Chapter XV
The Important Conference of June 3rd-6th--Arrival of the Elders in Western Missouri.
[Sidenote: Important Conference of June 3rd-6th, at Kirtland.]
On the 3rd [1] of June, the Elders from the various parts of the country where they were laboring, came in; and the conference before appointed, convened in Kirtland; and the Lord displayed His power to the most perfect satisfaction of the Saints. The man of sin was revealed, [2] and the authority of the {176} Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the Elders. [3] It was clearly evident that the Lord gave us power in proportion to the work to be done, and strength according to the race set before us, and grace and help as our needs required. [4] Great harmony prevailed; several were ordained; faith was strengthened; and humility, so necessary for the {177} blessing of God to follow prayer, characterized the Saints.
The next day, as a kind continuation of this great work of the last days, I received the following:
Revelation, given June, 1831. [5]
1. Behold, thus saith the Lord unto the Elders whom He hath called and chosen in these last days, by the voice of His Spirit,
2. Saying, I, the Lord, will make known unto you what I will that ye shall do from this time until the next conference, which shall be held in Missouri, upon the land which I will consecrate unto my people, which are a remnant of Jacob, and those who are heirs according to the covenant.
3. Wherefore, verily I say unto you, let my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon take their journey as soon as preparations can be made to leave their homes, and journey to the land of Missouri.
4. And inasmuch as they are faithful unto me, it shall be made known unto them what they shall do;
5. And it shall also, inasmuch as they are faithful, be made known unto them the land of your inheritance.
6. And inasmuch as they are not faithful, they shall be cut off, even as I will, as seemeth me good.
7. And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Corrill take their journey speedily;
8. And also my servant John Murdock, and my servant Hyrum Smith, take their journey unto the same place by the way of Detroit.
9. And let them journey from thence preaching the word by the way, saying none other things than that which the Prophets and Apostles have written, and that which is taught them by the Comforter through the prayer of faith.
10. Let them go two by two, and thus let them preach by the way in every congregation, baptizing by water, and the laying on of the hands by the water's side;
11. For thus saith the Lord, I will cut my work short in righteousness, for the days come that I will send forth judgment unto victory.
12. And let my servant Lyman Wight beware, for Satan desireth to sift him as chaff.
13. And behold, he that is faithful shall be made ruler over many things.
14. And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye {178} may not be deceived, for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations;
15. Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances.
16. He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances.
17. And again, he that trembleth under my power shall be made strong, and shall bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom, according to the revelations and truths which I have given you.
18. And again, he that is overcome and bringeth not forth fruits, even according to this pattern, is not of me;
19. Wherefore, by this pattern ye shall know the spirits in all cases under the whole heavens.
20. And the days have come, according to men's faith it shall be done unto them.
21. Behold, this commandment is given unto all the Elders whom I have chosen.
22. And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Thomas B. Marsh, and my servant Ezra Thayre, take their journey also, preaching the word by the way unto this same land.
23. And again, let my servant Isaac Morley, and my servant Ezra Booth take their journey, also preaching the word by the way unto this same land.
24. And again, let my servants Edward Partridge and Martin Harris take their journey with my servants Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith, Jun.,
25. Let my servants David Whitmer and Harvey Whitlock also take their journey and preach by the way unto this same land.
26. And let my servants Parley P. Pratt and Orson Pratt take their journey and preach by the way, even unto this same land.
27. And let my servants Solomon Hancock and Simeon Carter also take their journey unto this same land, and preach by the way.
28. Let my servants Edson Fuller and Jacob Scott also take their journey.
29. Let my servants Levi W. Hancock and Zebedee Coltrin also take their journey.
30. Let my servants Reynolds Cahoon and Samuel H. Smith also take their journey.
31. Let my servants Wheeler Baldwin and William Carter also take their journey.
32. And let my servants Newel Knight and Selah J. Griffin, both be ordained, and also take their journey;
33. Yea, verily, I say, let all these take their journey unto one place, {179} in their several courses, and one man shall not build upon another's foundation, neither journey in another's track.
34. He that is faithful, the same shall be kept and blessed with much fruit.
35. And again, I say unto you, let my servants Joseph Wakefield and Solomon Humphrey take their journey into the eastern lands;
36. Let them labor with their families, declaring none other things than the Prophets and Apostles, that which they have seen and heard, and most assuredly believe, that the prophecies may be fulfilled.
37. In consequence of transgression, let that which was bestowed upon Heman Bassett be taken from him, and placed upon the head of Simonds Ryder.
38. And again, verily I say unto you, let Jared Carter be ordained a Priest, and also George James be ordained a Priest.
39. Let the residue of the Elders watch over the Churches, and declare the word in the regions round about them: and let them labor with their own hands that there be no idolatry nor wickedness practiced.
40. And remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple.
41. And again, let my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, and Edward Partridge, take with them a recommend from the Church. And let there be one obtained for my servant Oliver Cowdery also;
42. And thus, even as I have said, if ye are faithful, ye shall assemble yourselves together to rejoice upon the land of Missouri, which is the land of your inheritance, which is now the land of your enemies.
43. But, behold, I the Lord, will hasten the city in its time, and will crown the faithful with joy and with rejoicing.
44. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and I will lift them up at the last day. Even so. Amen.
Shortly after the foregoing was received, at the request of Algernon Sidney Gilbert I inquired, and obtained the following:
Revelation, given June, 1831. [6]
1. Behold, I say unto you my servant Sidney Gilbert, that I have heard your prayers, and you have called upon me that it should be made known unto you of the Lord your God, concerning your calling {180} and election in the Church, which I, the Lord, have raised up in these last days.
2. Behold, I, the Lord, who was crucified for the sins of the world, give unto you a commandment that you shall forsake the world.
3. Take upon you mine ordination, even that of an Elder, to preach faith and repentance, and remission of sins, according to my word, and the reception of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands.
4. And also to be an agent unto this Church in the place which shall be appointed by the Bishop, according to commandments which shall be given hereafter.
5. And again, verily I say unto you, you shall take your journey with my servants Joseph Smith, Jun, and Sidney Rigdon.
6. Behold these are the first ordinances which you shall receive, and the residue shall be made known in a time to come, according to your labor in my vineyard.
7. And again, I would that ye should learn that he only is saved who endureth unto the end. Even so. Amen.
[Sidenote: Difficulty in the Thompson Branch.]
The branch of the Church in Thompson, on account of breaking the covenant, [7] and not knowing what to do, they sent in Newel Knight and other Elders, to ask me to inquire of the Lord for them; which I did, and received the following:
{181} Revelation to Newel Knight, given at Kirtland, June, 1831. [8]
1. Behold, thus saith the Lord, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, even he who was crucified for the sins of the world.
2. Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, my servant, Newel Knight, you shall stand fast in the office wherewith I have appointed you;
3. And if your brethren desire to escape their enemies, let them repent of all their sins, and become truly humble before me and contrite;
4. And as the covenant which they made unto me has been broken, even so it has become void and of none effect;
5. And wo to him by whom this offense cometh, for it had been better for him that he had been drowned in the depth of the sea;
6. But blessed are they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy.
7. Wherefore, go to now and flee the land, lest your enemies come upon you; and take your journey, and appoint whom you will to be your leader, and to pay monies for you. [9]
8. And thus you shall take your journey into the regions westward, unto the land of Missouri, unto the borders of the Lamanites.
9. And after you have done journeying, behold, I say unto you, seek ye a living like unto men, until I prepare a place for you,
10. And again, be patient in tribulation until I come; and, behold, I came quickly, and my reward is with me, and they who have sought me early shall find rest to their souls. Even so. Amen.
The Elders now began to go to the western country, two and two, according to the word of the Lord.
[Sidenote: Report of Oliver Cowdery on Conditions in Western Missouri.]
From Parley P. Pratt, who during the spring had returned from his mission of last fall, we had verbal {182} information; and from letters from the still remaining Elders we had written intelligence; and as the mission to Western Missouri and the gathering of the Saints to that place was the most important subject which then engrossed the attention of the Church, I will here insert the copy of a letter, received about this time from that section, dated at Kaw Township, Missouri, May 7, 1831.
Our Dearly Beloved Brethren:--I have nothing particular to write as concerning the Lamanites; because of a short journey which I have just returned from, and in consequence of which I have not written to you since the 16th of last month. Brother Ziba Peterson and myself went into the county east, which is Lafayette, about forty miles; and, in the name of Jesus, we called on the people to repent, many of whom are, I believe, earnestly searching for truth, and if sincerely, I pray they may find that precious treasure, for it seems to be wholly fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter.
The letter we received from you, informed us that the opposition was great against you. Now, our beloved brethren, we verily believe that we also can rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for His name; for almost the whole country, consisting of Universalists, Atheists, Deists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and other professed Christians, priests and people; with all the devils from the infernal pit are united, and foaming out their own shame [against us]. God forbid that I should bring a railing accusation against them, for vengeance belongeth to Him who is able to repay; and herein, brethren, we confide.
I am lately informed of another tribe of Lamanites, who have abundance of flocks of the best kinds of sheep and cattle; and they manufacture blankets of a superior quality. The tribe is very numerous; they live three hundred miles west of Santa Fe, and are called Navashoes. [10] Why I mention this tribe is because I feel under obligations to communicate to my brethren any information concerning the Lamanites that I meet with in my labors and travels, believing, as I do, that much is expected from me in the cause of our Lord; and doubting not that I am daily remembered before the throne of the Most High by all my brethren, as well by those who have not seen my face in the flesh as by those who have.
We begin to expect our brother Parley P. Pratt soon; we have heard from him only when he was at St. Louis. We are all well, bless the Lord; {183} and preach the Gospel we will, if earth and hell oppose our way--for we dwell in the midst of scorpions--and in Jesus we trust. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery.
P. S.--I beseech Brother Whitney to remember and write, and direct to me, Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. [11]
{184} About the middle of June, while we were preparing for our journey to Missouri, William W. Phelps and {185} his family arrived among us--"to do the will of the Lord," he said: so I inquired of the Lord concerning him and received the following:
Revelation given June, 1831. [12]
1. Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant William, yea, even the Lord of the whole earth, thou art called and chosen, and after thou hast been baptized by water, which, if you do with an eye single to my glory, you shall have a remission of your sins and a reception of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands;
2. And then thou shalt be ordained by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., to be an Elder unto this Church, to preach repentance and remission of sins by way of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God;
3. And on whomsoever you shall lay your hands, if they are contrite before me, you shall have power to give the Holy Spirit.
4. And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting, and writing books for schools in this Church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me.
{186} 5. And again, verily I say unto you, for this cause ye shall take your journey with my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that you may be planted in the land of your inheritance to do this work.
6. And again, let my servant Joseph Coe also take his journey with them. The residue shall be made known hereafter, even as I will. Amen. [13]
[Sidenote: Marsh and Thayre Separated as Missionary Companions.]
Soon after I received the foregoing, Elder Thomas B. Marsh came to inquire what he should do; as Elder Ezra Thayre, his yoke-fellow in the ministry, could not get ready to start on his mission as soon as he (Marsh) would; and I inquired of the Lord, and received the following:
Revelation, given at Kirtland, 1831. [14]
1. Hearken, O ye people who profess my name, saith the Lord your God, for behold, mine anger is kindled against the rebellious, and they shall know mine arm and mine indignation, in the day of visitation and of wrath upon the nations.
2. And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.
3. Behold, I, the Lord, command, and he that will not obey, shall be cut off in mine own due time, after I have commanded, and the commandment is broken;
4. Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the Lord.
5. Wherefore, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants Thomas B. Marsh and Ezra Thayre, and give a new commandment unto my servant Thomas, that he shall take up his journey, speedily to the land of Missouri, and my servant Selah J. Griffin shall also go with him.
6. For behold, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants Selah J. Griffin and Newel Knight, in consequence of the stiffneckedness of my people which are in Thompson, and their rebellions;
{187} 7. Wherefore, let my servant Newel Knight remain with them, and as many as will go may go, that are contrite before me, and be led by him to the land which I have appointed.
8. And again, verily I say unto you, that my servant Ezra Thayre must repent of his pride, and of his selfishness, and obey the former commandment which I have given him concerning the place upon which he lives.
9. And if he will do this, as there shall be no divisions made upon the land, he shall be appointed still to go to the land of Missouri;
10. Otherwise he shall receive the money which he has paid; and shall leave the place, and shall be cut off out of my Church, saith the Lord God of hosts;
11. And though the heaven and the earth pass away, these words shall not pass away, but shall be fulfilled.
12. And if my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., must needs pay the money, behold, I, the Lord, will pay it unto him again in the land of Missouri, that those of whom he shall receive may be rewarded again according to that which they do;
13. For according to that which they do, they shall receive, even in lands for their inheritance.
14. Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people, you have many things to do and to repent of; for behold, your sins have come up unto me, and are not pardoned, because you seek to counsel in your own ways.
15. And your hearts are not satisfied. And ye obey not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness.
16. Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!
17. Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men's goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!
18. But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the fatness of the earth shall be theirs.
19. For behold, the Lord shall come, and His recompense shall be with him, and He shall reward every man, and the poor shall rejoice;
20. And their generations shall inherit the earth from generation to {188} generation, for ever and ever. And now I make an end of speaking unto you. Even so. Amen. [15]
[Sidenote: The Departure of the Prophet and Company for Missouri.]
On the 19th of June, in company with Sidney Rigdon, Martin Harris, Edward Partridge, William W. Phelps, Joseph Coe, Algernon S. Gilbert and his wife, I started from Kirtland, Ohio, for the land of Missouri, agreeable to the commandment before received, wherein it was promised that if we were faithful, the land of our inheritance, even the place for the city of the New Jerusalem, should be revealed. We went by wagon, canal boats, and stages to Cincinnati, where I had an interview with the Rev. Walter Scott, one of the founders of the Campbellites, or Newlight church. [16] Before the close of our interview, he manifested one of the bitterest spirits against the doctrine of the New Testament (that "these signs shall follow them that believe," as recorded in Mark the 16th chapter,) that I ever witnessed among men. We left Cincinnati in a steamer, and landed at Louisville, Kentucky, where we were detained three days in waiting for a steamer to convey us to St. Louis. At St. Louis, myself, Brothers Harris, Phelps, Partridge and Coe, went by land on foot to Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, where we arrived about the middle of July, and the rest of the company came by water a few days later.
[Sidenote: Treatment by the Way.]
Notwithstanding the corruptions and abominations of the times, and the evil spirit manifested towards us on account of our belief in the Book of Mormon, at many places and among various persons, yet the Lord continued His watchful care and {189} loving kindness to us day by day; and we made it a rule wherever there was an opportunity, to read a chapter in the Bible, and pray; and these seasons of worship gave us great consolation.
[Sidenote: Arrival in Missouri. Reflections on State of Society in Missouri. Questions and the Answer by Revelation.]
The meeting of our brethren, who had long awaited our arrival, was a glorious one, and moistened with many tears. It seemed good and pleasant for brethren to meet together in unity. But our reflections were many, coming as we had from a highly cultivated state of society in the east, and standing now upon the confines or western limits of the United States, and looking into the vast wilderness of those that sat in darkness; how natural it was to observe the degradation, leanness of intellect, ferocity, and jealousy of a people that were nearly a century behind the times, and to feel for those who roamed about without the benefit of civilization, refinement, or religion; yea, and exclaim in the language of the Prophets: "When will the wilderness blossom as the rose? When will Zion be built up in her glory, and where will Thy temple stand, unto which all nations shall come in the last days?" Our anxiety was soon relieved by receiving the following:
Revelation, given in Zion, July, 1831. [17]
1. Hearken, O ye Elders of my Church, saith the Lord your God, who have assembled yourselves together, according to my commandments, in this land, which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the Saints:
2. Wherefore, this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion.
3. And thus saith the Lord your God, if you will receive wisdom here is wisdom. Behold, the place which is now called Independence is the center place; and the spot for the temple is lying westward, upon a lot which is not far from the court house.
