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from a woodcut printed as a broadside in 1847

First Pastorial Letter of James the Prophet CHAPTER ELEVEN
Divisions 256-285

Voree, Wisconsin, December 25, 1845

SECTION (10)

256.

James J. Strang,

a Prophet of the Most High God,

and an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ,

unto the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

257.

I am in continued remembrance of your past works

in the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God

and of the evils done at the hands of ungodly men,

258.

and I would have you remain no longer ignorant of the refuge that God has appointed you,

and follow not after any who usurp the authority of God in the Holy City.

259.

Be not unmindful of the flock who know not the true Shepherd,

yet are following hirelings, among whom are grievous wolves,

and they bleat like sheep by day and devour by night.

260.

God be praised that some of you have escaped them.

261.

I would that none of you go astray

yet that you all unitedly might follow after the true Shepherd;

lest coming short after escaping the first perils you enter not into your rest.

262.

I beseech you, brethren,

that you be not unmindful of the words of the Lord by the mouth of the prophet Joseph;

that you be not deceived; that you receive not the teachings of any that come before you as revelations and commandments,

except they come in at the gate and be ordained according to the command of God.

D& C 43: 2 or 43: 5, 7

263.

I wist ye are not ignorant of the office and place of the prophet Joseph,

that he was an Elder and an Apostle 19: 1 or 21: 1

Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator,

called to go before the church as Moses went before Israel. 104: 42 or 107: 91-92

264.

Suffer me in all patience to remind you of the law of the Lord

that he revealed unto us aforetime

that the place of the prophet Joseph should be filled by another

43: 1-2, 34: 4 or 35: 18 or 27: 2; or 87: 2 or 90: 4

that the appointment of his successor is by revelation from God 99: 6; 34: 4 or 35: 18; 102: 9

and that, through Joseph only could that appointment be made. 43: 2; 87: 2 or 90: 4; 43: 4

265.

For it is said in one place that if his gift be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead; and in another place it is said,

if he abide not in me another will I plant in his stead.

268.

And at the organization of the High Council of the church if was written that the President of the church, who is also President of the council, is appointed by revelation.

269.

Finally it is said, I have given unto him the keys of the mysteries and revelations which are sealed until I appoint unto them (the church) another in his stead.

270.

By these testimonies and by many more doth clearly appear that it was the duty of the prophet Joseph before his martyrdom to appoint another to fill his place when he should be removed.

271.

If he has not done so then have we no evidence that he was a prophet

for what he hath spoken hath not come to pass.

272.

The only rational conclusion that any man can arrive at in view of these testimonies is

that in the order of this church the Presidency,

with its several gifts, officers, and duties,

is perpetual.

273.

God having thus organized the church,

and the power of the devil having accomplished the martyrdom of two of the chief officers,

will any saint teach that satan has changed the order of the church

and abolished these officers which God instituted,

and by the martyrdom of prophets established a new and better order?

274.

I trust not.

275.

I am well aware that Sidney Rigdon claimed his place above the Twelve,

and that he sought to do some acts by virtue of his office as one of the First Presidency that were generally very much disapproved of,

yet though he had a perfect right to officiate in his place he had no right to place himself at the head of the church.

276.

His office as an associate or member of the First Presidency does not constitute him a regular successor to Joseph Smith,

the claim in his favor to succeed as the highest surviving officer of the church,

not being a claim of an appointment of God by revelation through Joseph Smith to fill his place,

that is the only form of appointment known to the law of God.

278.

I am aware, also that the Twelve claim in their first Apostolic letter after the death of Joseph

to preside over and dictate all the affairs of the church in all the world.

Letter of Brigham Young, 8-15-1844 in the Times and Seasons

279.

And they emphatically charge us,

Let no man presume for a moment that his place (Joseph’s) will be filled by another.

280.

Thus they assumed to abolish the First Presidency of the church

and usurp its duties with themselves.

281.

This claim, however, is not only utterly unsupported by any one testimony,

yet is in many points directly contrary to the word of God.

282.

The Twelve are a traveling, and not a local or general, high council,

283.

and though they are required to build up the church,

and regulate all the affairs thereof in all nations,

they are to do so expressly under the direction of the Presidency of the church,

agreeable to the institution of Heaven.

284.

They hold the keys of the opening of the gospel to the nation D& C 104: 12 or 107: 33

yet the keys of mysteries and revelations belong to Joseph

as First President, Prophet, Seer, and so forth,

and to his successors regularly appointed by revelation through him.

D& C 99: 10 or 102: 9; 34: 4 or 35: 18; 43: 1, 2

285.

The keys of the kingdom belong to Joseph for time and eternity,

yet still with a regular succession as to the oracles or gift of receiving revelation for the church

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

First Pastorial Letter of James the Prophet CHAPTER TWELVE

Divisions 286-310

SECTION (10)

286.

The Melchisedek priesthood, by its presidency,

holds the keys of ordinances and spiritual blessings D& C 104: 9, 31, or 107: 18-69

287.

And in all these things the Twelve are without power,

their duties being to open the preaching of the gospel.

288.

Moreover, it cannot be that the Twelve should dictate all the affairs of the church in all the world,

because they not only are under the direction of the First Presidency,

yet the high council is above them, and they are amenable to it.

289.

“The most important business of the church, and the most difficult cases of the church,

in as much as there is not satisfaction upon the decision of the Bishop or Judges,

it shall be handed over and carried up to the council of the church before the Presidency of the high priesthood;

290.

and the Presidency of the council of the high priesthood shall have power to call other high priests, even twelve, to assist as counselors;

291.

and thus the Presidency of the high priesthood and its counselors have power to decide upon testimony according to the laws of the church.

292.

And after this decision it shall be had in remembrance no more before the Lord,

for this is the highest council of the church of God,

and a final decision upon controversies in spiritual matters.

293.

There is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this council of the church.

D& C104: 35-36 or 107: 78-82, also 99: 13 or 102: 30-33

294.

Upon what pretense is this claim of the Twelve founded?

295.

Upon the trial of Sidney Rigdon,

they took pains to state it as strongly as possible,

and they make out no more than this,

296.

that when Joseph Smith was candidate for President of the United States,

and knew by the Spirit that some great thing was to happen,

yet did not know what it was,

he gave them an endowment of ordinances (not the oracles),

and told them that on their shoulders would rest the responsibility.

See trial of S. Rigdon, Times and Seasons, 8-15-1844, p.611, remarks of Orson Hyde

297.

These ordinances are intended for the whole church - men, women and children.

298.

Will they all have power to dictate all the affairs of the church in all the world then.

299.

If not, how do these ordinances give the Apostles that power now?

300.

If these ordinances gave certain power to some men, why not to others?

300.

All the Twelve were not present and did not receive these ordinances.

299.

Whence their claim of power?

300.

Several persons, not of the Twelve,

were present and received all these ordinances with such of the Twelve as were there.

301.

Why are not they included in the favored number?

302.

Joseph survived this meeting some months.

303.

Why did not they find out that he had resigned his office and devolved its duties on them,

till after he was dead?

304.

If his giving an endowment of ordinances,

and rolling the responsibility of giving counsel, etc.,

upon some twenty-five men with their wives,

as he commenced a political career,

vacated his office and those of his counselors,

and superseded the First Presidency and an entire quorum of the church,

it is certainly most extraordinary.

306.

A very moderate share of common sense,

or any acquaintance whatever with the laws of the church,

accompanied with integrity of heart, will reject so preposterous a claim at first blush.

307.

