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The Amherst Conference—The Vision of the Degrees of Glory in Man's Future Life.

The Labors of the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon.

After Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer had departed for Jackson county, Missouri, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures, and continued to labor in this branch of my calling with Elder Sidney Rigdon as my scribe, until I received the following:

Revelation, given December 1st, 1831. ¹

1. Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come, that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my Gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the Scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.

2. Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round about, and in the Church also, for the space of a season, even until it shall be made known unto you.

3. Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you,

4. Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.

5. Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;

6. For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power;

7. Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful, their shame shall be made manifest.

8. Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.

9. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;

10. And if any man lift his voice against you, he shall be confounded in mine own due time;

11. Wherefore, keep my commandments, they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen.

The Prophet's Earnest Labors in Kirtland.

Knowing now the mind of the Lord, that the time had come that the Gospel should be proclaimed in power and demonstration to the world, from the Scriptures, reasoning with men as in days of old, I took a journey to Kirtland, in company with Elder Sidney Rigdon on the 3rd day of December, to fulfil the above revelation. On the 4th, several of the Elders and members assembled together to learn their duty, and for edification, and after some time had been spent in conversing about our temporal and spiritual welfare, I received the following:

Revelation, given December 4th, 1831.²

1. Hearken and listen to the voice of the Lord, O ye who have assembled yourselves together, who are the High Priests of my Church, to whom the kingdom and power have been given.

2. For verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me for a Bishop to be appointed unto you, or of you, unto the Church in this part of the Lord's vineyard;

3. And verily in this thing ye have done wisely, for it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity.

4. For he who is faithful and wise in time, is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father.

5. Verily I say unto you, the Elders of the Church in this part of my vineyard, shall render an account of their stewardship unto the Bishop, who shall be appointed of me, in this part of my vineyard.

6. These things shall be had on record, to be handed over unto the Bishop in Zion;

7. And the duty of the Bishop shall be made known by the commandments which have been given, and the voice of the conference.

8. And now, verily I say unto you, my servant Newel K. Whitney is the man who shall be appointed and ordained unto this power. This is the will of the Lord your God, your Redeemer. Even so. Amen.

9. The word of the Lord, in addition to the law which has been given, making known the duty of the Bishop who has been ordained unto the Church in this part of the vineyard, which is verily this:

10. To keep the Lord's storehouse; to receive the funds of the Church in this part of the vineyard;

11. To take an account of the Elders as before has been commanded; and to administer to their wants, who shall pay for that which they receive, inasmuch as they have wherewith to pay;

12. That this also may be consecrated to the good of the Church, to the poor and needy;

13. And he who hath not wherewith to pay, an account shall be taken and handed over to the Bishop of Zion, who shall pay the debt out of that which the Lord shall put into his hands;

14. And the labors of the faithful who labor in spiritual things, in administering the Gospel and the things of the kingdom unto the Church, and unto the world, shall answer the debt unto the Bishop in Zion;

15. Thus it cometh out of the Church, for according to the law every man that cometh up to Zion, must lay all things before the Bishop in Zion.

16. And now, verily I say unto you, that as every Elder in this part of the vineyard must give an account of his stewardship unto the Bishop in this part of the vineyard,

17. A certificate from the judge or Bishop in this part of the vineyard, unto the Bishop in Zion, rendereth every man acceptable, and answereth all things, for an inheritance, and to be received as a wise steward, and as a faithful laborer;

18. Otherwise he shall not be accepted of the Bishop of Zion.

19. And now, verily I say unto you, let every Elder who shall give an account unto the Bishop of the Church, in this part of the vineyard be recommended by the church or churches, in which he labors, that he may render himself and his accounts approved in all things.

20. And again, let my servants who are appointed as stewards over the literary concerns of my Church, have claim for assistance upon the Bishop or Bishops, in all things,

21. That the revelations may be published, and go forth unto the ends of the earth; that they also may obtain funds which shall benefit the Church in all things,

22. That they also may render themselves approved in all things, and be accounted as wise stewards.

23. And now, behold, this shall be an ensample for all the extensive branches of my Church, in whatsoever land they shall be established. And now I make an end of my sayings. Amen.

24. A few words in addition to the laws of the kingdom, respecting the members of the Church. They that are appointed by the Holy Spirit to go up unto Zion, and they who are privileged to go up unto Zion,

25. Let them carry up unto the Bishop a certificate from three Elders of the Church, or a certificate from the Bishop,

26. Otherwise he who shall go up unto the land of Zion shall not be accounted as a wise steward. This is also an ensample. Amen.

