Revelation to Newel Knight, given June, 1831

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.-Behold, verily, I say unto you, my servant Newel Knight, you shall stand fast in the office wherewith I have appointed you: and if your brethren desire to escape their enemies let them repent of all their sins; and become truly humble before me and contrite: and as the covenant which they made unto me has been broken, even so it has become void and of none effect; and wo [woe] to him by whom this offence [offense] cometh, for it had been better for him that he had been drowned in the depth of the sea; but blessed are they who have kept the covenant, and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy.

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 moneys for you.-And thus you shall take your journey, into the regions westward, unto the land of Missouri, unto the borders of the Lamanites. 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.

And again, be patient in tribulation until I come: and behold I come 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 previous word of the Lord. From P. P. Pratt, who had returned from the expedition of last fall, during the spring we had verbal information; and from letters from the still remaining elders we had written intelligence; and as this was the most important subject which then engrossed the attention of the saints, I will here insert the copy of a letter received about this time, from that section, dated

Kaw Township, (Mo.) May 7, 1831,.

"Our dearly beloved brethren:-I have nothing particular to write as concerning the Lamanites; and because of a short journey which I have just returned from; in consequence of which I have not written to you since the 16th of last month. I and brother Ziba went into the county east, which is Layette and is 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; that equity, * * * 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, which consists of Universalists, Atheists, Deists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and professed christians, priests and people, with all the devils from the infernal pit, are united and foaming out their own shame.-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 informed of another tribe of Lamanites lately, 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, Navashoes [Navajos?]. Why I mentien [mention] this tribe is, because I feel under obligation to communicate to my brethren every 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 in your prayers before the throne of the Most High, by all of my brethren, as well by those who have not seen my face in the flesh, as those who have.

We begin to expect our brother Pratt, soon; we have heard from him only when he was at St. Louis. We are all well (bless the Lord) and preach the gospel we will, if earth and hell oppose our way, and we dwell in the midst of scorpions: for in Jesus we trust. Grace be with you all: Amen.

P. S. I beseech brother Whitney to remember and write; and direct to me, Independence, Jackson county, Missouri.

OLIVER COWDRY [COWDERY]."

While we were preparing for our journey to Missouri, about the middle of June, W. W. Phelps and his family arrived among us, and as he said, to do the will of the Lord, I inquired and received the following