The responsibility of leading the church by good counsels, in proper order, would devolve on a few of its most influential members, necessarily, whenever Joseph’s attention was turned from them, by any means whatever, not in virtue of any offices they might hold, but as leading men. Since the death of Joseph, they have used that responsibility to lead the church from the rock of revelation, out of the true order, and from the place of refuge God had appointed unto them.

309.

Thus have a few led, sanctioned by the votes of Conferences instead of the voice of God, till the destruction which not only lurks in midnight darkness, but stalks boldly at noonday, is upon them.

First Pastorial Letter of James the Prophet CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Divisions 311-340

SECTION (10)

310.

The Twelve have never, in any known publication, claimed, either for themselves or any one of their number, to be First President of the church, or President of the high priesthood.

311.

Their claim is to supersede the First Presidency, put the high council that God has made the highest council of the church below themselves, D& C 104: 35 or 107: 78-82

and put a bishop over it, where God placed a President and finally, D& C 104: 9 or 107: 18-19

that ex officio, as Apostles and not as Presidents of the high priesthood,

they are to hold the keys and powers which devolved on the First Presidency and its counselors,

and to discontinue the offices of Seer, Revelator and Translator in the church.

313.

Nothing is more certain than that no law was made at the death of Joseph, or for some years previous, changing the order of the church, or abolishing any of its offices or quorums.

314.

Down to the time of his death, it was properly understood by the whole of the church that he alone received revelations from God, to be taught by way of commandment in the church;

that he and his two associates in the Presidency had the chief administration of the affairs of the church and that they, with the twelve high counselors, were a court of judicatory of final resort in all important cases, and that the Twelve Apostles were the chief traveling elders, and under the direction of the Presidency.

316.

And the man who, during the life-time of Joseph,

had said that the Twelve were at the head of the church,

would have been looked upon either as a reckless and hair-brained liar, or utterly insane.

317.

To have held this then was unblushing apostasy.

318.

To hold now that they are not so, is equally apostasy with the leaders in Nauvoo.

319.

Whence is the change?

In God or man?

320.

Does truth thus belie itself?

321.

Why should not the place of Joseph be filled by another?

Says Brigham Young,

Because he stands in his own place and always will. Apostolic letter, 8-15-1844

322.

Yet in the same paragraph he also says

the Twelve Apostles of this dispensation stand in their own places and always will.

323.

Brother Young will not their places be filled by others when they fill the measure of their days?

324.

Then why was Brother Patten’s place filled?

325.

Again;

Who will be at the head of the church when the Twelve are all fallen asleep?

326.

Will not the High Priests and the Seventies all hold their own places?

327.

If so, shall any one succeed them?

328.

Then where will the priesthood be when the present generation is dead?

329.

Yet, says some one,

God promised Joseph that the keys of the kingdom should never be taken from him in this world, neither in the world to come.

330.

Very well.

hey were never taken from Christ,

yet his holding them did not prevent Joseph,

and in the eternal worlds all who are joint heirs with Jesus Christ will hold them at one and the same time.

331.

Brethren, I exhort you as you look for the coming of the Lord Jesus,

follow not after these blinding fables.

332.

Set up no more the work of men’s hands against the voice of God.

333.

Trust not in your own wisdom to improve or alter the law of God.

314.

You that have gone astray return to the order of' God's house.

335.

Let all the quorums take their proper order as God has established them.

336.

Let the President who has wandered in darkness return to his proper place which God gave,

nor covet that which men may offer.

337.

Let the Twelve take their place as a traveling high council with the keys of the opening of the gospel to the nations.

338.

Let the high counselors give counsel and assistance, to the Presidency,

that has been called to the high and responsible calling of leading the church

to peace and happiness

and preparing a people for the coming of the Son of God.

339.

Let the high priests teach the law of God unto the people.

340.

Let all the elders learn not to put their faith in some great man and say all is well,

yet let them buckle on the whole armor of God and stand up,

bold defenders of truth, rather than men.

First Pastorial Letter of James the Prophet CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Divisions 341-365

SECTION (10)

341.

Now in my weakness and in the infancy of my ministry I call upon you to assist me.

342.

It hath pleased God to put it into the heart of Joseph to appoint me to receive mysteries and revelations unto this church.

343.

And he has been faithful unto the vision and voice of God by sending me his epistle containing the revelation which Cod gave him,

the Lord God confirming the same by sending his angels unto me

to charge me with his ministry in the same hour that Joseph was taken away,

and by witnessing the same to the brethren in those wonderful works

that the brethren here are ready to testify unto you.

345.

Let not my call to you be vain.

346.

The destroyer has gone forth among you and has prevailed.

347.

You are preparing to resign country and houses and lands to him.

348.

Many of you are about to leave the haunts of civilization and of men to go into an unexplored wilderness among savages,

and in trackless deserts,

to seek a home in the wilds where the foot-prints of the white man is not found.

349.

The voice of God has not called you to this.

350.

His promise has not gone before to prepare a habitation for you.

351.

The hearts of the Lamanites are not turned unto you, and they will not regard you.

352.

When the herd comes the savages shall pursue.

353.

The cloud which surrounds by day shall bewilder, and, the pillar of fire by night shall consume and reveal you to the destroyer,

and the men in whom you trusted when you rejected the promises of God shall leave you early and not be found of you in your greatest need.

354.

Let the oppressed flee for safety unto Voree, and let the gathering of the people be there.

355.

Let the evil who have gone to the holy city be rejected and given to the law.

356.

Let the Twelve go out and preach the gospel to the nations according to the command of God,

instead of staying at home as a prominent mark to bring cruel enemies on their brethren.

357.

Let the filth of Zion be cleansed and her garments of peace put on.

358.

Let neither gun nor sword be lifted in defiance,

nor rest be taken upon arm of flesh, and the city of our God shall be saved and the Temple of his holiness be unpolluted by the hand of the Gentile.

359.

Causeless the curse has not come, and causeless it shall not fall.

360.

They that ask justice let them do it.

361.

They that cry out against mobs let them abstain from violence.

362.

Those who hate persecution let them regard the rights of others.

363.

They that preach God and the gospel let them remember the law

and forget not the order which he has revealed,

and their own mouths have proclaimed.

364.

Let them not buffet others for changing the ordinances and breaking the everlasting covenant,

unless they themselves will abide the word of God.

365.

James J. Strang

Voree, Wisconsin

December 25, 1845

A revelation concerning James Strang, CHAPTER FIFTEEN

and commanding the Saints to build a house of God, Divisons 366-395

the revelation of James Strang given on 7-1-1846

SECTION 10 (11)

366.

1 The word of the Lord God came unto the prophet James,

on the first day of July, in the year 1846,

when James Knox Polk was president of the United States;

367.

and behold they were at war with the republic of Mexico,

and the kings of Europe looked on with fear and anguish,

368.

yet they knew not what the Lord would accomplish;

neither did any of them heed his word,

for in their pride are they exalted, and men have gone after their iniquitous ways.

369.

2 Yet verily, verily, saith the Lord, I will send a rebuke and my judgments upon them,

and they that have lifted up themselves will I abase,

and I will give judgment to my servant, even to my servant James J. Strang,

whom I have taken from among the honorable men of the earth,

and have built up by my strange counsel.

370.

Verily, if he fails not of his meekness, and obeys my commandments,

and remembers to keep all my precepts, I will lift up his head to redeem the oppressed,

and to give comfort to the poor among all people.

371.

Upon thrones shall he sit, and the scepter shall be in his hand, and he shall lift up an ensign to all the earth, and my servants who are faithful to me shall be princes and rulers over many people.