Effectiveness of the Prophet's and Sidney Rigdon's Labors.

From this time until the 8th or 10th of January, 1832, myself and Elder Rigdon continued to preach in Shalersville, Ravenna, and other places, setting forth the truth, vindicating the cause of our Redeemer; showing that the day of vengeance was coming upon this generation like a thief in the night; that prejudice, blindness and darkness filled the minds of many, and caused them to persecute the true Church, and reject the true light; by which means we did much towards allaying the excited feelings which were growing out of the scandalous letters then being published in the Ohio Star, at Ravenna, by the before-mentioned apostate, Ezra Booth.³ On the 10th of January, I received the following revelation making known the will of the Lord concerning the Elders of the Church until the convening of the next conference.⁴

Revelation of January 10th, 1832.⁵

1. For verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me, that they should continue preaching the Gospel, and in exhortation to the churches in the regions round about, until conference;

2. And then, behold, it shall be made known unto them, by the voice of the conference, their several missions.

3. Now, verily, I say unto you my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, saith the Lord, it is expedient to translate again,

4. And, inasmuch as it is practicable, to preach in the regions round about until conference; and after that it is expedient to continue the work of translation until it be finished.

5. And let this be a pattern unto the Elders until further knowledge, even as it is written.

6. Now I give no more unto you at this time. Gird up your loins and be sober. Even so. Amen.

Translation Renewed.

Upon the reception of the foregoing word of the Lord, I recommenced the translation of the Scriptures, and labored diligently until just before the conference, which was to convene on the 25th of January. During this period, I also received the following, as an explanation of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, 7th chapter, 14th verse:

Revelation.⁶

1. "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband, else were your children unclean, but now are they holy."

2. Now, in the days of the Apostles the law of circumcision was had among all the Jews who believed not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. And it came to pass that there arose a great contention among the people concerning the law of circumcision, for the unbelieving husband was desirous that his children should be circumcised and become subject to the law of Moses, which law was fulfilled.

4. And it came to pass that the children, being brought up in subjection to the law of Moses, gave heed to the traditions of their fathers and believed not the Gospel of Christ, wherein they became unholy;

5. Wherefore, for this cause the Apostle wrote unto the Church, giving unto them a commandment, not of the Lord, but of himself, that a believer should not be united to an unbeliever, except the law of Moses should be done away among them.

6. That their children might remain without circumcision; and that the tradition might be done away, which saith that little children are unholy; for it was had among the Jews,

7. But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the Scriptures mean.

The Amherst Conference.

A few days before the conference was to commence in Amherst, Lorain county, I started with the Elders that lived in my own vicinity, and arrived in good time. At this conference much harmony prevailed, and considerable business was done to advance the kingdom, and promulgate the Gospel to the inhabitants of the surrounding country.⁷ The Elders seemed anxious for me to inquire of the Lord that they might know His will, or learn what would be most pleasing to Him for them to do, in order to bring men to a sense of their condition; for, as it was written, all men have gone out of the way, so that none doeth good, no, not one. I inquired and received the following:

Revelation, given January, 1832.⁸

1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I who speak even by the voice of my Spirit; even Alpha and Omega, your Lord and your God;

2. Hearken, O ye who have given your names to go forth to proclaim my Gospel, and to prune my vineyard.

3. Behold, I say unto you, that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your mights,

4. Lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, proclaiming the truth according to the revelations and commandments which I have given you,

5. And thus, if ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life.

6. Therefore, verily I say unto my servant William E. M'Lellin, I revoke the commission which I gave unto him, to go unto the eastern countries,

7. And I give unto him a new commission and a new commandment, in the which I, the Lord, chasten him for the murmurings of his heart;

8. And he sinned, nevertheless, I forgive him, and say unto him again, Go ye into the south countries,

9. And let my servant Luke Johnson go with him and proclaim the things which I have commanded them,

10. Calling on the name of the Lord for the Comforter, which shall teach them all things that are expedient for them,

11. Praying always that they faint not, and inasmuch as they do this, I will be with them even unto the end.

12. Behold, this is the will of the Lord your God concerning you. Even so. Amen.

13. And again, verily thus saith the Lord, let my servant Orson Hyde, and my servant Samuel H. Smith, take their journey into the eastern countries, and proclaim the things which I have commanded them; and inasmuch as they are faithful, lo, I will be with them even unto the end.

14. And again, verily I say unto my servant Lyman Johnson, and unto my servant Orson Pratt, they shall also take their journey into the eastern countries; and behold, and lo, I am with them also, even unto the end.

