The revelations given of God

⇐ ПредыдущаяСтр 2 из 9Следующая ⇒

Through the Prophet James J. Strang

From 1844 to 1849

Together with other important records,

And with the Letter of Appointment from Joseph Smith,

Appointing James J. Strang as His Successor,

And appointing Voree as a stake of Zion.

Other revelations, from 1850 to the time when James Strang was felled by assassin's bullets in

1856, can be found in the Book of the Law of the Lord.

This edition (December, 1987) is based, where possible, on the versions of the records which were

published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the time of James Strang. All

available original versions have been carefully compared, and all discrepancies resolved. The

intention has been to produce the most accurate version of the records possible.

In a very few places, slight wording changes were made in later years when unpublished records

were arranged for printing by the Church. In general, the judgment of the Church has been

followed in this edition. In addition, an attempt has been made to apply uniform spelling,

punctuation, and capitalization principles throughout the book.

The numbering of the sections is unique to this edition. The division of the sections into

paragraphs does not follow any previous edition exactly, but is mostly the same as the original

versions.

Date Events Subject

1 6-18-1844 The Letter of Appointment Appointment

2 History of the Letter of Appointment History

3 6-18-1844 A Vision of Voree Vision

4 6-27-1844 The Ordination of James Strang Ordination

5 1-17-1845 Revelation -- service required Latter Day Saints

6 9-01-1845 Revelation -- Voree Plates Voree Plates

7 Testimony of Witness es Testimony

8 9-18-1845 Translation of the Voree Plates Translation

9 Description of one side of one Plate Description

Facsimile of the Voree Plates Facsimile

10 7-01-1846 Revelation -- Strang, house of God Voree Temple

11 7-08-1846 Revelation -- those who fled Nauvoo

12 8-25-1846 Revelation and Vision -- Indian Mission Beaver Island

13 10-19-1846 Revelation -- Rigdon, Adams Sidney Rigdon & George J. Adams

14 11-06-1846 Revelation -- Marks, Smith William Marks & Joseph Smith III

15 12-21-1846 Extract from a Revelation -- Kirtland Kirtland

16 1-07-1849 Revelation -- the Church, Order of Enoch Order of Enoch

17 8-09-1849 Revelation -- baptism for the dead Baptism for the Dead

Gospel Tract No. IV.

First published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Voree, Wisconsin, 1848

THE DIAMOND

BEING THE LAW OF PROPHETIC SUCCESSION
AND A DEFENSE OF THE CALLING OF JAMES J. STRANG
AS THE SUCCESSOR TO JOSEPH SMITH

AND
A Full Exposition of the Law of God Touching the Succession of
Prophets Holding the Presidency of the True Church.

Reprint Voree, Burlington, Wis. 1950

the Diamond

It consists of five chapters or divisions of subject matter.

1st, the appointment of James J. Strang to the prophetic office by revelation received thru Joseph the prophet. Dated June 18, 1844. This revelation was suppressed by church authorities at Nauvoo but more especially by Willard Richards and John Taylor.

2nd. The copy of the church record containing his ordination under the hand of angels, which occurred at the same hour that Joseph was killed, but nearly 400 miles apart, June 27th, 1844.

3rd. The institution of the First Presidency, and the law of succession in the prophetic office showing that James J. Strang only, was legally called and ordained according to the law of God, being extractions taken from the D& C

4th. The First Pastoral Letter of the prophet James, dated Dec. 25, 1845.

5th. An Epistle by the Prophet James written to the Saints Emigrating from Great Britain and Ireland to America, dated May 1st, 1848.

The entire contents was published by the prophet James in his day and time and we are only printing it and sending it forth to you, that you might be given an opportunity to hear and to know the truth in regard to this very important matter.

The Book James,

the Revelations of the 2nd Mormon prophet James Jesse Strang

The Letter of Appointment CHAPTER ONE

Divisons 1-25

from Joseph Smith, appointing James Strang for his successor,

and appointing Voree, Wisconsin, a stake of Zion.

SECTION 1

1 Nauvoo, June 18th, 1844.

2 My Dear Son:

Your epistle of May 24th,

proposing the planting a stake of Zion in Wisconsin

and the gathering of the saints there,

was duly received,

and I with most of the brethren whose advice I called in

were of opinion that you was deceived by a spirit not of this world, great but not good.

Brother Hyrum however thought otherwise and favored the project,

not doubting it was of God.

I however determined to return you an unfavorable answer for the present.

Yet oh the littleness of man in his best earthly state.

Not so the will of the Almighty.

God hath ruled it otherwise,

and a message from the throne of grace directed me as it hath inspired you,

and the faith that thou hast in the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel,

hath been repaid to thee a thousand fold,

and thou shalt be like unto him;

10.

yet the flock shall find rest with thee,

and God shall reveal to thee his will concerning them.

11.

3 I have long felt that my present work was almost done

and that I should soon be called to rule a mighty host,

yet something whispers me it will be in the land of spirits

where the wicked cease from troubling and the bands of the prisoner fall off.

12.

My heart yearns for my little ones,

but I know God will be a father to them,

and I can claim face to face the fulfillment of promises from him who is a covenant-keeping God

and who sweareth and performeth and faileth not to the uttermost.

13.

4 The wolves are upon the scent,

and I am waiting to be offered up, if such be the will of God,

14.

knowing that although my visage be more marred than that of any,

it will be unscarred and fair when archangels shall place on my brow

the double crown of martyr and king in a heavenly world.

15.

5 In the midst of darkness and boding danger the spirit of Elijah came upon me,

and I went away to inquire of God how the Church should be saved.

16.

6 I was upon the hill of the temple.

17.

The calm father of waters rolled below changeless and eternal.

