Chapter XIII

Prospects of the Church at the Opening of the Year 1831--Removal of the Prophet Joseph from New York to Ohio--Doctrinal Development.

[Sidenote: Prospects of the Church--1831.]

The year 1831 opened with a prospect great and glorious for the welfare of the kingdom; for on the 2nd of January, 1831, a conference was held in the town of Fayette, New York, at which the ordinary business of the Church was transacted; and in addition, the following revelation was received:

_Revelation, given January 2nd, 1831._ [1]

1. Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I AM,
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked
upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of
heaven before the world was made:

2. The same which knoweth all things, for all things are present
before mine eyes:

3. I am the same which spake, and the world was made, and all
things came by me:

4. I am the same which have taken the Zion of Enoch into mine own
bosom; and verily, I say, even as many as have believed in my name,
for I am Christ, and in mine own name, by the virtue of the blood
which I have spilt, have I pleaded before the Father for them;

5. But behold, the residue of the wicked have I kept in chains of
darkness until the judgment of the great day, which shall come at
the end of the earth;

6. And even so will I cause the wicked to be kept, that will not
hear my voice but harden their hearts, and wo, wo, wo, is their
doom.

{141} 7. But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes
are upon you. I am in your midst, and ye cannot see me;

8. But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I
am; for the vail of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not
purified shall not abide the day:

9. Wherefore gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the
kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome.

10. verily, I say unto you, ye are clean, but not all; and there is
none else with whom I am well pleased.

11. For all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of
darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the
presence of all the hosts of heaven.

12. Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained, and
the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to
gather the tares that they may be burned; and, behold, the enemy is
combined.

13. And now I show unto you a mystery, a thing which is had in
secret chambers, to bring to pass even your destruction in process
of time, and ye knew it not.

14. But now I tell it unto you, and ye are blessed, not because of
your iniquity, neither your hearts of unbelief; for verily some of
you are guilty before me, but I will be merciful unto your weakness.

15. Therefore, be ye strong from henceforth; fear not, for the
kingdom is yours:

16. And for your salvation I give unto you a commandment, for
I have heard your prayers, and the poor have complained before
me, and the rich have I made, and all flesh is mine, and I am no
respecter of persons.

17. And I have made the earth rich, and behold it is my footstool,
wherefore, again I will stand upon it;

18. And I hold forth and deign to give unto you greater riches,
even a land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey, upon
which there shall be no curse when the Lord cometh;

19. And I will give it unto you for the land of your inheritance,
if you seek it with all your hearts:

20. And this shall be my covenant with you, ye shall have it for
the land of your inheritance, and for the inheritance of your
children forever, while the earth shall stand, and ye shall possess
it again in eternity, no more to pass away.

21. But verily I say unto you, that in time ye shall have no king
nor ruler, for I will be your King and watch over you.

22. Wherefore, hear my voice and follow me, and you shall be a free
{142} people, and ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come,
for I am your Law-giver, and what can stay my hand?

23. But verily, I say unto you, teach one another according to the
office wherewith I have appointed you,

24. And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice
virtue and holiness before me.

25. And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as
himself;

26. For what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter
of them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto the one,
Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other, Be
thou clothed in rags and sit thou there, and looketh upon his sons
and saith I am just.

27. Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even
as I am: I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one, ye are not
mine.

28. And again I say unto you, that the enemy in the secret chambers
seeketh your lives.

29. Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will
soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of
men in your own land.

30. I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore
treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men
reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which
shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall
shake the earth; but if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.

31. And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be
gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless:

32. Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that
ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law;
and there you shall be endowed with power from on high;

33. And from thence, whomsoever I will, shall go forth among all
nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a
great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will
lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand.

34. And now I give unto the Church in these parts, a commandment
that certain men among them shall be appointed, and they shall be
appointed by the voice of the Church;

35. And they shall look to the poor and the needy, and administer
to their relief, that they shall not suffer; and send them forth to
the place which I have commanded them;

36. And this shall be their work, to govern the affairs of the
property of this Church.

{143} 37. And they have farms that cannot be sold, let them be left
or rented as seemeth them good.

38. See that all things are preserved; and when men are endowed
with power from on high and sent forth, all these things shall be
gathered unto the bosom of the Church.

39. And if ye seek the riches which it is the will of the Father to
give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall
have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the riches
of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest ye become
as the Nephites of old.

