SECTION
94
[Kirtland
D&C 81, LDS D&C 97]
Revelation
given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at Kirtland, Ohio, August 2, 1833.
This has to do with the work of the church in Zion. Before the
revelation was given the Saints in Independence had been forced to
sign an agreement to leave Jackson County (July 23, 1833). Word of
the agreement did not reach Kirtland until early in September.
1a.
Verily I say unto you my friends, I speak unto you with my voice,
even the voice of my Spirit, that I may show unto you my will
concerning your brethren in the land of Zion, many of whom are truly
humble, and are seeking diligently to learn wisdom and to find truth;
1b.
verily, verily I say unto you, Blessed are all such for they shall
obtain, for I, the Lord, show mercy unto all the meek, and upon all
whomsoever I will, that I may be justified, when I shall bring them
unto judgment.
2a.
Behold, I say unto you, concerning the school in Zion, I, the Lord,
am well pleased that there should be a school in Zion;
2b.
and also with my servant parley P. Pratt, for he abideth in me; and
inasmuch as he continueth to abide in me, he shall continue to
preside over the school in the land of Zion, until I shall give unto
him other commandments;
2c.
and I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings, in expounding
all Scriptures and mysteries to the edification of the school, and of
the church in Zion;
2d.
and to the residue of the school, I, the Lord, am willing to show
mercy, nevertheless there are those that must needs be chastened, and
their works shall be made known.
2e.
The ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that bringeth
not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down and cast into the fire; I,
the Lord, have spoken it.
2f.
Verily I say unto you, All among them who know their hearts are
honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing
to observe their covenants by sacrifice; yea, every sacrifice which
I, the Lord, shall command, they are all accepted of me,
2g.
for I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful
tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that
yieldeth much precious fruit.
3a.
Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that an house should be
built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the pattern which I have
given you; yea, let it be built speedily by the tithing of my people:
3b.
behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord,
require at their hands, that there may be an house built unto me for
the salvation of Zion;
3c.
for a place of thanksgiving, for all Saints, and for a place of
instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry,
in all their several callings, and offices;
3d.
that they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry; in
theory; in principle and in doctrine; in all things pertaining to the
kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which kingdom have been
conferred upon you.
4a.
And inasmuch as my people build an house unto me, in the name of the
Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be
not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
4b.
yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all
the pure in heart that shall come into it, shall see God: but if it
be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there,
for I will not come into unholy temples.
5a.
And now, behold, if Zion do these things, she shall prosper and
spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very
terrible;
5b.
and the nations of the earth shall honor her, and shall say, Surely
Zion is the city of our God; and surely Zion can not fall, neither be
moved out of her place, for God is there, and the hand of the Lord is
there, and he hath sworn by the power of his might to be her
salvation, and her high tower;
5c.
therefore verily thus saith the Lord, Let Zion rejoice, for this is
Zion, THE PURE IN HEART; therefore let Zion rejoice, while all the
wicked shall mourn;
5d.
for, behold, and lo, vengeance cometh speedily upon the ungodly, as
the whirlwind, and who shall escape it; the Lord’s scourge shall
pass over by night and by day; and the report thereof shall vex all
people;
5e.
yet, it shall not be stayed until the Lord come; for the indignation
of the Lord is kindled against their abominations, and all their
wicked works;
5f.
nevertheless Zion shall escape if she observe to do all things
whatsoever I have commanded her, but if she observe not to do
whatsoever I have commanded her, I will visit her according to all
her works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with
sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire;
5g.
nevertheless, let it be read this once in their ears, that I, the
Lord, have accepted of their offering; and if she sin no more, none
of these things shall come upon her, and I will bless her with
blessings, and multiply a multiplicity of blessings upon her, and
upon her generations, for ever and ever, saith the Lord your God.
Amen.
