SECTION
61
[Book
of Commandments 61, Kirtland D&C 71, LDS D&C 61]
Revelation
given to eleven elders camped at Mcilwain’s Bend on the Missouri
River, August 12, 1831. It was received by Joseph Smith, Jr., after
prayer concerning a vision received by W. W. Phelps in which was
depicted the danger of travel by water.
1a.
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.
1b.
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 forgiveth sins, and am merciful unto those who
confess their sins with humble hearts;
1c.
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;
1d.
nevertheless, I suffered it that ye might bear record; behold, there
are many dangers upon the waters and more especially hereafter, for I
the Lord have decreed, in mine anger, many destructions upon the
waters;
1e.
yea, and especially upon these waters; nevertheless, all flesh is in
mine hand, and he that is faithful among you, shall not perish by the
waters.
2a.
Wherefore it is expedient that my servant Sidney Gilbert, and my
servant William W. Phelps, be in haste upon their errand and mission;
2b.
nevertheless I would not suffer that ye should part until you are
chastened for all your sins, that you might be one; that you might
not perish in wickedness;
2c.
but now verily I say, It behooveth 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; and
inasmuch as they are faithful, they shall be preserved, and I, the
Lord, will be with them.
2d.
And let the residue take that which is needful for clothing. Let my
servant Sidney Gilbert take that which is not needful with him, as
you shall agree.
2e.
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.
3a.
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;
3b.
wherefore, the days will come that no flesh shall be safe upon the
waters, 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.
3c.
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.
3d.
And now I give unto you a commandment, and 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 her snares;
3e. I,
the Lord, have decreed, and the destroyer rideth upon the face
thereof, and I revoke not the decree; I, the Lord, was angry with you
yesterday, but today mine anger is turned away.
3f.
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, 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.
4a.
And now, concerning my servants Sidney Rigdon, and Joseph Smith, Jr.,
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.
4b.
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; and they shall do like unto
the children of Israel, pitching their tents by the way.
5a.
And, behold, this commandment you shall give unto all your brethren;
nevertheless unto whom it is given power to command the waters, unto
him it is given by the Spirit to know all his ways;
5b.
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; 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.
5c.
And again, verily I say unto you, My servants Sidney Rigdon, and
Joseph Smith, Jr., and Oliver Cowdery, shall not open their mouths in
the congregations of the wicked, until they arrive at Cincinnati;
5d.
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;
5e.
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.
6a.
And now concerning the residue, let them journey and declare the word
among the congregations of the wicked, inasmuch as it is given, and
inasmuch as they do this they shall rid their garments, and they
shall be spotless before me;
6b.
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.
6c.
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, and inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves
before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours.
6d.
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.
6e.
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.
