D&C 123

As members of the Church, we are taught charity, compassion, tolerance, love, and forgiveness - even forgive and forget. While in the Liberty Jail, the Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired to write of a very interesting doctrine. With all the righteous principles and virtues previously mentioned, the saints were instructed -

"...the propriety of all the saints gathering up a knowledge of all the facts, and sufferings and abuses put upon them..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:1)

The saints were to collect and keep a record -

"...of all the property and amount of damages which they have sustained, both of character and personal injuries, as well as real property..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:2)

"...the names of all persons that have had a hand in their oppressions..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:3)

"...take statements and affidavits; and also to gather up the libelous publications that are afloat..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:4)

"...all that are in the magazines, and in the encyclopedias, and all the libelous histories that are published, and are writing, and by whom, and present the whole concatenation of diabolical rascality and nefarious and murderous impositions that have been practised upon this people..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:5)

The purpose was to -

"..not only publish to all the world, but present them to the heads of government..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:6)

Not for revenge but for redress so -

"...that the whole nation may be left without excuse before he can send forth the power of his mighty arm." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:6)

The Prophet wrote -

"It is an imperative duty that we owe to God, to angels..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:7)

"....it is an imperative duty that we owe, not only to our own wives and children, but to the widows and fatherless, whose husbands and fathers have been murdered..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:9)

"...also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:11)

For the very reason that -

"...there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:12)

In my mind, it means that we need to be prepared to tell our side of the story when confronted with the opinions of the world. This is a serious matter as the Lord emphasized -

"...we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—
14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.
15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:13 - 15)

If we are diligent, the Prophet counsels and promises -

"...let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:17)

This direction given by the Prophet has reaped fruit in modern day. In conference, President Spencer W. Kimball confirmed -

"Since our last conference we have had a delightful message from Christopher S. Bond, governor of the state of Missouri, who advised us that he has rescinded the 138-year-old executive order of Governor Lilburn W. Boggs calling for the extermination or expulsion of the Mormons from the state of Missouri. Governor Bond, present Missouri governor, writes:

‘Expressing on behalf of all Missourians our deep regret for the injustice and undue suffering which was caused by this 1838 order, I hereby rescind Executive Order No. 44 dated October 27, 1838, issued by Governor Lilburn W. Boggs.’

To Governor Bond and the people of Missouri, we extend our deep appreciation for this reversal and for the present friendly associations between the membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the people of Missouri as it is now in effect.

In Missouri now we have five stakes in fifty-one communities, with approximately 15,000 members of the Church, who, we are confident, are law-abiding citizens of the state of Missouri. Thank you, Governor Bond." (In Conference Report, Oct. 1976, p. 4–5; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, p. 4.)