372.

3 Therefore, my servant James, if thou wilt receive honor and glory, verily, verily, thou shalt lead my people, and my word shalt thou receive from me and teach unto my people.

373.

And verily, I will not now excuse thee or accept any other service at thy hands,

for this is thine office:

verily, verily, thou shalt be Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Translator,

374.

and shalt preside over my people,

or thou shalt have no priesthood in my church,

and shalt receive no honor in my kingdom.

375.

4 Therefore, complain unto me no more,

yet rebuke the complainers faithfully for my name's sake,

and if they will not hearken unto thee, they shall be cast out from among my people.

376.

Thy strength shall be in meekness and in my word which I shall speak unto thee,

and with words of fire shalt thou consume those whose voices are raised against thee,

and their hearts shall fail them at thy rebuke,

until they are altogether cast off, and my Spirit departs from them.

377.

5 It pleases me that it hath been in the hearts of my servants

to build a house for thee to dwell in,

for I have required thee to serve me continually, and not to serve thy own will.

378.

Take heed therefore, that thou have a room for translations therein,

for it is my will that thou translate ancient records, hidden truths, unto my people.

379.

It is my will that thou do it in thy house, and not in the field as thou hast,

nor in the houses of unbelievers, that they may look upon sacred things.

380.

Therefore, whoso seeketh my word, let him make speed,

and let every good work be accomplished speedily.

381.

6 And then shall my people build a house unto my name,

that I may institute those ordinances that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times.

382.

For since my people have been sifted,

I will try them again whether they will receive the truth, and pervert it not.

383.

And I will show unto my servant James

all things pertaining to this house and the priesthood of those who shall minister therein.

384.

And I will give unto him the preparation for an holy endowment therein,

that he may instruct my people in the principles of the mysteries of my kingdom,

as they are severally able to learn.

385.

7 And if my people will build a house unto me according to my commandments,

and will not be slothful therein, yet will make speed to build,

then will I endow them, even so many as are faithful and obey me and hearken to my words

and to the words of my servants whom I have appointed to be their leaders.

386.

Yet to the disobedient and rebellious will I not give power,

and if they receive the word, it shall be dead unto them,

and they shall not have power (through the word) nor understand it.

387.

And I will separate between the righteous and the wicked,

and between the obedient and the rebellious.

388.

8 And I will try my people with a great trial.

389.

And because they have been tried in chastisement,

I will now even try them in faith and in obedience to my law.

390.

And if they will diligently serve me, and give heed unto all my words,

that I have spoken and shall speak unto them by the mouth of my servant James,

391.

behold, in the house which they shall build unto me,

will I reveal unto them things that have been kept in the secrets of heaven

from before the world was,

391.

things without which the kingdom of God cannot hold dominion,

nor men be redeemed from deceit and violence;

392.

and these things are exceeding precious

and to be obtained by obedience and patience and devotion to truth.

393.

9 Therefore, whosoever will not abide the preparation faithfully, shall not be blessed,

neither shall ye teach him the mysteries of the kingdom,

nor will I give him power (through the word);

yet of all you teach the mysteries, in the event shall you take a great covenant.

394.

And he that abideth not in his covenant,

shall receive of the wrath of God according to the measure of his covenant

and the evil he doeth therein;

395.

yea, verily, out of his own mouth shall he be judged,

and as he hath spoken, so shall it be done unto him.

A revelation concerning James Strang, CHAPTER SIXTEEN

and commanding the Saints to build a house of God Divisons 396-430

SECTION 10 (11)

396.

10 Therefore, let all my saints set their hands diligently to build a house unto my name,

that I may come and dwell therein,

397.

and that I may restore unto them that which they have lost,

and may give unto them those things that I gave unto my church in former days,

and may reveal unto them things which have never been revealed among men.

398.

11 And if my people will cease all their contentions, and their backbitings and jealousies,

and will present themselves holy before me,

399.

then will I appoint unto them, in the days of their poverty,

a place for their baptisms for their dead, which pertains unto my house.

400.

Yet in their controversies and contentions I will not bless them,

nor bestow upon them mine authority in the most holy things,

because they do not understand my law,

nor do they know for whom they shall baptize;

401.

and while they contend one with another,

they will not receive my word, nor receive wisdom from me;

402.

they call evil good, and good evil,

and they are not wise.

403.

Therefore is the blessing withheld till they humble themselves,

and hearken to the voice of truth,

that my servant James, who is faithful, speaketh unto them.

404.

12 And I will show unto my servant James

the pattern of the house that ye shall build unto my name,

and all things pertaining thereto;

405.

and it shall be built on the prairie near White River,

to the northwestward of the Hill of Promise,

406.

and the city of Voree shall be built around it,

both on the plain and on the hills.

407.

And it shall be a holy city and a stronghold of truth and righteousness unto me,

if my servants serve me;

408.

and upon the Hill of Promise shall ye build a hall that shall be a strong tower unto me,

and the pattern thereof, and all things pertaining thereto,

will I show unto my servant James,

409.

for it is the beginning of the preparation whereby the poor may be exalted,

and the oppressed lifted up, and all my servants made equal in their temporal things;

410.

for unless they be one in their temporal things,

the fulness of my Spirit shall be withheld from them.

411.

13 Therefore, come all ye my servants,

and bring your silver and your gold and your precious stones,

and bring ye timber and stone,

412.

and labor with your hands and with cattle, and build a house unto me;

413.

and see that ye do all things according to the pattern that I will show unto my servant James,

as he shall deliver it unto you;

414.

and make ye a freewill offering,

and build a tower of strength unto me upon the Hill of Promise;

415.

for if ye do all these things, dominion shall be given unto you, [that Daniel proclaimed]

and Daniel the prophet shall proclaim the kingdom of your God,

and shall call forth the saints to possess it.

416.

14 Take heed therefore, O ye my saints,

for three unclean spirits have gone forth among you to destroy you.

417.

The first is jealousy, and she dresseth in garments of modesty.

418.

Envy walketh before her, and discourseth of prudence.

419.

She saith to every one,

There is none like me to you before the Lord.

420.

15 The second is ambition.

421.

Distrust followeth her, whispering into the ears of each passer by.

422.

Of every industrious servant she says,

I fear he seeks more than his own;

and of the prudent,

I fear he will never accomplish his work.

423.

16 The third is lust.

424.

Sensuality walks before her, and adultery at her right hand.

425.

They clothe themselves alternately in the garments of virgins and matrons.

426.

Their tongues discourse sweet music to him whose feet begin to slip,

and they rebuke unsuspecting virtue harshly;

427.

yet they walk in the way of death,

and their path goes down to the pit.

428.

Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall.

429.

17 And now let every unclean thing be put away from among you,

and purify yourselves before me,

430.

that ye may be prepared for your washings

and your anointings

and the blessings

and revelations that I have in store for you;

for unless ye do these things, ye cannot receive the blessings.

A Revelation concerning them that fled Nauvoo into the wilderness CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Divisons 431-450

the revelation of James Strang

given on 7-8-1846

SECTION 11 (12)

431.

1 On the eighth day of July, in the year 1846,

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

concerning the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,

and the planting of the stake of Voree, saying,

432.

2 Trouble not your hearts any more concerning those that have been driven out of my city,

and gone into the wilderness.

433.

For in the day that they fled to the wilderness where I had not told them to go,

and were cast out of my holy city, that they had polluted,

and from their habitations round about;

even in that very day were they rejected of me.

434.

For with much long suffering and patience had I waited on them, and warned them,

and sent my servants unto them, and with judgments had rebuked them;

and they would not return unto me.

