SECTION
87
[Kirtland
D&C 84, LDS D&C 90]
Revelation
received through Joseph Smith, Jr., March 8, 1833, at Kirtland, Ohio.
By virtue of this revelation, the First Presidency was fully
constituted for the first time in this dispensation. Sidney Rigdon
and Frederick G. Williams, who are named here, were ordained under
the hands of Joseph Smith, March 18, 1833, to be counselors in the
First Presidency and in the Presidency of the High Priesthood.
1a.
Thus saith the Lord, Verily I say unto thee, my son, Thy sins are
forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the
prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears;
1b.
therefore thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the
kingdom given unto thee; which kingdom is coming forth for the last
time.
2a.
Verily I say unto you, The keys of this kingdom shall never be taken
from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;
nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another; yea,
even unto the church.
2b.
And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they
hold them, lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought
under condemnation thereby; and stumble and fall, when the storms
descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon
their house.
3a.
And again, verily I say unto thy brethren Sidney Rigdon and Frederick
G. Williams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they are
accounted as equal with thee in holding the keys of this last
kingdom;
3b. as
also through your administration the keys of the school of the
prophets, which I have commanded to be organized, that thereby they
may be perfected in their ministry for the salvation of Zion, and of
the nations of Israel, and of the Gentiles, as many as will believe,
3c.
that through your administration, they may receive the word, and
through their administration, the word may go forth unto the ends of
the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold, and lo, they
shall turn unto the Jews;
3d.
and then cometh the day when the arm of the Lord shall be revealed in
power in convincing the nations, the heathen nations, the house of
Joseph, of the gospel of their salvation.
4. For
it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the
fullness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language,
through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration
of the Comforter, shed forth upon them, for the revelation of Jesus
Christ.
5a.
And now, verily I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that
you continue in the ministry and presidency, and when you have
finished the translation of the prophets, you shall from henceforth
preside over the affairs of the church and the school;
5b.
and from time to time, as shall be manifest by the Comforter, receive
revelations to unfold the mysteries of the kingdom, and set in order
the churches, and study and learn, and become acquainted with all
good books, and with languages, tongues, and people.
5c.
And this shall be your business and mission in all your lives to
preside in council and set in order all the affairs of this church
and kingdom.
5d. Be
not ashamed, neither confounded; but be admonished in all your
highmindedness and pride, for it bringeth a snare upon your souls.
5e.
Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and uncleanliness far
from you.
6a.
Now, verily I say unto thee, Let there be a place provided as soon as
it is possible, for the family of thy counselor and scribe, even
Frederick G. Williams;
6b.
and let mine aged servant Joseph Smith, Sr., continue with his family
upon the place where he now lives, and let it not be sold until the
mouth of the Lord shall name.
6c.
And let thy counselor, even Sidney Rigdon, remain where he now
resides, until the mouth of the Lord shall name.
6d.
And let the bishop search diligently to obtain an agent; and let it
be a man who has got riches in store; a man of God and of strong
faith; that thereby he may be enabled to discharge every debt; that
the storehouse of the Lord may not be brought into disrepute before
the eyes of the people.
6e.
Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things
shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly, and remember
the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.
6f.
Let your families be small, especially mine aged servant Joseph
Smith, Sr., as pertaining to those who do not belong to your
families;
6g.
that those things that are provided for you, to bring to pass my
work, are not taken from you and given to those that are not worthy,
and thereby you are hindered in accomplishing those things which I
have commanded you.
7a.
And again, verily I say unto you, It is my will that my handmaid,
Vienna Jaques, should receive money to bear her expenses, and go up
unto the land of Zion; and the residue of the money may be
consecrated unto me, and she be rewarded in mine own due time.
7b.
Verily I say unto you, that it is meet in mine eyes, that she should
go up unto the land of Zion, and receive an inheritance from the hand
of the bishop, that she may settle down in peace inasmuch as she is
faithful, and not be idle in her days from thenceforth.
8a.
And, behold, verily I say unto you, that ye shall write this
commandment, and say unto your brethren in Zion, in love greeting,
that I have called you also to preside over Zion in mine own due
time; therefore let them cease wearying me concerning this matter.
8b.
Behold, I say unto you, that your brethren in Zion begin to repent,
and the angels rejoice over them; nevertheless, I am not well pleased
with many things;
8c.
and I am not well pleased with my servant William E. Mclellin,
neither with my servant Sidney Gilbert; and the bishop also; and
others have many things to repent of;
8d.
but verily I say unto you, that I, the Lord, will contend with Zion
and plead with her strong ones, and chasten her, until she overcomes
and is clean before me; for she shall not be removed out of her
place. I, the Lord, have spoken it. Amen.
