D&C 1:2 - Part 1: The Voice of God
D&C 1:2 – For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men and there is none to escape...
In this second verse, he uses the word “for” as a link to the first verse. This linking word denotes a reason why or expanded explanation of the verse preceding. We should "listen together," speaking to the church and scattered Israel. "For verily [because truly] the voice of the Lord [the voice of him who dwells on high] is unto all men."
The Voice of the Lord
That voice of God, from the pinnacle of his high and exalted place, the "warning voice" (verse 4), is extended to all who will hear. God is no respecter of persons. "Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear" (D&C 1:11, emphasis added). Let all come and be filled with his words. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1). Yet it works both ways, people can either accept and feast upon Christ's words, or they can reject them. "They are free to choose liberty and eternal life...or to choose captivity and death" (2 Nephi 2:27).
Throughout the scriptures, the reference to the "voice of the Lord" is made frequently for acknowledging obedience or disobedience to his words and will. The voice comes in three ways, but these have nearly always been directed to those who are or have once been believers. The voice comes:
- By God's mouth directly or through his Spirit
- As proclaimed by angels
- Or as delivered by inspired men and women.
I. Voice of God
Several scriptures refer to the voice of God coming from his mouth directly to his children beginning with Adam and Eve. They heard his voice as they strolled in the Garden of Eden (Moses 4:14) and even after they had been sent out of God's presence (Moses 5:4). From that time down to present, men and women have heard the voice of the Lord from on high speak to their ears and hearts, and when one hears that voice, it is riveting to the core.
One of my favorite examples of the voice of God to one of his disciples is the when the Lord spoke to Nephi, the son of Helaman, in Helaman 10:3-11. When the Lord speaks directly to his children through his voice, it is often in calling a prophet and usually contains a warning message, or a message of hope (Isaiah 6:14, 1 Nephi 17:7, Jacob 7:5, Enos 2:10, Mosiah 26:14, Helaman 13:3, 3 Nephi 1:12, Mormon 3:14, etc.).
Access to this voice was one of the pinnacle accomplishments of the restoration of the priesthood through Joseph Smith. "The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church," he wrote in 1835. He expounded on these keys and blessings as follows, "To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant" (D&C 107:18-19). That "communion" includes hearing the voice of the Lord.
The voice of God is the most authoritative voice that one can aspire to hear. And though it may seem daunting to hear the voice of God, he calls all to come unto him and hear his voice directly. This is the privilege of the children of God, to hear and hearken to his voice. He directs us as follows: "For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God" (D&C 84:44). This voice is either heard directly from his mouth or, more commonly, through the medium of the Holy Ghost.
The voice of God is the most authoritative voice that one can aspire to hear. And though it may seem daunting to hear the voice of God, he calls all to come unto him and hear his voice directly. This is the privilege of the children of God, to hear and hearken to his voice. He directs us as follows: "For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God" (D&C 84:44). This voice is either heard directly from his mouth or, more commonly, through the medium of the Holy Ghost.
II. Voice of Angels
The voice of the Lord is sometimes delivered not directly to his people by the Lord, but through servants he employs, both mortal and immortal. Alma declared that the "voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare [his warning message] unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy" (Alma 13:22-26). That message is usually delivered to "just and holy men" by the mouths of angels, and then declared by those men to the Lord's target audience. We call these men prophets. King Benjamin's message to his people was a good example of this interaction between a just and holy man, an angel, and the people (see Mosiah chapter 3 starting in verse two).
This is one of the primary roles of angels. Mormon, in a letter to his son Moroni, taught about the role of angels, saying, "the office of their [angels'] ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him. And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men'' (Moroni 7:31-32).
As we learn also from Joseph Smith, this is also a function of the lesser, or Aaronic priesthood. "The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments" (D&C 107:20). Angels are linked with the gospel of repentance and are sent to prepare men and women for greater spiritual blessings. They lead men and women to the greater blessing of communing with God directly.
III. Voice of Prophets
For most of the world, they will hear the voice of the Lord through the mouths of his servants, or those just and holy men called of God to deliver his warning message (D&C 1:4). For the words of the Lord "shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" (D&C 1:38). This is not because the world at large cannot hear directly from God or his angels, but because they do not seek that communication. The Lord said unto Orson Hide that any who are "ordained unto this priesthood" may be that messenger or servant. "Whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation" (D&C 68:4). This message from these just and holy men will originate either from the mouth of God or his angels as described above.
In truth, all people first hear the word through a servant of the Lord before they hear it from God. Joseph Smith addresses this in Lectures on Faith. He said that all faith comes from the testimony of our first father and mother, Adam and Eve, that they saw and heard the Lord. This message is passed down through the ages by the testimonies of men and women. We first believe these reports and then God becomes the object of our faith "until [we] became extensively acquainted with him, and not only commune with him and behold his glory, but be partakers of his power and stand in his presence" (Lecture 2:33-35). Once we prove obedient to the words of the servant(s) and come to the Father in purity of heart, then will we have the privilege of hearing the voice of God personally, and eventually beholding his glory with our own eyes (D&C 88:68).
None to escape
So all shall hear that voice, whether directly from the Lord or through his servants, it matters not. D&C 1:4 suggests that it is a warning voice and will be delivered by his chosen disciples. None shall escape that voice. Every ear shall hear and eye see the glory of the Lord. Why any would want to "escape" the voice of the Lord is beyond me. For the righteous and obedient disciples, the voice of the Lord speaks of joy and hope, words of comfort and peace. At the same time, for the unrighteous and disobedient, the voice of the Lord speaks of accountability and judgement. In the end-time scenario, we will see a day that all men, all women, all children, shall hear and know his holy message.
Are we seeking to hear from the voice of God, whether by his own voice or the voice of his servants?