435.

And all their usurpations and lyings and false teachings have been an abomination unto me,

and a stink in my nostrils;

436.

and their unlawful administrations have been as naught before me;

and therein have I judged them with grievous sickness and sore judgments;

therefore are they utterly cast out.

437.

3 Yet all who have hearkened unto my voice,

and gave heed unto my words before I cast out those that polluted my holy city,

438.

and all who will hearken to the strong testimony that my servants, the Elders, have carried out,

439.

and not altogether reject my words that I have spoken

by the mouth of my servants in these last days;

440.

even they shall be preserved in the bosom of my Church,

and shall be taught in the way of truth.

441.

If they have done wrong, they shall make restitution.

442.

If they have followed usurpers and apostates, they shall renounce them.

443.

Yet if they will hearken to my word when it comes to them,

they shall not be cast out.

444.

Yet if they will utterly reject it,

they shall be cast out and shall be to you as heathen men.

445.

4 And I will feel after those whose feet slid and whose steps faltered;

and if they harden not their hearts, they shall be converted,

and I will heal them, and will make their hands strong in the way of truth.

446.

5 Therefore, let not my servants trouble themselves with vain contentions,

nor make themselves wise above my word;

447.

and trouble not thee about those who have been rejected of me,

yet seek ye diligently for wise men filled with the Spirit

and obedient unto my law and unto my servants whom I have set above them.

448.

And appoint them to the several quorums and offices of the Church;

449.

and if they become disobedient and rebellious,

they shall be removed and others put in their places.

450.

And this shall ye do in wisdom and with prudence,

yet the First Presidency ye shall appoint by my word only, for this is a law unto you.

A visions and revelation concerning the Indian mission CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Divisons 451-485

the revelation of James Strang

given on 8-25-1846

SECTION 12 (13)

451.

1 I, James J. Strang, was at Elizabeth, Wisconsin, on the Monongahela River,

on the twenty-fifth day of August, in the year 1846,

and had a vision;

452.

and lo, I beheld a land amidst wide waters,

and covered with large timber,

with a deep broad bay on one side of it.

453.

And I wandered over it upon little hills and among rich valleys,

where the air was pure and serene,

and the unfading foliage, with its fragrant shades, attracted me

till I wandered to bright clear waters, scarcely ruffled by the breeze.

454.

And Indians in canoes glided about, and caught fish, and sat down to eat;

and they gathered in assemblies,

and were taught words of truth and ways of holiness, and they hearkened.

455.

And I beheld many wonders there.

456.

2 And one came near unto me, and so I said,

What meaneth this?

457.

And he answered and said,

Behold, here shall God establish his people, even the sons of Joseph,

on an everlasting foundation;

458.

and from hence shall the gospel of the kingdom go unto the tribes,

and they shall not any more be despised,

for the nations that set the foot upon their necks will be cut off that they be no more a people.

459.

Behold, he hath already begun it.

460.

The sword is already bathed in blood, that spareth not their destroyers.

461.

And blood shall not cease till their most haughty oppressor is laid low to rise no more.

462.

3 And he hath chosen this nation to begin vengeance for them.

463.

And if this people will turn unto him, and repent of all their evil deeds,

and no more slay the prophets that He sendeth unto them,

464.

yet will hearken unto them to do the things that they shall speak unto them,

and keep the words of the Lord,

and his commandments to do them,

465.

then will he exalt the nation and establish it,

for he hath raised it up by the hands of wise men,

whom he set up for that very purpose,

to be the instrument of his purpose in the last days.

466.

4 And upon this land where thou standest

shall the gospel of the kingdom be established among the Lamanites, (certain native tribes)

and from thence shall it go forth to their tribes.

467.

And blessing and honor and great glory shall be on those that teach them,

for he will make their arm strong, and their bow shall abide in strength,

and they shall not bow to the oppressor;

468.

and the power of the Gentile shall not be on them,

for the arm of God shall be with them to support.

469.

5 And here shall the Lamanites come to learn the law of the Lord their God, Laws of the Lord

who hath preserved them, that they be not utterly destroyed.

470.

And other barbarians shall come also, and shall learn ways of holiness;

for the Lord their God shall teach them,

and his people shall instruct them,

and shall go forth as ministers of truth unto all people.

471.

6 And I asked him,

What meaneth all this?

472.

And he said unto me,

Thou art carried away in the spirit, Book of Enoch

and brought to this land in the midst of waters, in the north country,

that the Lord might show thee what he will do hereafter.

473.

For here shall be a stake and a corner stone of Zion,

for the strengthening of her curtains round about.

474.

Here shall the house of Manasseh and the house of Ephraim and the Gentiles

build a house unto me, and bow down to me therein.

For the sons of Jacob shall lay the foundations thereof,

and therein shall they worship their God.

475.

And to this house shall the thousands of the house of Israel come,

when the ice melts at the north.

476.

And there shall they meet their brethren in peace,

and God shall be in the midst of them.

477.

7 Behold, thou shalt see this land with thine own eyes before thou returnest to thine house,

and shalt long to set thy foot upon it.

478.

Nevertheless, when the children of the household of faith have peace,

then thou shalt go there and minister in the work of the Lord thy God.

479.

Spy it out, therefore, and let the servants of God dwell there to do his work,

for it hath abundance in the riches of the forest,

and in the riches of the earth, and in the riches of the waters;

and there shall the children of God learn his law to do it.

480.

8 And the Lord God shall add possessions unto the faithful,

and give good gifts unto them that keep his law,

and he will establish them therein forever.

481.

And their possession shall become as a paradise,

yielding fruits every month,

and the strength of Zion shall be there to do the work of the Lord God,

to work deliverance to the captive and judgments upon the ungodly, in the day of the Lord.

482.

For he will exalt his people in righteousness, and deliver them in judgments.

And the Gentiles shall be made the instruments of his purposes,

and by them will he work deliverance.

483.

The Lord God will show thee all things in his time.

9 For the day is near when thou shalt meet many Lamanites,

and shalt talk with them of these things.

484.

And with them shalt thou behold this land,

and then shalt thou begin this work.

485.

If Satan hinder thee, strive against him,

and thou shalt overcome and shalt prevail,

for the Lord God hath spoken it.

The following correspondence found in the Millennial Star, Volume 3

Philadelphia, August 30th, 1846.

A correspondence of uncertain date, related to the controversy over the prophetic authority of James Strang. He was clearly rebuffed by the letter, printed as historic evidence of the hostility he faced.

Messrs. John Taylor and Orson Hyde:

Knowing from your public proceedings, as well as otherwise, that you and others associated with you, claim the right, and are attempting to use the power of dictating all the affairs of the church of Jesus Christ in all the world, not under the direction of the First Presidency thereof, but independently;

I suggest to you the propriety of publicly showing by what means you are authorized to act as leaders to said church, and offer to publicly discuss that question with you in this city, or any other proper place that will suit your convenience.

Your answer to this, left at the house of Jacob Gibson, on the N.E. corner of Third and Dock Streets, near the post office, will receive immediate attention.

Yours respectfully.

James J. Strang

The answer to the above:

Sir:

After Lucifer was cut off and thrust down to hell,

we have no knowledge that God ever condescended to investigate the subject

or right of authority with him.

Your case has been disposed of by the authorities of the church,

and being satisfied with our own power and calling,

we have no disposition to ask from whence yours came.

