History of Joseph Smith

(Continued.)

February 27th, 1833, I received the following revelation:

A word of wisdom for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and church; and also, the saints in Zion: to be sent greeting: not by commandment, or constraint: but by revelation and the word of wisdom; showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days. Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.

Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, in consequence of evils and designs which do, and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation, that inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together, to offer up your sacraments before him. And behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. And again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly; and is not good for man; but is an herb for bruises, and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill. And again hot drinks are not for the body, or belly.

And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man. Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof. All these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I the Lord hath ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving. Nevertheless, they are to be used sparingly; and it is pleasing unto me, that they should not be used only in times of winter or of cold, or famine. All grain is ordained for the use of man, and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man, but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth: and these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine, and excess of hunger.

All grain is good for the food of man, as also the fruit of the vine, that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground. Nevertheless wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse and rye for the fowls, and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals and for mild drinks; as also other grain. And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel, and marrow to their bones and shall find wisdom, and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint: and I the Lord give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

March 8th, 1833, I received the following revelation:

Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily I say unto you, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren, have come up into my ears: therefore thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you: which kingdom is coming forth for the last time

Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come; nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another: yea, even unto the church. And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they hold them, lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation thereby, aud [and] stumble and fall, when the storms descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon their house.

And again, verily I say unto thy brethren; Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they are accounted as equal with thee in holding the keys of this last kingdom: as also through your administration the keys of the school of the prophets, which I have commanded to be organized, that thereby they may be perfected in their ministry for the salvation of Zion, and of the nations of Israel, and of the Gentiles, as many as will believe, that through your administration, they may receive the word and through their administration, the word may go forth unto the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then behold, and lo, they shall

turn unto the Jews: and then cometh the day when the arm of the Lord shall be revealed in power in convincing the nations, the heathen nations, the house of Joseph of the gospel of their salvation.

For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness [fullness] of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them, for the revelation of Jesus Christ.

And now verily I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that you continue in the ministry and presidency, and when you have finished the translation of the prophets, you shall from thenceforth preside over the affairs of the church and the school; and from time to time, as shall be manifest by the Comforter, receive revelations to unfold the mysteries of the kingdom, and set in order the churches, and study and learn and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues and people. And this shall be your business and mission in all your lives to preside in council and set in order all the affairs of this church and kingdom. Be not ashamed neither confounded; but be admonished in all your highmindedness and pride, for it bringeth a snare upon your souls. Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and uncleanness far from you.

Now verily, I say unto you, let there be a place provided as soon as it is possible, for the family of thy counselor and scribe, even Frederick G. Williams: and let mine aged servant Joseph Smith, senior, continue with his family upon the place where he now lives, and let it not be sold until the mouth of the Lord shall name. And let thy counsellor [counselor], even Sidney Rigdon, remain where he now resides, until the mouth of the Lord shall name. And let the bishop search diligently to obtain an agent: and let it be a man who has got riches in store; a man of God and of strong faith: that thereby he may be enabled to discharge every debt; that the storehouse of the Lord may not be brought into disrepute before the eyes of the people. Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly, and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another. Let your families be small, especially mine aged servant Joseph Smith, senior, as pertaining to those who do not belong in your families: that those things that are provided for you, to bring to pass my work, are not taken from you, and given to those that are not worthy, and thereby you are hindred [hindered] in accomplishing those things which I have commanded you.

And again, verily I say unto you, it is my will that my handmaid, Vienna Jaques, should receive money to bear her expenses, and go up unto the land of Zion; and the residue of the money may be consecrated unto me, and she be rewarded in mine own due time. Verily I say unto you, that it is meet in mine eyes, that she should go up unto the land of Zion, and receive an inheritance from the hand of the bishop, that she may settle down in peace inasmuch as she is faithful, and not be idle in her days from thenceforth.

And behold, verily I say unto you, that ye shall write this commandment, and say unto your brethren in Zion, in love greeting, that I have called you also to preside over Zion in mine own due time: therefore let them cease wearying me concerning this matter. Behold, I say unto you, that your brethren in Zion begin to repent, and the angels rejoice over them; nevertheless, I am not well pleased with many things: and I am not well pleased with my servant William E. McLelin, neither with my servant Sidney Gilbert; and the bishop also; and others have many things to repent of: but verily I say unto you, that I the Lord will contend with Zion and plead with her strong ones and chasten her, until she overcomes and is clean before me; for she shall not be removed out of her place; I the Lord have spoken it: Amen.

Having come to that portion of the ancient writings called the Apocrypha, I received the following revelation; given March 9, 1833:

Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, concerning the Apocrypha, there are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correct: there are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; and whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; and whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefitted [benefited]; therefore, it is not needful that it should be translated. Amen.