18.

I beheld a light in the heavens above,

and streams of bright light illuminated the firmament,

varied and beautiful as the rainbow, gentle yet rapid as the fierce lightning.

19.

7 The Almighty came from his throne of rest.

20.

He clothed himself with light as with a garment.

21.

He appeared, and moon and stars went out.

22.

The earth dissolved in space.

23.

I trod on air and was borne on wings of Cherubims.

24.

The sweetest strains of heavenly music thrilled in my ear,

yet the notes were low and sad as though they sounded the requiem of martyred prophets.

25.

8 I bowed my head to the earth and asked only wisdom and strength for the church.

the Letter of Appointment CHAPTER TWO

Divisons 26-50

the Revelations of James Strang

SECTION 1

26.

The voice of God answered,

27.

My servant Joseph,

thou hast been faithful over many things and thy reward is glorious,

the crown and scepter are thine and they wait thee.

28.

Yet thou hast sinned in some things and thy punishment is very bitter.

29.

The whirlwind goeth before and its clouds are dark,

yet rest followeth and to its days there shall be no end.

30.

Study the words of the vision for it tarrieth not.

31.

9 And now behold,

my servant James J. Strang hath come to thee from far

for truth when he knew it not

and hath not rejected it yet had faith in thee,

the Shepherd and Stone of Israel;

32.

and to him shall the gathering of the people be,

for he shall plant a stake of Zion in Wisconsin;

33.

and I will establish it, and there shall my people have peace and rest,

and shall not be moved,

for it shall be established on the prairie on White River

in the lands of Racine and Walworth;

34.

and behold, my servants James and Aaron shall plant it,

for I have given them wisdom;

35.

and Daniel shall stand in his lot on the hill beside the river looking down on the prairie

and shall instruct my people and plead with them face to face.

36.

10 Behold, my servant James shall lengthen the cords and strengthen the stakes of Zion;

and my servant Aaron shall be his counsellor,

for he hath wisdom in the gospel and understandeth the doctrines and erreth not therein.

37.

11 And I will have a house built unto me there of stone,

and there will I show myself to my people by many mighty works,

38.

and the name of the city shall be called Voree,

that is, being interpreted, Garden of Peace,

for there shall my people have peace and rest and wax fat and pleasant

in the presence of their enemies.

39.

12 Yet I will again stretch out my arm over the river of waters,

and on the banks thereof shall the house of my choice be.

40.

Yet now the city of Voree shall be a strong hold of safety to my people,

and they that are faithful and obey me I will there give them great prosperity,

41.

and such as they have not had before,

and unto Voree shall be the gathering of my people,

and there shall the oppressed flee for safety and none shall hurt or molest them.

42.

13 And by this shall they know that I have spoken it:

the people there and the owners of the land shall show kindness to them,

for great calamities are coming on the church, and such as have not been;

and if they scatter, the ungodly of the world shall swallow them up;

43.

but if they gather to my city of Voree,

there will I keep them under the shadow of my wing,

and the cities from whence my people have been driven shall be purged with a high hand,

44.

for I will do it,

and my people shall be again restored to their possessions;

but dark clouds are gathering, for the church is not yet wholly purged.

45.

14 And now I command my servants,

the Apostles and Priests and Elders of the Church of the Saints,

that they communicate and proclaim this my word to all the saints of God in all the world,

that they may be gathered unto and round about the city of Voree and be saved from their enemies,

for I will have a people to serve me.

46.

15 And I command my servant Moses Smith,

that he go unto the saints with whom he is acquainted and unto many people,

and command them in my name to go unto my city of Voree and gain inheritance therein;

47.

and he shall have an inheritance therein, for he hath left all for my sake,

and I will add to him many fold if he is faithful;

for he knows the land and can testify to them that it is very good.

48.

16 So spake the Almighty God of heaven.

49.

Thy duty is made plain;

and if thou lackest wisdom, ask of God in whose hands I trust thee,

and he will give thee unsparingly;

for if evil befall me, thou shalt lead the flock to pleasant pastures.

50.

God sustain thee,

Joseph Smith.

To James J. Strang.

This letter was received at Burlington by regular course of mail, coming through the distributing office at Chicago, and bears the Nauvoo post-mark of June 19, the day following its date. It arrived at Burlington July 9th, and was immediately taken from the office by C. P. Barnes, Esq., a distinguished lawyer at that place, who, in consequence of the rumors of persecution and civil war against the Mormons, and a general anxiety to hear the latest news, immediately carried it to Mr. Strang, with the request to be informed of any news of public interest which it might contain. It therefore became public the same evening.

As much pains have been taken to belie this document and to derogate from its authority, it is proper to add that from the day of its reception to this (April, 1848), it has always been kept open to public inspection, and not an iota of evidence has yet been produced derogatory to its authenticity. The Brighamites and other apostates have reported far and near that it had a black postmark, and that such were not used in the office at Nauvoo. This report is a falsehood. The postmark is red. They also started a story that no proper entry of the mailing of such a letter could be found in the register of “mails sent” from Nauvoo. But Mr. Strang caused the register to be examined, and under date of June 19th, 1844, the proper entry was found of such a letter to the distributing P. 0. at Chicago, and the register at Burlington of “mails received” contains the proper entry from Chicago. In the winter of 1845-6 these facts were publicly proclaimed in the Temple at Nauvoo by Moses Smith, Samuel Shaw, and others, and an examination of the registers called for. The next day crowds were at the P. 0. to inspect the register. But, though the register of every other quarter of the establishment of that P. 0. was safely there, that particular quarter was nowhere to be found. It has never since been produced. Comment is unnecessary.