15. And again, I say unto my servant Asa Dodds, and unto my servant Calves Wilson, that they also shall take their journey unto the western countries, and proclaim my Gospel, even as I have commanded them.

16. And he who is faithful shall overcome all things, and shall be lifted up at the last day.

17. And again, I say unto my servant Major N. Ashly, and my servant Burr Riggs, let them take their journey also into the south country;

18. Yea, let all those take their journey, as I have commanded them, going from house to house, and from village to village, and from city to city;

19. And in whatsoever house ye enter, and they receive you, leave your blessing upon that house;

20. And in whatsoever house ye enter, and they receive you not, ye shall depart speedily from that house, and shake off the dust of your feet as a testimony against them;

21. And you shall be filled with joy and gladness; and know this, that in the day of judgment you shall be judges of that house, and condemn them;

22. And it shall be more tolerable for the heathen in the day of judgment, than for that house; therefore gird up your loins and be faithful, and ye shall overcome all things, and be lifted up at the last day. Even so. Amen.

23. And again, thus saith the Lord unto you, O ye Elders of my Church, who have given your names that you might know His will concerning you;

24. Behold, I say unto you, that it is the duty of the Church to assist in supporting the families of those, and also to support the families of those who are called and must needs be sent unto the world to proclaim the Gospel unto the world;

25. Wherefore, I, the Lord, give unto you this commandment, that ye obtain places for your families, inasmuch as your brethren are willing to open their heart;

26. And let all such as can obtain places for their families, and support of the Church for them, not fail to go into the world, whether to the east or to the west, or to the north, or to the south;

27. Let them ask and they shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto them and be made known from on high, even by the Comforter, whither they shall go.

28. And again, verily I say unto you, that every man who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him provide, and he shall in nowise lose his crown; and let him labor in the Church.

29. Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the Church, except he repent and mend his ways.

30. Wherefore, let my servant Simeon Carter, and my servant Emer Harris, be united in the ministry;

31. And also my servant Ezra Thayre, and my servant Thomas B. Marsh;

32. Also my servant Hyrum Smith, and my servant Reynolds Cahoon;

33. And also my servant Daniel Stanton, and my servant Seymour Brunson;

34. And also my servant Sylvester Smith, and my servant Gideon Carter;

35. And also my servant Ruggles Eames, and my servant Stephen Burnett;

36. And also my servant Micah B. Welton; and also my servant Eden Smith. Even so. Amen.

Revelation on the Degrees of Future Glory.

Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term "Heaven," as intended for the Saints' eternal home must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, on the 16th of February, 1832, while translating St. John's Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision:

Vision of the Glories.⁹

1. Hear O ye heavens, and give ear O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside Him there is no Savior

2. Great is His wisdom, marvelous are His ways, and the extent of His doings none can find out;

3. His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay His hand;

4. From eternity to eternity He is the same, and His years never fail.

5. For thus saith the Lord, I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end;

6. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory;

7. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom;

8. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations;

9. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven: and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught;

10. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will: yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.

11. We, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being in the Spirit, on the sixteenth of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two,

12. By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God—

13. Even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through His Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning,

14. Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision.

15. For while we were doing the work of translation, which the Lord had appointed unto us, we came to the twenty-ninth verse of the fifth chapter of John, which was given unto us as follows:

16. Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, concerning those who shall hear the voice of the Son of Man, and shall come forth;

17. They who have done good in the resurrection of the just, and they who have done evil in the resurrection of the unjust.

18. Now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit;

19. And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about;

20. And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father and received of His fullness;

21. And saw the holy angels, and they who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God and the Lamb, who worship Him forever and ever.

22. And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of Him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That He lives!

23. For we saw Him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that He is the Only Begotten of the Father;

24. That by Him, and through Him, and of Him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten song and daughters unto God.

25. And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father—was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,

26. And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.

27. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen! even a son of the morning.

28. And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision, for we beheld Satan, that old serpent—even the devil—who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God, and His Christ,

29. Wherefore he maketh war with the Saints of God and encompasseth them round about.

30. And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us.

31. Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil, to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power—

32. They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born,

33. For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;

34. Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come,

35. Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father—having crucified Him unto themselves and put Him to an open shame.

36. These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels,

37. And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power;

38. Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of His wrath;

39. For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.

40. And this is the Gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us,

41. That He came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

42. That through Him all might be saved whom the Father had put into His power and made by Him,

43. Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of His hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed Him;

44. Wherefore, He saves all except them; they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment;

45. And the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows,

46. Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof:

47. Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again;

48. Wherefore the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this condemnation.

49. And we heard the voice, saying, Write the vision, for lo! this is the end of the vision of the sufferings of the ungodly.

