D&C 3

The works and the designs and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught

God doth not walk in crooked paths: the way to happiness is consistent

AGAIN: it is NOT the work of God that is frustrated,but the work of men

Acknowledgement that people are given revelations and power, and that can seem impressive, but IF THEY BOAST THEY MUST FALL, because their power is not of their own making, it is of God.

Joseph knew the rules. He frequently forgot them in small ways and was forgiven. But this was not a small way. 

“You should not have feared man more than God” 

At this time Joseph had to give back the stones and the plates and lost the ability to translate for a period of time while he repented.

REAL CONSEQUENCES. These verses are a warning that our gifts (physical and spiritual) can be taken away for good. 

***learning experience*** maybe Joseph needed to have this humbling experience in order to truly understand that the POWER and the GIFTS and REVELATIONS he had were of God, (see verse 4)

Take-home lesson: sometimes we need to be humbled a bit to adjust our perspective