Section 65 was designated by the Prophet Joseph Smith as a prayer. 1 This revelation refers to the Old Testament prophecy of Daniel that the God of heaven will set up his kingdom again upon the earth in the last days and announces that the fulfillment of that prophecy has commenced in the restoration of the gospel to the earth. The revelation reads as follows:
1 Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men—aPrepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 2 The akeys of the bkingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the cgospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the dstone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has efilled the whole earth. 3 Yea, a voice crying—aPrepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the bsupper of the Lamb, make ready for the cBridegroom. 4 Pray unto the Lord, acall upon his holy name, make known his wonderful bworks among the people. 5 Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall acome down in heaven, bclothed in the brightness of his cglory, to meet the dkingdom of God which is set up on the earth. 6 Wherefore, may the akingdom of God go forth, that the bkingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be cglorified in heaven so on earth, that thine denemies may be subdued; for ethine is the honor, power and glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Verse 2 announces that Daniel’s prophecy of the establishment of God’s kingdom in the last days is about to be fulfilled in the restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Speaking on this subject, Joseph Smith said, “I calculate to be one of the instruments of setting up the kingdom of Daniel by the word of the Lord, and I intent to lay a foundation that will revolutionalize the whole world.”2 This must have been considered an awesome prophecy for the then small and struggling group of new converts in Ohio and Missouri in 1831. Even now, with over 14 million members of the Church, our numbers are small when compared to the 7 billion who inhabit earth.
Speaking of the destiny of the Kingdom of God and the restoration, the Prophet Joseph Smith declared:
The Standard of Truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame. But the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and dependent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, until the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah will say, ‘The work is done.” 3
Notes
1. History of the Church, 1:128
2. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 366.
3. History of the Church, 4:540.