Yours respectfully,

ORSON HYDE

JOHN TAYLOR

See also

Gospel Herald (of Voree)

Volume 1, No. 8

A revelation concerning Sidney Rigdon and George Adams CHAPTER NINETEEN

Divisons 486-500

the revelation of James Strang

given on 10-19-1846

SECTION 13 (14)

486.

1 The General Conference of the Church of the Saints,

assembled at Voree on the nineteenth day of October, in the year 1846,

487.

having under consideration the standing of Sidney Rigdon,

one of the First Presidents of the Church,

who acteth not in his Presidency

488.

and cometh not up to do his duty and stand in his calling,

could not sustain him with their faith and prayers;

489.

therefore they with one voice desired James J. Strang, the Prophet of the Lord,

to inquire his will concerning his servant Sidney Rigdon.

490.

2 And now this is the answer of the Lord concerning him:

491.

3 Behold, verily, my servant Sidney Rigdon rebelleth against me,

and hath rebelled against me for a long time;

492.

and I was grieved with him,

yet I felt after him and had compassion on him and remembered his faith and his labors,

and reproved him by my Spirit and by afflictions and by judgments,

yet he would none of my reproofs.

493.

Satan troubleth him,

and he hath sought to establish his own work and not mine;

494.

for Satan inspireth him thereto, and hath entered into him,

and giveth him thoughts and dreams and visions.

495.

Therefore he shall not stand in his Presidency;

for I do take his office from him,

and give it unto one who will serve me.

496.

4 Therefore, my servant George J. Adams shall be one of the First Presidents of my Church,

to stand instead of Sidney Rigdon,

497.

to assist my servant James J. Strang in the Presidency of my Church,

that my word may go forth to the ends of the earth and to all the nations thereof,

to the Gentiles first and then to the Jews;

498.

for the day cometh, and is near at hand,

when the arm of the Lord shall be revealed in power in converting the heathen

and the house of Ephraim and the house of Manasseh

to the gospel of their salvation.

499.

5 And the fulness of the unpolluted gospel shall go forth to all nations,

500.

and the unpolluted words of the prophets in their graves

shall be spoken again to men on earth,

that they may know that I am God, and there is none else.

A revelation concerning William Marks and young Joseph Smith III CHAPTER TWENTY

Divisons 501-535

the revelation of James Strang

given on 11-6-1846

SECTION 14 (15)

501.

1 On the sixth day of November, in the year 1846,

the word of the Lord came unto the prophet James, saying,

502.

Because my servant Aaron Smith hath not been faithful in his calling

to stand up and give counsel unto thee,

and to hold up thy hands as a faithful Counsellor unto thee,

503.

yet hath set up to teach by revelation in my Church,

and hath yielded his heart unto evil doers to contend against thee,

and to bind thee with bands that thou should not speak my words,

and hath weakened thy hands and borne them down;

504.

therefore shall he not be any more thy Counsellor.

505.

2 For he abideth not in his wisdom which I gave unto him,

and hath turned his thoughts unto foolishness,

and hath become a stumbling block unto many who are afar off by his follies.

506.

And because he will not hearken unto my words to do them,

yet speaketh evil of the truth;

therefore is my hand upon him to remove him,

507.

lest he lead my people astray that they enter not into my rest,

and wrath, indignation, and overwhelming destruction fall upon him,

and there be none to deliver.

508.

3 And because my servant William Marks loveth me with full purpose of heart,

and seeketh unto me to serve me;

therefore shall he be Counsellor unto thee instead of my servant Aaron Smith,

509.

and shall assist thee by his counsels and by his wisdom

that I have given unto him in establishing a stake of Zion at Voree,

510.

and in lengthening the cords and strengthening the stakes of Zion,

that my work may no longer be delayed and hindered,

because my servant Aaron doeth it not;

511.

for I the Lord will accomplish mine own work in mine own time,

and I will set up the faithful and remove the unbelieving as to me seemeth good,

for none shall hinder me.

512.

4 And if my servant William will be a faithful Counsellor,

then will I sustain him and lift him up,

and by his hands the poor shall prosper.

513.

And the words that I speak unto thee,

shall thy Counsellors speak in the ears of my people,

and they shall teach them in wisdom;

514.

for through thy ministration,

by means of the keys I have given thee,

shall my words be given,

515.

and thou and thy Counsellors shall proclaim it unto my people

and to the nations of the earth,

teaching all my words as thou shalt give unto them,

even as thou receive them from me.

516.

5 And thou shalt take my servant Joseph Smith III, the son of the prophet Joseph,

who was slain by the hands of wicked men,

for he hath been consecrated unto me in his infancy,

517.

and thou shalt anoint him with oil,

and shalt lay thy hands upon him, and ordain him,

and shalt set him in the Presidency as one of the First Presidents of my Church.

518.

For he is filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom,

and my covenant with his father will I keep with him and with his posterity after him,

if they serve me.

519.

And I will exalt him in strength and might and majesty,

and he shall be President and Patriarch in the true Israel of faith in these last days,

even as was my servant Hyrum,

whose blood with the blood of my servant Joseph crieth unto me for vengeance continually.

520.

6 And in his youth my servant William Marks shall assist him, and uphold him,

and be in all things a co-adjutor (judge) unto him in the First Presidency of my Church.

521.

Let my servant William therefore take heed unto his ways, that he give unto him wise counsel,

and build him up in righteousness, and hold up his hands,

and admonish him of every evil;

522.

for if he do this, my arm shall sustain him forever,

and my grace shall be sufficient for him in the day when all mine come unto me.

523.

Yea, I will do good unto him both in this world and in that which is to come,

and will remember his posterity after him forever,

because he showeth kindness unto the fatherless.

524.

And the voice of my servant Joseph Smith III shall be a witness unto me against the nations.

525.

7 And his mother Emma shall be a counsellor unto him,

for I am with her and have delivered her from the hands of her enemies,

that I may exalt her to stand in her lot among the saints in my holy place.

526.

She loveth him tenderly,

and because she hath set her heart to righteousness, and resisteth evil doers;

527.

therefore shall she watch over him,

and in life or in death shall she observe his ways to do good unto him.

528.

She hath been faithful unto me in many perils, and in much tribulation.

529.

Therefore will I remember her in the days to come.

530.

She shall abide in her standing,

and the holy unction that hath been placed upon her shall not depart from her.

Amen.

531.

8 And unless my servant Aaron Smith make speed to humble his heart before me,

and cease to deny my words,

I will stretch out my hand upon him, and he shall be brought very low,

and none shall heed him or do good unto him.

532.

And he shall know that I am God.

533.

Yet if he will return unto me, and hearken to my words,

I will again raise him up,

and remember the works which he hath done in the times that are past,

and his patience and his faith.

534.

And I will raise him up,

and his voice shall be heard again on the mountains and in the valleys,

and he shall sit in the councils of honorable men in the house of Israel;

535.

and I will give him wisdom again, as I gave him wisdom in days that are past,

and he shall serve me forever.

An extract from a revelation concerning Kirtland, Ohio CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Divisons 536-550

the revelation of James Strang

given on 12-21-1846

SECTION 15 (16)

536.

1 Because Kirtland is filled with unbelief and apostasy;

and those who have gathered there and taken my name upon them regard not my word,

537.

and hearken not to my law,

neither observe my counsel nor hear the words of my prophets,

538.

yet have altogether rejected mine anointed,

done violence to the truth,

refused my word,

and rebelled against my law and mine authority;

539.

therefore shall Kirtland be a waste and a desolation,

540.

a den of wickedness,

and a habitation of the unfaithful, the unbelieving, and the rebellious.

541.