4. Wherefore it is wisdom that the land should be purchased by the Saints; and also every tract lying westward even unto the line running directly between Jew and Gentile.
{190} 5. And also every tract bordering by the prairies, inasmuch as my disciples are enabled to buy lands. Behold, this is wisdom, that they may obtain it for an everlasting inheritance.
6. And let my servant Sidney Gilbert stand in the office to which I have appointed him, to receive monies, to be an agent unto the Church, to buy land in all the regions round about, inasmuch as can be done in righteousness, and as wisdom shall direct.
7. And let my servant Edward Partridge, stand in the office to which I have appointed him, and divide unto the Saints their inheritance, even as I have commanded; and also those whom he has appointed to assist him.
8. And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Sidney Gilbert plant himself in this place, and establish a store, that he may sell goods without fraud, that he may obtain money to buy lands for the good of the Saints, and that he may obtain whatsoever things the disciples may need to plant them in their inheritance.
9. And also let my servant Sidney Gilbert obtain a license--(behold here is wisdom, and whoso readeth let him understand)--that he may send goods also unto the people, even by whom he will, as clerks employed in his service.
10. And thus provide for my Saints, that my Gospel may be preached unto those who sit in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death.
11. And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William W. Phelps be planted in this place, and be established as a printer unto the Church;
12. And lo, if the world receive his writings--(behold here is wisdom)--let him obtain whatsoever he can obtain in righteousness, for the good of the Saints.
13. And let my servant Oliver Cowdery assist him, even as I have commanded, in whatsoever place I shall appoint unto him, to copy, and to correct, and select, that all things may be right before me, as it shall be proved by the Spirit through him.
14. And thus let those of whom I have spoken be planted in the land of Zion, as speedily as can be, with their families, to do those things even as I have spoken.
15. And now concerning the gathering: Let the Bishop and the agent make preparations for those families which have been commanded to come to this land, as soon as possible, and plant them in their inheritance.
16. And unto the residue of both Elders and members further directions shall be given hereafter. Even so. Amen.
[Sidenote: The First Sabbath in Zion.]
The first Sabbath after our arrival in Jackson county, Brother W. W. Phelps preached to a western audience over the boundary of the United States, wherein were present specimens of all the families {191} of the earth; Shem, Ham and Japheth; several of the Lamanites or Indians--representative of Shem; quite a respectable number of negroes--descendants of Ham; and the balance was made up of citizens of the surrounding country, and fully represented themselves as pioneers of the West. At this meeting two were baptized, who had previously believed in the fullness of the Gospel.
[Sidenote: Arrival of the Colesville Branch.]
During this week the Colesville branch, referred to in the latter part of the last revelation, [18] and Sidney Rigdon, Sidney Gilbert and wife and Elders Morley and Booth, arrived. I received the following:
Revelation, given in Zion, August, 1831. [19]
1. Hearken, O ye Elders of my Church, and give ear to my word, and learn of me what I will concerning you, and also concerning this land unto which I have sent you:
2. For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
3. Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
4. For after much tribulation cometh the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.
5. Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.
6. Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;
7. And also that you might be honored of laying the foundation, and of bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand;
8. And also that a feast of fat things might be prepared for the poor; yea, a feast of fat things, of wine on the lees well refined, that the earth may know that the mouths of the Prophets shall not fail;
9. Yea a supper of the house of the Lord, well prepared, unto which all nations shall be invited.
10. Firstly, the rich and the learned, the wise and the noble;
{192} 11. And after that cometh the day of my power: then shall the poor, the lame, and the blind, and the deaf, come in unto the marriage of the Lamb, and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come.
12. Behold, I, the Lord, have spoken it.
13. And that the testimony might go forth from Zion, yea, from the mouth of the city of the heritage of God:
14. Yea, for this cause I have sent you hither, and have selected my servant Edward Partridge, and have appointed unto him his mission in this land;
15. But if he repent not of his sins, which are unbelief and blindness of heart, let him take heed lest he fall.
16. Behold his mission is given unto him, and it shall not be given again.
17. And whoso standeth in this mission is appointed to be a judge in Israel, like as it was in ancient days, to divide the lands of the heritage of God unto His children;
18. And to judge His people by the testimony of the just, and by the assistance of his counselors, according to the laws of the kingdom which are given by the Prophets of God;
19. For verily I say unto you, my law shall be kept on this land.
20. Let no man think he is ruler, but let God rule him that judgeth, according to the counsel of His own will; or, in other words, him that counseleth or sitteth upon the judgment seat.
21. Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land:
22. Wherefore be subject to the powers that be, until He reigns whose right it is to reign, and subdues all enemies under His feet.
23. Behold, the laws which ye have received from my hand are the laws of the Church, and in this light ye shall hold them forth. Behold, here is wisdom.
24. And now as I spake concerning my servant Edward Partridge, this land is the land of his residence, and those whom he has appointed for his counselors. And also the land of the residence of him whom I have appointed to keep my store-house;
25. Wherefore let them bring their families to this land, as they shall counsel between themselves and me.
26. For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things, for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
{193} 28. For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
29. But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.
30. Who am I that made man, saith the Lord, that will hold him guiltless that obeys not my commandments?
31. Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?
32. I command and men obey not, I revoke and they receive not the blessing;
33. Then they say in their hearts, this is not the work of the Lord, for His promises are not fulfilled. But wo unto such, for their reward lurketh beneath, and not above.
34. And now I give unto you further directions concerning this land.
35. It is wisdom in me that my servant Martin Harris should be an example unto the Church, in laying his monies before the Bishop of the Church.
36. And also, this is a law unto every man that cometh unto this land to receive an inheritance; and he shall do with his monies according as the law directs.
37. And it is wisdom also, that there should be lands purchased in Independence, for the place of the store-house, and also for the house of the printing.
38. And other directions concerning my servant Martin Harris shall be given him of the Spirit, that he may receive his inheritance as seemeth him good.
39. And let him repent of his sins, for he seeketh the praise of the world.
40. And also let my servant William W. Phelps stand in the office which I have appointed him, and receive his inheritance in the land;
41. And also he hath need to repent, for I, the Lord, am not well pleased with him, for he seeketh to excel, and he is not sufficiently meek before me.
42. Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
43. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins. Behold he will confess them and forsake them.
44. And now, verily, I say concerning the residue of the Elders of my Church, the time has not yet come, for many years, for them to receive their inheritance in this land--except they desire it through the prayer of faith--only as it shall be appointed unto them of the Lord.
{194} 45. For, behold, they shall push the people together from the ends of the earth;
46. Wherefore, assemble yourselves together; and they who are not appointed to stay in this land, let them preach the Gospel in the regions round about, and after that let them return to their homes.
47. Let them preach by the way, and bear testimony of the truth in all places, and call upon the rich, the high and the low, and the poor to repent;
48. And let them build up churches, inasmuch as the inhabitants of the earth will repent.
49. And let there be an agent appointed by the voice of the Church, unto the church in Ohio, to receive monies to purchase lands in Zion.
50. And I give unto my servant, Sidney Rigdon, a commandment that he shall write a description of the land of Zion, and a statement of the will of God, as it shall be made known by the Spirit unto him;
51. And an epistle and subscription, to be presented unto all the churches to obtain monies, to be put into the hands of the Bishop, of himself or the agent, as seemeth him good or as he shall direct, to purchase lands for an inheritance for the children of God.
52. For, behold, verily I say unto you, the Lord willeth that the disciples, and the children of men should open their hearts, even to purchase this whole region of country, as soon as the time will permit.
53. Behold, here is wisdom. Let them do this lest they receive none inheritance, save it be by the shedding of blood.
54. And again, inasmuch as there is land obtained, let there be workmen sent forth of all kinds unto this land, to labor for the saints of God.
55. Let all these things be done in order; and let the privileges of the lands be made known from time to time, by the Bishop or the agent of the Church;
56. And let the work of the gathering be not in haste, nor by flight, but let it be done as it shall be counseled by the Elders of the Church at the conferences, according to the knowledge which they receive from time to time.
57. And let my servant Sidney Rigdon consecrate and dedicate this land, and the spot for the temple unto the Lord.
58. And let a conference meeting be called, and after that let my servants Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith, Jun., return, and also Oliver Cowdery with them, to accomplish the residue of the work which I have appointed unto them in their own land, and the residue as shall be ruled by the conferences.
59. And let no man return from this land, except he bear record by the way of that which he knows and most assuredly believes.
{195} 60. Let that which has been bestowed upon Ziba Peterson be taken from him; and let him stand as a member in this Church, and labor his own hands, with the brethren until he is sufficiently chastened for all his sins, for he confesseth them not, and he thinketh to hide them.
61. Let the residue of the Elders of this Church, who are coming to this land, some of whom are exceedingly blessed even above measure, also hold a conference upon this land.
62. And let my servant Edward Partridge direct the conference which shall be held by them.
63. And let them also return, preaching the Gospel by the way, bearing record of the things which are revealed unto them;
64. For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the utmost parts of the earth--the Gospel must be preached unto every creature, with signs following them that believe.
65. And behold the Son of man cometh. Amen.
Footnotes
1. This date in the Prophet's narrative is given the 6th of June, but the minutes of the conference in the Far West Record are dated "June 3rd." In John Whitmer's History of the Church it is written: "June 3rd 1831, a general conference was called, and a blessing promised if the Elders were faithful and humble before Him [i. e. the Lord]. Therefore the Elders assembled from the east and from the west, from the north and the south, and also many members." (p. 21.) Whitmer, however, speaks of the conference as continuing several days (p. 22); and then under date of "the 6th of June" states that the revelation was given which Joseph, the Prophet, in the text of his History above, speaks of as having been given the day following the close of the conference. The 3rd of June, 1831, fell upon Friday, so that the great probability is that this important conference commenced on Friday and continued through Saturday and Sunday; and then before the Elders dispersed on Monday, the 6th, the revelation alluded to by the Prophet, was given. Previous conferences of a general character usually occupied three days, See p. 118, and hence it is likely that this one did.
2. The manner in which the man of sin was revealed and the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood manifested, is related by John Whitmer, in his History of the Church (ch. 7). After giving the names of those who were ordained High Priests the day on which the two powers were manifested, he says: "Joseph Smith, Jun., prophesied the day previous that the man of sin would be revealed. While the Lord poured out His Spirit upon His servants, the devil took a notion to make known his power. He bound Harvey Whitlock and John Murdock so that they could not speak, and others were affected but the Lord showed to Joseph, the seer, the design of the thing; he commanded the devil in the name of Christ, and he departed, to our joy and comfort."
Parley P. Pratt also alludes to this subject in his Autobiography: "In this conference much instruction was given by President Smith, who spoke in great power, as he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and the spirit of power and of testimony rested down upon the Elders in a marvelous manner. Here also were some strange manifestations of false spirits, which were immediately rebuked." (p. 72.)
3. A misapprehension has arisen in the minds of some respecting the statement--"The authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the Elders." It has been supposed that this passage meant that the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood was now for the first time conferred upon men in this dispensation. This of course is an error, since even before the Church was organized, the Apostleship, the highest authority in the Melchizedek Priesthood, was conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and very probably upon David Whitmer also (See pp. 40-42, note.) The Prophet does not mean that the Melchizedek Priesthood was given for the first time in the Church. It was at this conference, however, that the special office of High Priest was for the first time conferred upon men in this dispensation, except in so far as Apostles are also High Priests (Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 84:63); and of course as there were men who had been ordained to the apostleship before this conference of June, 1831, in that manner there had been High Priests in the Church, but not otherwise.
4. In addition to the spiritual manifestations already mentioned as having occurred at this conference of June 3rd-6th, it should be said that, according to John Whitmer's History of the Church (ch. 5): "The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Joseph in an unusual manner, and he prophesied that John the Revelator was then among the Ten Tribes of Israel who had been led away by Salmanasser, king of Assyria, to prepare them for their return from their long dispersion, to again possess the land of their fathers. He prophesied many more things that I have not written. After he had prophesied he laid his hands upon Lyman Wight and ordained him to the High Priesthood [i. e. ordained him a High Priest], after the holy order of God. And the Spirit fell upon Lyman, and he prophesied concerning the coming of Christ. He said that there were some in the congregation that should live until the Savior should descend from heaven with a shout, with all the holy angels with Him. He said the coming of the Savior should be like the sun rising in the east, and will cover the whole earth. So with the coming of the Son of Man; yea, He will appear in His brightness and consume all [the wicked] before Him; and the hills will be laid low, and the valleys be exalted, and the crooked be made straight, and the rough smooth. And some of my brethren shall suffer martyrdom for the sake of the religion of Jesus Christ, and seal their testimony of Jesus Christ, and seal their testimony of Jesus with their blood. He saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Father, making intercession for his brethren, the Saints. He said that God would work a work in these last days that tongue cannot express and the mind is not capable to conceive. The glory of the Lord shone around."
"The congregation at this conference number two thousand souls."--Cannon's Life of Joseph Smith the Prophet, p. 113.
This was the fourth general conference of the Church, the others were held on the 9th of June, 1830; the 26th of September, 1830; and the 2nd of January, 1831, respectively; and all at Fayette, Seneca County, New York.
5. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 52.
6. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 53.
7. It is difficult to determine with exactness in what the transgressions of the Saints at Thompson consisted; but it is evident that selfishness and rebellion were at the bottom of their trouble, and that Leman Copley and Ezra Thayre were immediately concerned in it. The saints comprising the Colesville branch, when they arrived at the gathering place, in Ohio, were advised to remain together and were settled at Thompson, a place in the vicinity of Kirtland. On their arrival Bishop Edward Partridge urged the Prophet Joseph to inquire of the Lord concerning the manner of settling them, and providing for them. Whereupon the Prophet inquired of the Lord and received the revelation found on page 173. It will be seen from that revelation that the saints of the Colesville branch were to be organized under the law of consecration and stewardship. That is, in brief, the Saints were to make a consecration of whatsoever things they possessed unto the Bishop, and then each man receive from the Bishop a stewardship. Every man was to be equal in his stewardship, according to his family, his circumstances, and his needs. For details in the matter the reader is referred to the revelation itself. It is evident that some of the brethren already living at Thompson, had agreed to enter into the law of consecration and stewardship with the Saints from Colesville; and that afterwards they broke this covenant. Among these were Leman Copley and Ezra Thayre. "A man by the name of Copley," says Newel Knight in his journal, "had a considerable tract of land there [in Thompson] which he offered to let the saints occupy. Consequently a contract was agreed upon, and we commenced work in good faith. But in a short time Copley broke the engagement, and I went to Kirtland to see Brother Joseph," etc. ("Scraps of Biography," in which is published Newel Knight's journal, ch. vi.) Of this matter, John Whitmer, then the Church Historian, writes: "At this time [the early part of June] the Church at Thompson, Ohio, was involved in difficulty because of the rebellion of Leman Copley, who would not do as he had previously agreed, which thing confused the whole Church, and finally the Lord spake through Joseph the Prophet, saying:" He then quotes the revelation to Newel Knight given in the text above.--(John Whitmer's History of the Church chap. viii). For Ezra Thayre's part in the proceedings at Thompson, see the revelation given to Thomas B. Marsh, pp. 186, 187.
8. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 54.
9. "The Church at Thompson," says John Whitmer, "made all possible haste to leave for Missouri, and left, and none of their enemies harmed them."--John Whitmer's History of the Church, chap. 8. Newel Knight was appointed the leader of this company, which was made up of the Colesville branch, and under his leadership they made the entire journey from Thompson to Missouri.
