Symbols of the Word of God (Come, Follow Me)

For Come, Follow Me this week, I noticed something interesting. In Doctrine and Covenants 17:1, we see a list of items that would be shown to the three witnesses. As I pondered those items, I started to see that they symbolize the Word of God, revealed to God's children to guide us back to Heavenly Father and to serve as a protection to us on our mortal journey:

• The plates: On them was found "the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel" (Doctrine and Covenants 27:5).
• The sword of Laban: Symbolic of the counsel that the Lord had given several people, "I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word" (Doctrine and Covenants 11:2; see also sections 6, 12, and 14).
• The Liahona: "In the Book of Mormon, a brass ball with two pointers that gave directions—as a compass—and also spiritual instruction to Lehi and his followers when they were righteous. The Lord provided the Liahona and gave instructions through it" (Bible Dictionary).
• A breastplate: "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:11-14).
• The Urim and Thummim: "Hebrew term that means “Lights and Perfections.” An instrument prepared of God to assist man in obtaining revelation from the Lord and in translating languages" (Bible Dictionary).

Repetition in the Doctrine and Covenants (Come, Follow Me)

 In this week's Come, Follow Me reading (Doctrine and Covenants 12–13; Joseph Smith—History 1:66–75), we see in section 12 some of the same phrases we read in earlier revelations.  I have sometimes wondered why we see so many repeated phrases in these early sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, but it's not so surprising when I consider how much repetition we see throughout the scriptures.  

For example, how often have we read that if we keep the commandments, we will prosper in the land?  In other places, we see the same verse repeated once and sometimes twice.  

It seems to me that when the word of the Lord is repeated, I should pay close attention.