And the desolation thereof shall continue,

nor shall it be cleansed of its uncleanness until

they that have polluted it be utterly destroyed therefrom;

542.

for they seek continually to deceive and to be deceived,

and will neither be faithful themselves

nor suffer others to become pure in their midst.

543.

And they seek the establishment of their own will rather than mine,

544.

yet they shall be utterly confounded,

and their desolation shall increase and become heaps,

and their substance shall waste,

545.

and their houses shall fall,

and their land shall fail of its increase,

and the waters thereof shall dry up.

546.

2 There shall Satan's seat be,

and there shall be the gathering of unclean things, for they will not obey me.

547.

And their power, and their authority, and their blessings,

I take from them,

that I may bestow them upon another people whom I will call together;

548.

and from the midst of Kirtland will I call all who will turn unto me and serve me,

that they may escape its curses.

549.

Let all my saints flee from Kirtland as from a desolating scourge,

and let them not gather there;

550.

for it is no longer a stake for the curtains of the strength of Zion,

yet is a rent and a weakness and a nakedness of unbelief.

2nd Pastoral Letter of the Pr ophet James CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Divisons 551-575

Concerning the (religious) Order of Enoch

Gospel Herald, 2-3-1848

SECTION (17)

551.

James J. Strang, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and a Prophet of Almighty God,

552.

to the Churches in all the world,
and to all the Saints scattered abroad,

Greeting.

553.

For as much as it hath pleased God to reserve unto Hm a people to serve Hm in these times,

when the whole world is sunk in wickedness,

and the fullness of the Gentiles is very nearly come in,

and the time is near that God will pour out his wrath on them without measure,

554.

it behooves us that we commune oft with one another,

and communicate spiritual treasures, them that God bestows upon us;

555.

and especially that we gather together and strengthen one another's hands,

lest we be overcome of Satan and perish in the destruction of the ungodly.

556.

I am more impressed to address you now,

because when iniquity is pouring forth among the Gentiles without measure

the church has not altogether escaped from the inevitable consequence

of too great a conformity to the unbelieving world:

557.

except so far as influenced and changed by gospel principles,

mankind are much the same in all countries and all ages.

558.

And if we do not practically conform to gospel principles,

their influence is lost on us.

559.

Though men may subscribe to and teach gospel principles all their lives,

yet unless they conform thereto in the transaction of our common intercourse with men,

their influence will be directly lost upon us.

560.

And the same consequence that has fallen upon the unbelieving Gentile world

in consequence of their corrupt systems,

will also befall the saints if they continue therein.

561.

Of this truth the history of the last few years has furnished us many sad examples.

562.

There has been a lot of speculation among men

as to the cause of the great falling away in the church during the last four years.

563.

It has been attributed to a great variety of different causes,

none that are sufficient to produce so general corruption and wide spread ruin.

564.

Yet there is one unnamed cause, plenty equal to the production of such results,

that remains to this day, still active and doing its work.

565.

So long as the saints conform in all things to Gentile usages and customs,

so long they must expect to share the fate of those they thus imitate.

566.

And the poverty, suffering, and sin that are wide spread throughout the earth,

that is the consequence of speculation, swindling,

and the most unblushing oppression of the poor and needy,

cannot be escaped among the saints while they do these things.

567.

Let us now try to make our religion a reality.

568.

The time has come that the saints must practice their religion and profess their faith,

and he that will not do it will be cut off from them.

569.

The same causes under like circumstances cannot fail to produce like effects.

570.

And as the atheist Gentile social system has produced poverty, want, and crime in all the world,

in the face of the greatest improvements in the science of agriculture and the mechanic arts,

so that in countries where machinery, steam, and water do the work of millions of men

there is a real want of both food and clothing,

571.

we cannot flatter ourselves that while we pursue the same course

we can escape a still greater amount of suffering,

we beginning in poverty, as most of us do.

572.

I have been constrained by the most obvious signs of the times

to look over the world and see if there was anything in the state of the nations

to justify the oft repeated assertion that the Lord Jesus delayeth his coming.

573.

Again, I have turned my thoughts inwardly,

to contemplate the things which God has revealed relative to these days;

574.

and as the servant of God set upon the walls of Zion to watch,

I admonish you to come out of Babylon and separate yourselves from her uncleanness.

575.

For the day of God's wrath upon her is near,

and the time is at hand when his vengeance will be poured out.

2nd Pastoral Letter of the Prophet James CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Divisons 576-600

concerning the (church religious) Order of Enoch

SECTION (17)

576.

The earth presents to us a most unhappy picture.

577.

The United States are engaged in a most bloody war

against the most powerful sister republic that she has on the earth. French Mexico

578.

This war she has waged without the authority of God,

and for causes very far from commensurate (proportionate)

to the blood she has shed or the misery she has inflicted.

579.

And passing by the nature of the cause

(for I will not pretend that this war is causeless)

there is good reason, from what God has said,

to believe that the greatest portion of its evils will fall on those who have waged it.

580.

In the period of less than two years that has elapsed since its commencement,

with the very small force engaged,

the loss of life has been not less than ten thousand Americans,

and probably three times that number of Mexicans.

581.

And the hatred, blood-thirstiness, and passion for violence it is engendering,

will remain through generations to come,

the consequences of men's corruptions and the instruments of God's wrath upon the nations.

582.

Whatever may be the future fate of Mexico,

she is practically denationalized.

583.

Yet every object professedly sought by the war is further off than at the beginning.

584.

Unceasing hostility and the desolation and waste of cities,

towns and provinces will follow thick in the future history of the daughter of Babylon,

and pestilence and famine will soon commence their work,

as they have already in the old world.

585.

So, too, though Europe is not convulsed with any general war,

the elements of disorder and destruction are every where active.

586.

The British Empire, that has by her policy and arms

for a long time held sway throughout the earth,

is just beginning to crumble to dust.

587.

A little territory of the extent of a small State,

she has extended her dominion throughout the sea

and to the four quarters of the earth.

588.

The sun never sets on her empire.

589.

The reveille on her legions beats time to the hours as the earth rolls round.

590.

The terror of her arms has carried desolation into every country on the face of the earth,

and the bones of her sons who have fallen in her wars

lay bleaching in the sun forever.

591.

So omnipresent has been her power that neither wilderness,

mountain or island sufficed to hide the refugee from the emissaries of her oppression.

592.

The very name of Britain has become a terror to the most secluded and savage tribes.

593.

And with a mechanical power in actual use equal to the labor of one half the human race,

the fifteen or sixteen millions of inhabitants of England

are now in a state of destitution bordering on starvation. (due to famine)

594.

A majority of the people are real paupers,

dependent on public and private charities for the bread that preserves life.

595.

And with the immense wealth and power of the nation,

it has not the ability to furnish bread to fill the mouths of starvation.

596.

France, Germany, Poland, Hungary and provinces of other countries of Europe

have suffered for want of food.

597.

And this not because there is any lack of men to work the lands,

not because there is a lack of skill or any indisposition to work,

598.

yet because the established order of things makes some men witless drones and others swindlers;

and the habit of individual parasitic spounging and swindling induces those habits in nations.

599.

And the loss of that fellow-feeling among men

that is necessary to heartily loving our neighbors as ourselves and doing as we would be done by

is so general and pervasive in its influence,

that few men ever think of consulting the interest and general good of mankind

in any of their undertakings or avocations (pastimes).

600.

And the man whose entire income is derived from the labors of others,

without making any real return,

and, consequently, who in a moral and religious view lives by mere swindling and robbery,

is no less respected in society

than those who are engaged in producing what is necessary for the use of man.