40. And again I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that
every man, both Elder, Priest, Teacher, and also member, go to with
his might, with the labor of his hands, to prepare and accomplish
the things which I have commanded.

41. And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his
neighbor, in mildness and in meekness.

42. And go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye
clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Even so. Amen.

[Sidenote: James Covill.]

Not long after this conference of the 2nd of January closed, there was a man came to me by the name of James Covill, who had been a Baptist minister for about forty years, and covenanted with the Lord that he would obey any command that the Lord would give to him through me, as His servant, and I received the following:

_Revelation to James Covill, given at Fayette, New York, January
5th, 1831._ [2]

1. Hearken and listen to the voice of Him who is from all eternity
to all eternity, the Great I AM, even Jesus Christ,

2. The light and life of the world; a light which shineth in
darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not:

3. The same which came in the meridian of time unto my own, and my
own received me not;

4. But to as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons,
and even so will I give unto as many as will receive me, power to
become my sons.

5. And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my Gospel
receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my Gospel receiveth not me.

{144} 6. And this is my Gospel: repentance and baptism by water,
and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the
Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable
things of the Kingdom.

7. And now, behold, I say unto you, my servant James, I have looked
upon thy works and I know thee;

8. And verily I say unto thee, thine heart is now right before me
at this time, and behold, I have bestowed great blessings upon thy
head.

9. Nevertheless thou hast seen great sorrow, for thou hast rejected
me many times because of pride and the cares of the world;

10. But, behold, the days of thy deliverance are come, if thou wilt
hearken to my voice, which saith unto thee, arise and be baptized,
and wash away your sins, calling on my name, and you shall receive
my Spirit, and a blessing so great as you never have known.

11. And if thou do this, I have prepared thee for a greater work.
Thou shalt preach the fullness of my Gospel, which I have sent
forth in these last days; the covenant which I have sent forth to
recover my people, which are of the house of Israel.

12. And it shall come to pass that power shall rest upon thee; thou
shalt have great faith, and I will be with thee and go before thy
face.

13. Thou art called to labor in my vineyard, and to build up my
Church, and to bring forth Zion, that it may rejoice upon the hills
and flourish.

14. Behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou art not called
to go into the eastern countries, but thou art called to go to the
Ohio.

15. And inasmuch as my people shall assemble themselves to the
Ohio, I have kept in store a blessing such as is not known among
the children of men, and it shall be poured forth upon their heads.
And from thence men shall go forth into all nations.

16. Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the people in
Ohio call upon me in much faith, thinking I will stay my hand in
judgment upon the nations, but I cannot deny my word;

17. Wherefore lay to with your might and call faithful laborers
into my vineyard, that it may be pruned for the last time.

18. And inasmuch as they do repent and receive the fullness of my
Gospel, and become sanctified, I will stay my hand in judgment:

19. Wherefore, go forth, crying with a loud voice, saying, the
kingdom of heaven is at hand; crying Hosanna! blessed be the name
of the most High God.

20. Go forth baptizing with water, preparing the way before my
face, for the time of my coming;

21. For the time is at hand; the day nor the hour no man knoweth;
but it surely shall come.

{145} 22. And he that receiveth these things receiveth me; and they
shall be gathered unto me in time and in eternity.

23. And again, it shall come to pass, that on as many as ye shall
baptize with water, ye shall lay your hands, and they shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost, and shall be looking forth for the
signs of my coming, and shall know me.

24. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen.

[Sidenote: Why Covill Rejected the Commandment.]

As James Covill rejected the word of the Lord, and returned to his former principles and people, the Lord gave unto me and Sidney Rigdon the following revelation, explaining why he obeyed not the word:

_Revelation given at Fayette, New York, January 6, 1831._ [3]

1. Behold, verily, I say unto you, that the heart of my servant
James Covill was right before me, for he covenanted with me that he
would obey my word,

2. And he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan
tempted him; and the fear of persecution, and the cares of the
world, caused him to reject the word;

3. Wherefore he broke my covenant, and it remaineth with me to do
with him as seemeth me good. Amen.

[Sidenote: The Prophet Removes to Ohio.]

The latter part of January, in company with Brothers Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge, I started with my wife for Kirtland, Ohio, where we arrived about the first of February, and were kindly received and welcomed into the house of Brother Newel K. Whitney. [4] My wife and I lived in {146} the family of Brother Whitney several weeks, and received every kindness and attention which could be expected, and especially from Sister Whitney.