10. It was doubtless the Navajo Indians, whose reservation is now located in northeastern Arizona of whom Oliver heard.
11. The Mission to the Lamanites--As the "mission to the Lamanites" is a very prominent event in early Church history, it is proper that the labors of the brethren engaged in at should be spoken of more fully than appears anywhere in the Prophet's narrative, and at this point, following the letter of Oliver Cowdery, seems as appropriate a place as will be found to speak of it. It has already been said that the brethren of the mission called upon the Cattaraugus tribe, near Buffalo, New York, (p. 120 note). After leaving Kirtland, on their journey westward, they visited the Wyandot tribe of Indians near Sandusky, Ohio, with whom they spent several days. "We were well received," writes Elder Parley P. Pratt, "and had an opportunity of laying before them the record of their forefathers, which we did. They rejoiced in the tidings, bid us Godspeed, and desired us to write to them in relation to our success among the tribes further west, who had already removed to the Indian territory, where these expected soon to go."--Aut. P. P. Pratt, p. 54. On arriving at Independence two of the company secured employment, while the other three crossed the frontier and began their labors among the Indians. They visited the Shawnees, spending one night with them, and the next day crossed the Kansas river and began their labors among the Delawares. They sought an interview with the chief of the Delawares, known among the whites as Chief Anderson. He was the grand sachem of ten nations or tribes, and consequently possessed of large influence. He had always opposed the introduction of missionaries among his people, and therefore did not at first extend a very hearty welcome to the brethren. However, through an interpreter, the brethren made known their errand and explained to him the Book of Mormon and the information it contained for his people. They asked to be heard before a full council of his nation, a proposition which the chief took under consideration until the next day. Next morning the conversation with the Delaware Chief was renewed, but he was not inclined at first to call the council. But as he began to understand better the nature of the Book of Mormon, he changed his mind and asked the brethren to suspend their conversation until the council could be assembled. A runner was dispatched to the tribes, and in about an hour forty leading men were assembled and seated in grave silence to hear the message concerning the book of their forefathers. At the request of the chief Oliver Cowdery in substance delivered the following address:
Oliver Cowdery's Speech to the Delawares.
"Aged Chief, and Venerable Council of the Delaware nation: we are glad of this opportunity to address you as our red brethren and friends. We have traveled a long from towards the rising sun to bring you glad news; We have traveled the wilderness, crossed the deep and wide rivers, and waded in the deep snows, and in the face of the storms of winter, to communicate to you great knowledge which has lately come to oar ears and hearts and which will do the red man good as well as the pale face.
"Once the red men were many; they occupied the country from sea to sea--from the rising to the setting sun; the whole land was theirs; the Great Spirit gave it to them, and no pale faces dwelt among them. But now they are few in numbers; their possessions are small, and the pale faces are many.
"Thousands of moons ago, when the red men's forefathers dwelt in peace and possessed this whole land, the Great Spirit talked with them, and revealed His law and His will, and much knowledge to their wise men and prophets. This they wrote in a Book, together with their history and the things which should befall their children in the latter days.
"This Book was written on plates of gold and handed down from father to son for many ages and generations.
"It was then that the people prospered and were strong and mighty; they cultivated the earth, built buildings and cities and abounded in all good things, as the pale faces now do.
"But they became wicked; they killed one another and shed much blood; they killed their prophets and wise men, and sought to destroy the Book. The Great Spirit became angry and would speak to them no more; they had no more good and wise dreams; no more visions, no more angels sent among them by the Great Spirit; and the Lord commanded Mormon and Moroni, their last wise men and prophets to hide the Book in the earth, that it might be preserved in safety and be found and made known in the latter-day to the pale faces who should possess the land, that they might again make it known to the red men, in order to restore them to the knowledge of the will of the Great Spirit and to His favor. And if the red men would then receive this Book and learn the things written in it and do according thereunto, they should be restored to all their rights and privileges; should cease to fight and kill one another; should become one people; cultivate the earth in peace, in common with the pale faces who were willing to believe and obey the same Book and be good men and live in peace.
"Then should the red men become great and have plenty to eat and good clothes to wear, and should be in favor with the Great Spirit and be His children, while He would be their Great Father and talk with them, and raise up prophets and wise and good men among them again who should teach them many things.
"This Book, which contained these things, was hid in the earth by Moroni, in a hill called by him Cumorah, which hill is now in the state of New York, near the village of Palmyra, in Ontario county.
"In that neighborhood there lived a young man named Joseph Smith, who prayed to the Great Spirit much, in order that he might know the truth, and the Great Spirit sent an angel to him and told him where this Book was hid by Moroni, and commanded him to go and get it. He accordingly went to the place and dug in the earth and found the Book written on golden plates.
"But it was written in the language of the forefathers of the red men; therefore this young man, being a pale face, could not understand it; but the angel told him and showed him and gave him knowledge of the language and how to interpret the Book. So he interpreted it into the language of the pale faces, and wrote it on paper and caused it to be printed, and published thousands of copies of it among them, and then sent us to the red men to bring some copies of it to them, and to tell them this news. So we have now come from him, and here is a copy of the Book, which we now present to our red friend, the Chief of the Delawares, which we hope he will cause to be read and known among his tribe; it will do them good."
We then presented him with a Book of Mormon.
There was a pause in the council and some conversation in their own language, after which the chief made the following reply;
The Chief's Reply.
"We feel truly thankful to our white friends who have come so far and been at such pains to tell us good news, and especially this new news concerning the Book of our forefathers; it makes us glad in here,"--placing his hand on his heart. "It is now winter; we are new settlers in this place; the snow is deep; our cattle and horses are dying; our wigwams are poor; we have much to do in the spring--to build houses and fence and make farms; but we will build a council house and meet together, and you shall read to us and teach us more concerning the Book of our fathers and the will of the Great Spirit."
Elder Parley P. Pratt in his report of the matter adds: "We continued for several days to instruct the old Chief and many of his tribe. The interest became more and more intense on their part, from day to day, until at length nearly the whole tribe began to feel a spirit of inquiry and excitement on the subject. We found several among them who could read, and to them we gave copies of the Book, explaining to them that it was the Book of their forefathers. Some began to rejoice exceedingly and took great pains to tell the news to others in their own language. The excitement now reached the frontier settlements in Missouri, and stirred up the jealousy and envy of the Indian agents and sectarian missionaries to that degree that we were soon ordered out of the Indian country as disturbers of the peace, and even threatened with the military in case of non-compliance. We accordingly departed from the Indian country and came over the line, and commenced laboring in Jackson county, Missouri, among the whites. We were well received and listened to by many, and some were baptized and added to the Church."
"Thus ended our first Indian mission, in which we had preached the Gospel in its fulness and distributed the record of their forefathers among three tribes, viz.: the Cattaraugus Indians, near Buffalo, N. Y.; the Wyandots, of Ohio; and the Delawares, west of Missouri."--Aut. P. P. Pratt, pp. 56-61.
12. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. lv.
13. William Wine Phelps, spoken of in the foregoing revelation, was born at Hanover, Morris county, New Jersey, February 17th, 1792. He was therefore in his fortieth year when he came to the Church at Kirtland, to cast in his lot with the Saints. It appears that before making his appearance at Kirtland, he had resided chiefly in the state of New York; and had been somewhat active in politics. He had been the editor of a partisan newspaper; and had aspired to be the candidate for the office of lieutenant-governor of New York. On the 28th of April, 1815, he married Sally Waterman, at Smyrna, Chenango county, New York.
14. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 56.
15. The phrase in the ninth verse of the foregoing revelation, "As there shall be no divisions made upon the land," undoubtedly has reference to the land upon which Ezra Thayre was living at Thompson, and which he had covenanted, under some arrangement for compensation, to grant to the Church, and which contract he attempted, at least, to repudiate.
16. Reference is made to both Mr. Alexander Campbell and Mr. Scott, and the founding of the "Campbellite" or "Disciples" sect in the biographical sketch of Sidney Rigdon; as also Rigdon's connection with that movement.--See pp. 120, 121.
17. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 57.
18. Verse fifteen.
19. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 58.
{196}
XVI. The Founding of Zion
[Sidenote: The First Act in the Founding of Zion.]
On the second day of August, I assisted the Colesville branch of the Church [1] to lay the first log, for a house, as a foundation of Zion in Kaw township, twelve miles west of Independence. The log was carried and placed by twelve men, in honor of the twelve tribes of Israel. At the same time, through prayer, the land of Zion was consecrated and dedicated by Elder Sidney Rigdon for the gathering of the Saints. [2] It was a season of joy to those present, and afforded a glimpse of the future, which time will yet unfold to the satisfaction of the faithful.
{197} [Sidenote: Description of the Land of Zion.]
As we had received a commandment for Elder Rigdon to write a description of the land of Zion, we sought for all the information necessary to accomplish so desirable an object. The country is unlike the timbered states of the East. As far as the eye can reach the beautiful rolling prairies lie spread out like a sea of meadows; and are decorated with a growth of flowers so gorgeous and grand as to exceed description; and nothing is more fruitful, or a richer stockholder in the blooming prairie than the honey bee. Only on the water courses is timber to be found. There in strips from one to three miles in width, and following faithfully the meanderings of the streams, it grows in luxuriant forests. The forests are a mixture of oak, hickory, black walnut, elm, ash, cherry, honey locust, mulberry, coffee bean, hackberry, boxelder, and bass wood; with the addition of cottonwood, butterwood, pecan, and soft and hard maple upon the bottoms. The shrubbery is beautiful, and consists in part of plums, grapes, crab apple, and persimmons.
[Sidenote: Agricultural Products. Animals, Domestic and Wild.]
The soil is rich and fertile; from three to ten feet deep, and generally composed of a rich black mold, intermingled with clay and sand. It yields in abundance, wheat, corn, sweet potatoes, cotton and many other common agricultural products. Horses, cattle and hogs, though of an inferior breed, are tolerably plentiful and seem nearly to raise themselves by grazing in the vast prairie range in summer, and feeding upon the bottoms in winter. The wild game is less plentiful of course where man has commenced the cultivation of the soil, than in the wild prairies. Buffalo, elk, deer, bear, wolves, beaver and many smaller animals here roam at pleasure. Turkeys, geese, swans, ducks, yea a variety of the feathered tribe, are among the rich abundance that graces the delightful regions of this goodly land--the heritage of the children of God.
{198} [Sidenote: The Climate.]
The season is mild and delightful nearly three quarters of the year, and as the land of Zion, situated at about equal distances from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as from the Alleghany and Rocky mountains, in the thirty-ninth degree of north latitude, and between the sixteenth and seventeenth degrees of west longitude, [3] it bids fair--when the curse is taken from the land--to become one of the most blessed places on the globe. The winters are milder than the Atlantic states of the same parallel of latitude, and the weather is more agreeable; so that were the virtues of the inhabitants only equal to the blessings of the Lord which He permits to crown the industry of those inhabitants, there would be a measure of the good things of life for the benefit of the Saints, full, pressed down, and running over even an hundred-fold. The disadvantages here, as in all new countries, are self-evident--lack of mills and schools; together with the natural privations and inconveniences which the hand of industry, the refinement of society, and the polish of science, overcome.
[Sidenote: The Future Glory of Zion.]
But all these impediments vanish when it is recollected what the Prophets have said concerning Zion in the last days; how the glory of Lebanon is to come upon her; the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of His sanctuary, that He may make the place of His feet glorious. Where for brass, He will bring gold; and for iron, He will bring silver; and for wood, brass; and for stones, iron; and where the feast of fat things will be given to the just; yea, when the splendor of the Lord is brought to our consideration for the good of His people, the calculations of men and the vain glory of the world vanish, and we exclaim, "Out of Zion the perfection of beauty, God hath shined."
{199} [Sidenote: Dedication of the Temple Site.]
On the third day of August, I proceeded to dedicate the spot for the Temple, a little west of Independence, and there were also present Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, W. W. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris and Joseph Coe.
The 87th Psalm was read:--
His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
The scene was solemn and impressive.
[Sidenote: First Conference in Zion.]
On the 4th I attended the first conference in the land of Zion. It was held at the house of Brother Joshua Lewis, in Kaw township, in the presence of the Colesville branch of the Church. The Spirit of the Lord was there.
[Sidenote: Death of Polly Knight.]
On the 7th, I attended the funeral of Sister Polly Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight, Sen., this was the first death in the Church in this land, and I can say, a worthy member sleeps in Jesus till the resurrection. [4]
I also received the following:
{200} Revelation, given in Zion, August 7th, 1831. [5]
1. Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments;
2. For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them, and they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them;
3. Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my Gospel, for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth; and it shall bring forth in its strength;
4. And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few; and with revelations in their time: they that are faithful and diligent before me.
5. Wherefore I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve Him.
6. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.
7. Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
8. Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
9. And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10. For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
11. Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
12. But remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations; and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.
13. And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart, that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.
14. Verily, this is fasting and prayer; or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
15. And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances; not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance;
{201} 16. Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours: the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17. Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18. Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19. Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20. And it pleaseth God that He hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion:
21. And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is His wrath kindled, save those who confess not His hand in all things, and obey not His commandments.
22. Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets; wherefore, trouble me no more concerning this matter.
23. But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.
24. I, the Lord have spoken it, and the Spirit beareth record. Amen.
[Sidenote: Directions for the Elders.]
On the 8th, as there had been some inquiry among the Elders what they were to do, I received the following:
Revelation, given August, 1831. [6]
1. Behold, thus saith the Lord unto the Elders of His Church, who are to return speedily to the land from whence they came. Behold, it pleaseth me, that you have come up hither;
2. But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.
3. And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have;
4. For I, the Lord, rule in the heavens above, and among the armies of the earth; and in the day when I shall make up my jewels, all men shall know what it is that bespeaketh the power of God.
{202} 5. But verily, I will speak unto you concerning your journey unto the land from whence you came. Let there be a craft made, or bought, as seemeth you good, it mattereth not unto me, and take your journey speedily for the place which is called St. Louis.
6. And from thence let my servants Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, take their journey for Cincinnati;
7. And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you.
8. And let the residue take their journey from St. Louis, two by two, and preach the word, not in haste, among the congregations of the wicked, until they return to the churches from whence they came.
9. And all this for the good of the churches; for this intent have I sent them.
10. And let my servant Edward Partridge impart of the money which I have given him, a portion unto mine Elders who are commanded to return;
11. And he that is able, let him return by the way of the agent, and he that is not, of him it is not required.
12. And now I speak of the residue who are to come unto this land.
13. Behold, they have been sent to preach my Gospel among the congregations of the wicked; wherefore, I give unto them a commandment thus: Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known.
14. And after thou hast come up unto the land of Zion, and hast proclaimed my word, thou shalt speedily return, proclaiming my word among the congregations of the wicked, not in haste, neither in wrath nor with strife;
15. And shake off the dust of thy feet against those who receive thee not; not in their presence, lest thou provoke them; but in secret, and wash thy feet, as a testimony against them in the day of judgment.
16. Behold, this is sufficient for you, and the will of Him who hath sent you.
17. And by the mouth of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., it shall be made known concerning Sidney Rigdon and Oliver Cowdery. The residue hereafter. Even so. Amen.
[Sidenote: Prophet and Others Depart for Kirtland.]
On the 9th, in company with ten Elders, I left Independence landing for Kirtland. We started down the river in canoes, and went the first day as far as Fort Osage, where we had an excellent wild turkey for supper. Nothing very important {203} occurred till the third day, when many of the dangers so common upon the western waters, manifested themselves; and after we had encamped upon the bank of the river, at McIlwaine's Bend, Brother Phelps, in open vision by daylight, saw the destroyer in his most horrible power, ride upon the face of the waters; others heard the noise, but saw not the vision.
