SECTION
83
[Kirtland
D&C 4, LDS D&C 84]
Joseph
Smith and some of his close associates returned from Independence to
Kirtland, and here work on the Scriptures was resumed. During August
and September many of the elders who had been on missions in the East
also returned to Kirtland. Here, on September 22 and 23, 1832, the
following revelation was given through Joseph Smith. It was received
in the presence of six elders and is known as “the revelation on
priesthood.”
In
the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, this revelation
comprised Section 4. It followed the revelations now numbered 17 and
104 and came immediately before those which are now numbered 99, 84,
and 85. These six revelations were all concerned with priesthood and
church government.
1a. A
revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and
six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted their voices on
high;
1b.
yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the
last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the
mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his Saints to stand
upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city New Jerusalem;
1c.
which city shall be built, beginning at the Temple Lot, which is
appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the
State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jr.,
and others, with whom the Lord was well pleased.
2a.
Verily, this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem
shall be built by the gathering of the Saints, beginning at this
place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in
this generation;
2b.
for verily, this generation shall not all pass away until an house
shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which
cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the
house.
2c.
And the sons of Moses, according to the holy priesthood, which he
received under the hand of his father-in-law, Jethro; and Jethro
received it under the hand of Caleb; and Caleb received it under the
hand of Elihu;
2d.
and Elihu under the hand of Jeremy; and Jeremy under he hand of Gad;
and Gad under the hand of Esaias; and Esaias received it under the
hand of God;
2e.
Esaias also lived in the days of Abraham and was blessed of him,
which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchisedec; who received
it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah;
2f.
and from Noah till Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers; and
from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother;
who received the priesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand
of his father Adam, who was the first man;
2g.
which priesthood continueth in the church of God in all generations,
and is without beginning of days or end of years.
3a.
And the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed
throughout all their generations, which priesthood also continueth
and abideth forever, with the priesthood which is after the holiest
order of God.
3b.
And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the
key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of
God.
3c.
Therefore, in the ordinances thereof the power of godliness is
manifest; and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of
the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in
the flesh; for without this, no man can see the face of God, even the
Father, and live.
4a.
Now, this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the
wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they
might behold the face of God;
4b.
but they hardened their hearts, and could not endure his presence,
therefore, the Lord, in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against
them), swore that they should not enter into his rest, while in the
wilderness, which rest is the fullness of his glory.
4c.
Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst and the holy priesthood
also; and the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth
the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel,
which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the
remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments,
4d.
which the Lord, in his wrath, caused to continue with the house of
Aaron, among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up,
being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb:
4e.
for he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was
ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto
this power:
4f. to
overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of
the Lord before the face of his people; to prepare them for the
coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power.
5a.
And again, the office of elder and bishop are necessary appendages
belonging unto the high priesthood.
5b.
And again, the offices of teachers and deacons are necessary
appendages belonging to the lesser priesthood, which priesthood was
confirmed upon Aaron and his sons.
6a.
Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses—for the sons of
Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering
and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built
unto the Lord in this generation upon the consecrated spot, as I have
appointed;
6b.
and the sons of Moses and of Aaron shall be filled with the glory of
the Lord upon Mount Zion in the Lord’s house, whose sons are ye;
and also many whom I have called and sent forth to build up my
church;
6c.
for whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of
which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified
by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies:
6d.
they become the sons of Moses and of Aaron, and the seed of Abraham,
and the church and kingdom and the elect of God;
6e.
and also all they who receive this priesthood receiveth me, saith the
Lord, for he that receiveth my servants receiveth me, and he that
receiveth me receiveth my Father, and he that receiveth my Father
receiveth my Father’s kingdom.
6f.
Therefore, all that my Father hath shall be given unto him; and this
is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the
priesthood.
6g.
Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood receive this oath and
covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be
moved;
6h.
but whoso breaketh this covenant, after he hath received it, and
altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in
this world nor in the world to come.
6i.