Mrs. Emma Smith recollects well of her husband receiving a letter from Mr. Strang, and holding a council on the subject, and names Hyrum Smith, Willard Richards, and John P. Green as present at that council; and also that a letter was sent to Mr. Strang in answer, but of the import of the answer she was not informed. Immediately after the martyrdom of Joseph, John Taylor, Willard Richards, and William W. Phelps took a kind of temporary direction of the affairs of the church, instructing the saints to wait patiently the hand of the Lord, assuring them that he had not left them without a shepherd, and that all things would be made known in due season. To every question of the saints, Who is the prophet? replies were made in substance that the saints would know in due season, but that nothing could be done till the Twelve got home, because the appointment of a prophet, and the directions for salvation of the church from the perils they were in, was contained in sealed packages directed to them. Orson Hyde, and others of the Twelve who were then in the east, stated in public congregations in New York, Philadelphia, and other cities, that Willard Richards had written to them that the appointment of a prophet was left with him under seal, to be opened on the return of the Twelve. This assertion was so often made that the whole church were daily expecting to hear a new prophet proclaimed. On the eighth of August, 1844, when Sidney Rigdon endeavored to obtain authority to lead the church, John P. Green, marshal of the city of Nauvoo, told them “they need not trouble themselves about it for Joseph had appointed one James J. Strang, who lived up north, to stand in his stead.” The sudden death of John P. Green immediately after this declaration (under very extraordinary circumstances) left Willard Richards and John Taylor sole repositors of all documents on this subject, except this letter. They had simply to suppress documents in their hands to set themselves up in power, or overthrow themselves and their pretensions by publishing them. These and many other facts, which we have not room to state, make an array of testimony of the strongest kind in favor of this letter. It is worthy of consideration that no one fact has been relied on against it, but that in various quarters different false tales have been told to disparage it, which a mere inspection of the letter or of public records would prove false. The only reason which can be given for this continued resort to falsehood is that there is no truth against it.

History of the Letter of Appointment CHAPTER THREE

Divisons 51-75

A tract from the Voree Chronicles giving the History of Letter of Appointment

and a note by Wingfield Watson

SECTION 2

51.

1 And now it appears that this letter was written on this wise:

52.

In February, in the year 1844, James J. Strang,

in company with Aaron Smith and under his teaching,

visited Nauvoo, the city of the saints,

53.

and there was more fully instructed

by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon in the gospel.

54.

2 On the twenty-fifth day of February, in that year, he was baptized by Joseph Smith,

who gave him the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands,

and blessed him with many and great blessings, and said,

55.

" I seal upon thy head, against God's own good time, the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood, "

and afterwards, but in the same ordinance,

56.

" Thou shalt hold the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood,

shalt walk with Enoch, Moses, and Elijah,

and shalt talk with God face to face."

57.

3 And on the third day of March, in the same year,

he was ordained an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,

by the laying on of hands of Hyrum Smith,

according to the testimony of the Spirit of prophecy and the word of the Holy Ghost,

and he said,

58.

" I perceive, by the Spirit which is within me,

that thou shalt carry the gospel with the Spirit like flaming fire to many nations,

and by thee shall God save the pure of his people."

59.

4 At this time much was said of the necessities of the saints,

for want of a suitable country for settlement

where they could avoid persecution and continual molestation,

60.

and the prophet Joseph asked counsel of James J. Strang,

who was greatly learned in geography in regard to many countries,

especially California, New Mexico, and Oregon.

61.

And he advised an exploration of those countries

for determining what facilities for settlement they offered,

and gave much information in regard to them,

both for the guidance of the explorers and to determine what parts were worth exploration.

62.

5 He also advised a settlement of the saints to be formed immediately

on White River in Wisconsin,

to consist of mechanics and artisans from the northern and eastern states and provinces of America

and from Europe,

because the climate of Nauvoo is unfavorable to the health of such,

and the place does not furnish business wherewith to employ them;

63.

both which difficulties would be entirely obviated by such an arrangement,

and many other advantages would be gained in peaceable,

law-abiding neighbors,

cheapness of access,

and facility of building.

64.

6 The exploration of the Nebraska country, New Mexico, and upper California

was immediately determined on,

65.

and arrangements commenced for sending out twenty-five explorers during the following summer.

66.

7 It was enjoined upon James J. Strang by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon

to return to Wisconsin and make more full examinations of the country

with direct reference to the advantages it might offer to the saints,

67.

and to write to Joseph the results of that examination, upon which he would determine,

by the best light that God should give him, what ought to be done.

68.

8 Aaron Smith concurred with James J. Strang in recommending a gathering in Wisconsin,

and counselled the selection of the country on White River

as the place for planting a stake of Zion;

69.

and it was agreed by all that the thing should be looked upon with favor

and prosecuted with vigor to a final result.

70.

9 On the twenty-fourth day of May, 1844,

James J. Strang, having completed his examinations and inquiries,

wrote the result in a letter to Joseph Smith,

71.

to which Aaron Smith a few days after added a note concurring therein

and attesting the facts therein stated.

72.

10 This letter contained a minute statement of the advantages

for the settlement of the saints

that the southeastern section of Wisconsin offered,

more especially for the building of a town on White River, immediately west of Burlington.

73.

It was put in the post office at Burlington, directed to Joseph Smith at Nauvoo,

about the last of May, by Aaron Smith.

74.

11 Moreover, the preceding letter is in answer thereto,

and was mailed at Nauvoo on the nineteenth day of June,

that plainly appears by the postmark thereon,

and directed to James J. Strang at Burlington, in Wisconsin,

at which place it arrived by mail at the time before stated,

75.

and was taken from the post office on the same day by Caleb P. Barnes, an attorney-at-law,

and by him delivered to James J. Strang in the presence of Aaron Smith,

who immediately sat down together and opened and read the letter.