The next morning after prayer, I received the following:
Revelation, given August, 1831. [7]
1. Behold, and hearken unto the voice of Him who has all power, who is from everlasting to everlasting, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
2. Behold, verily thus saith the Lord unto you, O ye Elders of my Church, who are assembled upon this spot, whose sins are now forgiven you, for I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts;
3. But verily I say unto you, that it is not needful for this whole company of mine Elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief;
4. Nevertheless, I suffered it that ye might bear record; behold, there are many dangers upon the waters, and more especially hereafter;
5. For I, the Lord, have decreed in mine anger, many destructions upon the waters; yea, and especially upon these waters;
6. Nevertheless, all flesh is in mine hand, and he that is faithful among you shall not perish by the waters.
7. Wherefore it is expedient that my servant Sidney Gilbert and my servant William W. Phelps, be in haste upon their errand and mission;
8. Nevertheless I would not suffer that ye should part until you were chastened for all your sins, that you might be one, that you might not perish in wickedness;
9. But now, verily I say, it behoveth me that ye should part, wherefore let my servants Sidney Gilbert and William W. Phelps take their former company, and let them take their journey in haste that they may fill their mission, and through faith they shall overcome;
10. And inasmuch as they are faithful they shall be preserved, and I, the Lord, will be with them.
11. And let the residue take that which is needful for clothing.
{204} 12. Let my servant Sidney Gilbert take that which is not needful with him, as you shall agree.
13. And now, behold, for your good I gave unto you a commandment concerning these things; and I, the Lord, will reason with you as with men in days of old.
14. Behold, I, the Lord, in the beginning blessed the waters, but in the last days, by the mouth of my servant John, I cursed the waters;
15. Wherefore, the days will come that no flesh shall be safe upon the waters,
16. And it shall be said in days to come that none is able to go up to the land of Zion upon the waters, but he that is upright in heart.
17. And, as I, the Lord, in the beginning cursed the land, even so in the last days have I blessed it, in its time, for the use of my Saints, that they may partake the fatness thereof.
18. And now I give unto you a commandment that what I say unto one I say unto all, that you shall forewarn your brethren concerning these waters, that they come not in journeying upon them, lest their faith fail and they are caught in snares;
19. I, the Lord have decreed, and the destroyer rideth upon the face thereof, and I revoke not the decree;
20. I, the Lord, was angry with you yesterday, but today mine anger is turned away.
21. Wherefore, let those concerning whom I have spoken, that should take their journey in haste--again I say unto you, let them take their journey in haste.
22. And it mattereth not unto me, after a little, if it so be that they fill their mission, whether they go by water or by land; let this be as it is made known unto them according to their judgments hereafter.
23. And now, concerning my servants Sidney Rigdon, and Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, let them come not again upon the waters, save it be upon the canal, while journeying unto their homes, or in other words they shall not come upon the waters to journey, save upon the canal.
24. Behold, I, the Lord, have appointed a way for the journeying of my Saints, and behold this is the way--that after they leave the canal, they shall journey by land, inasmuch as they are commanded to journey and go up unto the land of Zion;
25. And they shall do like unto the children of Israel, pitching their tents by the way.
26. And, behold, this commandment you shall give unto all your brethren;
{205} 27. Nevertheless, unto whom it is given power to command the waters, unto him it is given by the Spirit to know all his ways;
28. Wherefore let him do as the Spirit of the living God commandeth him, whether upon the land or upon the waters, as it remaineth with me to do hereafter;
29. And unto you it is given the course for the Saints, or the way for the Saints of the camp of the Lord, to journey.
30. And again, verily I say unto you, my servants Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, shall not open their mouths in the congregations of the wicked, until they arrive at Cincinnati;
31. And in that place they shall lift up their voices unto God against that people; yea unto Him whose anger is kindled against their wickedness; a people who are well-nigh ripened for destruction;
32. And from thence let them journey for the congregations of their brethren, for their labors even now, are wanted more abundantly among them than among the congregations of the wicked.
33. And now concerning the residue, let them journey and declare the word among the congregations of the wicked, inasmuch as it is given;
34. And inasmuch as they do this they shall rid their garments, and they shall be spotless before me;
35. And let them journey together, or two by two, as seemeth them good, only let my servant Reynolds Cahoon, and my servant Samuel H. Smith, with whom I am well pleased, be not separated until they return to their homes, and this for a wise purpose in me.
36. And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer little children, for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you;
37. And inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours.
38. Gird up your loins and be watchful and be sober, looking forth for the coming of the Son of Man, for He cometh in an hour you think not.
39. Pray always that you enter not into temptation, that you may abide the day of His coming, whether in life or in death. Even so. Amen.
[Sidenote: A Chance Meeting of Elders.]
On the 13th [August] I met several of the Elders on their way to the land of Zion, and after the joyful salutations with which brethren meet each other, who are actually "contending for the faith once delivered to the Saints," I received the following:
{206} Revelation, given August, 1831. [8]
1. Behold, and hearken O ye Elders of my Church, saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, your advocate, who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted;
2. And verily mine eyes are upon those who have not as yet gone up unto the land of Zion; wherefore your mission is not yet full;
3. Nevertheless ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne, is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon, and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you.
4. And now continue your journey. Assemble yourselves upon the land of Zion, and hold a meeting and rejoice together, and offer a sacrament unto the Most High;
5. And then you may return to bear record, yea, even all together, or two by two, as seemeth you good, it mattereth not unto me, only be faithful, and declare glad tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, of among the congregations of the wicked.
6. Behold, I, the Lord, have brought you together that the promise might be fulfilled, that the faithful among you should be preserved and rejoice together in the land of Missouri. I, the Lord, promised the faithful and cannot lie.
7. I, the Lord, am willing, if any among you desire to ride upon horses, or upon mules, or in chariots, he shall receive this blessing, if he receive it from the hand of the Lord, with a thankful heart in all things.
8. These things remain with you to do according to judgment and the directions of the Spirit.
9. Behold, the kingdom is yours. And behold, and lo, I am with the faithful always. Even so. Amen.
[Sidenote: Arrival of the Prophet and Party at Kirtland.]
After this meeting with the Elders, Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery, and myself, continued our journey by land to St. Louis, where we overtook Brothers Phelps and Gilbert. From this place we took stage, and they went by water to Kirtland, where we arrived safe and well on the 27th [August]. Many things transpired upon this journey to strengthen our faith, and which displayed the goodness of God in such a marvelous manner, that we could not help beholding the exertions of Satan to blind the eyes of the people, so as to hide the true light that lights every man that comes into the world.
{207} [Sidenote: Anxiety of the Saints to Receive the Word of the Lord.]
In these infant days of the Church, there was a great anxiety to obtain the word of the Lord upon every subject that in any way concerned our salvation; and as the land of Zion was now the most important temporal object in view, I enquired of the Lord for further information upon the gathering of the Saints, and the purchase of the land, and other matters, and received the following:
Revelation, given in Kirtland, August, 1831. [9]
1. Hearken, O ye people, and open your hearts and give ear from afar; and listen, you that call yourselves the people of the Lord, and hear the word of the Lord and His will concerning you:
2. Yea, verily, I say, hear the word of Him whose anger is kindled against the wicked and rebellious;
3. Who willeth to take even them whom He will take, and preserveth in life them whom He will preserve;
4. Who buildeth up at His own will and pleasure; and destroyeth when he pleases, and is able to cast the soul down to hell.
5. Behold, I, the Lord, utter my voice, and it shall be obeyed.
6. Wherefore, verily I say, let the wicked take heed, and let the rebellious fear and tremble; and let the unbelieving hold their lips, for the day of wrath shall come upon them as a whirlwind, and all flesh shall know that I am God.
7. And he that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation.
8. Verily, I say unto you, there are those among you who seek signs, and there have been such even from the beginning;
9. But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.
10. Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God.
11. Yea, signs come by faith, unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleaseth God: and with whom God is angry He is not well pleased; wherefore, unto such He showeth no sign, only in wrath unto their condemnation.
12. Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory;
13. Nevertheless, I gave commandments, and many have turned away from my commandments and have not kept them.
{208} 14. There were among you adulterers and adulteresses; some of whom have turned away from you, and others remain with you that hereafter shall be revealed.
15. Let such beware and repent speedily, lest judgment shall come upon them as a snare, and their folly shall be made manifest, and their works shall follow them in the eyes of the people.
16. And, verily, I say unto you, as I have said before, he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear:
17. Wherefore I, the Lord, have said that the fearful, and the unbelieving, and all liars, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie, and the whoremonger, and the sorcerer, shall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death.
18. Verily I say, that they shall not have part in the first resurrection.
19. And now, behold, I, the Lord, say unto you, that ye are not justified because these things are among you;
20. Nevertheless he that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come;
21. When the earth shall be transfigured, even according to the pattern which was shown unto mine apostles upon the mount; of which account the fulness ye have not yet received.
22. And now, verily, I say unto you, that as I said that I would make known my will unto you, behold I will make it known unto you, not by the way of commandment, for there are many who observe not to keep my commandments.
23. But unto him that keepeth my commandments, I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.
24. And now, behold, this is the will of the Lord your God concerning His Saints, that they should assemble themselves together unto the land of Zion, not in haste, lest there should be confusion, which bringeth pestilence.
25. Behold, the land of Zion, I, the Lord, hold it in mine own hands;
26. Nevertheless, I, the Lord, render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's:
27. Wherefore, I, the Lord, will that you should purchase the lands that you may have advantage of the world, that you may have claim on the world, that they may not be stirred up unto anger;
28. For Satan putteth it into their hearts to anger against you, and to the shedding of blood.
{209} 29. Wherefore the land of Zion shall not be obtained but by purchase or by blood, otherwise there is none inheritance for you.
30. And if by purchase, behold you are blessed;
31. And if by blood, as you are forbidden to shed blood, lo, your enemies are upon you, and ye shall be scourged from city to city, and from synagogue to synagogue, and but few shall stand to receive an inheritance.
32. I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth.
33. I have sworn in my wrath, and decreed wars upon the face of the earth, and the wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every man,
34. And the Saints also shall hardly escape; nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven from the presence of my Father, and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire.
35. And behold, this is not yet, but by and by;
36. Wherefore, seeing that I, the Lord, have decreed all these things upon the face of the earth, I will that my Saints should be assembled upon the land of Zion;
37. And that every man should take righteousness in his hands and faithfulness upon his loins, and lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth; and declare both by word and by flight, that desolation shall come upon the wicked.
38. Wherefore let my disciples in Kirtland arrange their temporal concerns, who dwell upon this farm.
39. Let my servant Titus Billings, who has the care thereof, dispose of the land, that he may be prepared in the coming spring to take his journey up unto the land of Zion, with those that dwell upon the face thereof, excepting those whom I shall reserve unto myself, that shall not go until I shall command them.
40. And let all the monies which can be spared, it mattereth not unto me whether it be little or much, be sent up unto the land of Zion, unto them whom I have appointed to receive.
41. Behold, I, the Lord, will give unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., power that he shall be enabled to discern by the Spirit those who shall go up unto the land of Zion, and those of my disciples who shall tarry.
42. Let my servant Newel K. Whitney retain his store, or in other words, the store yet for a little season.
43. Nevertheless let him impart all the money which he can impart, to be sent up unto the land of Zion.
44. Behold, these things are in his own hands, let him do according to wisdom.
{210} 45. Verily I say, let him be ordained as an agent unto the disciples that shall tarry, and let him be ordained unto this power;
46. And now speedily visit the churches, expounding these things unto them, with my servant Oliver Cowdery. Behold, this is my will, obtaining moneys even as I have directed.
47. He that is faithful and endureth shall overcome the world.
48. He that sendeth up treasures unto the land of Zion, shall receive an inheritance in this world, and his works shall follow him, and also a reward in the world to come:
49. Yea, and blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth, when the Lord shall come, and old things shall pass away, and all things become new, they shall rise from the dead and shall not die after, and shall receive an inheritance before the Lord, in the holy city.
50. And he that liveth when the Lord shall come, and has kept the faith, blessed is he; nevertheless it is appointed to him to die at the age of man.
51. Wherefore, children shall grow up until they become old, old men shall die; but they shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
52. Wherefore, for this cause preached the apostles unto the world the resurrection of the dead.
53. These things are the things that ye must look for, and, speaking after the manner of the Lord, they are now nigh at hand, and in a time to come, even in the day of the coming of the Son of Man.
54. And until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise; and at that hour cometh an entire separation of the righteous and the wicked; and in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into unquenchable fire.
55. And now behold, verily I say unto you, I the Lord, am not pleased with my servant Sidney Rigdon, he exalted himself in his heart, and received not counsel, but grieved the Spirit;
56. Wherefore his writing is not acceptable unto the Lord, and he shall make another and if the Lord receive it not, behold he standeth no longer in the office which I have appointed him.
57. And again, verily I say unto you, those who desire in their hearts, in meekness, to warn sinners to repentance, let them be ordained unto this power.
58. For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days.
59. Behold, I am from above, and my power lieth beneath. I am over all, and in all, and through all, and search all things, and the day cometh that all things shall be subject unto me.
60. Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ.
{211} 61. Wherefore let all men beware how they take my name in their lips;
62. For, behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority.
63. Wherefore, let the Church repent of their sins, and I, the Lord, will own them, otherwise they shall be cut off.
64. Remember that that which cometh from above, is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit, and in this there is no condemnation, and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore, without this there remaineth condemnation.
65. Let my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, seek them a home, as they are taught through prayer by the Spirit.
66. These things remain to overcome through patience, that such may receive a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, otherwise, a greater condemnation. Amen.
[Sidenote: Preparations to Move to Hiram.]
The early part of September was spent in making preparations to remove to the town of Hiram, and renew our work on the translation of the Bible. The brethren who were commanded to go up to Zion were earnestly engaged in getting ready to start in the coming October. On the 11th of September I received the following:
Revelation, given in Kirtland. [10]
1. Behold, thus saith the Lord your God unto you, O ye Elders of my Church, hearken ye and hear, and receive my will concerning you;
2. For verily I say unto you, I will that ye should overcome the world; wherefore I will have compassion upon you.
3. There are those among you who have sinned; but verily I say, for this once, for mine own glory, and for the salvation of souls, I have forgiven you your sins.
4. I will be merciful unto you, for I have given unto you the kingdom:
5. And the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., through the means I have appointed, while he liveth, inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances.
6. There are those who have sought occasion against him without cause;
{212} 7. Nevertheless he has sinned but verily I say unto you, I, the Lord forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death.
8. My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another, and forgave not one another in their hearts, and for this evil they were afflicted, and sorely chastened.
9. Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another, for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses, standeth condemned before the Lord, for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men;
11. And ye ought to say in your hearts, let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.
12. And him that repenteth not of his sins, and confesseth them not, ye shall bring before the Church, and do with him as the Scripture saith unto you, either by commandment or by revelation.
13. And this ye shall do that God may be glorified, not because ye forgive not, having not compassion, but that ye may be justified in the eyes of the law, that ye may not offend Him who is your Lawgiver.
14. Verily I say, for this cause ye shall do these things.
15. Behold, I, the Lord, was angry with him who was my servant Ezra Booth, and also my servant Isaac Morley, for they kept not the law, neither the commandment;
16. They sought evil in their hearts, and I, the Lord, withheld my Spirit. They condemned for evil that thing in which there was no evil; nevertheless I have forgiven my servant Isaac Morley.
17. And also my servant Edward Partridge, behold, he hath sinned, and Satan seeketh to destroy his soul; but when these things are made known unto them, and they repent of the evil, they shall be forgiven.
18. And now, verily I say, that it is expedient in me that my servant Sidney Gilbert, after a few weeks, shall return upon his business, and to his agency in the land of Zion;
19. And that which he hath seen and heard may be made known unto my disciples, that they perish not. And for this cause have I spoken these things.
20. And again, I say unto you, that my servant Isaac Morley may not be tempted above that which he is able to bear, and counsel wrongfully to your hurt, I gave commandment that his farm should be sold.
21. I will not that my servant Frederick G. Williams should sell his farm, for I, the Lord, will to retain a strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years, in the which I will not overthrow the wicked, that thereby I may save some;
22. And after that day, I, the Lord, will not hold any guilty that shall {213} go with an open heart up to the land of Zion; for I the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men.
23. Behold, now it is called today (until the coming of the Son of Man), and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned (at His coming);
24. For after today cometh the burning: this is speaking after the manner of the Lord; for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of hosts: and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.
25. Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today.
