D&C 95: 6 and 12 “6 They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day. 12 If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness.”
Study Insights
D&C 95:6 and 12 (June 1833)
Walking in Darkness at Noonday
Doctrine and Covenants 95:6 and 12, received in June 1833 in Kirtland, Ohio, deliver one of the most vivid spiritual warnings in early Latter-day Saint scripture. The Lord declares, “They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day.” The imagery is striking—darkness at noon-day suggests not ignorance, but willful blindness. These verses were directed toward Saints who had delayed in obeying a direct commandment: to build the Kirtland Temple, the “house of the Lord.” Despite having the light of revelation and the gospel, some still hesitated to act.
The Lord’s rebuke was not simply about a building project. It was about spiritual awareness. The Saints had been blessed with the “noonday sun” of restored truth, yet by neglecting to follow divine instruction, they had turned away from that light. In these verses, the Lord teaches a timeless principle—knowledge without obedience leads to spiritual darkness. It is not enough to believe in light; one must walk in it.
The Power and Consequence of Choice
When the Lord says, “They who are not chosen,” He is not speaking of divine favoritism. Being “chosen” depends on faithfulness, not status. Those who fail to act upon truth exclude themselves from divine favor—not because God withholds it, but because they step away from it. The “grievous sin” mentioned in verse 6 lies in rejecting opportunity. To know the will of God and choose inaction is to choose darkness even while standing in daylight.
This message was particularly significant for the Saints of Kirtland. They were surrounded by unprecedented revelation, spiritual gifts, and prophetic guidance. Yet divine privilege brings divine accountability. The Lord’s chastisement was a call to repentance, not condemnation. It reminded them—and us—that spiritual light grows only through consistent obedience.
When Light Is Lost Through Disobedience
Verse 12 reinforces this truth: “If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness.” Here, the Lord links obedience directly to divine connection. The “love of the Father” is not something withdrawn out of anger—it is something that fades when people turn away from His will. The image of walking in darkness is both symbolic and practical. Those who disregard commandments lose spiritual clarity, moral direction, and divine protection.
This is not a message of despair but of urgency. The Lord was teaching the Saints that disobedience disrupts spiritual vision, while obedience restores it. The solution to darkness is always the same—turn back toward the light. The Lord’s words remind every believer that the commandments are not restrictions but pathways to illumination.
The Modern Reflection of Ancient Truth
For the Saints in 1833, these verses sparked renewed commitment. Within months, construction on the Kirtland Temple began in earnest, leading to some of the most sacred manifestations in Church history. For modern readers, D&C 95:6 and 12 still carry profound relevance. They challenge us to examine how we respond to spiritual light in our own lives. To walk “in darkness at noon-day” is to have truth before us and ignore it. But to walk in the light is to move with faith, humility, and trust in divine guidance. In every generation, God calls His people to action. His love shines brightest when we choose to see, obey, and build according to His will.