It will be seen further, from the above history, that Mr. Strang was not alone in the counsel. Aaron Smith who was well acquainted with Mr. Strang, and who was a High Priest in the region of Burlington, Wis., under whose preaching Mr. Strang was partially converted to the faith, and who accompanied Mr. Strang to Nauvoo, it seems was present at this counsel, and heard Mr. Strang’s advice, and confirmed what he said in relation to the land on White River, Wis. Moreover, when Mr. Strang had completed his investigations, and was about to send his account to Joseph Smith, this Aaron Smith added a note to this account, confirming what Mr. Strang had just written; and this same Aaron Smith is the very man that put Mr. Strang’s letter to Joseph Smith, containing his own confirming note, into the post office at Burlington, and was also present when C. P. Barnes presented the letter written by Joseph to Mr. Strang in answer, as stated in the Diamond page 5, par. 5: and these three men sat down together, while Mr. Strang read the letter.

Where is the chance for forgery here? If all this amounts to forgery, in the name of truth, what letter that has ever been received by any man since the world began can be proved genuine?

Now, there is another thing that is of much importance touching this letter. If this letter had been one of the more modern letters, enclosed in an envelope, and sent to Mr. Strang, it might be an easy matter for the enemy to say that the letter was forged, and slipped into an envelope that had recently been received from Nauvoo on other business with the Nauvoo post-mark on it. But that is a thing which all are most effectually barred against doing. For the letter of Joseph Smith containing Mr. Strang’s appointment, is one of the old-fashioned style, common in those days, and still later, where the last page of the sheet was left blank for the purpose of receiving the address after being folded; the edges then being inserted into each other were joined together by either a wafer or a little heated sealing wax. Such were the letters of those times, and such was and is the letter of appointment. It is still in existence and may be examined by any one curious enough to investigate its claims; and it has the Nauvoo post-mark as all the letters from Nauvoo, at that time have, and is stamped with red ink, giving the lie very forcibly to all those who said it was black. And to those who have reported that the letters in the mailing stamp of this letter “were one size larger than those in the mailing stamp at Nauvoo, ” Mr. Strang’s answer is still, —”measure it; it has been measured a thousand times already and no one has detected a difference.” And, again, to those who say that it is not in the hand-writing of Joseph Smith, I answer that it is not in the common hand-writing of any man, but is written in a very plain way in italics; and was, I presume, so written in order that there should be no doubt or uncertainty created by either word or letter therein.

This letter was received at Burlington by regular course of mail, coming through the distributing office at Chicago, and bears the Nauvoo postmark of June 19th, the day following its date. It arrived at Burlington July 9th, and was immediately taken from the office by C. P. Barnes, Esq., a distinguished lawyer. at that place, who, in consequence of the rumors of persecution and civil war against the Mormons, and a general anxiety to hear the latest news, immediately carried it to Mr. Strang, with the request to be informed of any news of public interest which it might contain. It therefore became public the same evening. * * *

Mrs. Emma Smith recollects well of her husband receiving a letter from Mr. Strang, and holding a council on the subject, and names Hyrum Smith, Willard Richards and John P. Green as present at that council, and also that a letter was sent to Mr. Strang in answer, but of the import of the answer she was not informed.

Immediately after the martyrdom of Joseph, John Taylor, Willard Richards and William W. Phelps took a kind of temporary direction of the affairs of the church, instructing the saints to wait patiently the hand of the Lord; assuring them that he had not left them without a shepherd, and that all things would be made known in due season. To every question of the saints, Who is the prophet? replies were made, in substance, that the saints would know in due season, but that nothing could be done until the Twelve got home, because the appointment of a prophet and the directions for salvation of the church from the perils they were in, was contained in sealed packages directed to them. Orson Hyde and others of the Twelve, who were then in the east, stated in public congregations in New York, Philadelphia and other cities, that Willard Richards had written to them that the appointment of a prophet was left with him, under seal, to be opened on the return of the Twelve. This assertion was so often made that the whole church were daily expecting to hear a new prophet proclaimed. On the 8th day of August, 1844, when Sidney Rigdon endeavored to obtain authority to lead the church, John P. Green, marshal of the city of Nauvoo, told them, " They need not trouble themselves about it, for Joseph had appointed one James J Strang, who lived up north, to stand in his stead." The sudden death of John P. Green immediately after this declaration (under very extraordinary circumstances) left Willard Richards and John Taylor sole repositors of all documents on this subject, except this letter.

They had simply to suppress documents in their hands to set themselves up in power, or overthrow themselves and their pretensions by publishing them. These, and many other facts which we have not room to state, make an array of testimony of the strongest kind in favor of this letter. It is worthy of consideration that no one fact has been relied on against it, but that in various quarters different false tales have been told to disparage it, which a mere inspection of the letter or of public records would prove false. The only reason which can be given for this continual resort to falsehood is that there is no truth against it.

Thus was I called by the revelation of God,

and received my appointment through Joseph,

according to the revelations given to him. D& C 9: 1-2, 51: 2

And at the same moment at when Joseph was slain

I was visited by an Angel of God, accompanied by a numerous heavenly train,

and anointed and ordained to the Prophetic office,

as Moses and Joseph had been before me."

So I was called by the voice of God, and sent by the hand of Angels,

as were the chief Prophets before me.

The Vision of Voree CHAPTER FOUR

Divisons 76-85

the revelation of James Strang

given on 6-18-1844

SECTION 3

76.