26. And it is not meet that my servants, Newel K. Whitney and Sidney Gilbert, should sell their store and their possessions here, for this is not wisdom until the residue of the Church, which remaineth in this place, shall go up unto the land of Zion.
27. Behold, it is said in my laws, or forbidden, to get in debt to thine enemies;
28. But behold, it is not said at any time that the Lord should not take when He please, and pay as seemeth Him good:
29. Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord's errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord, is the Lord's business,
30. And He hath set you to provide for His Saints in these last days, that they may obtain an inheritance in the land of Zion:
31. And behold, I, the Lord, declare unto you, and my words are sure and shall not fail, that they shall obtain it;
32. But all things must come to pass in their time;
33. Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
34. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days;
35. And the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away, and shall not inherit the land:
36. For, verily, I say that the rebellious are not of the blood of Ephraim, wherefore they shall be plucked out.
37. Behold, I, the Lord, have made my Church in these last days like unto a judge sitting on a hill, or in a high place, to judge the nations;
38. For it shall come to pass that the inhabitants of Zion shall judge all things pertaining to Zion;
39. And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they who are not apostles and prophets shall be known.
{214} 40. And even the Bishop, who is a judge, and his counselors, if they are not faithful in their stewardships, shall be condemned, and others shall be planted in their stead;
41. For, behold, I say unto you that Zion shall flourish, and the glory of the Lord shall be upon her,
42. And she shall be an ensign unto the people, and there shall come unto her out of every nation under heaven.
43. And the day shall come when the nations of the earth shall tremble because of her, and shall fear because of her terrible ones. The Lord hath spoken it. Amen.
Footnotes
1. The Colesville branch of the Church numbered about sixty souls.--Statement made by Oliver Cowdery in "John Whitmer's History of the Church," ch. ix.
2. Speaking of this second of August meeting, in addition to what the Prophet relates in his narrative, John Whitmer, in his "History of the Church," (ch. ix) gives the following interesting details from a statement of Oliver Cowdery's: "On the second day of August, 1831, Rigdon stood up and asked, saying,
"'Do you receive this land for the land of your inheritance with thankful hearts from the Lord?'
"Answer from all: 'We do.'
"'Do you pledge yourselves to keep the law of God in this land which you never have kept in your own lands?'
"'We do.'
"'Do you pledge yourselves to see that others of your brethren who shall come hither do keep the laws of God?'
"'We do.'
"After prayer, he arose and said: 'I now pronounce this land consecrated and dedicated unto the Lord for a possession and inheritance for the Saints, and for all the faithful servants of the Lord to the remotest ages of time. In the name of Jesus Christ, having authority from Him. Amen.'"
3. This is the Washington longitude. It is between ninety-five and ninety-six degrees west longitude from Greenwich.
4. Polly Knight's health had been failing for some time, according to a statement made by her son, Newel. She was very ill during her journey from Kirtland to Missouri. "Yet," says her son, "she would not consent to stop traveling; her only, or her greatest desire was to set her feet upon the land of Zion, and to have her body interred in that land. I went on shore and bought lumber to make a coffin, in case she should die before we arrived at our place of destination--so fast did she fail. But the Lord gave her the desire of her heart, and she lived to stand upon that land."--Scraps of Biography, p. 70.
5. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 59.
6. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 60.
7. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 61.
8. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 62.
9. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 63.
10. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 64.
{215}
Chapter XVII
The Apostasy of Ezra Booth--Preparations for Publishing the Book of Commandments.
[Sidenote: The Prophet Moves to Hiram.]
On the 12th of September, I removed with my family to the township of Hiram, and commenced living with John Johnson. Hiram was in Portage county, and about thirty miles south-easterly from Kirtland. From this time until the forepart of October, I did little more than prepare to re-commence the translation of the Bible. [1]
[Sidenote: Ezra Booth's Apostasy.]
About this time Ezra Booth came out as an apostate. He came into the Church upon seeing a person healed of an infirmity of many years standing. [2] He had been a Methodist priest for some time previous to his embracing the fulness of the Gospel, {216} as developed in the Book of Mormon; and upon his admission into the Church he was ordained an Elder. As will be seen by the foregoing revelations, [3] he went up to Missouri as a companion of Elder Morley; but when he actually learned that faith, humility, patience, and tribulation go before blessing, and that God brings low before He exalts; that instead of the "Savior's granting him power to smite men and make them believe," (as he said he wanted God to do in his own case)--when he found he must become all things to all men, that he might peradventure, save some; and that, too, by all diligence, by perils by sea and land; as was the case in the days of Jesus--then he was disappointed. In the 6th chapter of St. John's Gospel, 26th verse, it is written: "Verily, verily I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." So it was with Booth; and when he was disappointed by his own evil heart, he turned away, and as said before, became an apostate, and wrote a series of letters, [4] which, by their {217} coloring, falsity, and vain calculations to overthrow the work of the Lord, exposed his weakness, wickedness and folly, and left him a monument of his own shame, for the world to wonder at. [5]
[Sidenote: The Purchase of a Press.]
A conference was held in which Brother W. W. Phelps was instructed to stop at Cincinnati on his way to Missouri and purchase a press and type, for the purpose of establishing and publishing a monthly paper at Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, to be called the Evening and Morning Star.
The first Sunday in October, Orson Hyde, [6] a clerk in Brother Sidney Gilbert and Newel K. Whitney's store, in Kirtland, was baptized, and became a member of the Church. He was soon after designated as one of the chosen men of the Lord, to bear His word to the nations.
{218} [Sidenote: A Prayer Revealed.]
In the fore part of October, I received the following prayer through revelation:
Revelation. [7]
1. Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men--Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
2. The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the Gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth;
3. Yea, a voice crying; prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom;
4. Pray unto the Lord, call upon His holy name, make known His wonderful works among the people;
5. Call upon the Lord, that His kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of His glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth;
6. Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thine enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
[Sidenote: Revision of the Bible Renewed.]
{219} Soon after the above revelation was received, I renewed my work on the translation of the Scriptures, in company with Elder Rigdon, who had removed to Hiram, to act in his office of scribe to me.
[Sidenote: Instructions and Appointments of the Conference of October 11th.]
On the 11th of October, a conference was held at Brother Johnson's, where I was living, at which the Elders were instructed in the ancient manner of conducting meetings, of which knowledge most of them were ignorant. A committee of six was appointed to instruct the several branches of the Church. Elders David Whitmer and Reynolds Cahoon were appointed as two of the said committee; with the further duty on their mission, of setting forth the condition of Brothers Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that they might obtain means to continue the translation. This conference was adjourned till the 25th of October, to meet at the house of Irenus Burnett, in Orange, Cuyahoga county.
[Sidenote: Special Conference of October 21st.]
On the 21st, I attended a special conference, to settle a difficulty which had occurred in Kirtland, on account of William Cahoon and Peter Devolue, having abused one of Brother Whitney's children. Elder Rigdon and myself were appointed to go to Kirtland and settle the difficulty, which we did.
[Sidenote: Conference at Orange, Ohio, October 25th.]
At the conference on the 25th, at Orange, twelve High Priests, seventeen Elders, four Priests, three Teachers, and four Deacons, together with a large congregation attended. Much business was done, and the four remaining members of the committee, authorized by the conference at Hiram on the 11th, were appointed, and consisted of Simeon Carter, Orson Hyde, Hyrum Smith, and Emer Harris. [8]
{220} At the request of William E. M'Lellin, [9] I inquired of the Lord, and received the following:
Revelation, given October, 1831. [10]
1. Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my servant William E. M'Lellin, {221} Blessed are you, inasmuch as you have turned away from your iniquities, and have received my truths, saith the Lord your Redeemer, the Savior of the world, even of as many as believe on my name.
2. Verily I say unto you, blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting covenant, even the fullness of my Gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the prophets and apostles in days of old.
3. Verily I say unto you, my servant William, that you are clean, but not all; repent, therefore, of those things which are not pleasing in my sight, saith the Lord, for the Lord will show them unto you.
4. And now, verily, I, the Lord, will show unto you what I will concerning you, or what is my will concerning you;
5. Behold, verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should proclaim my Gospel from land to land, and from city to city; yea, in those regions round about where it has not been proclaimed.
6. Tarry not many days in this place; go not up unto the land of Zion as yet; but inasmuch as you can send, send; otherwise think not of thy property.
7. Go unto the eastern lands, bear testimony in every place, unto every people and in their synagogues; reasoning with the people.
8. Let my servant Samuel H. Smith go with you, and forsake him not, and give him thine instructions; and he that is faithful shall be made strong in every place, and I, the Lord, will go with you.
9. Lay your hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. Return not till I the Lord shall send you. Be patient in affliction. Ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you.
10. Seek not to be cumbered. Forsake all unrighteousness. Commit not adultery, a temptation with which thou hast been troubled.
11. Keep these sayings, for they are true and faithful, and thou shalt magnify thine office, and push many people to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads.
12. Continue in these things even unto the end, and you shall have a crown of eternal life at the right hand of my Father, who is full of grace and truth.
13. Verily, thus saith the Lord your God, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Sidenote: Special Conference November 1st.]
I returned from the conference at Orange, to Hiram; and as Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer were to start for Independence, Missouri, a special conference was appointed for the {222} first of November, [11] at which I received the following:
Revelation. [12]
1. Hearken, O ye people of my Church, saith the voice of Him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say, hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together.
2. For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape, and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.
3. And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow, for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed.
4. And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days.
5. And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.
6. Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth.
7. Wherefore, fear and tremble, O ye people, for what I the Lord have decreed in them shall be fulfilled.
8. And verily, I say unto you, that they who go forth, bearing these {223} tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in heaven the unbelieving and rebellious;
9. Yea, verily, to seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure;
10. Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man.
11. Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear:
12. Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh;
13. And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and His sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth.
14. And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of His servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles shall be cut off from among the people;
15. For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;
16. They seek not the Lord to establish His righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own God, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.
17. Wherefore I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;
18. And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets;
19. The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh,
20. But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
21. That faith also might increase in the earth;
22. That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
23. That the fullness of my Gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.
24. Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.
{224} 25. And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known:
26. And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed:
27. And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent:
28. And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time:
29. And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon;
30. And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this Church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the Church collectively and not individually.
31. For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.
32. Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven;
33. And he that repents not, from him, shall be taken even the light which he has received, for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.
34. And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth, I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh,
35. For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion;
36. And also the Lord shall have power over His Saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Iduma, or the world.
37. Search these commandments for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
38. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself: and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same;
39. For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen.
[Sidenote: Language of Revelations Criticised.]
After this revelation was received, some conversation was had concerning revelations and language. I received the following:
{225} Revelation, given November, 1831. [13]
1. Behold and hearken, O ye Elders of my Church, who have assembled yourselves together, whose prayers I have heard, and whose hearts I know, and whose desires have come up before me.
2. Behold and lo, mine eyes are upon you, and the heavens and the earth are in mine hands, and the riches of eternity are mine to give.
3. Ye endeavored to believe that ye should secure the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you, there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive.
4. And now I, the Lord, give unto you a testimony of the truth of these commandments which are lying before you;
5. Your eyes have been upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and his language you have known, and his imperfections you have known; and you have sought in your hearts knowledge that you might express beyond his language, this you also know;
6. Now, seek ye out of the Book of Commandments, even the least that is among them, and appoint him that is the most wise among you;
7. Or, if there be any among you that shall make one like unto it, then ye are justified in saying that ye do not know that they are true;
8. But if ye cannot make one like unto it, ye are under condemnation if ye do not bear record that they are true;
9. For ye know that there is no unrighteousness in them, and that which is righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights;
10. And again, verily, I say unto you, that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent, and you shall see me and know that I am; not with the carnal, neither natural mind, but with the spiritual;
11. For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.
12. Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God; neither after the carnal mind;
13. Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore continue in patience until ye are perfected.
14. Let not your minds turn back, and when ye are worthy, in mine own due time, ye shall see and know that which was conferred upon you by the hands of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. Amen.
{226} [Sidenote: The Folly of William E. M'Lellin.]
After the foregoing was received, William E. M'Lellin, as the wisest man, in his own estimation, having more learning than sense, endeavored to write a commandment like unto one of the least of the Lord's, but failed; it was an awful responsibility to write in the name of the Lord. The Elders and all present that witnessed this vain attempt of a man to imitate the language of Jesus Christ, renewed their faith in the fullness of the Gospel, and in the truth of the commandments and revelations which the Lord had given to the Church through my instrumentality; and the Elders signified a willingness to bear testimony of their truth to all the world. Accordingly I received the following:
The testimony of the witnesses to the book of the Lord's commandments, which He gave to His Church through Joseph Smith, Jun., who was appointed by the voice of the Church for this purpose; we therefore feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of mankind, to every creature upon the face of all the earth and upon the islands of the sea, that the Lord has borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost, shed forth upon us, that these commandments were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for all men, and are verily true. We give this testimony unto the world, the Lord being our helper; and it is through the grace of God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, that we are permitted to have this privilege of bearing this testimony unto the world, that the children of men may be profited thereby. [14]
{227} As the following Elders--Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson, and William E. M'Lellin--were desirous to know the mind of the Lord concerning themselves, I inquired, and received the following:
Revelation, given November, 1831. [15]
1. My servant, Orson Hyde, was called by his ordination to proclaim the everlasting Gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with, and expounding all Scriptures unto them.
2. And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this Priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth;
3. And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation;
5. Behold this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants;
6. Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.
7. This is the word of the Lord unto you my servant, Orson Hyde, and also unto my servant Luke Johnson, and unto my servant Lyman Johnson, and unto my servant William E. M'Lellin, and unto all the faithful Elders of my Church.
8. Go ye into all the world, preach the Gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
9. And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned;
10. And he that believeth shall be blest with signs following, even as it is written;
11. And unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the times, and the signs of the coming of the Son of Man;
12. And of as many as the Father shall bear record, to you shall be given power to seal them up unto eternal life. Amen.
{228} 13. And now concerning the items in addition to the covenants and commandments, they are these:
14. There remaineth hereafter, in the due time of the Lord, other Bishops to be set apart unto the Church, to minister even according to the first;
15. Wherefore they shall be High Priests who are worthy, and they shall be appointed by the First Presidency of the Melchisedek Priesthood, except they be literal descendants of Aaron,
16. And if they be literal descendants of Aaron, they have a legal right to the bishopric, if they are the firstborn among the sons of Aaron;
17. For the firstborn holds the right of presidency over this Priesthood, and the keys or authority of the same.
18. No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this Priesthood, except he be a literal descendant and the firstborn of Aaron.
19. But, as a high priest of the Melchisedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices he may officiate in the office of Bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power under the hands of the First Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
20. And literal descendants of Aaron, also, must be designated by this Presidency, and found worthy, and anointed, and ordained under the hands of this Presidency, otherwise they are not legally authorized to officiate in their Priesthood;
21. But by virtue of the decree concerning their right of the Priesthood descending from father to son, they may claim their anointing if at any time they can prove their lineage, or do ascertain it by revelation from the Lord under the hands of the above named Presidency.
22. And again, no Bishop or High Priest who shall be set apart for this ministry, shall be tried or condemned for any crime, save it be before the First Presidency of the Church;
23. And inasmuch as he is found guilty before this Presidency, by testimony that cannot be impeached, he shall be condemned;
24. And if he repent he shall be forgiven, according to the covenants and commandments of the Church.
25. And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
26. For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized;
27. And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their {229} sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands,
28. And they shall also teach their children to pray and to walk uprightly before the Lord.
29. And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
30. And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord.
31. Now, I the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.
32. These things ought not to be, and must be done away from among them: wherefore, let my servant Oliver Cowdery carry these sayings unto the land of Zion.
33. And a commandment I give unto them, that he that observeth not his prayers before the Lord in the season thereof, let him be had in remembrance before the judge of my people.
34. These sayings are true and faithful; wherefore transgress them not, neither take therefrom.
35. Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, and I come quickly. Amen.
[Sidenote: Preparation of the Revelations for Publication, Nov. 1st-15th.]