50. And again, we bear record, for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the Gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just;

51. They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on His name and were baptized after the manner of His burial, being buried in the water in His name, and this according to the commandment which he has given,

52. That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power,

53. And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.

54. They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.

55. They are they into whose hands the Father hath given all things—

56. They are they who are Priests and Kings, who have received of His fullness, and of His glory,

57. And are Priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchisedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son;

58. Wherefore, as it is written, they are Gods, even the sons of God—

59. Wherefore all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ's and Christ is God's.

60. And they shall overcome all things;

61. Wherefore let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet—

62. These shall dwell in the presence of God and His Christ for ever and ever.

63. These are they whom He shall bring with Him, when He shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on earth over His people.

64. These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.

65. These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.

66. These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.

67. These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.

68. These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the Judge of all.

69. These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of His own blood.

70. These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.

71. And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn, who have received the fullness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.

72. Behold, these are they who died without law,

73. And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the Gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh,

74. Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.

75. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.

76. These are they who receive of His glory, but not of His fullness.

77. These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father;

78. Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.

79. These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.

80. And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit.

81. And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament.

82. These are they who received not the Gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.

83. These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit.

84. These are they who are thrust down to hell.

85. These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil, until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb shall have finished His work.

86. These are they who receive not of His fullness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministrations of the terrestrial;

87. And the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial;

88. And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them, for they shall be heirs of salvation.

89. And thus we saw in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding,

90. And no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it.

91. And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial, which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion.

92. And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon His throne for ever and ever;

93. Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory for ever and ever.

94. They who dwell in His presence are the church of the Firstborn, and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of His fulness and of His grace;

95. And He makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.

96. And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one.

97. And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one.

98. And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one, for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world;

99. For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas.

100. These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch;

101. But received not the Gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant.

102. Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the Saints, to be caught up unto the church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud.

103. These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers and whosoever loves and makes a lie.

104. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth.

105. These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.

106. These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fullness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under His feet, and shall have perfected His work;

107. When He shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.

108. Then shall He be crowned with the crown of His glory, to sit on the throne of His power to reign for ever and ever.

109. But behold and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the sea shore,

110. And heard the voice of the Lord, saying—these all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to Him who sits upon the throne for ever and ever.

111. For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared,

112. And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end.

113. This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit.

114. But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of His kingdom which He showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion,

115. Which He commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter;

116. Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love Him, and purify themselves before Him;

117. To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves;

118. That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear His presence in the world of glory.

119. And to God and the Lamb, be glory, and honor, and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The Prophet's Views on the Foregoing Revelation.

Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of the kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the scriptures remains unsullied by the folly of men, go to show the perfection of the theory [of different degrees of glory in the future life] and witnesses the fact that that document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee; the rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every honest man is constrained to exclaim: "It came from God."

A Key to St. John's Book of Revelation.

About the first of March, in connection with the translation of the Scriptures, I received the following explanation of the Revelation of St. John:

Revelation, given at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio. ¹⁰

1. Q.—What is the sea of glass spoken of by John, 4th chapter, and 6th verse of the Revelations?

A. It is the earth, in its sanctified, immortal and eternal state.

2. Q. What are we to understand by the four beasts, spoken of in the same verse?

A. They are figurative expressions, used by the Revelator John, in describing Heaven, the Paradise of God, the happiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual, being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal, in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created.

3. Q. Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or orders?

A. They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings, in their destined order or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity.

4. Q. What are we to understand by the eyes, and wings, which the beasts had?

A. Their eyes are a representation of light, and knowledge; that is they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, &c.

5. Q. What are we to understand by the four and twenty Elders, spoken of by John?

A. We are to understand that these Elders whom John saw, were Elders who had been faithful in the work of the ministry and were dead; who belonged to the seven churches,—and were then in the Paradise of God.

6. Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals?

A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and works of God; the hidden things of His economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.

7. Q. What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?

A. We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.

8. Q. What are we to understand by the four angels, spoken of in the 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelations?

A. We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy; these are they who have the everlasting Gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness.

9. Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelations, 7th chapter and 2nd verse?

A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east, is he to whom is given the seal of the living God, over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting Gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads; And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things.

10. Q. What time are the things spoken of in this chapter to be accomplished?

A. They are to be accomplished in the sixth thousandth year, or the opening of the sixth seal.

11. Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel; twelve thousand out of every tribe?

A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are High Priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting Gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn.