1 On the eighteenth day of June, 1844,

James J. Strang was in the Spirit,

and he was in the grove above the stone quarry on White River,

and he had a vision;

77.

and behold, he was carried away in the Spirit to the top of the hill in the west border of Racine, and Gardner's prairie was to the north,

and the White River marshes to the south,

78.

and he saw in the vision;

79.

and the lands round about were covered with many houses and gardens,

and there were streets, and shops, and people;

even a city of many inhabitants.

80.

And the city was built of stone,

and there were few houses of brick and less of wood, and the gardens were many;

and a few houses were very great, and their inhabitants many.

81.

2 There was a change in the vision,

and the people with lively pace and smiling countenances

thronged the streets and passed by.

82.

3 There was another change, and they were all assembled in a vast hall,

83.

and James J. Strang, surrounded by wise men and counsellors and priests and eloquent orators,

arose and taught the people;

84.

and the Spirit of prophecy witnesseth unto him, so shall it be;

85.

and the vision ended,

and he was strengthened

yet his faith was weak.

The Ordination of James Strang CHAPTER FIVE

Divisons 86-115

administered on 6-27-1844

a document of the church records

SECTION 4

86.

1 On the twenty-seventh day of June, 1844,

at five and a half o'clock in the afternoon,

James J. Strang was in the Spirit,

and the Angel of God came unto him and saluted him, saying,

87.

2 Fear God and be strengthened and obey him,

for great is the work which he hath required at thy hand.

88.

Go on in hope and strength,

and falter not,

and he will sustain thee,

and thou shalt triumph,

for the voice of the Lord by the mouth of Joseph will he fulfill.

89.

3 And the Angel of the Lord stretched forth his hand unto him and touched his head,

and put oil upon him and said,

90.

Grace is poured upon thy lips,

and God blesseth thee with the greatness of the Everlasting Priesthood.

91.

He putteth might and glory and majesty upon thee,

and in meekness and truth and righteousness will he prosper thee.

92.

4 Thou shalt save his people from their enemies when there is no arm to deliver,

and shalt bring salvation when destruction walketh in the house of thy God.

93.

Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity;

therefore thy God hath anointed thee with oil and set thee above all thy fellows.

94.

5 Thy words shall be like sharp arrows in the heart of the wicked.

95.

Thou shalt rebuke those who pervert the word of thy God.

96.

Thou shalt preach righteousness and the sublime mysteries in the ears of many people,

and shall bring the gospel to many who have not known it and to the nations afar off.

97.

6 Thou shalt drive backward and put to shame those that do evil,

and the workers of iniquity shall fall.

98.

They shall be cast down and shall not be able to rise.

99.

With purity will the Lord thy God arm thee,

and purity and truth shalt thou teach.

100.

7 Keep the law of the Lord thy God in thy heart,

and none of thy steps shall slide.

101.

With thee is the fountain of truth.

102.

In thy light shall the people of thy God see,

for thou shalt speak his word unto them,

and from thy lips shall they receive it.

103.

8 The blessing of their God shalt thou put upon them,

and his curse upon evil doers, if, after being oft rebuked, they repent not;

104.

and before my people shalt thou go to lead them into my ways,

for unto thee has the Lord thy God given salvation.

105.

9 In righteousness shalt thou rule.

106.

Thou shalt redeem the poor and the needy from suffering and violence,

and to thee God giveth judgment for them.

107.

Thou shalt deliver the prey from the spoiler,

for God, thy God, hath put them in thy hand.

108.

10 And in weakness will he make thee strong.

109.

Thou shalt rule among his people.

110.

Thou shalt break in pieces

the rod of the oppressor and the yoke of the unjust ruler.

111.

They shall flee away,

yet the way of peace shall they not find.

112.

11 While the day of the wicked abideth,

shalt thou prepare a refuge for the oppressed and for the poor and needy.

113.

Unto thee shall they come,

and their brethren who are scattered shall come with them,

114.

and the destruction of the ungodly shall quickly follow,

for it already worketh.

115.

Go thy way and be strong.

The Institution of the First Presidency and the Law of Succession
Extracted from the Book of Doctrine & Covenants

The Diamond, ch. 3

(not canonical, yet used for precedence)

The power and authority of the higher or Melchizedek priesthood is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church.

D& C 104: 9 or 107: 18

Wherefore it must needs be that one be appointed of the high priesthood, to preside over the priesthood, and he shall be called President of the high priesthood of the church, or, in other words, the presiding high priest over the high priesthood of the church from the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church by the laying on of the hands.

D& C 104: 31, or 107: 65 to 67

And again, the duty of the President of the office of the high priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses. Behold here is wisdom yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet — having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church.

D& C 104: 42, or 107: 91-92

I give unto you, my servant Joseph, to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet.

D& C 107: 39, or 124: 125

Thou (Joseph) shall be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ.

D& C 19: 1, or 21: 1

The President of the church who is also the President of the council, is appointed by revelation.

D& C 99: 6 or 102: 9

The President may inquire and obtain the mind of the Lord by revelation.

D& C 99: 10 or 102: 23

I have sent forth the fullness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world, and the things which shall come from this time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not, another will I plant in his stead.

D& C 34: 4, or 35: 17-18

Yet, behold, verily I say unto thee no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant, Joseph Smith, Jr., for he receiveth them even as Moses. And thou (Oliver Cowdery) shall not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church; for I have given him the keys of the mysteries and the revelation which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead.

D& C 27: 2, or 28: 2 and 7

Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you while thou art in this world, neither in the world to come; nevertheless through you shall the oracles be given to another, even unto the church.

D& C 87: 2, or 90: 3-4

And this ye shall know assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.

D& C 43: 1-3

Yet verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead; and this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments; and this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me. For verily I say unto you that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate, and be ordained as I have told you before.