It had been decided by the conference that Elder Oliver Cowdery should carry the commandments and revelations to Independence, Missouri, for printing, and that I should arrange and get them in readiness by the time that he left, which was to be by--or, if possible, before--the 15th of the month [November]. At this time there were many things which the Elders desired to know relative to preaching the Gospel to the inhabitants of the earth, and concerning the gathering; and in order to walk by the true light, and be instructed from on high, on the 3rd of November, 1831, I inquired of the Lord and received the following important revelation, which has since been added to the book of Doctrine and Covenants, and called the Appendix:
Revelation, given November 3, 1831. [16]
1. Hearken, O ye people of my Church, saith the Lord your God, and hear the word of the Lord concerning you;
{230} 2. The Lord who shall suddenly come to His temple; the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment; yea, upon all the nations that forget God, and upon all the ungodly among you.
3. For He shall make bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God.
4. Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves; gather ye together, O ye people of my Church, upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry.
5. Go ye out from Babylon. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
6. Call your solemn assemblies, and speak often one to another. And let every man call upon the name of the Lord;
7. Yea, verily I say unto you again, the time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you, Go ye out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
8. Send forth the Elders of my Church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations; first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews.
9. And behold, and lo, this shall be their cry, and the voice of the Lord unto all people: Go ye forth unto the land of Zion, that the borders of my people may be enlarged, and that her stakes may be strengthened, and that Zion may go forth unto the regions round about;
10. Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom: behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.
11. Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.
12. Let them therefore, who are among the Gentiles, flee unto Zion.
13. And let them who be of Judah flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountains of the Lord's house.
14. Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon.
15. But verily, thus saith the Lord, Let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth let him not look back, lest sudden destruction shall come upon him.
16. Hearken and hear, O ye inhabitants of the earth. Listen, ye Elders of my Church together, and hear the voice of the Lord; for He calleth upon all men, and He commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
{231} 17. For, behold, the Lord God hath sent forth the angel crying through the midst of heaven, saying, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight, for the hour of His coming is nigh--
18. When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads:
19. Wherefore, prepare ye for the coming of the Bridegroom; go ye, go ye out to meet Him,
20. For behold, He shall stand upon the mount of Olives, and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the islands of the sea, and upon the land of Zion;
21. And He shall utter His voice out of Zion, and He shall speak from Jerusalem, and His voice shall be heard among all people.
22. And it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, which shall break down the mountains, and the valleys shall not be found;
23. He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land:
24. And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.
25. And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people, and shall reign over all flesh.
26. And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord and their prophets shall hear His voice, and shall no longer stay themselves, and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence.
27. And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep.
28. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them,
29. And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land.
30. And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants.
31. And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.
32. And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim;
33. And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy.
34. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows.
35. And they also of the tribe of Judah, after their pain, shall be {232} sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, forever and ever.
36. And now, verily saith the Lord, That these things might be known among you, O inhabitants of the earth, I have sent forth mine angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel, who hath appeared unto some, and hath committed it unto man, who shall appear unto many that dwell on the earth;
37. And this Gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
38. And the servants of God shall go forth, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come;
39. And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters,
40. Calling upon the name of the Lord day and night, saying, O that thou wouldst rend the heavens, that thou wouldst come down, that the mountains might flow down at Thy presence.
41. And it shall be answered upon their heads, for the presence of the Lord shall be as the melting fire that burneth, and as the fire which causeth the waters to boil.
42. O Lord, Thou shalt come down to make Thy name known to thine adversaries, and all nations shall tremble at Thy presence.
43. When Thou doest terrible things--things they look not for;
44. Yea, when Thou comest down, and the mountains flow down at Thy presence, Thou shalt meet him who rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, who remembereth Thee in Thy ways.
45. For since the beginning of the world have not men heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath any eye seen, O God, besides Thee, how great things Thou hast prepared for him that waiteth for Thee.
46. And it shall be said: Who is this that cometh down from God in heaven with dyed garments; yea from the regions which are not known, clothed in His glorious apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?
47. And He shall say; I am He who spake in righteousness, mighty to save.
48. And the Lord shall be red in His apparel, and His garments like him that treadeth in the wine vat,
49. And so great shall be the glory of His presence that the sun shall hide his face in shame; and the moon shall withhold its light; and the stars shall be hurled from their places;
50. And his voice shall be heard, I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me;
51. And I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and {233} stained all my raiment; for this was the day of vengeance which was in my heart.
52. And now the year of my redeemed is come, and they shall mention the loving kindness of their Lord, and all that He has bestowed upon them according to His goodness, and according to His loving kindness, for ever and ever.
53. In all their afflictions He was afflicted. And the angel of His presence saved them; and in His love, and in His pity, He redeemed them, and bare them, and carried them all the days of old;
54. Yea, and Enoch also, and they who were with him; the prophets who were before him; and Noah also, and they who were before him; and Moses also and they who were before him.
55. And from Moses to Elijah, and from Elijah to John, who were with Christ in His resurrection, and the holy Apostles, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be in the presence of the Lamb.
56. And the graves of the saints shall be opened; and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when He shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city the New Jerusalem; and they shall sing the song of the Lamb, day and night for ever and ever.
57. And for this cause, that men might be made partakers of the glories which were to be revealed, the Lord sent forth the fulness of His Gospel, His everlasting covenant, reasoning in plainness and simplicity,
58. To prepare the weak for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord's errand in the day when the weak shall confound the wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to flight;
59. And by the weak things of the earth the Lord shall thrash the nations by the power of His Spirit.
60. And for this cause these commandments were given; they were commanded to be kept from the world in the day that they were given, but now are to go forth unto all flesh.
61. And this according to the mind and will of the Lord, who ruleth over all flesh.
62. And unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the Lord, shall be given eternal life;
63. And upon them that hearken not to the voice of the Lord shall be fulfilled that which was written by the Prophet Moses, that they should be cut off from among the people.
64. And also that which was written by the Prophet Malachi; For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh {234} shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
65. Wherefore, this shall be the answer of the Lord unto them:--
66. In that day when I came unto mine own, no man among you received me, and you were driven out.
67. When I called again, there was none of you to answer, yet my arm was not shortened at all, that I could not redeem, neither my power to deliver.
68. Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stink and die for thirst.
69. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and make sackcloth their covering.
70. And this shall ye have of my hand: Ye shall lie down in sorrow.
71. Behold, and lo, there are none to deliver you, for ye obeyed not my voice when I called to you out of the heavens; ye believed not my servants, and when they were sent unto you, ye received them not.
72. Wherefore, they sealed up the testimony and bound up the law, and ye were delivered over unto darkness;
73. These shall go away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
74. Behold the Lord your God hath spoken it. Amen.
[Sidenote: Dedication of the Book of Commandments.]
The Book of Commandments and Revelations was to be dedicated by prayer to the service of Almighty God by me; and after I had done this, I inquired of the Lord concerning these things, and received the following:
Revelation, given November, 1831. [17]
1. Hearken unto me saith the Lord your God: For my servant Oliver Cowdery's sake, it is not wisdom in me that he should be entrusted with the commandments and the moneys which he shall carry unto the {235} land of Zion, except one go with him who will be true and faithful;
2. Wherefore, I, the Lord will, that my servant, John Whitmer, should go with my servant Oliver Cowdery;
3. And also that he shall continue in writing and making a history of all the important things which he shall observe and know concerning my Church:
4. And also that he receive counsel and assistance from my servant Oliver Cowdery and others.
5. And also my servants who are abroad in the earth, should send forth the accounts of their stewardships to the land of Zion;
6. For the land of Zion shall be a seat and a place to receive and do all these things;
7. Nevertheless let my servant John Whitmer travel many times from place to place, and from church to church, that he may the more easily obtain knowledge;
8. Preaching and expounding, writing, copying, selecting, and obtaining all things which shall be for the good of the Church, and for the rising generations, that shall grow up on the land of Zion, to possess it from generation to generation, forever and ever. Amen.
[Sidenote: Esteem in which the Conference Held the Book of Commandments and Book of Mormon.]
My time was occupied closely in reviewing the commandments and sitting in conference, for nearly two weeks; for from the first to the twelfth of November we held four special conferences. In the last which was held at Brother Johnson's, in Hiram, after deliberate consideration, in consequence of the book of revelations, now to be printed, being the foundation of the Church in these last days, and a benefit to the world, showing that the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man; and the riches of eternity within the compass of those who are willing to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God--therefore the conference voted that they prize the revelations to be worth to the Church the riches of the whole earth, speaking temporally. The great benefits to the world which result from the Book of Mormon and the revelations, which the Lord has seen fit in His infinite wisdom to grant unto us for our salvation, and for the {236} salvation of all that will believe, were duly appreciated; [18] and in answer to an inquiry, I received the following:
Revelation, given November, 1831. [19]
1. Behold, and hearken, O ye inhabitants of Zion, and all ye people of my Church who are afar off, and hear the word of the Lord which I give unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and also unto my servant Martin Harris, and also unto my servant Oliver Cowdery, and also unto my servant John Whitmer, and also unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also unto my servant William W. Phelps, by the way of commandment unto them.
2. For I give unto them a commandment; wherefore hearken and hear, for thus saith the Lord unto them--
3. I, the Lord, have appointed them, and ordained them to be stewards over the revelations and commandments which I have given unto them, and which I shall hereafter give unto them;
4. And an account of this stewardship will I require of them in the day of judgment.
5. Wherefore I have appointed unto them, and this is their business in the Church of God, to manage them and the concerns thereof; yea, the benefits thereof.
{237} 6. Wherefore, a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not give these things unto the Church, neither unto the world;
7. Nevertheless, inasmuch as they receive more than is needful for their necessities and their wants, it shall be given into my storehouse,
8. And the benefits shall be consecrated unto the inhabitants of Zion, and unto their generations, inasmuch as they become heirs according to the laws of the kingdom.
9. Behold, this is what the lord requires of every man in his stewardship, even as I, the Lord, have appointed, or shall hereafter appoint unto any man.
10. And behold, none are exempt from this law who belong to the Church of the living God;
11. Yea, neither the Bishop, neither the agent who keepeth the Lord's storehouse, neither he who is appointed in a stewardship over temporal things;
12. He who is appointed to administer spiritual things, the same is worthy of his hire, even as those who are appointed to a stewardship, to administer in temporal things;
13. Yea, even more abundantly, which abundance is multiplied unto them through the manifestation of the Spirit;
14. Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld.
15. Now this commandment I give unto my servants for their benefit while they remain, for a manifestation of my blessings upon their heads, and for a reward of their diligence and for their security;
16. For food and for raiment; for an inheritance; for houses and for lands, in whatsoever circumstances I, the Lord, shall place them, and whithersoever I, the Lord, shall send them;
17. For they have been faithful over many things; and have done well inasmuch as they have not sinned.
18. Behold, I, the Lord, am merciful and will bless them, and they shall enter into the joy of these things. Even so. Amen.
Footnotes
1. It would be more proper to say "revision of the Bible" than "translation" of it; as the Prophet did not at any time pretend to a knowledge of the ancient languages that would enable him to translate from the Hebrew or the Greek as "translation" is commonly understood. But what he did was to revise the English text of the Bible under the inspiration of God; and that led him not only to give different renderings of various passages, but also to supply missing parts.
2. The miracle here referred to is thus related in Hayden's History of the Disciples (a Campbellite work), pp. 250-1. "Ezra Booth, of Mantua, a Methodist preacher of much more than ordinary culture, and with strong natural abilities, in company with his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, and some other citizens of this place [Hiram], visited Smith at his home in Kirtland, in 1831. Mrs. Johnson had been afflicted for some time with a lame arm, and was not at the time of the visit able to lift her hand to her head. The party visited Smith partly out of curiosity, and partly to see for themselves what there might be in the new doctrine. During the interview the conversation turned on the subject of supernatural gifts, such as were conferred in the days of the apostles. Some one said, 'Here is Mrs. Johnson with a lame arm; has God given any power to man now on the earth to cure her?' A few moments later, when the conversation had turned in another direction, Smith rose, and walking across the room, taking Mrs. Johnson by the hand, said in the most solemn and impressive manner: 'Woman, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command thee to be whole,' and immediately left the room. The company were awe-stricken at the infinite presumption of the man, and the calm assurance with which he spoke. The sudden mental and moral shock--I know not how better to explain the well-attested fact--electrified the rheumatic arm--Mrs. Johnson at once lifted it up with ease, and on her return home the next day she was able to do her washing without difficulty or pain."
3. See page 212, verses 15, 16.
4. It is generally supposed that Ezra Booth was the first to turn away from the faith; but this is an error. Others denied the faith before him, but he was the first apostate, I think, to publish anything against the Church. That he was not the first apostate, however, is evident from the fact that John Whitmer in his history makes mention of others turning from the faith even before the journey of the Elders to Missouri was undertaken; whereas Booth did not announce his apostasy until his return from that journey in the month of September. Writing of a time previous to the assembling of the conference of June 3rd-6th, 1831, John Whitmer remarks: "About these days the disciples arrived from the state of New York to this place, Kirtland, Ohio. They had some difficulty between themselves because of some that did not continue faithful--who denied the truth and turned to fables." (Ch. 8.) Again in chapter 8 he says: "After some of the Elders had left [i. e., for Missouri], and the time for Joseph Smith, Jun., and others to leave [had come]--some of those who had been commanded to take their journey speedily, had denied the faith and turned from the truth." And still speaking of a time previous to the apostasy of Booth, and before detailing the events which happened on the land of Zion among the Elders who went there, he says: "There was much trouble and unbelief among those who called themselves disciples of Christ; some apostatized and became enemies to the cause of God, and persecuted the Saints." (Chapter 9.) All this was before Booth's apostasy. In the minutes of a conference held on the 6th of September, 1831, and signed by Oliver Cowdery, it is recorded: "Upon testimony satisfactory to this conference, it was voted that Ezra Booth be silenced from preaching as an Elder in this Church."
5. The series of letters referred to in the text above were nine in number, and first appeared in the Ohio Star, published at Ravenna, the county seat of Portage county. Afterwards they were published in E. D. Howe's Book, Mormonism Unveiled, pp. 175-221.
6. Orson Hyde was born January 8th, 1805, at Oxford, New Haven county, Connecticut. He was the son of Nathan and Sally Hyde. His father served in the United States army in the war of 1812. When Orson was seven years old his mother died, and the large family of Nathan Hyde, consisting of nine sons and three daughters, were scattered. Orson was taken in charge by a man of the name of Nathan Wheeler. Seven years later, or when young Hyde was fourteen years of age, Mr. Wheeler moved from the state of Connecticut to Ohio, settling in the vicinity of Kirtland. Orson accompanied him and continued to live with him in Ohio for about four years, after which he engaged in various occupations on his own account, at last becoming a clerk in the firm of Gilbert & Whitney, merchants. In the year 1827 a religious revival of unusual fervor occurred in Kirtland and vicinity, and under its influence Orson Hyde became a convert to the Methodist faith; and shortly afterwards was made a class leader. "At about the same time," writes Edward Tullidge, in a biographical sketch of him, "he heard that a 'golden Bible' had been dug out of a rock in the state of New York. It was treated, however, as a hoax; but, on reading the report, Hyde remarked: 'Who knows but that this 'golden Bible' may break up our religion and change its whole features and bearing." (Utah and her Founders, Biographical Sketches, p. 70). Some time subsequent to his becoming a Methodist he heard Sidney Rigdon preach the Campbellite faith, and being convinced that the doctrine Rigdon advocated was more scriptural than that which he had embraced, he accepted it and was baptized into the Campbellite church. He also became a theological student under his new teacher's instruction, with a view of becoming a minister of the new church; and, in fact, began to preach and had already assisted in founding several Campbellite congregations in Lorain and Huron counties. In 1830, he was made pastor over these congregations. In the fall of that year the Lamanite mission of the Church of Jesus Christ arrived in the northeast part of Ohio, and soon the whole country was agitated by the presentation of the Book of Mormon and its attendant message, the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. At first Orson Hyde, at the request of members of the Campbellite faith, opposed the Book of Mormon in public addresses; but feeling reproved by the Spirit for this course, he suspended his opposition in order to make further inquiry, with the result that after much prayer and some hesitancy he accepted the great latter-day message, and was baptized, as related in the text.
7. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 65.
8. This was a very important conference, and continued through two days, the 25th and 26th of October--Tuesday and Wednesday. The minutes of it are contained in the_ Far West Record_, pp. 10-15. Very many of the brethren holding the Priesthood addressed the conference, and each one expressed his willingness to consecrate all he possessed to God and His cause. The minutes of the Prophets remarks upon this subject, as relating to his own willingness to consecrate all to the Lord, are of particular interest. It stands as follows in the record: "Brother Joseph Smith. Jun., said that he had nothing to consecrate to the Lord of the things of the earth, yet he felt to consecrate himself and family. Was thankful that God had given him a place among His Saints; felt willing to labor for their good" (p. 13). It appears at this time that the Prophet and other leading Elders of the Church were much embarrassed in the work of translating the Scriptures and preaching the Gospel, in consequence of the difficulty they encountered to do this work of the ministry and at the same time provide for their families. It appears also that the Saints were somewhat backward in providing means for the support of the ministry of the Church. Referring to the subject the Prophet, according to the minutes above referred to, said: "The Lord held the Church bound to provide for the families of the absent Elders while proclaiming the Gospel. Further said that God had often sealed up the heavens because of covetousness in the Church" (p. 13).
The remarks of Simeon Carter, one of the High Priests in attendance at the conference, are of interest and importance, owing to the light they throw upon the views of the faithful brethren respecting the journey to the land of Zion and the work that had been accomplished there. The minute of his remarks stands as follows: "Brother Simeon Carter said that he was thankful that he had been spared and preserved to go to the land of Zion according to the commandment of the Lord, for he received it as from His mouth; and also thanked the Lord that his feet had trodden upon the consecrated ground which was the inheritance of the Saints. Testified that the Book of Mormon was true. Mourned because of the falling away [in Kirtland] since he took his journey to the land of Zion" (p. 12).
Another item of interest will be found in the following circumstance: Several of the brethren took occasion to testify to the truth of the Book of Mormon; and now the minutes--"Brother Hyrum Smith said that he thought best that the information of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon be related by Joseph himself to the Elders present, that all might know for themselves." "Brother Joseph Smith, Jun., said that it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon; and also said that it was not expedient for him to relate these things" (p. 13). This will account for the Prophet confining himself to the merest generalities in all his statements concerning the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.
9. The exact date of the birth of William E. M'Lellin cannot be ascertained. He was born in the state of Tennessee about the year 1806. He first heard the Gospel preached by Elders Samuel H. Smith and Reynolds Cahoon, while those brethren were en route from Kirtland to Independence, Missouri, in the early summer of 1831. He closed up his affairs as soon as possible and followed these missionaries to Jackson county. On the way to that place he was baptized and ordained an Elder. During the same summer he made his way to Kirtland, where we find him in attendance at the special conference of October 25th, seeking to learn the will of the Lord, through the Prophet, respecting himself.
10. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 66.
11. This special conference at Hiram on November 1st, should receive larger notice. The number of copies in the edition of the Book of Commandments to be printed was considered and the decision reached that ten thousand should be published. The conference lasted two days. In the afternoon of the first day of the conference, according to the minutes of the meeting, the preface to the Book of Commandments was "received by inspiration." The same afternoon, the following occurred: "Brother Joseph Smith, Jun., said that inasmuch as the Lord had bestowed a great blessing upon us in giving commandments and revelations, he asked the conference what testimony they were willing to attach to these commandments which would shortly be sent to the world. A number of the brethren arose and said that they were willing to testify to the world that they knew that they were of the Lord." (Far West Record, p. 16.)
In the second day's proceedings of the conference it is recorded: "The revelation of last evening read by the moderator [this was Oliver Cowdery]. The brethren then arose in turn and bore witness to the truth of the Book of Commandments; after which Brother Joseph Smith, Jun., arose and expressed his feelings and gratitude concerning the commandments and preface received yesterday." (Far West Record, p. 16.)
12. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 1. This revelation which, in the current edition, and in fact in all editions of the Doctrine and Covenants, stands as section 1, is the Lord's Preface to the revelations which He has given to this Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.
13. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 67.
14. This "Testimony" to the truth of the "Book of Commandments" was doubtless drawn up with the intention of having it signed by the Elders present at the conference; but whether that was done or not does not appear in the Ms. of the Prophet's history. The testimony itself, however, is in the manuscript History. This is remarked because it has not been published heretofore in the History of the Prophet. The matter appears to stand thus: Each of the Elders present at the conference testified to the truth of the revelations then about to be published; and, as already seen (p. 222 note), expressed a willingness to testify to the truth of the revelations to all the world. Accordingly this testimony was prepared with the intention of having it signed and published in the "Book of Commandments." It may have been signed, too, and carried to Missouri, but owing to the fact that the printing press was destroyed by a mob before the "Book of Commandments" was all printed, the "Testimony" does not appear in the part of it that was printed. The names of the Elders present at this special conference, according to the minutes of it in the Far West Record (p. 15), are as follows: Joseph Smith, Jun., Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, William B. M'Lellin, Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson.
15. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 68.
16. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 133.
17. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 69. It must not be understood from the first paragraph of this revelation that Oliver Cowdery was untrustworthy, and therefore it was necessary that a companion be provided for him. The fact was that much of the journey between Kirtland and Independence, or Zion, was through a sparsely settled country, the western portion of it through a frontier country where there is always a gathering, more or less, of lawless people; and it was at considerable risk that a person traveled through such a country, especially when alone and carrying money with him. It was wisdom then, for the sake of Oliver Cowdery, and to insure the safety of the money and the sacred things he was to carry with him, that one should go with him that would be a true and faithful companion, hence the appointment of John Whitmer.
18. In the minutes of the special conference of November 12th, spoken of in the foregoing by the Prophet, occurs the following account of what took place in addition to what the Prophet has written: "Brother Joseph Smith, Jun., said one item he wished acted upon was that our brothers Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer and the sacred writings which they have entrusted to them to carry to Zion--be dedicated to the Lord by the prayer of faith. Secondly, Brother Oliver has labored with me from the beginning in writing, &c. Brother Martin has labored with me from the beginning and Brothers John Whitmer and Sidney Rigdon also for a considerable time, and as these sacred writings are now going to the Church for its benefit, that we may have claim on the Church for recompense--if this conference think these things worth prizing to be had on record to show hereafter--I feel that it will be according to the mind of the Spirit, for by it these things were put into my heart which I know to be the Spirit of truth.
"Voted; that Joseph Smith, Jun., be appointed to dedicate and consecrate these brethren and the sacred writings and all they have entrusted to their care, to the Lord. Done accordingly. * * * * Voted; that in consequence of the diligence of our brethren, Joseph Smith, Jun., Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, and Sidney Rigdon in bringing to light by the grace of God these sacred things,--[they] be appointed to manage them according to the laws of the Church and the commandments of the Lord. And also that in consequence of the families of Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Hiram Page and David Whitmer administering to their wants in temporal things; and also [on account of] the labors of Samuel H. Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jun., William Smith and Don Carlos Smith--voted by the conference that the above named brethren be remembered to the Bishop in Zion as being worthy of inheritances among the people of the Lord according to the laws of said Church."--Far West Record, pp. 18, 19.
19. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 70.
{238}
Chapter XVIII
The Amherst Conference--The Vision of the Degrees of Glory in Man's Future Life.
[Sidenote: The Labors of the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon.]
After Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer had departed for Jackson county, Missouri, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures, and continued to labor in this branch of my calling with Elder Sidney Rigdon as my scribe, until I received the following:
Revelation, given December 1st, 1831. [1]
1. Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come, that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my Gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the Scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.
2. Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round about, and in the Church also, for the space of a season, even until it shall be made known unto you.
3. Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you,
4. Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.
5. Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;
6. For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power;
7. Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful, their shame shall be made manifest.
{239} 8. Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.
9. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;
10. And if any man lift his voice against you, he shall be confounded in mine own due time;
11. Wherefore, keep my commandments, they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen.
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Earnest Labors in Kirtland.]
Knowing now the mind of the Lord, that the time had come that the Gospel should be proclaimed in power and demonstration to the world, from the Scriptures, reasoning with men as in days of old, I took a journey to Kirtland, in company with Elder Sidney Rigdon on the 3rd day of December, to fulfil the above revelation. On the 4th, several of the Elders and members assembled together to learn their duty, and for edification, and after some time had been spent in conversing about our temporal and spiritual welfare, I received the following:
Revelation, given December 4th, 1831. [2]
1. Hearken and listen to the voice of the Lord, O ye who have assembled yourselves together, who are the High Priests of my Church, to whom the kingdom and power have been given.
2. For verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me for a Bishop to be appointed unto you, or of you, unto the Church in this part of the Lord's vineyard;
3. And verily in this thing ye have done wisely, for it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity.
4. For he who is faithful and wise in time, is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father.
5. Verily I say unto you, the Elders of the Church in this part of my vineyard, shall render an account of their stewardship unto the Bishop, who shall be appointed of me, in this part of my vineyard.
6. These things shall be had on record, to be handed over unto the Bishop in Zion;
7. And the duty of the Bishop shall be made known by the commandments which have been given, and the voice of the conference.
{240} 8. And now, verily I say unto you, my servant Newel K. Whitney is the man who shall be appointed and ordained unto this power. This is the will of the Lord your God, your Redeemer. Even so. Amen.
9. The word of the Lord, in addition to the law which has been given, making known the duty of the Bishop who has been ordained unto the Church in this part of the vineyard, which is verily this:
10. To keep the Lord's storehouse; to receive the funds of the Church in this part of the vineyard;
11. To take an account of the Elders as before has been commanded; and to administer to their wants, who shall pay for that which they receive, inasmuch as they have wherewith to pay;
12. That this also may be consecrated to the good of the Church, to the poor and needy;
13. And he who hath not wherewith to pay, an account shall be taken and handed over to the Bishop of Zion, who shall pay the debt out of that which the Lord shall put into his hands;
14. And the labors of the faithful who labor in spiritual things, in administering the Gospel and the things of the kingdom unto the Church, and unto the world, shall answer the debt unto the Bishop in Zion;
15. Thus it cometh out of the Church, for according to the law every man that cometh up to Zion, must lay all things before the Bishop in Zion.
16. And now, verily I say unto you, that as every Elder in this part of the vineyard must give an account of his stewardship unto the Bishop in this part of the vineyard,
17. A certificate from the judge or Bishop in this part of the vineyard, unto the Bishop in Zion, rendereth every man acceptable, and answereth all things, for an inheritance, and to be received as a wise steward, and as a faithful laborer;
18. Otherwise he shall not be accepted of the Bishop of Zion.
19. And now, verily I say unto you, let every Elder who shall give an account unto the Bishop of the Church, in this part of the vineyard be recommended by the church or churches, in which he labors, that he may render himself and his accounts approved in all things.
20. And again, let my servants who are appointed as stewards over the literary concerns of my Church, have claim for assistance upon the Bishop or Bishops, in all things,
21. That the revelations may be published, and go forth unto the ends of the earth; that they also may obtain funds which shall benefit the Church in all things,
22. That they also may render themselves approved in all things, and be accounted as wise stewards.
23. And now, behold, this shall be an ensample for all the extensive {241} branches of my Church, in whatsoever land they shall be established. And now I make an end of my sayings. Amen.
24. A few words in addition to the laws of the kingdom, respecting the members of the Church. They that are appointed by the Holy Spirit to go up unto Zion, and they who are privileged to go up unto Zion,
25. Let them carry up unto the Bishop a certificate from three Elders of the Church, or a certificate from the Bishop,
26. Otherwise he who shall go up unto the land of Zion shall not be accounted as a wise steward. This is also an ensample. Amen.
[Sidenote: Effectiveness of the Prophet's and Sidney Rigdon's Labors.]
From this time until the 8th or 10th of January, 1832, myself and Elder Rigdon continued to preach in Shalersville, Ravenna, and other places, setting forth the truth, vindicating the cause of our Redeemer; showing that the day of vengeance was coming upon this generation like a thief in the night; that prejudice, blindness and darkness filled the minds of many, and caused them to persecute the true Church, and reject the true light; by which means we did much towards allaying the excited feelings which were growing out of the scandalous letters then being published in the Ohio Star, at Ravenna, by the before-mentioned apostate, Ezra Booth. [3] On the 10th of January, I received the following revelation making known the will of the Lord concerning the Elders of the Church until the convening of the next conference. [4]
Revelation of January 10th, 1832. [5]
1. For verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me, that they should continue preaching the Gospel, and in exhortation to the churches in the regions round about, until conference;
2. And then, behold, it shall be made known unto them, by the voice of the conference, their several missions.
3. Now, verily, I say unto you my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, saith the Lord, it is expedient to translate again,
4. And, inasmuch as it is practicable, to preach in the regions round {242} about until conference; and after that it is expedient to continue the work of translation until it be finished.
5. And let this be a pattern unto the Elders until further knowledge, even as it is written.
6. Now I give no more unto you at this time. Gird up your loins and be sober. Even so. Amen.
[Sidenote: Translation Renewed.]
Upon the reception of the foregoing word of the Lord, I recommenced the translation of the Scriptures, and labored diligently until just before the conference, which was to convene on the 25th of January. During this period, I also received the following, as an explanation of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, 7th chapter, 14th verse:
Revelation. [6]
1. "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband, else were your children unclean, but now are they holy."
2. Now, in the days of the Apostles the law of circumcision was had among all the Jews who believed not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
3. And it came to pass that there arose a great contention among the people concerning the law of circumcision, for the unbelieving husband was desirous that his children should be circumcised and become subject to the law of Moses, which law was fulfilled.
4. And it came to pass that the children, being brought up in subjection to the law of Moses, gave heed to the traditions of their fathers and believed not the Gospel of Christ, wherein they became unholy;
5. Wherefore, for this cause the Apostle wrote unto the Church, giving unto them a commandment, not of the Lord, but of himself, that a believer should not be united to an unbeliever, except the law of Moses should be done away among them.
6. That their children might remain without circumcision; and that the tradition might be done away, which saith that little children are unholy; for it was had among the Jews,
7. But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the Scriptures mean.
[Sidenote: The Amherst Conference.]
A few days before the conference was to commence in Amherst, Lorain county, I started with the Elders that lived in my own vicinity, and arrived in good time. At this conference much harmony {243} prevailed, and considerable business was done to advance the kingdom, and promulgate the Gospel to the inhabitants of the surrounding country. [7] The Elders seemed anxious for me to inquire of the Lord that they might know His will, or learn what would be most pleasing to Him for them to do, in order to bring men to a sense of their condition; for, as it was written, all men have gone out of the way, so that none doeth good, no, not one. I inquired and received the following:
Revelation, given January, 1832. [8]
1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I who speak even by the voice of my Spirit; even Alpha and Omega, your Lord and your God;
2. Hearken, O ye who have given your names to go forth to proclaim my Gospel, and to prune my vineyard.
3. Behold, I say unto you, that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your mights,
4. Lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, proclaiming the truth according to the revelations and commandments which I have given you,
5. And thus, if ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life.
6. Therefore, verily I say unto my servant William E. M'Lellin, I revoke the commission which I gave unto him, to go unto the eastern countries,
7. And I give unto him a new commission and a new commandment, in the which I, the Lord, chasten him for the murmurings of his heart;
8. And he sinned, nevertheless, I forgive him, and say unto him again, Go ye into the south countries,
9. And let my servant Luke Johnson go with him and proclaim the things which I have commanded them,
10. Calling on the name of the Lord for the Comforter, which shall teach them all things that are expedient for them,
11. Praying always that they faint not, and inasmuch as they do this, I will be with them even unto the end.
12. Behold, this is the will of the Lord your God concerning you. Even so. Amen.
13. And again, verily thus saith the Lord, let my servant Orson Hyde, {244} and my servant Samuel H. Smith, take their journey into the eastern countries, and proclaim the things which I have commanded them; and inasmuch as they are faithful, lo, I will be with them even unto the end.