And all those who come not unto this priesthood, which ye have
received, which I now confirm upon you who are present, this day, by
mine own voice out of the heavens, and even I have given the heavenly
hosts and mine angels charge concerning you.
7a.
And now I give unto you a commandment to beware concerning
yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life; for
you shall live by every word that preceedeth forth from the mouth of
God.
7b.
For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light,
and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ;
7c.
and the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world;
and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that
hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit;
7d.
and everyone that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit, cometh unto
God, even the Father;
7e.
and the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and
confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and
not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world:
7f.
and the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under the darkness and
under the bondage of sin:
7g.
and by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because
they come not unto me; for whoso cometh not unto me is under the
bondage of sin;
7h.
and whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and
is not of me;
7i.
and by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the
whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now.
8a.
And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief,
and because you have treated lightly the things you have received,
which vanity and unbelief hath brought the whole church under
condemnation.
8b.
And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all;
and they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and
remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former
commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do
according to that which I have written,
8c.
that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom,
otherwise there remaineth a scourge and a judgment to be poured out
upon the children of Zion; for, shall the children of the kingdom
pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.
9a.
Verily, verily I say unto you, who now have my words, which is my
voice,
9b.
Blessed are ye inasmuch as you receive these things; for I will
forgive you of your sins with this commandment, that you remain
steadfast in your minds in solemnity, and the spirit of prayer, in
bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are
communicated unto you.
10a.
Therefore, go ye into all the world, and whatsoever place ye cannot
go into, ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all
the world, unto every creature.
10b.
And as I said unto mine apostles, even so I say unto you; for you are
mine apostles, even God’s high priests: ye are they whom my Father
hath given me; ye are my friends;
10c.
therefore, as I said unto mine apostles, I say unto you again, that
every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for
the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost; and these signs
shall follow them that believe:
11a.
In my name they shall do many wonderful works;
11b.
in my name they shall cast out devils:
11c.
in my name they shall heal the sick:
11d.
in my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears
of the deaf:
11e.
and the tongue of the dumb shall speak;
11f.
and if any man shall administer poison unto them, it shall not hurt
them: and the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them.
11g.
But a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast
themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world: for
these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation.
12a.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, They who believe not on your words,
and are not baptized in water, in my name, for the remission of their
sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and
shall not come into my Father’s kingdom, where my Father and I am.
12b.
And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this
very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not
received it.
12c.
But verily I say unto all those to whom the kingdom has been given,
From you it must be preached unto them that they shall repent of
their former evil works:
12d.
for they are to be upbraided for their evil hearts of unbelief: and
your brethren in Zion for their rebellion against you at the time I
sent you.
13a.
And again I say unto you my friends (for from henceforth I shall call
you friends), It is expedient that I give unto you this commandment,
that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them
traveling to preach this gospel in my power:
13b.
for I suffered them not to have purse or scrip, neither two coats;
behold, I send you out to prove the world, and the laborer is worthy
of his hire.
13c.
And any man that shall go and preach this gospel of the kingdom, and
fail not to continue faithful in all things, shall not be weary in
mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb or joint; and an hair
of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed. And they shall
not go hungry, neither athirst.
14a.
Therefore, take no thought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or
what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed;
14b.
for consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not,
neither do they spin; and the kingdoms of the world, in all their
glory, are not arrayed like one of these; for your Father who art in
heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things.
14c.
Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself.
14d.
Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say, but treasure up
in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given
you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.
15a.
Therefore, let no man among you (for this commandment is unto all the
faithful who are called of God in the church, unto the ministry,)
from this hour, take purse or scrip, that goeth forth to proclaim
this gospel of the kingdom.
15b.
Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous
deeds, and to teach them of a judgment which is to come.
15c.
And whoso receiveth you, there will I be also; for I will go before
your face: I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my
Spirit shall be in your hearts, and my angels round about you, to
bear you up.
16a.
Whoso receiveth you receiveth me, and the same will feed you, and
clothe you, and give you money.
16b.
