Church History Matters – Episode 151: D&C 99-100 CFM – Missionary Work and The Importance of Family

Podcast: Church History Matters
Host: Scripture Central
Date: September 3, 2025
Sections Covered: Doctrine & Covenants 99–100
Main Theme: Exploring the challenges and beauty of missionary work and family priorities in early Latter-day Saint history through the cases of John Murdoch and Joseph Smith.

Overview of Episode

This episode continues Scripture Central’s deep-dive conversation series with Scott and Casey, focusing on D&C Sections 99 and 100. The hosts unravel the historical and spiritual contexts of these revelations, centering on the tension between missionary service and family responsibilities. The backdrop is the crisis of persecution in Missouri, but the stories zoom in on personal sacrifice, prioritization of family, and ripple effects of seemingly small missionary efforts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context and Placement of Section 99

• Historical Misplacement: Section 99 was out of chronological order in the 1876 edition of the Doctrine & Covenants due to dating errors. Recent scholarship (Joseph Smith Papers) corrected this in 2013, returning it to August 1832, prior to the Missouri crises (03:00–03:50).
• Importance of John Murdoch: The revelation is addressed to John Murdoch—not a top church leader, but a key figure whose family sacrifices and missionary service are notable (03:20–04:10).

2. The Story of John Murdoch and Family Sacrifice (04:10–06:43)

• Personal Tragedy: Murdoch’s wife dies after childbirth, leaving him with newborn twins; Joseph and Emma Smith adopt these twins after they lose their own (04:20–05:20).
• Mission Call: Amid relocating his family to Missouri, Murdoch is called on a mission; he struggles to arrange care for his children (05:30–06:00).
• Two-Year Separation: Due to Missouri’s turmoil, it is two years before he is reunited with his children, highlighting the real cost of early missionary service (06:10–06:20).

3. The Revelation’s Message and Family Priorities (06:43–09:31)

• Missionary Instruction: The Lord gives Murdoch a lifelong call to missionary service but instructs him, “it is not expedient that you should go until your children are provided for...” (07:51–08:32).
• Balancing Duties: Scott and Casey discuss the enduring tension between dedication to church callings and family care, referencing prophetic guidance and their personal experiences (08:32–10:41).

Notable Quote – President Hinckley:

“Here’s your priorities. Number one, God, number two, your family, number three, your church calling.”
—Scott, paraphrasing Hinckley (09:37)

• Church Leaders Rebuked: They reference earlier revelations where even church leaders were chastised for neglecting their families (12:18–13:17).

4. Hard Consequences and Sacrifices for the Murdoch Family (13:29–16:22)

• Difficult Arrangements: Details of how different caretakers for his children presented emotional and financial challenges—some demanded payment, others left the faith (13:30–15:00).
• Tragic Losses: Murdoch lost his son (Joseph) to illness and mob violence and later his daughter (Phoebe) to cholera, despite all efforts (15:19–16:22).

Notable Quote – John Murdoch:

"[After losing my son]...They are in the Lord's hands."
—John Murdoch’s journal (14:58)

5. Promises and Spiritual Rewards (16:22–19:51)

• Divine Assurance: Despite losses, the Lord promises, “whoso receiveth you receiveth me.” Murdoch later records a vision of the Savior, marking him as a powerful, though unsung, witness (16:22–18:40).

Notable Quote – John Murdoch’s Vision:

"I saw the form of a man, the Savior, most lovely… His countenance was most penetrating and yet most lovely... it left on my mind the impression of love for months that I never felt before."
—John Murdoch’s account (17:20–18:20)

• Legacy: Murdoch’s sacrifice—though mostly private—has a quietly powerful effect. The hosts reflect on the difference between public recognition and private spiritual greatness (18:40–19:51).

6. Section 100: Missionary Work Amid Crisis (19:52–28:18)

• Background: Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon accept a mission to Perrysburg, New York, during growing threats in Missouri; their families are at risk (20:20–22:54).
• Divine Reassurance: The Lord tells them, “your families are well… and I will do with them as seemeth me good…” (22:54–24:00).
• “Effectual Door”: Their three-week mission results in a few converts, but these lead indirectly to the pivotal British mission and tens of thousands joining the church (24:00–28:18).

