible. This is somewhat problematic due to the KJV not having the most accurate translation. A cynical person might see this as Joseph trying to get his followers to accept these revelations as being from God by simply using biblical language that was familiar to them.

Compare this verse with "For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you" to John 15:7 with "ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you". Note that there are 0 instances of "what you will" and just 1 instance of "what ye will" in the KJV bible. Also note that this verse is entirely separate from the chapter that contains John 21:22, which seems to be the basis for the rest of this section.

2 And I said unto him: Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee.
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3 And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people.
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4 And for this cause the Lord said unto Peter: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? For he desired of me that he might bring souls unto me, but thou desiredst that thou mightest speedily come unto me in my kingdom.
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5 I say unto thee, Peter, this was a good desire; but my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater work yet among men than what he has before done.
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6 Yea, he has undertaken a greater work; therefore I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel; he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth.
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Compare this verse with "I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel" to Hebrews 1:7 with "Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire" (which is quoting Psalms 104:4).

Also compare this verse with "he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation" to Hebrews 1:14 with "sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation". Note that the phrase "heirs of salvation" is unique within the KJV bible. It is strange the the all-knowing Lord would be borrowing phrases from the author of the epistle to the Hebrews when it would make it appear as though Joseph Smith was plagiarizing from the bible.

7 And I will make thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come.
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8 Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both joy in that which ye have desired.
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