D& C 43: 2 February, 1831, or 43: 4 or 7

Wherefore marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth; —also with John, the son of Zacharias; —which John (an angel) I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jr., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto this first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron; — and also with Peter and James and John (angels), whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry; and of the same things which I revealed unto them; unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times, and for the fullness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven and which are on earth.

D& C 26: 2-3 September 1830, or 27: 5-12

The Twelve are a traveling presiding high council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the church, agreeable to the institution of heaven.

D& C 104: 12, or 107: 33

The Twelve being sent out holding the keys to open the door of the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ; and first unto the Gentiles, then to the Jews.

D& C 104: 13, or 107: 33

Now I say unto you, and what I say unto you I say unto all the Twelve, arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep. Exalt not yourselves: rebel not against my servant Joseph, for verily I say unto you I am with him, and my hand shall be over him; and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward, shall not be taken from him till I come.

D& C 105: 6, or 112: 14-15

Verily I say unto you, my servant Thomas, thou are the man whom I have chosen to hold the keys of my kingdom (as pertaining to the Twelve) abroad among all nations, that thou mayst be my servant to unlock the door of the kingdom in all places where my servant Joseph, and my servant Sidney, and my servant Hyrum, cannot come; for on them have I laid the burden of all the churches for a little season; wherefore, whithersoever they (the First Presidency) shall send you (the Twelve) go ye, and I will be with you and in whatsoever place ye shall proclaim my name an effectual door shall be opened unto you that they may receive my words; whosoever receiveth my word receiveth those (the First Presidency) whom I have sent, whom I have made counselors for my name’s sake unto you (the Twelve).

D& C 105: 7, or 112: 16-21

Therefore, see to it that ye (the Twelve) trouble not yourselves concerning the affairs of my church

in this place (the seat of the First Presidency), saith the lord; but purify your hearts before me, and then go ye into all the world and preach my gospel unto every creature who have not received it, and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not and is not baptized shall be damned.

D& C 105: 11, or 112: 27-30

A revelation concerning the service required of the Saints CHAPTER SIX

Divisons 116-150

the revelation of James Strang

given on 1-17-1845

SECTION 5

116.

1 On the seventeenth day of January, in the year 1845,

the word of the Lord came unto James J. Strang,

the Prophet of the Most High God

and Revelator unto the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, saying,

117.

2 Let all the saints humble themselves before me,

and obey my commandments.

118.

Let them not forget my law,

nor make my precepts of small account.

119.

Let them give heed unto the gospel,

and be continual witnesses for me before the world.

120.

Behold, I the Lord God have spoken it.

121.

Let him that regards my voice obey.

122.

I have required this service of you,

and I am not impoverished that you should lose your reward.

123.

3 I have given you a trial of your faith, in that you are few in number,

that you might have a witness before the world

that your hearts are single toward me

and that you seek not your own advantages;

124.

yet I will remember you in mercy and in blessings,

for I will reward the faithful for all they shall suffer, many fold on earth,

and more than ye have thought to ask in heaven.

125.

4 Behold, for the trying of your faith and that my Church might be purified,

have I sent lying spirits unto those whose hearts are set for gain and not for the flock,

and strong delusion unto those who have lifted themselves up in pride and power,

and have forgotten the law of the Lord,

even my law which their own lips have taught.

126.

Behold, now have they their reward,

yet shame and swift destruction followeth.

127.

5 The reward of the righteous is with me, and unto the faithful are the promises.

128.

And now I am your God, I require this service of all the saints:

that they go unto Voree and the country round about,

and gain inheritance as they are severally able.

129.

When they hear,

let them obey with prudence and speedily.

130.

And there let them assemble together on the first day of every week,

to strengthen one another,

and to receive instruction and blessings from me.

131.

6 Again I require of all who have received the priesthood,

that they go out and preach the gospel,

and teach as they are sent, the first day of every week.

132.

7 And this tithing do I require now of all my saints,

to the end that Voree may be established and may be a holy city unto me.

133.

Yea, verily, I the Lord God require of all the saints,

besides the assembling of themselves together

and going out to preach and to teach on the first day of the week,

that they shall consecrate unto me one tenth of their time and labor.

134.

Yea, let those who will, go out and preach the gospel and the gathering unto Voree,

according as I have commanded.

135.

Yea, let those who will, consecrate unto me and pay into the Treasury of the Church,

that is at Voree, the value of their labor.

136.

Yea, let those who will,

labor for the support of my servants who labor continually for me.

137.

Yea, let those who will, serve me continually while they have wherewith to support their families,

and the saints shall minister unto them while they preach the gospel and gathering,

as they shall severally need.

138.

Yea, let the saints give liberally according as they shall possess,

yet let none excuse himself that he consecrate unto me one tenth his time and labor,

for thus shall my holy city be established.

139.

Yea, verily, and the reward of the faithful is with me,

and I will repay him many fold on earth, and in heaven with everlasting life.

140.

8 Yea, and let my servant James J. Strang send out the Elders and those who have received the priesthood far and near, as my Spirit shall teach him;

141.

and they shall go and bear witness in my name, for thus shall my Church be built up,

till all the quorums assemble together in my holy city.

142.

9 Be ye faithful, O ye children of the kingdom,

for this is the covenant between me and you.

143.

I will remember you in mercy and in blessings if ye serve me.

144.

And this will I do.

145.

Behold I the Lord have spoken it.

146.

I will give unto my servant James the plates of the book that was sealed,

that he may translate them for you.

147.

Yea, unto the faithful is this promise.

148.

