D&C 62: Approval, Testimony, and Travel Together or Alone
I was in the shop last week finishing a small walnut box. Nothing special. Just a box. But I kept looking at it and thinking it wasn't quite right. The corners were tight and the finish was even, but something felt off. I set it aside and came back the next morning. First thing I saw was that I'd been too hard on myself. The box was fine. It was good work. I just couldn't see it while I was still standing over it.
D&C 62 reads like that feeling. The elders had been out preaching through rough roads and opposition. They'd given their testimonies in places that didn't want to hear them. And then the Lord says something simple. He's pleased, and that's not a long speech or a new assignment. Just approval.
What Does D&C 62 Teach About Testimonies
Verse 1 opens with the Lord saying he is pleased with the testimonies of the elders. That's the whole point of the revelation. Everything else in the chapter flows from that one statement.
Behold, it is expedient in me that my servants should come together, and that they should assemble themselves together, and that they should not cease to be diligent in their labors.
The word that stands out is "pleased." The Lord doesn't say their testimonies were perfect or eloquent or persuasive. He says he's pleased with them. That's a lower bar and a higher one at the same time. Lower because it doesn't require polish. Higher because it requires sincerity.
I think about that when I'm working on something that won't come out right. A testimony isn't a finished piece of furniture. It's the raw material. The Lord sees the grain underneath the rough surface. He knows what it can become. He's pleased with the honest start.
Meaning of the Lord's Approval in D&C 62
Verses 2 and 3 get into the travel question. The elders wanted to know if they should travel together or separately. The Lord says either is fine as long as they're led by the Spirit.
And again, verily I say unto you, it is not needful for you to go together; but let every man go alone, or by twos, as seemeth him good, according to the will and purposes of God.
That's a practical answer to a practical question, but there's something deeper in it. The Lord trusts them to decide. He doesn't give a rule. He gives a principle and lets them apply it.
In the shop, some jobs need two people. You can't joint a long board by yourself. You need someone on the other end to keep it square. Other jobs need solitude. You can't hear the plane cut if someone's talking. The elders faced the same choice. Sometimes you need a companion to keep you honest. Sometimes you need to walk alone and listen.
I wrote about a similar kind of trust in D&C 61: Cursed Waters, the Destroyer, and the Slow Path. The Lord gave specific warnings about the rivers and the destroyer, but he also let the elders make their own way. The pattern is consistent. He gives direction, not a script.
How to Apply D&C 62 to Missionary Work Today
The principles in this chapter apply beyond the early elders. Anybody serving in the Church today faces the same questions about whether they're doing enough or whether their testimony is good enough.
The answer in D&C 62 is the same for us. The Lord is pleased with honest effort. He doesn't need a perfect performance. He needs a willing heart and a testimony that's real, even if it's small.
The flexibility on travel is also relevant. We tend to think there's one right way to serve. The Lord says it depends. Go together or go alone, as the Spirit leads. That's permission to adapt. It's also a reminder to actually ask for guidance instead of assuming you already know the answer.
D&C 62 Travel Together or Separately Meaning
The travel question might seem like a minor detail. But the Lord included it in a revelation, which means it matters to him.
The historical context helps. These elders were traveling through dangerous territory. Missouri in the 1830s wasn't safe for Latter-day Saint missionaries. Traveling together meant safety and support, and traveling alone meant covering more ground. Both had trade-offs. The Lord didn't pick one. He said do what seems right to you, according to the will of God.
That last phrase is important. "According to the will and purposes of God." The elders weren't free to do whatever they wanted. They were free to choose how to accomplish what God had already asked them to do. Agency within assignment. That's a different thing than just doing your own thing and calling it inspiration.
Encouragement for Elders in Early Church History
The early elders needed this revelation. They were exhausted. They'd been rejected, threatened, and driven out of places. A word of approval from the Lord was a lifeline.
I think about what it must have felt like to receive this. You're tired. You've been sleeping on the ground and eating whatever people give you. You're not sure if any of it is working. Then the Lord says he's pleased. He says it because you testified and stood up and said what you knew. That's the kind of approval that keeps a person going. That's not a performance review. It's a father saying he sees the work and it's good.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Lord care if the elders traveled together or separately in D&C 62
The Lord cares about the details of his work, including the practical ones. By giving the elders flexibility, he showed that the method matters less than the spirit behind it. He trusted them to make the right choice based on their circumstances and the guidance of the Spirit.
What does it mean that the Lord was pleased with the testimonies of the elders
It means their witness was sincere. The Lord values honesty and willingness over polish and performance. A simple testimony given from the heart is acceptable to him, even if it doesn't sound impressive to human ears.
How can the principles in D&C 62 be applied to modern service or callings
Modern members can take comfort in knowing that God sees and accepts honest effort. The chapter also encourages seeking personal revelation about how to serve, rather than assuming there's only one right way. Flexibility and trust in the Spirit are part of the work.
What is the historical setting of D&C 62
The revelation was given at Chariton, Missouri, during a period when early elders were traveling under difficult conditions. They faced opposition, poverty, and physical hardship. The Lord's approval was a needed encouragement for men who were worn down by the demands of the work.
What does D&C 62 teach about agency and revelation
The chapter shows that agency and revelation work together. The elders were told they could travel together or separately as seemed good to them, but only according to the will and purposes of God. That means we have room to choose how we serve, but the direction still comes from him.
D&C 62 is a short chapter. Six verses. But it says something that every person who's ever tried to do something hard needs to hear. The Lord sees the effort. He's pleased with the testimony. And he trusts you to figure out the rest.
-- D.