[Sidenote: The Branch of the Church at Kirtland.]

The branch of the Church in this part of the Lord's vineyard, which had increased to nearly one hundred members, were striving to do the will of God, so far as they knew it, though some strange notions and false spirits had crept in among them. With a little caution and some wisdom, I soon assisted the brethren and sisters to overcome them. The plan of "common stock," which had existed in what was called "the family," [5] whose members generally had embraced the everlasting Gospel, was readily abandoned for {147} the more perfect law of the Lord; and the false spirits were easily discerned and rejected by the light of revelation.

The Lord gave unto the Church the following:

_Revelation, given at Kirtland, Ohio, February 4th, 1831._ [6]

1. Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God,
ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings,
ye that hear me; and ye that hear me not will I curse, that have
professed my name, with the heaviest of all cursings.

2. Hearken, O ye Elders of my Church whom I have called, behold
I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall assemble yourselves
together to agree upon my word,

3. And by the prayer of your faith ye shall receive my law, that ye
may know how to govern my Church and have all things right before
me.

4. And I will be your Ruler when I come; and behold, I come
quickly, and ye shall see that my law is kept.

5. He that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple;
and he that saith he receiveth it and doeth it not, the same is not
my disciple, and shall be cast out from among you:

6. For it is not meet that the things which belong to the children
of the kingdom, shall be given to them that are not worthy, or to
dogs, or the pearls to be cast before swine.

7. And again, it is meet that my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun.,
should have a house built, in which to live and translate.

8. And again, it is meet that my servant, Sidney Rigdon should live
as seemeth him good, inasmuch as he keepeth my commandments.

9. And again, I have called my servant, Edward Partridge, and I
give a commandment, that he should be appointed by the voice of
the Church, and ordained a Bishop unto the Church, to leave his
merchandise and to spend all his time in the labors of the Church:

10. To see to all things as it shall be appointed unto him, in my
laws in the day that I shall give them.

11. And this because his heart is pure before me, for he is like
unto Nathaniel of old, in whom there is no guile.

12. These words are given unto you, and they are pure before me;
wherefore beware how you hold them, for they are to be answered
upon your souls in the day of judgment. Even so. Amen.

{148} [Sidenote: Revelation Giving the Law of the Church.]

On the 9th of February, 1831, at Kirtland, in the presence of twelve Elders, and according to the promise heretofore made, [7] the Lord gave the following revelation, embracing the law of the Church:

_Revelation, given February, 1831._ [8]

1. Hearken, O ye Elders of my Church, who have assembled yourselves
together in my name, even Jesus Christ the Son of the living God,
the Savior of the world, inasmuch as they believe on my name and
keep my commandments.

2. Again, I say unto you, hearken and hear and obey the law which I
shall give unto you;

3. For verily I say, as ye have assembled yourselves together
according to the commandment wherewith I commanded you, and are
agreed as touching this one thing, and have asked the Father in my
name, even so ye shall receive.

4. Behold, verily I say unto you, I give unto you this first
commandment, that ye shall go forth in my name, every one of you,
excepting my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon.

5. And I give unto them a commandment that they shall go forth for
a little season, and it shall be given by the power of the Spirit
when they shall return;

6. And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my
Gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the
sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God;

7. And ye shall go forth baptizing with water, saying--Repent ye,
repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8. And from this place ye shall go forth into the regions westward;
and inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you, ye shall
build up my Church in every region,

9. Until the time shall come when it shall be revealed unto you
from on high, when the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared,
that ye may be gathered in one, that ye may be my people and I will
be your God.

10. And again, I say unto you, that my servant, Edward Partridge,
shall stand in the office wherewith I have appointed him. And
it shall come to pass, that if he transgress, another shall be
appointed in his stead. Even so. Amen.

{149} 11. Again, I say unto you, that it shall not be given to any
one to go forth to preach my Gospel, or to build up my Church,
except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is
known to the Church that he has authority, and has been regularly
ordained by the heads of the Church.

12. And again, the Elders, Priests and Teachers of this Church
shall teach the principles of my Gospel, which are in the Bible and
the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fullness of the Gospel;

13. And they shall observe the covenants and Church articles to do
them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed
by the Spirit;

14. And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith,
and if ye receive not the Spirit, ye shall not teach,

15. And all this ye shall observe to do as I have commanded
concerning your teaching, until the fulness of my scripture is
given.