Serve and obey me,

and I will give unto him the plates of the ancient records which are sealed up,

and he shall translate them unto you;

149.

and this shall be a witness between me and those that serve me;

and unto my servants who serve me faithfully,

150.

yea, unto whom I will,

shall he show the plates,

and they shall be faithful witnesses unto me,

and thus shall my words be established.

a Revelation, concerning the Voree Plates CHAPTER SEVEN

Divisons 151-185

the revelation of James Strang

given on 9-1-1845

SECTION 6

151.

1 The Angel of the Lord came unto me, James,

on the first day of September, in the year 1845,

152.

and the light shined about him above the brightness of the sun,

and he showed unto me the plates of the sealed record,

and he gave into my hands the Urim and Thummim.

153.

And out of the light came the voice of the Lord saying,

154.

My servant James,

in blessing I will bless thee,

and in multiplying I will multiply thee,

because I have tried thee and found thee faithful.

155.

Behold, my servant James,

I am about to bless thee with a great blessing,

that shall be to those who love me, an immutable testimony;

156.

to those who know me not, a stumbling block;

157.

yet to those who have known me

and have turned their hearts from me,

a rock of offence.

158.

Yea, let them beware,

for shame and destruction walk in their tracks,

and their time abideth, yet not long.

159.

2 A work shall come forth, and the secrets of the past shalt thou reveal.

160.

Yea, by little and little shalt thou reveal it,

according to the ability and faithfulness of my church,

and of my servant whom I have placed above them.

161.

Behold the record which was sealed from my servant Joseph.

162.

Unto thee it is reserved.

163.

Take heed that thou count it not a light thing,

nor exalt thyself lest thou be stricken;

164.

for by myself I swear that, as thou servest me faithfully and comest not short,

thou shalt unlock the mysteries thereof, which I have kept hid from the world.

165.

Yea, as my servants serve me, so shalt thou translate unto them.

166.

3 Yet in their weakness I have not forgotten them.

167.

Go to the place which the Angel of the presence shall show thee,

and there shalt thou dig for the record of my people in whose possession thou dwellest.

168..

Take with thee faithful witnesses, for in evil will the unfaithful speak of thee,

yet the faithful and true shall know that they are liars,

and shall not stumble for their words.

169.

4 Speak thou unto the Elders of my church, and say unto them,

170.

Hear my voice and hearken to my words, for they are true and faithful.

171.

Testify, testify unto all the saints.

172.

Testify, testify in all the world. He that rejecteth you,

him will I reject in the day that I come in my kingdom.

173.

Testify, testify unto him who has received my word and turned away.

174.

Let him now return unto me

and obey and serve his God,

175.

lest he be smitten with a curse and his children curse him

and his name be blotted out of the Book of Life.

176.

5 Yea, those to whom I have revealed myself,

let them hearken unto me now lest they be cast off in the day of my indignation,

lest the consuming fire of the day of trial burn them up.

177.

Yea, lest the second death make them his prey,

and they be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

178.

6 Rejoice, ye holy, for the day of your deliverance is near,

and the time of your exaltation is at hand.

179.

Faithful and true are my words,

dividing the marrow from the bones,

and truth from rottenness.

180.

He that rejecteth them,

will I reject when I come in my kingdom.

181.

And while I was yet in the Spirit,

the Angel of the Lord took me away to the hill in the east of Walworth,

against White River in Voree,

182.

and there he showed unto me the record

buried under an oak tree as large as the body of a large man;

183.

it was enclosed in an earthen casement,

and buried in the ground as deep as to a man's waist;

184.

and I beheld it as a man can see a light stone in clear water,

for I saw it by Urim and Thummim;

185.

and I returned the Urim and Thummim to the Angel of the Lord,

and he departed out of sight.

the Testimony of the Witnesses to the Voree Plates CHAPTER EIGHT

Divisions 186-205

SECTION 7

186.

1 On the thirteenth day of September, 1845,

we, Aaron Smith, Jirah B. Wheelan, James M. Van Nostrand, and Edward Whitcomb,

assembled at the call of James J. Strang,

who is by us and many others approved as a Prophet and Seer of God.

187.

He proceeded to inform us that it had been revealed to him in a vision that an account of an ancient people was buried in a hill south of White River bridge, near the east line of Walworth County;

188.

and leading us to an oak tree about one foot in diameter,

told us that we would find it enclosed in a case of rude earthen ware under that tree at the depth of about three feet;

189.

requested us to dig it up,

and charged us to so examine the ground that we should know we were not imposed upon,

and that it had not been buried there since the tree grew.

190.

The tree was surrounded by a sward of deeply rooted grass,

such as is usually found in the openings, and upon the most critical examination we could not discover any indication that it had ever been cut through or disturbed.

191.

2 We then dug up the tree, and continued to dig to the depth of about three feet,

where we found a case of slightly baked clay containing three plates of brass.

192.

On one side of one is a landscape view of the south end of Gardner's prairie and the range of hills where they were dug.

193.

On another is a man with a crown on his head and a scepter in his hand,

above is an eye before an upright line,

below the sun and moon surrounded with twelve stars,

at the bottom are twelve large stars from three of which pillars arise,

and closely interspersed with them are seventy very small stars.

194.

The other four sides are very closely covered with what appear to be alphabetic characters,

yet in a language of which we have no knowledge.

195.

3 The case was found imbedded in indurated clay so closely fitting it that it broke in taking out, and the earth below the soil was so hard as to be dug with difficulty even with a pickax.

196.

Over the case was found a flat stone about one foot wide each way and three inches thick,

which appeared to have undergone the action of fire,

and fell in pieces after a few minutes exposure to the air.

197.

The digging extended in the clay about eighteen inches,

there being two kinds of earth of different color and appearance above it.

198.

4 We examined as we dug all the way with the utmost care,

and we say, with utmost confidence,

that no part of the earth through which we dug

exhibited any sign or indication that it had been moved or disturbed at any time previous.