12. Q. What are we to understand by the sounding of the trumpets, mentioned in the 8th chapter of Revelations?

A. We are to understand that as God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day He finished His work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth; even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things, except that which He hath not put into His power, when He shall have sealed all things, unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of His work, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years; the preparing of the way before the time of His coming.

13. Q. When are the things to be accomplished, which are written in the 9th chapter of Revelations?

A. They are to be accomplished after the opening of the seventh seal, before the coming of Christ.

14. Q. What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelations?

A. We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold this is Elias; who, as it is written, must come and restore all things.

15. Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelations?

A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews, after they are gathered, and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers.

Sundry Revelations.

Besides the work of translating, previous to the 20th of March, I received the four following revelations:—

Revelation, given March, 1832. The Order given of the Lord to Enoch, [Joseph Smith, Jun.,]¹¹ for the purpose of establishing the poor.¹²

1. The Lord spake unto Enoch (Joseph Smith, Jun.,) saying; Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, who are ordained unto the High Priesthood of my Church, who have assembled yourselves together;

2. And listen to the counsel of Him who has ordained you from on high, who shall speak in your ears the words of wisdom, that salvation may be unto you in that thing which you have presented before me, saith the Lord God;

3. For 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, both in this place and in the land of Zion,

4. Or in other words, the city of Enoch, (Joseph) for a permanent and everlasting establishment and order unto my Church, to advance the cause, which ye have espoused to the salvation of man, and to the glory of your Father who is in heaven,

5. That you may be equal in the bands of heavenly things; yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things;

6. For if ye are not equal in earthly things, ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;

7. For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.

8. And now, verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient that all things be done unto my glory, by you who are joined together in this order;

9. Or in other words, let my servant Ahashdah [Newel K. Whitney] and my servant Gazelam, or Enoch, (Joseph Smith, Jun.,) and my servant Pelagoram, (Sidney Rigdon), sit in council with the Saints which are in Zion;

10. Otherwise Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the truth, that they become blinded and understand not the things which are prepared for them;

11. Wherefore a commandment I give unto you, to prepare and organize yourselves by a bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken.

12. And he who breaketh it shall lose his office and standing in the Church, and shall be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan until the day of redemption.

13. Behold, this is the preparation wherewith I prepare you, and the foundation, and the ensample which I give unto you, whereby you may accomplish the commandments which are given you,

14. That through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the Church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world,

15. 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, who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman;

16. Who hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him up on high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end of life.

17. Verily, verily I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in His own hands and prepared for you;

18. And ye cannot bear all things now, nevertheless be of good cheer, for I will lead you along: the kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours; and the riches of eternity are yours;

19. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more;

20. Wherefore, do the things which I have commanded you, saith your Redeemer, even the Son of Ahman, who prepareth all things before He taketh you;

21. For ye are the church of the Firstborn, and He will take you up in a cloud, and appoint every man his portion.

22. And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things. Amen.

Revelation, given March, 1832.¹³

1. Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that my servant Jared Carter should go again into the eastern countries, from place to place, and from city to city, in the power of the ordination wherewith he has been ordained, proclaiming glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting Gospel;

2. And I will send upon him the Comforter, which shall teach him the truth and the way whither he shall go;

3. And inasmuch as he is faithful, I will crown him again with sheaves;

4. Wherefore, let your heart be glad, my servant Jared Carter, and fear not, saith your Lord, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

Revelation, given March, 1832.¹⁴

1. Verily, thus saith the Lord, unto you my servant, Stephen Burnett, Go ye, go ye into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of your voice;

2. And inasmuch as you desire a companion, I will give unto you my servant Eden Smith;

3. Wherefore, go ye and preach my Gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss;

4. Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard and verily believe, and know to be true.

5. Behold, this is the will of Him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

Revelation, given March, 1832.¹⁵

1. Verily, verily I say unto you my servant Frederick G. Williams, listen to the voice of Him who speaketh, to the word of the Lord your God, and hearken to the calling wherewith you are called, even to be a High Priest in my Church, and a counselor unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun.,

2. Unto whom I have given the keys of the kingdom, which belong always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood:¹⁶

3. Therefore, verily I acknowledge him and will bless him, and also thee, inasmuch as thou art faithful in counsel, in the office which I have appointed unto you, in prayer, always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private, also in thy ministry in proclaiming the Gospel in the land of the living, and among thy brethren;

4. And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of Him who is your Lord;

5. Wherefore, be faithful, stand in the office which I have appointed unto you, succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees;

6. And if thou art faithful unto the end, thou shalt have a crown of immortality and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father.

7. Behold, and lo, these are the words of Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ. Amen.