2nd Pastoral Letter of the Prophet James CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Divisons 601-625

concerning the (church religious) Order of Enoch

SECTION (17)

601.

Thus are the consequences of the atheist Gentile social system,

under the most favorable circumstances.

602.

The examples I have named can be found in kind wherever man is,

differing only in degree as the system has been more or less expanded.

603.

So entirely have they carried out the system of setting man against man,

that the very commandment " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"

has been struck out of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments,

and men have forgotten that God has engraved it on stone

as a perpetual memorial against this ungodly generation.

604.

The selfishness engendered in all the interactions of men

is the fruitful cause of national wars and individual sufferings.

605.

The affairs of men have been so regulated,

and the institutions established among them are of such kind and nature

as to set man against his fellow man,

and make it the interest of every one to injure others.

606.

While the interest of man is sought in the injury of his neighbor,

it is vain to hope that men will do to others

as they would that others should do to them.

607.

And though we may go forth

proclaiming gospel brotherhood and gospel equality from year to year,

yet so long as we practice the same system that has produced all these evils among the Gentiles,

so long we must suffer them among ourselves.

608.

It is vain to talk about or to hope for the fullness of the spirit of God,

or the establishment of his kingdom,

if we will not make our religion a practical reality,

by doing the things we teach.

609.

The doctrine of the equality of the saints in their temporal things

was taught in the beginning of the church.

610.

So much equality has been the hope of the poor and the virtuous

from the commencement of the gathering.

611.

So early as January, 1831, the word of the Lord was spoken by his prophet

showing by parable the justice of equality among the children of the kingdom; D& C 12

612.

and adds,

" be one; if ye are not one, ye are none of mine."

613.

A most thrilling admonition is also given,

that the cry of the poor has ascended up to God,

and that the enemy in secret chambers sought their lives,

and in consequence thereof the Lord said,

614.

" ye hear of wars in far countries,

and ye say there will soon be wars in far countries,

but ye know not the hearts of them in your own land;

615.

wherefore treasure up wisdom in your bosoms,

lest the wickedness of men reveal these things to you

with a voice louder than that that shall shake the earth." D& C 12

616.

This revelation by the wickedness of wicked men has been made so often,

that the saints ought now to seek to obey God rather than to follow their own devices.

617.

As the saints learned not wisdom by what they heard,

will they also refuse to learn by what they suffer?

618.

When God requires us to make any sacrifice to his cause,

he requires a willing sacrifice.

619.

Yet if we give not willingly,

he will not suffer us to possess what he requires.

620.

When the church went up to Zion in Missouri

they went under a special command to consecrate their property,

that all might be made equal.

621.

This command was never kept;

yet they did not keep that which they refused to consecrate.

622.

Because the rich refused to make the poor rich with them,

their enemies made them poor with the poor.

623.

Together were they driven out in destitution.

624.

From that time to this time they have been driven from city to city,

and from country to country;

constantly going out robbed and plundered of that that they have greedily kept back from the Lord.

625.

Saints, will you that these things shall always be?

2nd Pastoral Letter of the Prophet James CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Divisons 626-650

concerning the (church religious) Order of Enoch

SECTION (17)

626.

In February, 1831, less than one year after the organization of the church,

a command was given that the saints consecrate their property for the poor,

by a deed which could not be broken;

627.

receiving their inheritances according to their several wants,

and requiring them to put all their surplus production from time to time into a common storehouse,

and receive supplies of what they lack from it. D& C 13

628.

In May, 1831, those who had so consecrated their substances,

are commanded to organize their property so that they may be alike and receive alike,

and have a common storehouse. D& C 23

629.

In August, the same year,

Martin Harris and all who were going up to Zion were commanded to make this consecration,

to purchase lands in Zion for the saints. D& C 18

630.

In November, of the same year, the Lord said,

" in your temporal things you shall be EQUAL,

and this not grudgingly,

otherwise the abundant manifestations of the spirit shall be withheld.

631.

Now this commandment I give unto my servants for their benefit while they remain,

for a manifestation of my blessings on their heads,

and for a reward of their diligence;

and for their security deposit for food and for raiment (garb),

and for an a deposit for an inheritance;

632.

and for houses and for lands,

in whatsoever circumstances I the Lord shall place them,

and whithersoever I the Lord shall send them." D& C 26

633.

In the succeeding years

the ancient order established by revelation of God in the antediluvian world

was again revealed as the order of the church for an everlasting order,

and with many other precepts and commandments the following were received:

634.

" 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,

635.

both in this place and in the land of Zion,

or in other words, the city of Enoch,

for a permanent and everlasting establishment and order unto my church,

636.

to advance the cause that ye have espoused,

to the salvation of man,

and to the glory of your Father who is in heaven,

637.

that you may be equal in the bands of heavenly things,

yea and earthly things also,

for the obtaining of heavenly things;

638.

for if ye are not equal in earthly things,

ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things:

639.

for if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world,

you must prepare your hearts

by doing the things that I have commanded you and required of you. D& C 75

640.

" And now, verily thus saith the Lord,

it is expedient that all things be done unto my glory;

wherefore a commandment I give unto you,

to prepare and organize yourselves by a bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken.

641.

" And he who breaketh it shall lose his office and standing in the church,

and shall be delivered over to the rebuffetings of Satan until the day of redemption.

642.

Behold this is the preparation wherewith I prepare you,

and the foundation, and the ensample, that I give unto you

whereby you may accomplish the commandments which are given you,

643.

that through my providence,

notwithstanding the tribulation that shall descend upon you,

that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world,

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."

D& C 86

644.

" It is expedient for my servant Alam

and Ahashdah,

and Mahalaleel

and Pelagoram,

and my servant Gazelam,

and Horah,

and Olihah,

and Shalemanasseh,

and Mehemson,

to be bound together by a bond and covenant that cannot be broken by transgression

except judgment shall immediately follow,

645.

in your several stewardships,

to manage the affairs of the poor,

and all things pertaining to the bishopric both in the land of Zion,

and in the land of Shinehah;

646.

therefore I give unto you this commandment,

that ye bind yourselves by this covenant,

and it shall be done according to the laws of the Lord.

647.

Behold here is wisdom, also, in me, for your good.

648.

And you are to be equal, or in other words,

you are to have equal claims on the properties,

for the benefit of managing the concerns of your stewardships,

every man according to his wants and his needs,

inasmuch as his wants are just:

649.

and all this for the benefit of the church of the living God,

that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents;

650.

yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord's storehouse,

to become the common property of the whole church,

every man seeking the interest of his neighbor,

and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.

2nd Pastoral Letter of the Prophet James CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Divisons 651-680

concerning the (church religious) Order of Enoch

SECTION (17)

651.

" This order I have appointed to be an everlasting order unto you and unto your successors, inasmuch as you sin not."

D& C 98

652.

" Verily I say unto you my friends,

I give unto you counsel and a commandment,

concerning all the properties which belong to the order,

that I commanded to be organized and established,

653.

to be an united order,

and an everlasting order for the benefit of my church,

and for the salvation of men until I come,

with promise immutable and unchangeable,

654.

that inasmuch as those whom I commanded were faithful,

they should be blessed with a multiplicity of blessings;

yet inasmuch as they were not faithful,

they were nigh unto cursing.

655.

Therefore inasmuch as some of my servants have not kept the commandment,

yet have broken the covenant, by covetousness and with feigned words,

I have cursed them with a very sore and grievous curse:

656.

for I the Lord have decreed in my heart,

that inasmuch as any man, belonging to the order, shall be found a transgressor;
or, in other words, shall break the covenant with which ye are bound,

657.

he shall be cursed in his life,

and shall be trodden down by whom I will."

