| 402 And again, I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry, is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man: wherefore it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation: and that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made. And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God; for behold the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man, for food, and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance, but it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another:-wherefore the world lieth in sin; and wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.
And again, verily I say unto you, that the Son of man cometh not in the form of a woman, neither of a man traveling on the earth:-wherefore be not deceived, but continue in steadfastness, looking forth for the heavens to be shaken; and the earth to tremble, and to reel to and fro as a drunken man; and for the valleys to be exalted; and for the mountains to be made low; and for the rough places to become smooth: and all this when the angel shall sound his trumpet.
But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness;-and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose: Zion shall flourish upon the hills, and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled unto the place which I have appointed. Behold I say unto you, go forth as I have commanded you; repent of all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you: behold I will go before you, and be your rereward [rearward]; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded; behold I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly; even so: Amen.
During the month of April, I continued to translate the scriptures as time would allow.-In May a number of elders being present, and not understanding the different spirits abroad in the land, I inquired and received from the Lord the following revelation.
A revelation given May 1831.
Hearken, O ye elders of my church, and give ear to the voice of the living God; and attend to the words of wisdom which shall be given unto you, according as ye have asked and are agreed as touching the church, and the spirits which have gone abroad in the earth. Behold varily [verily] I say unto you, that there are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world; and also satan hath sought to deceive you, that he might overthrow you.
Behold I the Lord have looked upon you, and have seen abominations in the church, that profess my name; but blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life on in death, for they shall inherit eternal life. But wo unto them who are deceivers, and hypocrites, for thus saith the Lord, I will bring them to judgment.
Behold verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, and have deceived some, which has given the adversary power, but behold such shall be reclaimed; but the hypocrites shall be detected and cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will, and wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world: wherefore, let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness before me.
And now come, saith the Lord by the spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand: let us reason even as a man reasoneth one with another face to face: now when a man reasoneth, he is understood of man, because he reasoneth as a man; even so will I the Lord reason with you that you may understand: wherefore I the Lord asketh you this question, unto what were you ordained? To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth; and then received ye spirits which ye could not understand, and received them to be of God, and in this are ye justified? Behold ye shall answer this question yourselves, nevertheless I will be merciful unto you: he that is weak among you hereafter shall be made strong.
Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the spirit of truth, or some other way? and if by some other way, it be not of God: therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know that he that receiveth the word by the spirit of truth, receiveth it as it is preached by the spirit of truth?
Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together; and that which doth not edify, is not of God, and is darkness; that which is of God is light, and he that receiveth light and continueth in God, receiveth more light, and that light groweth brighter and brighter, until the perfect day. And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness
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