D&C 12: Clip Show

This revelation to Joseph Knight could have been just two words:  "See above."

If we were to remove parts of this revelation that hadn't already been revealed, would anything be left?  Not only is this a lame revelation even broader and less personalized than today's patriarchal blessings, but including it in codified scripture is a strange choice.  It's filler.  It's all rehashed material from previous sections.

I suppose it does kind of drive home the point that everybody should be a missionary, although it oddly makes it sound less mandatory and more uniform across the sexes than present-day practices (verse 4):

Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.

This isn't a rite of passage for men and an option for women, this is an open invitation to every faithful follower.   But the previous verse does put a more urgent spin on it:

Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.

I'm assuming the masculine pronouns here are a product of the noble-sounding old-school English phrasing and not an indication that women are not called to the work.  But if that's correct, then this verse makes it clear that everyone should be heavily invested in missionary work because that's how you secure your everlasting salvation. 

Which does make one wonder why official missionary service is optional for women today.