658.

A commandment I give unto you, that ye shall organize your people,

and appoint every man his stewardship,

that every man may give an account unto me of the stewardship that is appointed unto him:

659.

for it is expedient that I the Lord should make every man accountable,

as stewards over earthly blessings, that I have made and prepared for my creatures.

660.

I the Lord stretched out the heavens, and builded the earth as a very handy work;

and all things therein are mine;

661.

and it is my purpose to provide for my saints for all things are mine;

yet it must needs be done in mine own way:

and behold this is the way, that I the Lord have decreed to provide for my saints:

662.

that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low;

for the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare,

yea, I prepared all things,

and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.

663.

Therefore if any man shall take of the abundance that I have made,

and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor, and the needy,

he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in Hell, being in torment.

664.

" Let all things be done according to counsel of the order,

and united consent, or voice of the order.

665.

" And again, a commandment I give unto you

concerning your stewardship that I have appointed unto you:

666.

behold all these properties are mine,

or else you faith is vain, and ye are found hypocrites,

and the covenants that ye have made unto me are broken:

667.

and if the properties are mine then ye are stewards,

otherwise ye are no stewards.

668.

Yet verily I say unto you,

I have appointed unto you to be stewards over mine house, even stewards indeed:

669.

and for this purpose I have commanded you to organize your people, even to shinelah,

(write or publish, ) my words, the fulness of my scriptures,

the revelations that I have given unto you,

670.

and that I shall hereafter, from time to time, give unto you,

for the purpose of building up my church and kingdom on the earth,

and to prepare my people for the time when I shall dwell with them, that is close at hand.

671.

" And ye shall prepare for yourselves a place for a treasury,

and consecrate it unto my name;

672.

and ye shall appoint one among you to keep the treasury,

and he shall be ordained unto this blessing;

673.

and there shall be a seal upon the treasury,

and all the sacred things shall be delivered into the treasury,

and no man among you shall call it his own, or any part of it,

for it shall belong to you all with one accord;

674.

and I give it unto you from this very hour:

675.

and now see to it, that ye go to and make use of the stewardship that I have appointed unto you, exclusive of the sacred things,

for the purpose of shinelane, (writing or publishing, ) these sacred things, as I have said:

676.

and the avails of the sacred things shall be had in the treasury,

and a seal shall be upon it,

and it shall not be used or taken out of the treasury by any one,

neither shall the seal be loosed that shall be placed upon it,

only by the voice of the order, or by command."

677.

And again, there shall be another treasury prepared

and a treasurer appointed to keep the treasury,

and a seal shall be placed upon it;

678.

and all moneys that you receive in your stewardships,

by improving upon the properties that I have appointed unto you,

in houses or in lands, or in cattle,

or in all things save it be the holy and sacred writings,

thath I have reserved unto myself for holy and sacred purposes,

679.

shall be cast into the treasury as fast as you receive moneys by hundreds or by fifties,

or by twenties, or by tens, or by fives;

680.

and let not any man among you say that it is his own,

for it shall not be called his, nor any part of it;

and there shall not any part of it be used, or taken out of the treasury,

only by the voice and common consent of the order."

2nd Pastoral Letter of the Prophet James CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Divisons 681-715

concerning the (church religious) Order of Enoch

SECTION (17)

681.

These commandments, though they are more perfect in system than any others where recorded,

contain no other doctrine than what has always been taught

by the gospel and the Melchisedec priesthood.

682.

Before Israel went into Egypt each patriarch was the head of a house,

consisting in some instances of many thousands of persons,

all holding one common estate and inheritance,

in the use of which they enjoyed equal benefits.

683.

The family of Job could not have been less than 10, 000 souls; (kingdom/city)

that of Melchisedec was doubtless larger,

and Abraham's probably numbered 4, 000,

all heirs with him of the promise of the land of Canaan for a perpetual inheritance.

Genesis 17: 7-13

684.

Israel, when they entered into the land of Canaan,

received their inheritances by families, not by individuals,

and usually each family received a city

and the land around extending half way to the next city for its possession.

685.

During the ministry of Christ he and the chief of his disciples had no separate property, but Judas, one of the twelve, was treasurer and purveyor for the whole.

686.

And though doubtless some individual disciples retained their estates,

yet when a certain rich young man came inquiring what he should do to inherit eternal life,

Christ told him to " sell what he had and give to the poor, " and follow him. Matthew 19: 21

687.

And about a year after the crucifixion of Christ,

when the church was receiving great accessions,

" the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul;

688.

neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own;

yet they had all things in common:

neither was there any among them that lacked;

689.

for as many as were possessors of houses or lands, sold them

and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them at the Apostles' feet;

and distribution was made to every man according as he had need." Acts 4: 32-35

690.

Finally, it pleased the Lord, when he chose me to be the shepherd of the flock,

as he chose David to be king of Israel,

not from among princes and rulers, yet from the field,

691.

to show me still more clearly by many visions and revelations

the true order for establishing judgment and justice,

exalting the poor, and delivering the needy.

692.

The work was once begun both in Kirtland and Zion,

yet failed by means of a multitude of transgressions.

693.

And from that time till this the church has not ceased to be scourged by her enemies,

nor will she until she obeys this commandment.

694.

So general was the feeling in favor of the common stock and equality

at the time the church was finally driven from Missouri,

that Joseph wrote from prison to prevent it,

telling them that though the principle was correct they had no authority to do the act,

and must wait until God gave commandment.

695.

In his wisdom he has withheld the commandment

till the great falling away is past.

696.

The time has now arrived.

697.

The command went forth in July, 1846. Voree Herald, No. 7.

698.

The work is begun, and every thing is ready for those who will come up to the help of the Lord,

against those who have trodden down his children

and had no compassion on the needy and the oppressed.

699.

The organization (including children) now consists of sixty persons, and applications for admission are being constantly received.

700.

The entire system is founded on union, equality,

and a strict regard to the law of God and the discipline of the church.

701.

The association owns a farm of 560 acres of land,

400 acres of it that might be cropped the coming season,

and considering soil, water, salubrity and location, probably the very best in Wisconsin;

702.

several good stone buildings,

a valuable water power and a property in all worth not less than $11, 000,

on where they owe debts a very little over 3, 000.

703.

This property lies in, and in the immediate vicinity of Voree, is beautifully located,

very productive and entirely healthy.

704.

This we offer to the saints as the home of the poor and the asylum of the oppressed.

705.

Here we propose to share each others joys, and each others sorrows;

each others toils, and each others possessions;

706.

and to teach mankind that love and truth wins with peace and sweetness,

what force and fraud labors in vain to compel.

707.

Here we intend to gather a community who shall be equal in their temporal things;

who shall do to others as they would be done by;

and who shall love their neighbors as themselves.

708.

Here salvation shall be present,

and the gospel a practiced reality.

709.

Here peace shall reign.

710.

The Lord and his saints say come.

711.

Let him that heareth say come.

712.

He that is poor and needy, let him come.

713.

Yea, come buy food, raiment, and habitation, yea a perpetual inheritance in Zion,

without money and without price.

714.

And whosoever will,
let him come and possess the land with us freely.

715.

James J. Strang.

3rd Pastoral Letter of James CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

to the Saints of Great Britain and Ireland Divisions 716-740

Concerning Ordination of Prophets

Voree, Wisconsin, 5-1-1848

The Diamond, ch 5

SECTION (19)

716.

The True Shepherd, (James)

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