And he who feeds you, or clothes you, or gives you money, shall in no
wise lose his reward: and he that doeth not these things is not my
disciple: by this you may know my disciples.
16c.
He that receiveth you not, go away from him alone by yourselves, and
cleanse your feet, even with water, pure water, whether in heat or in
cold, and bear testimony of it unto your Father which is in heaven,
and return not again unto that man.
16d.
And into whatsoever village or city ye enter, do likewise.
Nevertheless, search diligently and spare not; and woe unto that
house, or that village, or city, that rejecteth you, or your words,
or testimony concerning me.
16e.
Woe, I say again, unto that house, or that village, or city, that
rejecteth you, or your words, or your testimony of me; for I, the
Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations to scourge them for
their wickedness;
16f.
and plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the
earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in
righteousness;
16g.
until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the
greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and
shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the
voice together sing this new song, saying:
17a.
The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people,
Israel, According to the election of grace, Which was brought to pass
by the faith And covenant of their fathers.
17b.
The Lord hath redeemed his people, And Satan is bound, and time is no
longer: The Lord hath gathered all things in one: The Lord hath
brought down Zion from above: The Lord hath brought up Zion from
beneath; The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength; And
truth is established in her bowels; And the heavens have smiled upon
her, And she is clothed with the glory of her God: For he stands in
the midst of his people:
17c.
Glory, and honor, and power, and might, Be ascribed to our God, for
he is full of mercy, Justice, grace and truth, and peace, For ever
and ever, Amen.
18a.
And again, verily, verily I say unto you, It is expedient, that every
man who goes forth to proclaim mine everlasting gospel, that inasmuch
as they have families, and receive moneys by gift, that they should
send it unto them, or make use of it for their benefit, as the Lord
shall direct them, for thus it seemeth me good.
18b.
And let all those who have not families, who receive moneys, send it
up unto the bishop in Zion, or unto the bishop in Ohio, that it may
be consecrated for the bringing forth of the revelations and the
printing thereof, and for establishing Zion.
19a.
And if any man shall give unto any of you a coat, or a suit, take the
old and cast it unto the poor, and go your way rejoicing.
19b.
And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with
him he that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he
may become strong also.
20a.
Therefore, take with you those who are ordained unto the lesser
priesthood, and send them before you to make appointments, and to
prepare the way, and to fill appointments that you yourselves are not
able to fill.
20b.
Behold, this is the way that mine apostles, in ancient days, built up
my church unto me.
21a.
Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his
own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need
of the feet, for without the feet how shall the body be able to
stand?
21b.
Also, the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified
together, that the system may be kept perfect.
22.
And, behold, the high priests should travel, and also the elders, and
also the lesser priests; but the deacons and teachers should be
appointed to watch over the church, to be standing ministers unto the
church.
23a.
And the bishop, Newel K. Whitney, also, should travel round about and
among all the churches, searching after the poor, to administer to
their wants by humbling the rich and the proud;
23b.
he should also employ an agent to take charge and to do his secular
business, as he shall direct;
23c.
nevertheless, let the bishop go unto the city of New York, and also
to the city of Albany, and also to the city of Boston, and warn the
people of those cities with the sound of the gospel, with a loud
voice, of the desolation and utter abolishment which awaits them if
they do reject these things;
23d.
for if they do reject these things, the hour of their judgment is
nigh, and their house shall be left unto them desolate.
23e.
Let him trust in me, and he shall not be confounded, and an hair of
his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed.
24a.
And verily I say unto you, the rest of my servants, Go ye forth as
your circumstances shall permit, in your several callings, unto the
great and notable cities and villages, reproving the world in
righteousness, of all their unrighteous and ungodly deeds, setting
forth clearly and understandingly the desolation of abomination in
the last days;
24b.
for with you, saith the Lord Almighty, I will rend their kingdoms; I
will not only shake the earth, but the starry heavens shall tremble;
24c.
for I, the Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of
heaven; ye can not see it now, yet a little while and ye shall see
it, and know that I am, and that I will come and reign with my
people. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Amen.