March 12th. A council of high priests assembled in the school room of the prophets, and decided that Horace Cowen and Zerubbabel Snow; Amasa Lyman and William Cahoon; Jenkins Salisbury and Truman Wait, journey east, on a mission, two by two, as written; and Brothers Cowen and Salisbury were ordained at the same time.

March 15th. A council was called to consider

the case of Brother Lake, from Wooster who came professing to have received revelations. On investigation, it was unanimously agreed that said Lake was under the influence of an evil spirit, and his license, as priest was taken from him.

On the 15th, I received the following revelation to Enoch, March, 1833:

Verily, thus saith the Lord, I give unto the united order, organized agreeable to the commandment previously given, a revelation and commandment concerning my servant Shederlaomach, that ye shall receive him into the order. What I say unto one I say unto all.

And again, I say unto you, my servant Shederlaomach, you shall be a lively member in this order; and inasmuch as you are faithful in keeping all former commandments, you shall be blessed forever. Amen.

Great joy and satisfaction continually beamed in the countenances of the school of the prophets and the saints, on account of the things revealed, and our progress in the knowledge of God.

On the 18th of March, the high priests assembled in the school room of the prophets and were organized according to revelation, in prayer by S. Rigdon. Doctor Hurlbut was ordained an elder; after which Elder Rigdon expressed a desire that himself and Brother F. G. Williams should be ordained to the office, to which they had been called, viz: that of presidents of the high priesthood, and to be equal in holding the keys of the kingdom with Brother Joseph Smith, junior, according to the revelation given on the 8th of March, 1833.

Accordingly I laid my hands on Brother Sidney and Frederick and ordained them to take part with me in holding the keys of this last kingdom, and to assist in the presidency of the high priesthood, as my counsellors [counselors]; after which, I exhorted the brethren to faithfulness, and diligence in keeping the commandments of God, and gave much instruction for the benefit of the saints, with a promise that the pure in heart would see a heavenly vision; and after remaining a short time in secret prayer, the promise was verified; for many present had the eyes of their understandings opened by the spirit of God so as to behold many things.

I then blessed the bread and wine, and distributed a portion to each, after which many of the brethren saw a heavenly vision of the Savior, and concourses of angels, and many other things, of which each one has a record of what they saw, &c.

March 23rd. A council was called for the purpose of appointing a committee to purchase land in Kirtland, upon which the saints might build a stake of Zion. Brothers Joseph Coe and Moses Daily were appointed to ascertain the terms of sale of certain farms; and that Brother Ezra Thayer ascertain the price of Peter French's farm; and the brethren agreed to continue in prayer and fasting for the ultimate success of their mission.

After an absence of about three hours, Brothers Coe and Daily returned and reported that Elijah Smith's farm could be obtained for four thousand dollars; and Mr. Morley's for twenty one hundred; and Brother Thayre reported that Peter French would sell his farm for five thousand dollars. The council decided to purchase the farms, and appointed Ezra Thayre [Thayer] and Joseph Coe to superintend the purchase, and they were ordained under the hands of Sidney Rigdon, and set apart as general agents of the church for that purpose.

On the 26th of March, a council of high priests, twenty one in number, convened for the general welfare of the church, in what was then called Zion, in Jackson county, Missouri, on account of a revelation, my letter, and an epistle from the church in Kirtland, a solemn assembly had been called, and a sincere and humble repentance manifested, insomuch [inasmuch], that on the 26th of February, one month previous, a general epistle had been written in conference, which was satisfactory to the presidency and church at Kirtland.

At the sitting of the council of the 26th of March, according to the plan taught at the solemn assembly, which was, that the seven high priests who were sent from Kirtland to build up Zion, viz: Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer, Sidney Gilbert, Bishop Partridge, and his two councillors [councilors], should stand at the head of affairs, relating to the church, in that section of the Lord's vineyard; and these seven men, with the common consent of the branches, comprising the church, were to appoint presiding elders, to take the watch care of the several branches, as they were appointed. Now, therefore, as many of the high priests, and elders, went up to Zion and commenced regulating and setting the branches in order, allowing themselves as much power by the authority of their priesthood, and gift of the Holy Ghost, as those set apart and appointed to preside over the branches; it became necessary to call the council now spoken of, to set in order the elders of Israel; when, after a long discussion, it was decided from the revelations, that the order taught in the solemn assembly, was correct; and that the elders, when they arrived at Zion, were bound by the authorities set in the church, to be submissive to the powers that be: their labors and callings being more particularly to push the people together

from the ends of the earth to the places the Lord appointed. This decision in council gave general satisfaction, and the elders soon saw the beauty of every man in his place.