SECTION
3
[Book
of Commandments 9, Kirtland D&C 36, LDS D&C 10]
After
the loss of that portion of the Book of Mormon manuscript which had
been translated before July 1828, the mind of Joseph was “darkened”
(D. and C. 3:1b). After humbling himself, Joseph was again
enlightened, and was permitted to resume his work. Instruction
received in this connection is recorded in the following revelation,
which was received while Joseph was still at Harmony, Pennsylvania,
in July or August 1828.
1a.
Now, behold, I say unto you, that because you delivered up those
writings which you had power given unto you to translate, by the
means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you
have lost them;
1b.
and you also lost your gift at the same time, and your mind became
darkened;
1c.
nevertheless, it is now restored unto you again, therefore see that
you are faithful and continue on unto the finishing of the remainder
of the work of translation as you have begun.
1d. Do
not run faster, or labor more than you have strength and means
provided to enable you to translate;
1e.
but be diligent unto the end; pray always, that you may come off
conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape
the hands of the servants of Satan, that do uphold his work.
1f.
Behold, they have sought to destroy you; yea, even the man in whom
you have trusted, has sought to destroy you.
1g.
And for this cause I said, that he is a wicked man, for he has sought
to take away the things wherewith you have been intrusted;
1h.
and he has also sought to destroy your gift, and because you have
delivered the writings into his hands, behold, wicked men have taken
them from you; therefore, you have delivered them up; yea, that which
was sacred unto wickedness.
1i.
And, behold, Satan has put it into their hearts to alter the words
which you have caused to be written, or which you have translated,
which have gone out of your hands;
1j.
and, behold, I say unto you, that because they have altered the
words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused
to be written;
1k.
and on this wise the Devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he
may destroy this work; for he has put it into their hearts to do
this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words
which you have pretended to translate.
2a.
Verily I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall
accomplish his evil design in this thing, for, behold, he has put it
into their hearts to get thee to tempt the Lord thy God, in asking to
translate it over again;
2b.
and then, behold, they say and think in their hearts, We will see if
God has given him power to translate, if so, he will also give him
power again; and if God giveth him power again, or if he translate
again, or in other words, if he bringeth forth the same words,
behold, we have the same with us, and we have altered them;
2c.
therefore, they will not agree, and we will say that he has lied in
his words, and that he has no gift, and that he has no power;
2d.
therefore, we will destroy him, and also the work, and we will do
this that we may not be ashamed in the end, and that we may get glory
of the world.
3a.
Verily, verily I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their
hearts; he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is good,
and their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and
abominations, and they love darkness rather than light, because their
deeds are evil; therefore they will not ask of me.
3b.
Satan stirreth them up, that he may lead their souls to destruction.
3c.
And thus he has laid a cunning plan, thinking to destroy the work of
God, but I will require this at their hands, and it shall turn to
their shame and condemnation in the day of judgment;
3d.
yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work; yea, he
saith unto them, Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that ye may
destroy; behold, this is no harm;
3e.
and thus he flattereth them, and telleth them that it is no sin to
lie, that they may catch a man in a lie, that they may destroy him;
and thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth
their souls down to hell;
3f.
and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare; and
thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to
destroy the souls of men.
4.
Verily, verily I say unto you, Woe be unto him that lieth to deceive,
because he supposes that another lieth to deceive, for such are not
exempt from the justice of God.
5.
Now, behold, they have altered those words, because Satan saith unto
them, He hath deceived you; and thus he flattereth them away to do
iniquity, to get thee to tempt the Lord thy God.
6a.
Behold, I say unto you, that you shall not translate again those
words which have gone forth out of your hands; for, behold, they
shall not accomplish their evil designs in lying against those words.
6b.
For, behold, if you should bring forth the same words they will say
that you have lied; that you have pretended to translate, but that
you have contradicted yourself;
6c.
and, behold, they will publish this, and Satan will harden the hearts
of the people to stir them up to anger against you, that they will
not believe my words.
6d.
Thus Satan thinketh to overpower your testimony in this generation,
that the work may not come forth in this generation;
6e.
but, behold, here is wisdom, and because I show unto you wisdom, and
give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do,
show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work of
translation.
7a.
Marvel not that I said unto you, Here is wisdom, show it not unto the
world; for I said, Show it not unto the world, that you may be
preserved.
7b.
Behold, I do not say that you shall not show it unto the righteous;
but as you can not always judge the righteous, or as you can not
always tell the wicked from the righteous;
7c.
therefore, I say unto you, Hold your peace until I shall see fit to
make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.
8a.
And now, verily I say unto you, that an account of those things that
you have written, which have gone out of your hands, are engraven
upon the plates of Nephi;
8b.
yea, and you remember, it was said in those writings, that a more
particular account was given of these things upon the plates of
Nephi.
9a.
And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of
Nephi, is more particular concerning the things which in my wisdom I
would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account,
9b.
therefore, you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates
of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of King Benjamin, or
until you come to that which you have translated, which you have
retained;
9c.
and, behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi, and thus I
will confound those who have altered my words.
9d. I
will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show
unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil.
10a.
Behold, they have only got a part, or an abridgment of the account of
Nephi.
10b.
Behold, there are many things engraven on the plates of Nephi, which
do throw greater views upon my gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me,
that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi,
and send forth in this work.
10c.
And, behold, all the remainder of this work, does contain all those
parts of my gospel which my holy prophets, yea, and also my
disciples, desired in their prayers, should come forth unto this
people.
10d.
And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto them according
to their faith in their prayers;
10e.
yea, and this was their faith, that my gospel which I gave unto them,
that they might preach in their days, might come unto their brethren,
the Lamanites, and also, all that had become Lamanites, because of
their dissensions.
11a.
Now this is not all, their faith in their prayers was, that this
gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other
nations should possess this land;
11b.
and thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers,
that whosoever should believe in this gospel, in this land, might
have eternal life;
11c.
yea, that it might be free unto all of whatsoever nation, kindred,
tongue, or people, they may be.
12.
And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers, will I
bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I
do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to
build it up.
13a.
And for this cause have I said, If this generation harden not their
hearts, I will establish my church among them.
13b.
Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build
up my church; therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not
fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven;
13c.
but it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my commandments, but
build up churches unto themselves, to get gain; yea, and all those
that do wickedly, and build up the kingdom of the Devil;
13d.
yea, verily, verily I say unto you, that it is they that I will
disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center.
14a.
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto my own, and my
own received me not.
14b. I
am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkess comprehendeth
it not.
14c. I
am he who said, Other sheep have I which are not of this fold, unto
my disciples, and many there were that understood me not.
15a.
And I will show unto this people, that I had other sheep, and that
they were a branch of the house of Jacob; and I will bring to light
their marvelous works, which they did in my name;
15b.
yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel, which was ministered
unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have
received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the
true points of my doctrine; yea, and the only doctrine which is in
me;
15c.
and this I do, that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be
so much contention;
15d.
yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention,
concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do
err, for they do wrest the Scriptures, and do not understand them;
15e.
therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery; for, behold, I
will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if
they will not harden their hearts; yea, if they will come, they may,
and partake of the waters of life freely.
16a.
Behold, this is my doctrine: Whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me,
the same is my church;
16b.
whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me,
but is against me; therefore, he is not of my church.
17.
And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church
to the end, him will I establish upon my Rock, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against him.
18.
And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the
world, your Redeemer, your Lord, and your God. Amen.
