Build on the Rock

Build upon my rock, which is my gospel. DOCTRINE & COVENANTS 11:24

In the beautiful region of Caesarea Philippi, only six months before the Savior’s death, Peter bore his Spirit-given witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus replied, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Upon what, then, was the Christian church to be built? First of all, Jesus is the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), the very Foundation (Helaman 5:12), the Chief Cornerstone of the Church (Ephesians 2:19—20). In addition, the Prophet Joseph Smith explained, the rock upon which the Lord’s Church was to be built was the rock of revelation (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 274). As individual Church members build their lives upon Jesus Christ and upon continuing revelation (both personal and institutional’), the gates of hell—the power and dominion of the devil—will never prevail. (Robert L. Millet and Lloyd D. Newell. Draw Near Unto Me: Daily Reflections on the Doctrine and Covenants. 43)