D&C 99

In studying the doctrine of the priesthood (121:45), we learn of -

"...the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:39)

That -

"...all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me..."  Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:35 - 36)

And that all that receive His servants -

"...receiveth my Father;
38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:37 - 38)

As John Murdock is called to proclaim the gospel, The Lord again teaches him -

"...who receiveth you receiveth me; and you shall have power to declare my word in the demonstration of my Holy Spirit.
3 And who receiveth you as a little child, receiveth my kingdom; and blessed are they, for they shall obtain mercy."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 99:2 - 3)

Obviously, being called to be a missionary, John Murdock became on of the Lord's servants.  As I read a brief history on the life, tribulations, and sacrifices of John Murdock this morning, I was so touched that I thought I would include it in my blog this morning -

"John Murdock was born on July 15, 1792. Thus, he was about thirteen and a half years older than Joseph Smith. Early in life, John had a vision in which he was asked if he were participating in the ordinances of the gospel. He was not. This led him to earnestly search for a religion that made gospel ordinances an important part of worship.

As he pursued his search for such a church, he joined several different religions, being ultimately disappointed with each. First, he joined a Lutheran sect but eventually decided that they did not follow the Bible. Next, he affiliated with the Presbyterians, then the Baptists and after that, the Methodists. By 1827, he and his wife of just over three years, Julia, were residing in the Kirtland, Ohio, area where he had joined the Cambellite faith, started by Alexander Campbell. However, he gradually became disappointed with them, too, because many Cambellites did not believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, as spoken of in the scriptures.

By the time Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery, Ziba Peterson, and Peter Whitmer Jr. came through the Kirtland, Ohio, area, in the winter of 1830, preaching the restored gospel as they traveled to teach the Lamanites on the western frontier (D&C 32), John had decided that all religions were wrong, having departed from the teachings of the Bible.

As a result, when he heard of the four Mormon missionaries and that they taught the restoration of the ancient church, he traveled twenty miles to hear them for himself. He read the Book of Mormon and knew it was true. Parley P. Pratt baptized him on November 5, 1830. He had already been baptized by immersion twice, but this time he felt the power and authority of the true priesthood, and felt forgiveness of sins.

At the time of his baptism, John and his wife, Julia, had three children, and she was expecting twins. On April 30, 1831, she gave birth to a girl and a boy. Julia died six hours afterward.

John named the girl Julia Murdock and the boy Joseph Smith Murdock. Emma Smith also gave birth the same day, but her twins, a girl, Louisa, and a boy, Thaddeus, lived only about three hours and died. In deep sorrow, gave his twins to Joseph and Emma to raise.

On June 7, 1831, John Murdock was called to serve a mission to Missouri with Hyrum Smith (see D&C 52:8). Upon returning home, he found that his little son, Joseph, had died as a result of exposure after a mob broke into the home (March 24, 1832) where Joseph and Emma Smith were staying. The Prophet had stayed up late caring for little Joseph Smith Murdock, who was sick with the measles. The mob broke in and dragged the Prophet out over the frozen ground to tar and feather him. The door was left open, and the resulting cold air led to the baby's death.

Sometime during the winter of 1832–1833, John Murdock received a vision of the Savior. He said, “I saw the form of a man, most lovely, the visage of his face was sound and fair as the sun. His hair a bright silver grey, curled in most majestic form, His eyes a keen penetrating blue, and the skin of his neck a most beautiful white and he was covered from the neck to the feet with a loose garment, pure white, whiter than any garment I have ever before seen. His countenance was most penetrating, and yet most lovely” (typescript of the Journal of John Murdock, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, page 18).

At the time of section 99, Brother Murdock is called on another mission, this time to the “eastern countries” (verse 1). He will preach in the Kirtland area from September 1832 to April 1833, at which time he will depart on a mission to New York. He will serve for a year, with his companion, Zebedee Coltrin.

John will participate in Zion's Camp, serve a mission to New York beginning on March 5, 1835, and will marry Amoranda Turner on February 4, 1836, in New York. They will have no Children. He will help settle Far West, Missouri, in 1836 and will serve on the high council there. His wife will die on August 16, 1837. He will marry Electa Allen on May 3, 1838, and they will have three children.

He will be ordained bishop of the Nauvoo 20th Ward on August 20, 1842, and will be called to serve a mission to the East in November 1844. His wife will die on October 16, 1845. He will marry Sarah Zuflet on March 13, 1846. They will have two children. In May 1846, he will go west with the Saints and will serve as a high councilor, a bishop in Salt Lake City, and a delegate to the House of Representatives in 1849. John will be called to serve a mission to Australia and will serve for about two years, after which he will be released by President Brigham Young, who will gently tell him his missionary days are over and to come home permanently and be at peace. He will be called as a patriarch, serving many Saints in Utah County for thirteen years. He will reside in Lehi, Utah, from 1854 to 1867, and will die faithful to the Church on the Prophet Joseph Smith's birthday, December 23, 1871, at the age of seventy-nine, in Beaver County, Utah."  (Ridges, David J. (2005-07-01). The Doctrine and Covenants Made Easier, Part 3)