Let’s dive into how this brief instruction serves as a foundational Blueprint for Eternity.

Temple Revelation & Authority

The Saints needed help relocating and rebuilding after being expelled from Missouri. D&C 125 provided clear direction: gather in Iowa, across the river from Nauvoo, and organize a place called Zarahemla.

Why was this instruction so crucial? This instruction is crucial because chaotic communities are incapable of constructing a house of the Lord. The organization called for in this section was necessary to establish the civil and religious order required to fulfill the greater Temple mission.

I often contemplate the authority required to execute these projects. The establishment of these sacred places is not possible without divine Authority. D&C 125, while focused on logistics, reinforces that the gathering and the organizational effort were mandated by God, giving the Saints the spiritual license needed to proceed toward greater light and knowledge.

Priesthood Keys & Celestial Marriage

The ultimate goal of gathering and building temples is to ensure our eternal progression. While D&C 125 doesn't explicitly speak of Celestial Marriage, it provides the pathway to receiving the doctrine. It was in the temples, made possible by the Saints' obedience to the gathering instructions, that the higher Priesthood Keys were introduced and exercised.

These keys grant the power to bind on earth and in heaven. They are essential for performing the Ordinances that link families together forever. Without the keys restored by Elijah and other ancient prophets, the highest blessings—the ability to form an eternal family unit—would be withheld.

As Brigham Young said, "If there is any lack, it is because we are not prepared to receive" those blessings. The organization's instructions in D&C 125 were part of that preparation.

Ordinances for Eternal Progression

We concentrated all our gathering and temple-building efforts on administering saving ordinances. These sacred rites—baptism, confirmation, the Priesthood Endowment, and Sealing—are the essential steps for our personal Eternal Progression.

The power of D&C 125 is that it calls the Saints to organize themselves in a place where these ordinances could be administered with proper order and solemnity. It’s impossible to administer the Endowment in a scattered, disorganized population. The gathering was about creating the necessary framework to receive these blessings.

The Prophet Joseph Smith frequently taught this principle:

The establishment of orderly settlements was necessary to utilize those keys effectively.

Zion & the Gathering of Israel.

At its heart, Doctrine and Covenants 125 serves as a directive concerning Zion. The Lord instructed the Saints to "name the place that is designated for the city of Zarahemla." This instruction was part of the greater effort of the Gathering of Israel.

Zion isn't just a geographical location; it's a people who are "of one heart and one mind," dwelling in righteousness. The Lord wanted the Saints to settle in and develop their communities so they could live according to the United Order principles and prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.

I consider it inspiring that even in moments of intense persecution and movement, the Lord’s priority was always the gathering—bringing His covenant people together to strengthen each other and prepare for the future.

Spiritual Gifts & Endowment

The ultimate result of obedience to revelation is an increase in light, knowledge, and spiritual power. As the Saints gathered and built temples, they prepared themselves to receive the Endowment, which is a gift of power from on high. This power enables us to access greater Spiritual Gifts and cope with the trials of mortality.

The Endowment binds us to God through solemn covenants and equips us with the knowledge necessary for returning to Him. I See D&C 125 as the logistical starting point for this celestial race. You can’t receive the power unless you follow the instructions on where and how to gather. The act of settling and building houses was an act of faith that unlocked the subsequent blessings of the Temple.

Conclusion

Doctrine and Covenants 125 might be short on verses, but it is long on implication. I consider it beautiful that the Lord connects the monumental tasks of obtaining Spiritual Gifts and entering the Celestial Kingdom to small, specific acts of obedience, like settling a particular piece of land and establishing order.

Our progression toward eternal life depends on our willingness to follow the current Revelation being given today. Just as the Saints in 1841 followed the instruction to gather, we must follow the instruction to prepare ourselves for the blessings of the Temple and the ultimate reality of eternal family life.

What new knowledge have we received?

Section 125

1. What is the will of the Lord concerning the saints in the Territory of Iowa?

2. Verily, thus saith the Lord, I say unto you, if those who call themselves by my name and are essaying to be my saints will do my will and keep my commandments concerning them, let them gather themselves together unto the places which I shall appoint unto them by my servant Joseph and build up cities unto my name, that they may be prepared for that which is in store for a time to come.

3. Let them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite the city of Nauvoo, and let the name of Zarahemla be named upon it.

4. And let all those who come from the east, west, north, and south, who wish to dwell there, take their inheritance in the same, as well as in Nashville, Nauvoo, and all the stakes I have appointed, saith the Lord.

Your thoughts, questions, and comments help us all receive the knowledge.

Please leave those in the comments below