The first verse of Doctrine and Covenants section 4 reads: “Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.”
The first question I have about this verse is: What’s the marvelous work?
The prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament spoke of a “marvellous work and a wonder.” In his words:
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
(Isaiah 29:13-14)
This scripture speaks of a people who have fallen , the Lord has promised to “do a marvellous work among this people” that will supersede the understanding of men.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will tell you that the “marvellous work” is the restoration of the gospel and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon through the prophet Joseph Smith.
The fact that the Book of Mormon came forth at all is truly miraculous. Originally written on gold plates in reformed Egyptian by prophets in the Americas over the span of a thousand years, and then preserved in the ground at the Hill Cumorah to come forth at a later time, that Joseph Smith was able to receive the plates at all is a miracle beyond comprehension.
He then translated them in the midst of persecutions and “strenuous exertions” of opponents to get them from him. A young, unlearned farm boy, he proceeded to translate the entire 532-page book in only about 65 working days. And the days Joseph spent were not consecutive; there were times that he had to stop to procure supplies or even relocate his family because of persecution.
But when Joseph was able to return to translating, he would start up exactly where he had left off. “After meals, or after interruptions, [Joseph] would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him” (“Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” Saints’ Herald, 1 Oct. 1879, 290; quoted in Neal A. Maxwell, “‘By the Gift and Power of God’,” Ensign, Jan 1997, 36). Most people engaged in a writing project find it helpful to go back over what they wrote the day before. It’s easy to lose track of a narrative after some time away. But Joseph didn’t do that.
These are only some of the “marvels” that have come along with this work. Along with the translation of the Book of Mormon, priesthood keys were restored to the earth by the laying on of hands through angelic messengers. These keys enabled men on the earth once again to perform saving ordinances such as baptism with the proper authority, and gave them the authority to organize Christ’s church. What a miracle that is, to have the power of God on the earth once more, received directly from messengers from heaven!
Like a row of dominoes falling one into another, more blessings followed the restoration of the priesthood. The priesthood enabled Christ’s church to be organized on the earth again. It allowed the building of temples, and the participation of ordinances therein such as the sealing of families and work for the dead. The restored Church, the kingdom of God on the earth, is like the stone cut from the mountain without hands that rolls would become a great mountain and would fill the whole earth mentioned in Daniel 2:44-45.
Works don’t get much more marvelous than this.
As I think of all this, it makes sense to me. If the true church were not to be found on the earth, but the Lord in His mercy saw fit to bring it forth again, that He would do so through angelic messengers and a book of scripture that testifies of Christ really makes sense. It also makes sense that He would choose someone unlearned in the eyes of men but humble and teachable as His prophet. Truly it is a marvelous work and a wonder that we see the fruits of today. I am grateful to live at a time when I can be a part of it.
