In April 1829, around the time Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery first met at Harmony, Pennsylvania, the Lord gave Joseph a revelation that is now section 6 of the Doctrine and Covenants. At the time, Oliver was an earnest seeker of truth, and the revelation, directed to him, points him toward eternal life.
One of the most interesting parts of the revelation is verse 7: “Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.”
The revelation suggests that to obtain eternal life, we must learn “the mysteries of God.” What are “the mysteries of God”?
The word “mysteries” comes from the Greek μυστήρια (singular μυστήριον), which is used frequently in the New Testament. The Greek word has several meanings, all of which relate to things that are at least initially secret or hidden.
For the purposes of this series of articles, we will divide up mysteries into three categories: (1) secret things that God has revealed through his prophets; (2) secret things that God reveals to individuals for their personal edification; and (3) secret things God has not and will not yet reveal.
Over the next three weeks, we will provide articles about each of these three types of mysteries. As these articles will explain, depending on the meaning of the term “mysteries,” we are either to seek them actively or leave them entirely alone.
Stay tuned.
