SECTION
77
[Kirtland
D&C 75, LDS D&C 78]
Revelation
addressed to the high priests, given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at
Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, March 1832. It is concerned with the
establishment of a storehouse and the care of the poor, both in the
Kirtland area and in Zion.
The
unusual names found in this and other revelations were probably used
to hide the identity of the men and places mentioned from the enemies
of the church. Identifications are suggested as follows:
“City
of Enoch”: City of Joseph
“Ahashdah”:
Newel K. Whitney
“Gazelam”
or “Enoch”: Joseph Smith
“Pelagoram”:
Sidney Rigdon
1a.
The Lord spake unto Enoch, saying, Hearken unto me saith the Lord
your God, who are ordained unto the high priesthood of my church, who
have assembled yourselves together,
1b.
and listen to the counsel of him who has ordained you, from on high,
who shall speak in your ears the words of wisdom, that salvation may
be unto you in that thing which you have presented before me, saith
the Lord God;
1c.
for verily I say unto you, The time has come, and is now at hand;
and, behold, and lo, it must needs be that there be an organization
of my people, in regulating and establishing the affairs of the
storehouse for the poor of my people, both in this place and in the
land of Zion, or in other words, the city of Enoch,
1d.
for a permanent and everlasting establishment and order unto my
church, to advance the cause which ye have espoused, to the salvation
of man, and to the glory of your Father who is in heaven, that you
may be equal in the bands of heavenly things;
1e.
yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things;
1f.
for if ye are not equal in earthly things, ye cannot be equal in
obtaining heavenly things;
1g.
for if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world,
you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have
commanded you and required of you.
2a.
And now, verily thus saith the Lord, It is expedient that all things
be done unto my glory, that ye should, who are joined together in
this order;
2b. or
in other words, let my servant Ahashdah, and my servant Gazelam, or
Enoch, and my servant Pelagoram, sit in council with the Saints which
are in Zion;
2c.
otherwise Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the truth,
that they become blinded, and understand not the things which are
prepared for them;
2d.
wherefore a commandment I give unto you, to prepare and organize
yourselves by a bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken.
3a.
And he who breaketh it shall lose his office and standing in the
church, and shall be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan until
the day of redemption.
3b.
Behold, this is the preparation wherewith I prepare you, and the
foundation, and the ensample, which I give unto you, whereby you may
accomplish the commandments which are given you,
3c.
that through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which
shall descend upon you,
3d.
that the church may stand independent above all other creatures
beneath the celestial world,
3e.
that you may come up unto the crown prepared for you, and be made
rulers over many kingdoms, saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Zion,
who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman;
3f.
who hath appointed Michael, your prince, and established his feet,
and set him upon high; and given unto him the keys of salvation under
the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning
of days or end of life.
4a.
Verily, verily I say unto you, Ye are little children, and ye have
not as yet understood how great blessings the Father has in his own
hands, and prepared for you; and ye can not bear all things now;
4b.
nevertheless be of good cheer, for I will lead you along; the kingdom
is yours and the blessings thereof are yours; and the riches of
eternity are yours;
4c.
and he who receiveth all things, with thankfulness, shall be made
glorious, and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even
an hundredfold, yea, more;
4d.
wherefore do the things which I have commanded you, saith your
Redeemer, even the Son Ahman, who prepareth all things before he
taketh you; for ye are the church of the Firstborn, and he will take
you up in the cloud, and appoint every man his portion.
4e.
And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things.
Amen.