14. And again, verily I say unto my servant Lyman Johnson, and unto my servant Orson Pratt, they shall also take their journey into the eastern countries; and behold, and lo, I am with them also, even unto the end.
15. And again, I say unto my servant Asa Dodds, and unto my servant Calves Wilson, that they also shall take their journey unto the western countries, and proclaim my Gospel, even as I have commanded them.
16. And he who is faithful shall overcome all things, and shall be lifted up at the last day.
17. And again, I say unto my servant Major N. Ashly, and my servant Burr Riggs, let them take their journey also into the south country;
18. Yea, let all those take their journey, as I have commanded them, going from house to house, and from village to village, and from city to city;
19. And in whatsoever house ye enter, and they receive you, leave your blessing upon that house;
20. And in whatsoever house ye enter, and they receive you not, ye shall depart speedily from that house, and shake off the dust of your feet as a testimony against them;
21. And you shall be filled with joy and gladness; and know this, that in the day of judgment you shall be judges of that house, and condemn them;
22. And it shall be more tolerable for the heathen in the day of judgment, than for that house; therefore gird up your loins and be faithful, and ye shall overcome all things, and be lifted up at the last day. Even so. Amen.
23. And again, thus saith the Lord unto you, O ye Elders of my Church, who have given your names that you might know His will concerning you;
24. Behold, I say unto you, that it is the duty of the Church to assist in supporting the families of those, and also to support the families of those who are called and must needs be sent unto the world to proclaim the Gospel unto the world;
25. Wherefore, I, the Lord, give unto you this commandment, that ye obtain places for your families, inasmuch as your brethren are willing to open their heart;
26. And let all such as can obtain places for their families, and {245} support of the Church for them, not fail to go into the world, whether to the east or to the west, or to the north, or to the south;
27. Let them ask and they shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto them and be made known from on high, even by the Comforter, whither they shall go.
28. And again, verily I say unto you, that every man who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him provide, and he shall in nowise lose his crown; and let him labor in the Church.
29. Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the Church, except he repent and mend his ways.
30. Wherefore, let my servant Simeon Carter, and my servant Emer Harris, be united in the ministry;
31. And also my servant Ezra Thayre, and my servant Thomas B. Marsh;
32. Also my servant Hyrum Smith, and my servant Reynolds Cahoon;
33. And also my servant Daniel Stanton, and my servant Seymour Brunson;
34. And also my servant Sylvester Smith, and my servant Gideon Carter;
35. And also my servant Ruggles Eames, and my servant Stephen Burnett;
36. And also my servant Micah B. Welton; and also my servant Eden Smith. Even so. Amen.
[Sidenote: Revelation on the Degrees of Future Glory.]
Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term "Heaven," as intended for the Saints' eternal home must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, on the 16th of February, 1832, while translating St. John's Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision:
Vision of the Glories. [9]
1. Hear O ye heavens, and give ear O earth, and rejoice ye {246} inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside Him there is no Savior
2. Great is His wisdom, marvelous are His ways, and the extent of His doings none can find out;
3. His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay His hand;
4. From eternity to eternity He is the same, and His years never fail.
5. For thus saith the Lord, I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end;
6. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory;
7. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom;
8. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations;
9. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven: and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught;
10. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will: yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.
11. We, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being in the Spirit, on the sixteenth of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two,
12. By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God--
13. Even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through His Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning,
14. Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision.
15. For while we were doing the work of translation, which the Lord had appointed unto us, we came to the twenty-ninth verse of the fifth chapter of John, which was given unto us as follows:
16. Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, concerning those who shall hear the voice of the Son of Man, and shall come forth;
17. They who have done good in the resurrection of the just, and they who have done evil in the resurrection of the unjust.
{247} 18. Now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit;
19. And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about;
20. And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father and received of His fullness;
21. And saw the holy angels, and they who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God and the Lamb, who worship Him forever and ever.
22. And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of Him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That He lives!
23. For we saw Him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that He is the Only Begotten of the Father;
24. That by Him, and through Him, and of Him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten song and daughters unto God.
25. And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father--was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,
26. And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him--he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
27. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen! even a son of the morning.
28. And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision, for we beheld Satan, that old serpent--even the devil--who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God, and His Christ,
29. Wherefore he maketh war with the Saints of God and encompasseth them round about.
30. And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us.
31. Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil, to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power--
32. They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born,
33. For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;
{248} 34. Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come,
35. Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father--having crucified Him unto themselves and put Him to an open shame.
36. These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels,
37. And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power;
38. Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of His wrath;
39. For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.
40. And this is the Gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us,
41. That He came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
42. That through Him all might be saved whom the Father had put into His power and made by Him,
43. Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of His hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed Him;
44. Wherefore, He saves all except them; they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment;
45. And the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows,
46. Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof:
47. Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again;
48. Wherefore the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this condemnation.
49. And we heard the voice, saying, Write the vision, for lo! this is the end of the vision of the sufferings of the ungodly.
50. And again, we bear record, for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the Gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just;
51. They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on His name and were baptized after the manner of His burial, being {249} buried in the water in His name, and this according to the commandment which he has given,
52. That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power,
53. And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54. They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55. They are they into whose hands the Father hath given all things--
56. They are they who are Priests and Kings, who have received of His fullness, and of His glory,
57. And are Priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchisedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son;
58. Wherefore, as it is written, they are Gods, even the sons of God--
59. Wherefore all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ's and Christ is God's.
60. And they shall overcome all things;
61. Wherefore let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet--
62. These shall dwell in the presence of God and His Christ for ever and ever.
63. These are they whom He shall bring with Him, when He shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on earth over His people.
64. These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
65. These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
66. These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.
67. These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
68. These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the Judge of all.
69. These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of His own blood.
70. These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.
71. And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the {250} church of the Firstborn, who have received the fullness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.
72. Behold, these are they who died without law,
73. And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the Gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh,
74. Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.
75. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76. These are they who receive of His glory, but not of His fullness.
77. These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father;
78. Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.
79. These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.
80. And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit.
81. And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament.
82. These are they who received not the Gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.
83. These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit.
84. These are they who are thrust down to hell.
85. These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil, until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb shall have finished His work.
86. These are they who receive not of His fullness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministrations of the terrestrial;
87. And the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial;
88. And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them, for they shall be heirs of salvation.
89. And thus we saw in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding,
90. And no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it.
91. And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial, which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion.
92. And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all {251} things--where God, even the Father, reigns upon His throne for ever and ever;
93. Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory for ever and ever.
94. They who dwell in His presence are the church of the Firstborn, and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of His fulness and of His grace;
95. And He makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.
96. And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one.
97. And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one.
98. And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one, for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world;
99. For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas.
100. These are they who say they are some of one and some of another--some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch;
101. But received not the Gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant.
102. Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the Saints, to be caught up unto the church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud.
103. These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
104. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth.
105. These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.
106. These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fullness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under His feet, and shall have perfected His work;
107. When He shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.
108. Then shall He be crowned with the crown of His glory, to sit on the throne of His power to reign for ever and ever.
109. But behold and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the sea shore,
110. And heard the voice of the Lord, saying--these all shall bow the {252} knee, and every tongue shall confess to Him who sits upon the throne for ever and ever.
111. For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared,
112. And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end.
113. This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit.
114. But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of His kingdom which He showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion,
115. Which He commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter;
116. Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love Him, and purify themselves before Him;
117. To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves;
118. That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear His presence in the world of glory.
119. And to God and the Lamb, be glory, and honor, and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Views on the Foregoing Revelation.]
Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of the kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the scriptures remains unsullied by the folly of men, go to show the perfection of the theory [of different degrees of glory in the future life] and witnesses the fact that that document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee; the rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that {253} every honest man is constrained to exclaim: "It came from God."
[Sidenote: A Key to St. John's Book of Revelation.]
About the first of March, in connection with the translation of the Scriptures, I received the following explanation of the Revelation of St. John:
Revelation, given at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio. [10]
1. Q.--What is the sea of glass spoken of by John, 4th chapter, and 6th verse of the Revelations?
A. It is the earth, in its sanctified, immortal and eternal state.
2. Q. What are we to understand by the four beasts, spoken of in the same verse?
A. They are figurative expressions, used by the Revelator John, in describing Heaven, the Paradise of God, the happiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual, being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal, in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created.
3. Q. Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or orders?
A. They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings, in their destined order or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity.
4. Q. What are we to understand by the eyes, and wings, which the beasts had?
A. Their eyes are a representation of light, and knowledge; that is they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, &c.
5. Q. What are we to understand by the four and twenty Elders, spoken of by John?
A. We are to understand that these Elders whom John saw, were Elders who had been faithful in the work of the ministry and were dead; who belonged to the seven churches,--and were then in the Paradise of God.
6. Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals?
A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and works of God; the hidden things of His economy concerning this {254} earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.
7. Q. What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?
A. We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.
8. Q. What are we to understand by the four angels, spoken of in the 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelations?
A. We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy; these are they who have the everlasting Gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness.
9. Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelations, 7th chapter and 2nd verse?
A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east, is he to whom is given the seal of the living God, over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting Gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads; And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things.
10. Q. What time are the things spoken of in this chapter to be accomplished?
A. They are to be accomplished in the sixth thousandth year, or the opening of the sixth seal.
11. Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel; twelve thousand out of every tribe?
A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are High Priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting Gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn.
12. Q. What are we to understand by the sounding of the trumpets, mentioned in the 8th chapter of Revelations?
A. We are to understand that as God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day He finished His work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth; even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and {255} complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things, except that which He hath not put into His power, when He shall have sealed all things, unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of His work, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years; the preparing of the way before the time of His coming.
13. Q. When are the things to be accomplished, which are written in the 9th chapter of Revelations?
A. They are to be accomplished after the opening of the seventh seal, before the coming of Christ.
14. Q. What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelations?
A. We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold this is Elias; who, as it is written, must come and restore all things.
15. Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelations?
A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews, after they are gathered, and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers.
[Sidenote: Sundry Revelations.]
Besides the work of translating, previous to the 20th of March, I received the four following revelations:--
Revelation, given March, 1832. The Order given of the Lord to Enoch, [Joseph Smith, Jun.,] [11] for the purpose of establishing the poor. [12]
1. The Lord spake unto Enoch (Joseph Smith, Jun.,) saying; Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, who are ordained unto the High Priesthood of my Church, who have assembled yourselves together;
2. And listen to the counsel of Him who has ordained you from on high, who shall speak in your ears the words of wisdom, that salvation may be unto you in that thing which you have presented before me, saith the Lord God;
3. For verily I say unto you, the time has come, and is now at hand; and behold, and lo, it must needs be that there be an organization of {256} my people, in regulating and establishing the affairs of the storehouse for the poor of my people, both in this place and in the land of Zion,
4. Or in other words, the city of Enoch, (Joseph) for a permanent and everlasting establishment and order unto my Church, to advance the cause, which ye have espoused to the salvation of man, and to the glory of your Father who is in heaven,
5. That you may be equal in the bands of heavenly things; yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things;
6. For if ye are not equal in earthly things, ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;
7. For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.
8. And now, verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient that all things be done unto my glory, by you who are joined together in this order;
9. Or in other words, let my servant Ahashdah [Newel K. Whitney] and my servant Gazelam, or Enoch, (Joseph Smith, Jun.,) and my servant Pelagoram, (Sidney Rigdon), sit in council with the Saints which are in Zion;
10. Otherwise Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the truth, that they become blinded and understand not the things which are prepared for them;
11. Wherefore a commandment I give unto you, to prepare and organize yourselves by a bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken.
12. And he who breaketh it shall lose his office and standing in the Church, and shall be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan until the day of redemption.
13. Behold, this is the preparation wherewith I prepare you, and the foundation, and the ensample which I give unto you, whereby you may accomplish the commandments which are given you,
14. That through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the Church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world,
15. That you may come up unto the crown prepared for you, and be made rulers over many kingdoms saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Zion, who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman;
16. Who hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him up on high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end of life.
17. Verily, verily I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in His own hands and prepared for you;
{257} 18. And ye cannot bear all things now, nevertheless be of good cheer, for I will lead you along: the kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours; and the riches of eternity are yours;
19. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more;
20. Wherefore, do the things which I have commanded you, saith your Redeemer, even the Son of Ahman, who prepareth all things before He taketh you;
21. For ye are the church of the Firstborn, and He will take you up in a cloud, and appoint every man his portion.
22. And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things. Amen.
Revelation, given March, 1832. [13]
1. Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that my servant Jared Carter should go again into the eastern countries, from place to place, and from city to city, in the power of the ordination wherewith he has been ordained, proclaiming glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting Gospel;
2. And I will send upon him the Comforter, which shall teach him the truth and the way whither he shall go;
3. And inasmuch as he is faithful, I will crown him again with sheaves;
4. Wherefore, let your heart be glad, my servant Jared Carter, and fear not, saith your Lord, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Revelation, given March, 1832. [14]
1. Verily, thus saith the Lord, unto you my servant, Stephen Burnett, Go ye, go ye into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of your voice;
2. And inasmuch as you desire a companion, I will give unto you my servant Eden Smith;
3. Wherefore, go ye and preach my Gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss;
4. Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard and verily believe, and know to be true.
5. Behold, this is the will of Him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Revelation, given March, 1832. [15]
1. Verily, verily I say unto you my servant Frederick G. Williams, {258} listen to the voice of Him who speaketh, to the word of the Lord your God, and hearken to the calling wherewith you are called, even to be a High Priest in my Church, and a counselor unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun.,
2. Unto whom I have given the keys of the kingdom, which belong always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood: [16]
3. Therefore, verily I acknowledge him and will bless him, and also thee, inasmuch as thou art faithful in counsel, in the office which I have appointed unto you, in prayer, always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private, also in thy ministry in proclaiming the Gospel in the land of the living, and among thy brethren;
4. And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of Him who is your Lord;
5. Wherefore, be faithful, stand in the office which I have appointed unto you, succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees;
6. And if thou art faithful unto the end, thou shalt have a crown of immortality and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father.
7. Behold, and lo, these are the words of Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Footnotes
1. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 71.
2. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 72.
3. These are the letters referred to at p. 217, note.
4. This conference had been appointed to meet on the 25th of January, at Amherst, Lorain county, Ohio.
5. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 73.
6. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 74.
7. The chief item of interest connected with this Amherst conference held on the 25th of January, 1832, is the fact that it was here that the Prophet Joseph was sustained and ordained as President of the High Priesthood.
8. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 75.
9. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 76.
10. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 77.
11. It was not always desirable that the individuals whom the Lord addressed in revelations should at the time be known by the world, and hence in this and in some subsequent revelations the brethren were addressed by other than their own names. The temporary necessity having passed for keeping the names of the individuals addressed unknown, their real names were subsequently given in brackets.
12. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 78.
13. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 79.
14. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 80.
15. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 81.
16. It has been said that there was no First presidency in the Church of Jesus Christ in former days and that this body is peculiar to the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. Here the Lord declares that the keys of the kingdom "belong always unto the presidency of the High Priesthood." In other words they belong to the Presidency of the Church. In a discourse delivered July 2, 1839, the prophet Joseph Smith said that Adam held the keys of the First Presidency, then Noah also held this office. He said: "The Priesthood is everlasting. The Savior, Moses and Elias gave the keys to Peter, James and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured before him." This being true, then Peter, James and John were chosen by the Lord as a First Presidency and served in that capacity in the Church of Jesus Christ in their dispensation. It was by virtue of this calling that they were sent to confer upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the keys of the kingdom. (D&C 27:13.)
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