16. And as ye shall lift up your voices by the Comforter, ye shall
speak and prophesy as seemeth me good;

17. For, behold, the Comforter knoweth all things, and beareth
record of the Father and of the Son.

18. And now, behold, I speak unto the Church. Thou shalt not kill;
and he that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in
the world to come.

19. And again, I say, thou shalt not kill; but he that killeth
shall die.

20. Thou shalt not steal; and he that stealeth and will not repent,
shall be cast out.

21. Thou shalt not lie; he that lieth and will not repent, shall be
cast out.

22. Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave
unto her and none else;

23. And he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, shall deny
the faith, and shall not have the Spirit, and if he repents not he
shall be cast out.

24. Thou shalt not commit adultery; and he that committeth
adultery, and repenteth not, shall be cast out;

25. But he that has committed adultery and repents with all his
heart and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive;

26. But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall
be cast out.

27. Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him any harm.

28. Thou knowest my laws concerning these things are given in my
Scriptures: he that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out.

{150} 29. If thou lovest me, thou shalt serve me and keep all my
commandments.

30. And behold, thou wilt remember the poor, and consecrate of thy
properties for their support that which thou hast to impart unto
them with a covenant and a deed which cannot be broken--

31. And inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor, ye
will do it unto me--and they shall be laid before the Bishop of my
Church and his counselors, two of the Elders, or High Priests [9]
such as he shall appoint or has appointed and set apart for that
purpose.

32. And it shall come to pass, that after they are laid before
the Bishop of my Church, and after that he has received these
testimonies concerning the consecration of the properties of my
Church, that they cannot be taken from the Church agreeable to
my commandments; every man shall be made accountable unto me, a
steward over his own property, or that which he has received by
consecration, as much as is sufficient for himself and family.

33. And again, if there shall be properties in the hands of the
Church, or any individuals of it, more than is necessary for their
support, after this first consecration, which is a residue to be
consecrated unto the Bishop, it shall be kept to administer to
those who have not, from time to time, that every man who has need
may be amply supplied, and receive according to his wants.

34. Therefore, the residue shall be kept in my storehouse, to
administer to the poor and the needy, as shall be appointed by the
High Council of the Church, and the Bishop and his council,

35. And for the purpose of purchasing lands for the public benefit
of the Church, and building houses of worship, and building up of
the New Jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed,

36. That my covenant people may be gathered in one in that day when
I shall come to my temple. And this I do for the salvation of my
people.

37. And it shall come to pass, that he that sinneth and repenteth
not, shall be cast out of the Church, and shall not receive again
that which he has consecrated unto the poor and the needy of my
Church; or in other words, unto me;

38. For inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, ye do it unto
me;

39. For it shall come to pass, that which I spake by the mouths
of my prophets, shall be fulfilled; for I will consecrate of the
riches of those who embrace my Gospel among the Gentiles, unto the
poor of my people who are of the house of Israel.

{151} 40. And again, thou shalt not be proud in thy heart; let all
thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of
thine own hands;

41. And let all things be done in cleanliness before me.

42. Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the
bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.

43. And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be
healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with
herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy.

44. And the Elders of the Church, two or more, shall be called, and
shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if
they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live
unto me.

45. Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep
for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that
have not hope of a glorious resurrection.

46. And it shall come to pass that those that die in me, shall not
taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them;

47. And they that die not in me, wo unto them, for their death is
bitter.

48. And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me
to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed;

49. He who hath faith to see shall see;

50. He who hath faith to hear shall hear;

51. The lame who hath faith to leap shall leap;

52. And they who have not faith to do these things, but believe in
me, have power to become my sons; and inasmuch as they break not my
laws, thou shalt bear their infirmities.

53. Thou shalt stand in the place of thy stewardship;

54. Thou shalt not take thy brother's garment; thou shalt pay for
that which thou shalt receive of thy brother;

55. And if thou obtainest more than that which would be for thy
support, thou shalt give it into my store-house, that all things
may be done according to that which I have said.

56. Thou shalt ask and my Scriptures shall be given as I have
appointed, and they shall be preserved in safety;

57. And it is expedient that thou shouldst hold thy peace
concerning them, and not teach them until ye have received them in
full.

58. And I give unto you a commandment that then ye shall teach them
unto all men; for they shall be taught unto all nations, kindreds,
tongues and people.

59. Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have
been given unto thee in my Scriptures for a law, to be my law to
govern my Church;

{152} 60. And he that doeth according to these things shall be
saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned, if he so
continue.

61. If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon
revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the
mysteries and peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which
bringeth life eternal.

62. Thou shalt ask, and it shall be revealed unto you in mine own
due time where the New Jerusalem shall be built.

63. And behold, it shall come to pass that my servants shall be
sent forth to the east and to the west, to the north and to the
south;

64. And even now, let him that goeth to the east, teach them that
shall be converted to flee to the west, and this in consequence of
that which is coming on the earth, and of secret combinations.

65. Behold, thou shalt observe all these things, and great shall be
thy reward; for unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the
kingdom, but unto the world it is not given to know them.

66. Ye shall observe the laws which ye have received and be
faithful.

67. And ye shall hereafter receive Church covenants, such as shall
be sufficient to establish you, both here and in the New Jerusalem.

68. Therefore, he that lacketh wisdom, let him ask of me, and I
will give him liberally and upbraid him not.

69. Lift up your hearts and rejoice, for unto you the kingdom, or
in other words, the keys of the Church have been given. Even so.
Amen.

70. The Priests and Teachers shall have their stewardships, even as
the members;

71. And the Elders, or High Priests, [10] who are appointed to
assist the Bishop as counselors in all things, are to have their
families supported out of the property which is consecrated to the
Bishop, for the good of the poor, and for other purposes, as before
mentioned;

72. Or they are to receive a just remuneration for all their
services, either a stewardship or otherwise, as may be thought best
or decided by the counselors and Bishop.

73. And the Bishop, also, shall receive his support, or a just
renumeration for all his services in the Church.

74. [11] Behold, verily I say unto you, that whatever persons among
you, having put away their companions for the cause of fornication,
or in other words, if they shall testify before you in all
lowliness of heart that this is the case, ye shall not cast them
out from among you;

{153} 75. But if ye shall find that any persons have left their
companions for the sake of adultery, and they themselves are the
offenders, and their companions are living, they shall be cast out
from among you.

76. And again, I say unto you, that ye shall be watchful and
careful, with all inquiry, that ye receive none such among you if
they are married;

77. And if they are not married, they shall repent of all their
sins, or ye shall not receive them.

78. And again, every person who belongeth to this Church of Christ,
shall observe to keep all the commandments and covenants of the
Church.

79. And it shall come to pass, that if any persons among you shall
kill, they shall be delivered up and dealt with according to the
laws of the land; for remember that he hath no forgiveness, and it
shall be proved according to the laws of the land.

80. And if any man or woman shall commit adultery, he or she shall
be tried before two Elders of the Church, or more, and every
word shall be established against him or her by two witnesses of
the Church, and not of the enemy; but if there are more than two
witnesses it is better.

81. But he or she shall be condemned by the mouth of two witnesses,
and the Elders shall lay the case before the Church, and the Church
shall lift up their hands against him or her, that they may be
dealt with according to the law of God.

82. And if it can be, it is necessary that the Bishop be present
also.

83. And thus ye shall do in all cases which shall come before you.

84. And if a man or woman shall rob, he or she shall be delivered
up unto the law of the land.

85. And if he or she shall steal, he or she shall be delivered up
unto the law of the land.

86. And if he or she shall lie, he or she shall be delivered up
unto the law of the land.

87. And if he or she do any manner of iniquity, he or she shall be
delivered up unto the law, even that of God.

88. And if thy brother or sister offend thee, thou shalt take him
or her between him or her and thee alone; and if he or she confess,
thou shalt be reconciled.

89. And if he or she confess not, thou shalt deliver him or her
up unto the Church, not to the members, but to the Elders. And it
shall be done in a meeting, and that not before the world.

90. And if thy brother or sister offend many, he or she shall be
chastened before many.

91. And if any one offend openly, he or she shall be rebuked
openly, {154} that he or she may be ashamed. And if he or she
confess not, he or she shall be delivered up unto the law of God.

92. If any shall offend in secret, he or she shall be rebuked in
secret, that he or she may have opportunity to confess in secret to
him or her whom he or she has offended, and to God, that the Church
may not speak reproachfully of him or her.

93. And thus shall ye conduct in all things.

[Sidenote: Pretentions of a Woman to Revelations, etc.]

