Holding Fast When the Rod Shakes: D&C 64-66 and the Willing Heart

We live in an age where it is easy to become disillusioned. The distance between our idealized vision of Zion and the messy reality of human nature can feel like a chasm. For those of us holding fast to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the struggle is not just external; it is internal. It is the friction between our natural man and our desire to be sanctified. In Doctrine and Covenants 64 through 66, delivered in Hiram, Ohio, in the fall of 1831, the Lord addresses this exact tension with surgical precision.

The Context of Correction

Joseph Smith had just completed the sale of Isaac Morley’s farm to secure funds for Zion. He traveled from Kirtland to Hiram to stay with John and Elsa Johnson. It was here, amidst the logistical realities of building the Kingdom, that new characters entered the fold and old tensions surfaced. Among them was William McLellin, a man who brought questions only the Lord could answer. But before we even get to McLellin’s specific inquiries in section 66, we must confront the raw truth of section 64.

The Lord does not shy away from the fact that Joseph Smith has sinned. Verse 39 is stark: "Verily I say unto you, he [Joseph] has sinned; but verily I say unto you, I will forgive him those sins which he has committed, if he repent and confess them before me." This is not a sanitized theology. The Lord acknowledges the prophet’s fallibility while simultaneously affirming his calling. He then turns to the Saints who are critical of Joseph:

"There are many that have sought occasion against him without cause... But verily I say unto you, they shall not prevail; for I have obtained power in these last days to break every chain." (D&C 64:12-13)

The Lord commands us to forgive Joseph "th七十 times seven" times. Why? Because the alternative is spiritual stagnation. To seek occasion against the prophet without cause is to invite condemnation upon ourselves. The Lord’s instruction is clear: our focus must remain on the work, not the worker.

The Commandment to Forgive

Section 64 closes with a mandate that feels almost impossible in our prideful culture: "I require all my saints to forgive one another; and as they forgive one another, so shall it be forgiven them." This is not passive tolerance. It is active, willing forgiveness. It requires us to drop what we are doing—to stop the mental litigation against those who irritate us—and turn our hearts toward charity.

But why? Why does the Lord require this? Because a heart filled with resentment cannot hold the Spirit. We cannot expect the Holy Ghost to guide our temple preparations or our missionary efforts if we are harboring bitterness toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. The willingness of our mind is directly proportional to the purity of our forgiveness.

William McLellin and the Willing Mind

This brings us to section 66. William McLellin comes to Joseph with questions about his calling and his place in the work. The Lord answers these questions directly, confirming McLellin’s role as a scribe and clarifying his spiritual standing. McLellin receives revelation. He has the answer. What does he do with it?

The transcript of the recent discussion on Saints in the South highlights a sobering reality: McLellin had the answers, but did he have the heart to act on them? The Lord requires not just information, but a willing mind. To be "willing" is not merely to agree intellectually; it is to surrender one’s agenda to the Lord’s errand. It is to say, "Not my will, but Thine, be done," even when the work is hard, even when we are tired, and even when others do not appreciate our efforts.

McLellin’s later apostasy serves as a cautionary tale. He had the light, but he did not walk in it with consistency. The Lord warns us that those who sinned "unto death" are sons of perdition, but He also clarifies that falling away from activity is not the same as denying the Holy Ghost. Yet, the danger remains real. We must examine our own hearts. Do we hold onto grievances? Do we resent the leadership? Or have we truly laid down our will to take up the iron rod?

Drawing Closer Through Obedience

Learning to forgive and to serve with a willing heart draws us closer to God. It is not always easy to drop what we are doing and answer the call. But it is in these moments of sacrifice that our faith is refined. The Lord does not ask for perfection; He asks for willingness. He knows Joseph sinned, and He forgave him. He knows we will struggle, and He promises forgiveness if we confess and forsake.

Let us then, like the Saints in Hiram, accept the corrections of the Lord with humility. Let us forgive those who have sought occasion against us without cause. And let us approach our service—whether in our calling, our families, or our studies—with a mind willing to do the will of the Father.

What answers has the Lord given you lately that you are struggling to accept? How can you cultivate a more willing heart this week?