Doctrine and Covenants 97

Merciful Judge

Verily, verily I say unto you, blessed are such, for they shall obtain; for I, the Lord, show mercy unto all the meek, and upon all whomsoever I will, that I may be justified when I shall bring them unto judgment. Doctrine and Covenants 97:2

The Lord, who will judge everyone, promises mercy to the meek and humble. The blessing echoes Jesus' Beatitudes.

• alludes to Matthew 5:5-7 — Blessed are the meek... Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy
• alludes to John 5:22 — The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son

Abiding in Christ

Behold, I say unto you, concerning the school in Zion, I, the Lord, am well pleased that there should be a school in Zion, and also with my servant Parley P. Pratt, for he abideth in me. Doctrine and Covenants 97:3–4

The Lord approves Parley P. Pratt because he "abideth in me," the language Jesus used for staying connected to Him as branches to the true vine.

• alludes to John 15:4-5 — Abide in me, and I in you... I am the vine, ye are the branches

Judgment

The ax is laid at the root of the trees; and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire. I, the Lord, have spoken it. Doctrine and Covenants 97:7

The Lord repeats John the Baptist's warning, given as he prepared the way for Christ, and makes it His own: those who do not bear good fruit will face judgment.

• quotes Matthew 3:10 — Now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees
• quotes Luke 3:9 — Every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down
• quotes Alma 5:52 — The ax is laid at the root of the tree

Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit

Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me. Doctrine and Covenants 97:8

After His sacrifice fulfilled the law of burnt offerings, Christ asked for a new offering: a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He accepts those who offer it and keep their covenants.

• alludes to 3 Nephi 9:19-20 — Ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit
• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:7 — He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin... unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit

His Presence in His House

And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it; Doctrine and Covenants 97:15–17

Christ promises to come into a temple built and kept pure, where the pure in heart will see God. He fulfilled this kind of promise when He appeared in the Kirtland Temple.

• alludes to D&C 94:8-9 — My glory shall be there, and my presence shall be there
• alludes to D&C 110:7-8 — I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house
• alludes to Matthew 5:8 — Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God
• alludes to Malachi 3:1 — The Lord... shall suddenly come to his temple

Salvation and High Tower

High tower — a fortress refuge; salvation — deliverance

And the nations of the earth shall honor her, and shall say: Surely Zion is the city of our God, and surely Zion cannot fall, neither be moved out of her place, for God is there, and the hand of the Lord is there; Doctrine and Covenants 97:19–20

The Lord swears to be Zion's salvation and high tower, psalm titles for Jehovah as the protector and Savior of His people.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to Psalm 18:2 — The LORD is my rock... the horn of my salvation, and my high tower
• alludes to 2 Samuel 22:3 — My high tower, and my refuge, my saviour

Second Coming

The Lord's scourge shall pass over by night and by day, and the report thereof shall vex all people; yea, it shall not be stayed until the Lord come; Doctrine and Covenants 97:23

The Lord's judgments on the wicked will continue until He comes again.

• alludes to D&C 45:31-33 — An overflowing scourge... shall not pass away until they see an overflowing scourge before the Lord's coming