Soon after the foregoing revelation was received, a woman [12] came making great pretensions of revealing commandments, laws and other curious matters; and as almost every person has advocates for both theory and practice, in the various notions and projects of the age, it became necessary to inquire of the Lord, when I received the following:

_Revelation given at Kirtland, February, 1831._ [13]

1. O hearken, ye Elders of my Church, and give ear to the words
which I shall speak unto you;

2. For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have
received a commandment for a law unto my Church, through him whom
I have appointed unto you, to receive commandments and revelations
from my hand.

3. And this ye shall know assuredly that there is none other
appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he
be taken, if he abide in me.

4. But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be
appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be
taken from him, he shall not have power except to appoint another
in his stead;

5. And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the
teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or
commandments;

6. And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you
may know they are not of me.

7. For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall
{155} come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you
before, to teach those revelations which you have received, and
shall receive through him whom I have appointed.

8. And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are
assembled together, ye shall instruct and edify each other, that
ye may know how to act and direct my Church, how to act upon the
points of my law and commandments, which I have given;

9. And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my Church, and
be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind
yourselves to act in all holiness before me,

10. That inasmuch as ye do this, glory shall be added to the
kingdom which ye have received. Inasmuch as ye do it not, it shall
be taken, even that which ye have received.

11. Purge ye out the iniquity which is among you; sanctify
yourselves before me,

12. And if ye desire the glories of the kingdom, appoint ye my
servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and uphold him before me by the prayer
of faith.

13. And again, I say unto you, that if ye desire the mysteries of
the kingdom, provide for him food and raiment, and whatsoever thing
he needeth to accomplish the work, wherewith I have commanded him;

14. And if ye do it not, he shall remain unto them that have
received him, that I may reserve unto myself a pure people before
me.

15. Again I say, hearken ye Elders of my Church, whom I have
appointed: Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the
children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the
power of my Spirit;

16. And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and
ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have
spoken.

17. Hearken ye, for, behold, the great day of the Lord is nigh at
hand.

18. For the day cometh that the Lord shall utter His voice out of
heaven; the heavens shall shake and the earth shall tremble, and
the trump of God shall sound both long and loud, and shall say to
the sleeping nations, Ye Saints arise and live; ye sinners stay and
sleep until I shall call again;

19. Wherefore gird up your loins lest ye be found among the wicked.

20. Lift up your voices and spare not. Call upon the nations to
repent, both old and young, both bond and free, saying, prepare
yourselves for the great day of the Lord;

21. For if I, who am a man, do lift up my voice and call upon you
to repent, and ye hate me, what will ye say when the day cometh
when {156} the thunders shall utter their voices from the ends of
the earth, speaking to the ears of all that live, saying, repent,
and prepare for the great day of the Lord;

22. Yea, and again, when the lightnings shall streak forth from the
east unto the west, and shall utter forth their voices unto all
that live, and make the ears of all tingle that hear, saying these
words, Repent ye, for the great day of the Lord is come.

23. And again, the Lord shall utter His voice out of heaven,
saying, Hearken, O ye nations of the earth, and hear the words of
that God who made you.

24. O, ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you
together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wing, but ye
would not!

25. How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants,
and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by
the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by
the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great
hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every
kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of
judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long and by the
voice of glory, and honor, and the riches of eternal life, and
would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would
not?

26. Behold the day has come, when the cup of the wrath of my
indignation is full.

27. Behold, verily I say unto you, that these are the words of the
Lord your God;

28. Wherefore labor ye, labor ye in my vineyard for the last
time--for the last time call upon the inhabitants of the earth,

29. For in mine own due time will I come upon the earth in
judgment, and my people shall be redeemed and shall reign with me
on earth,

30. For the great Millennium, of which I have spoken by the mouth
of my servants, shall come;

31. For Satan shall be bound, and when he is loosed again, he shall
only reign for a little season, and then cometh the end of the
earth;

32. And he that liveth in righteousness shall be changed in the
twinkling of an eye, and the earth shall pass away so as by fire;

33. And the wicked shall go away into unquenchable fire, and their
end no man knoweth on earth, nor ever shall know, until they come
before me in judgment.

34. Hearken ye to these words; Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the
Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and
let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.

35. Be sober. Keep all my commandments. Even so. Amen.

{157} [Sidenote: A Special Conference, 3rd-6th of June.]

The latter part of February I received the following revelation, which caused the Church to appoint a conference to be held early in the month of June ensuing:

_Revelation to Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, given at
Kirtland, February, 1831._ [14]

1. Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, it is
expedient in me that the Elders of my Church should be called
together, from the east and from the west, and from the north and
from the south, by letter or some other way.