Notable Quote – Casey:

“Small things lead to big results… that effectual door really makes the church an international church.” (25:48–27:37)

7. The Story of Lydia Bailey Knight (28:18–33:12)

• Personal Redemption: Lydia, abandoned by her husband and mourning her child, is converted and receives spiritual experiences and personal promises from Joseph Smith (28:18–31:50).
• Enduring Blessings: Her story demonstrates how individual suffering can be turned to collective good and generational church impact (31:50–33:12).

8. Joseph and Sidney: Complementary Gifts (33:12–37:12)

• Roles Defined: Joseph Smith as “mighty in testimony”; Sidney Rigdon as a scriptorian and preacher (33:12–34:30).
• Partnership Evolves: The dynamic between Sidney (the eloquent spokesman) and Joseph (the inspired witness) sometimes brought tension, but ultimately led to Joseph’s growth as a preacher, especially in Nauvoo (34:30–37:12).

9. Assurance for Persecuted Saints (37:12–42:10)

• Zion’s Promise: Despite ominous foreshadowing, the Lord assures that “Zion shall be redeemed… all things shall work together for good…” (37:12–39:04).
• Applied Principles: The section emphasizes “leaning into service” and “doing what good you can where you are,” even as larger crises rage elsewhere (39:31–42:10).

Notable Quote – Scott:

“Maybe sometimes the best medicine for coping with serious worries… is to lean into what you do, have control over and do as much good as you can in the realm that you have some control over.” (39:31–40:05)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “We made it to the triple digits, Casey. Triple digits in the Doctrine and Covenants.”
  —Scott (00:00)
• “This is how the Lord works... Small things lead to big results.”
  —Casey (00:07–00:10, 25:48)
• “There’s been times in my life… I felt guilt, like, am I neglecting my family because I’m carrying out this church assignment?”
  —Casey (08:32)
• “You never get a pass on being a parent. That’s your top priority after your relationship with God.”
  —Casey (13:17)
• “Sometimes the most significant person in a cemetery doesn’t have the biggest headstone. Even a person who doesn’t have a great office in the church… can have very significant, special experiences.”
  —Casey (19:24)
• “Your families are well. I love that he begins like that. Your families are well. They are in mine hands...”
  —Scott (22:54)
• “No missionary work that’s wasted. Joseph and Sidney just saw a couple converts… but from those converts came the paving of the way for more converts…”
  —Scott (27:42)
• “Joseph didn’t really feel comfortable as a preacher early on… but later in Nauvoo, he’ll kind of grow into that…”
  —Scott (36:10)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Section 99 Context & John Murdoch’s Background – 01:05–06:27
• Murdoch’s Revelation & Family Decisions – 06:43–10:41
• Balancing Family and Church Service – 08:32–13:17
• Account of Murdoch's Children's Fates – 13:29–16:22
• John Murdoch's Vision of Christ – 16:22–19:51
• Section 100 Context: Mission to Perrysburg & Missouri Crisis – 19:55–22:54
• The ‘Effectual Door’ and Missionary Ripple Effects – 22:54–28:18
• Lydia Bailey Knight’s Conversion & Blessings – 28:18–33:12
• Joseph & Sidney: Testimony vs. Expounding – 33:12–37:12
• Promises for Zion amid Persecution – 37:12–39:04
• Lessons in Service under Stress – 39:31–42:10

Takeaway Lessons

• The early Saints’ struggle to balance church service and family is timeless and deeply human.
• Seemingly small efforts in missionary work can open “effectual doors” and lead to vast spiritual legacies.
• Divine guidance frequently assures anxious leaders: “Your families are well… they are in my hands.”
• Sacrifice and suffering, while real and costly, often result in spiritual refinement and deepened witness.
• The partnership of bearing testimony and expounding scripture—modeled by Joseph and Sidney—remains essential to inspired teaching and leadership.

Conclusion

Amid crises and personal sacrifice, D&C 99 and 100 show the Lord’s care for his servants’ families and open new missionary frontiers. The stories of John Murdoch and Lydia Bailey highlight the costs of discipleship but also the immense, often unseen, spiritual fruits. The episode closes as Scott and Casey prepare to tackle the difficult story of the Saints’ persecution in Missouri in their next installment.