199.

The roots of the tree stuck down on every side very closely,

extending below the case, and closely interwoven with roots from other trees.

200.

None of them had been broken or cut away.

201.

No clay is found in the country like that of which the case is made.

202.

5 In fine, we found an alphabetic and pictorial record, carefully cased up,

buried deep in the earth, covered with a flat stone,

with an oak tree one foot in diameter growing over it,

with every evidence that the sense can give

that it has lain there as long as that tree has been growing.

203.

Strang took no part in the digging,

yet kept entirely away from before the first blow was struck

till after the plates were taken out of the case;

204.

and the sole inducement to our digging was our faith in his statement as a Prophet of the Lord

that a record would thus and there be found.

205.

AARON SMITH,

JIRAH B. WHEELAN,

J. M. VAN NOSTRAND,

EDWARD WHITCOMB

Translation of the Voree Plates, CHAPTER NINE

made by Urim and Thummim on 9-18-1845 Divisons 206-225

the Record of a certain Rajah Manchou of “Vorito”

SECTION 8

206.

1 My people are no more.

207.

The mighty are fallen,

and the young slain in battle.

208.

Their bones bleached on the plain by the noonday shadow. (sun)

209.

The houses are leveled to the dust,

and in the moat are the walls.

210.

They shall be inhabited.

211.

2 I have in the burial served them,

212.

and their bones in the Death-shade,

towards the sun's rising, are covered.

213.

They sleep with the mighty dead,

and they rest with their fathers.

214.

They have fallen in transgression and are not,

yet the elect and faithful there shall dwell.

215.

3 The word hath revealed it.

216.

God hath sworn to give an inheritance to his people

where transgressors perished.

217

The word of God came to me

while I mourned in the Death-shade, saying,

218.

I will avenge me on the destroyer.

219.

He shall be driven out.

220.

Other strangers shall inhabit thy land.

221.

I an ensign there will set up.

222.

The escaped of my people there

shall dwell when the flock disown the Shepherd

and build not on the Rock.

223.

4 The forerunner men shall kill,

yet a mighty prophet there shall dwell.

224.

I will be his strength,

and he shall bring forth thy record.

225.

Record my words,

and bury it in the Hill of Promise

206-225 corresponds to 1-20

(again placed here in chronological order)

Description of one side of one of the Voree Plates CHAPTER TEN

Divisons 226-255

according to James Strang

SECTION 9

226.

1 First, an eye.

227.

The symbol of God who is all-seeing:

consequently it is called THE ALL-SEEING EYE,

and has been used as symbolical of the DEITY in all countries, and in all ages of the world.

228.

2 Second,

the figure of a man down to the waist,

having a crown resembling a cap,

and composed of radiating lines, on his head;

and a scepter in his hand.

229.

These are symbols of authority,

and show him a ruler.

230.

As he has the sun, moon, and stars (all the natural lights) below him

and only the ALL-SEEING above him,

231.

he is Prophet, Seer, Revelator, Translator,

and First President of the Church;

232.

governing not by natural light, or mere human wisdom,

yet by revelation, or the word of God,

and derives his authority solely from God,

and not in any sense from the actions of men.

233.

3 Third,

the sun on the right, and the moon on the left.

234.

These represent the two Vice Presidents, or Counsellors in the First Presidency;

the two largest natural lights being used as symbols,

because they are to assist the First President in wisdom or natural light merely,

and not by revelation.

235.

4 Fourth,

a cross-pillar above and resting upon the center large star

and under the human figure;

with two pillars above and resting upon the two upper large stars,

and below and between the sun and moon.

236.

These represent Coadjutors,

assistants or helps,

of whom there have been several since the beginning of the Church, appointed by revelation.

237.

5 Fifth,

twelve stars, six around the sun, and six around the moon.

238.

These represent the High Council of the Church.

239.

The division into classes of six each agrees with the established usages in the Church,

one half to stand up for the accuser,

and the other for the accused.

240.

This is not the High Council of a stake.

241.

6 Sixth,

twelve large stars, ten of these in two rows at the bottom of the plate,

and the other two over them nearly between the sun and moon.

242.

They represent the Twelve Apostles.

243

These stars are larger than those which represent the High Council of the Church,

because the Apostles have a more important ministry;

yet are placed below them because they are subject to their discipline,

and below the symbols of the First Presidency because they are subject to its directions.

244.

7 Seventh,

seventy small stars immediately within the points of the twelve large ones,

being six to each, except the center one which has only four.

245.

They represent the Seventies,

who are subject to the direction of the Twelve Apostles.

246.

8 Eighth,

a straight line dropping down before the scepter.

247.

" Therefore thus saith the Lord God,

Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone,

a tried stone,

a precious corner stone,

a sure foundation:

he that believeth shall not make haste.

248.

Judgment also will I lay to the line,

and righteousness to the plummet:

and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies,

and the waters shall overflow the hiding place."

249.

" Thus he shewed me:

and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline,

with a plumbline in his hand.

250.

And the Lord said unto me,

Amos, what seest thou?

251.

And I said,

A plumbline.

252.

Then said the Lord,

Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel:

I will not again pass by them any more."

253.

9 These symbols were all prophetic of the order that should exist in the fulness of times.

254.

Thus God, in his goodness to those who lived in days past,

has shown them not only the rest which he had in reservation for them,

yet the perfectness of the means by which he would accomplish it.

255.

Probably now we understand it only in part,

yeut in times to come we shall " know as we are known."

⇐ Предыдущая 123 4 5 6 7 8 9 Следующая ⇒

Последнее изменение этой страницы: 2019-06-19; Просмотров: 157; Нарушение авторского права страницы