2. And it shall come to pass, that inasmuch as they are faithful,
and exercise faith in me, I will pour out my Spirit upon them in
the day that they assemble themselves together.

3. And it shall come to pass that they shall go forth into the
regions round about, and preach repentance unto the people;

4. And many shall be converted, insomuch that ye shall obtain power
to organize yourselves according to the laws of man;

5. That your enemies may not have power over you, that you may
be preserved in all things; that you may be enabled to keep my
laws, that every bond may be broken wherewith the enemy seeketh to
destroy my people.

6. Behold, I say unto you, that ye must visit the poor and the
needy, and administer to their relief, that they may be kept until
all things may be done according to my law which ye have received.
Amen.

Footnotes

1. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 38.

2. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 39.

3. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 11.

4. Newel Kimball Whitney was descended from the Whitneys of Watertown, Mass., who emigrated from England in 1635. His mother was a native of the "Bay state," and his father of the state of Vermont. There, also, Newel was born, in Marlborough, Windham county, February 5, 1795. A natural business man, he made his own way in the world, and after figuring as a sutler during the war of 1812, and taking part in the battle of Plattsburg, near Lake Champlain, he established himself as an Indian trader at Green Bay, Lake Michigan. He next settled in Ohio, where he made the acquaintance of Algernon Sidney Gilbert, a merchant of Painesville, whose partner he became in the successful firm of Gilbert and Whitney at Kirtland. In October, 1822, he married Elizabeth Ann Smith, a young lady from Connecticut, who is known in Church history as "Mother Whitney." When Oliver Cowdery and his fellow missionaries came to Kirtland, en route to Missouri, the Whitneys were Campbellites, members of Sidney Rigdon's flock, but upon hearing the fulness of the Gospel as preached by those Elders, they embraced it. In the Whitney family folk lore the incident of the Prophet's arrival at Kirtland is thus related: "About the first of February, 1831, a sleigh containing four persons drove through the streets of Kirtland and drew up in front of the store of Gilbert and Whitney. One of the men, a young and stalwart personage alighted, and springing up the steps walked into the store and to where the junior partner was standing. 'Newel K. Whitney! Thou art the man!' he exclaimed, extending his hand cordially, as if to an old and familiar acquaintance. 'You have the advantage of me,' replied the merchant, as he mechanically took the proffered hand, 'I could not call you by name as you have me.' 'I am Joseph the Prophet,' said the stranger smiling. 'You've prayed me here, now what do you want of me?'" The Prophet, it is said, while in the East had seen the Whitneys, in vision, praying for his coming to Kirtland. "Mother Whitney" also tells how on a certain night prior to the advent of Elder Cowdery and his companions, while she and her husband were praying to the Lord to know how they might obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost, which of all things they desired, they saw a vision as of a cloud of glory resting upon their house, and heard a voice from heaven saying, "Prepare to receive the word of the Lord, for it is coming." Shortly afterwards Oliver Cowdery and his associates came with the Book of Mormon, and with the message of the restored Gospel. Moreover, in further fulfilment of this vision, under the rooftree of the Whitneys the Prophet received a number of the revelations contained in this volume.

5. This organization, called "the family," came into existence before the Gospel was preached in Kirtland, through an effort of the people of this neighborhood to live as the early Christians are said to have lived, viz., "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common."--(Acts 4:32.)

6. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 41.

7. This refers to the promise which the Lord gave in the revelation of January 1831, see p. 142, verse 32.

8. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 42.

9. The words, "or High Priests," were added by the Prophet some years after: and also the words, "High Council," in the 34th verse.--_Orson Pratt_.

10. The words, "or High Priests," were added by the Prophet some years after.--_Orson Pratt_.

11. Verses 74 to 93 inclusive, were given some days after the first 73 verses.--_Orson Pratt_.

12. This woman's name, according to the history of the church kept by John Whitmer, was Hubble. "She professed to be a prophetess of the Lord, and professed to have many revelations, and knew the Book of Mormon was true, and that she should become a teacher in the church of Christ. She appeared to be very sanctimonious and deceived some who were not able to detect her in her hypocrisy; others, however, had the spirit of discernment and her follies and abominations were manifest." John Whitmer's _History of the Church_, ch. 3.

13. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 43.

14. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 44.

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