Now, that sounds interesting, doesn't it? I waited with bated breath as we read through the verses, looking for these personal details that Joseph Smith could not possibly know. It's a short section, so I didn't have to wait long:Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to John Whitmer, at Fayette, New York, June 1829 (see the heading to section 14). The message is intimately and impressively personal in that the Lord tells of what was known only to John Whitmer and Himself. John Whitmer later became one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
Well, that was anticlimactic. The "intimately and impressively personal" part could have been said about literally anyone. Who at that time and place in history didn't wonder about what God wanted them to do with their life? And JS exploits that to guilt John Whitmer into missionary work, the same tactic that's used to this day on all the youth.3 And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone—
4 For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.
5 Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given you according to my commandments.
6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.
As a side note, I've noticed that the chapter headings are often used to add or emphasize things that are not really there. It's especially prevalent in the New Testament, which DW and I just finished reading. The heading would have some bit of particular LDS doctrine, and then when you look for it in the chapter there's only a glancing, twisted reference to it in the actual text. It's all about how you frame things, right? Tell people what you want them to see, and they'll see it.
