| 401 revelation, I also received the following, setting apart John Whitmer as a historian, inasmuch as he was faithful; given at Kirtland, March 8th, 1831.
Revelation to Joseph Smith, Jr. and John Whitmer, given March, 1831.
Behold it is expedient in me that my servant John should write and keep a regular history, and assist you, my servant Joseph, in transcribing all things which shall be given you, until he is called to further duties. Again, verily I say unto you, that he can also lift up his voice in meetings, whenever it shall be expedient.
And again I say unto you, that it shall be appointed unto him to keep the church record and history continually, for Oliver Cowdry [Cowdery] I have appointed to another office. Wherefore it shall be given him, inasmuch as he is faithful, by the Comforter, to write these things; even so: Amen.
Upon inquiry how the brethren should act in regards to purchasing lands to settle upon; and where they should finally make a permanent location; I received the following revelation, given at Kirtland, March 1831.
Revelation given March 1831.
It is necessary that you should remain, for the present time, in your places of abode, as it shall be suitable to your circumstances; and inasmuch as ye have lands, ye shall impart to the eastern brethren; and inasmuch as ye have not lands, let them buy for the present time in those regions round about as seemeth them good, for it must needs be necessary that they have places to live for the present time.
It must needs be necessary, that ye save all the money ye can, and that ye obtain all that ye can in righteousness, that in time ye may be enabled to purchase lands for an inheritance, even the city, The place is not yet to be revealed, but after your brethren come from the east, there are to be certain men appointed, and to them it shall be given to know the place, for to them it shall be revealed; and they shall be appointed to purchase the lands, and make a commencement, to lay the foundation of the city; and then ye shall begin to be gathered with your families, every man according to his family, according to his circumstances, and as is appointed to him by the presidency and the bishop of the church, according to the laws and commandments, which ye have received, and which ye shall hereafter receive; even so; Amen.
About this time came Lemen Copley, one of the sect called Shaking Quakers; and embraced the fullness of the everlasting gospel, apparently honest hearted, but still retained ideas that the Shakers were right in some particulars of their faith; in order to have more perfect understanding on the subject, I inquired of the Lord and received the following revelation.
Revelation to Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, and Lemon Copley, given March 1831.
Hearken unto my word my servant Sidney, and Parley, and Lemon, for behold, verily I say unto you, that I give unto you a commandment, that you shall go and preach my gospel, which ye have received, even as ye have received it, unto the Shakers. Behold I say unto you, that they desire to know the truth in part, but not all, for they are not right before me, and must needs repent: wherefore I send you, my servants Sidney and Parley, to preach the gospel unto them; and my servant Lemon shall be ordained unto this work, that he may reason with them, not according to that which he has received of them, but according to that which shall be taught him by you, my servants, and by so doing I will bless him, otherwise he shall not prosper: thus saith the Lord, for I am God and have sent mine only begotten Son into the world, for the redemption of the world and have decreed that he that receiveth him shall be saved, and he that receiveth him not, shall be damned.
And they have done unto the Son of man even as they listed; and he has taken his power on the right hand of his glory, and now reigneth in the heavens, and will reign till he descends on earth to put all enemies under his feet: which time is nigh at hand: I the Lord God have spoken it: but the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes: wherefore I will that all men shall repent, for all are under sin, except them which I have reserved unto myself, holy men that ye know not of: wherefore I say unto you, that I have sent unto you mine everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning, and that which I have promised I have so fulfilled, and the nations of the earth shall bow down to it; and, if not of themselves, they shall come down, for that which is exalted of itself shall be laid low of power: wherefore I give unto you a commandment, that ye go among this people and say unto them, like unto mine apostle of old, whose name was Peter: Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus, who was on the earth, and is to come, the beginning and the end; repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the holy commandment, for the remission of sins: and whoso doeth this shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands of the elders of this church.
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