| 433 to him who is able to repay: and herein brethren we confide.
I am informed of another tribe of Lamanites lately, who have abundance of flocks of the best kinds of sheep and cattle, and they manufacture blankets of a superior quality. The tribe is very numerous; they live three hundred miles west of Santa Fe, Navashoes [Navajos?]. Why I mentien [mention] this tribe is, because I feel under obligation to communicate to my brethren every information concerning the Lamanites that I meet with in my labors and travels; believing as I do, that much is expected from me in the cause of our Lord:-and doubting not that I am daily remembered in your prayers before the throne of the Most High, by all of my brethren, as well by those who have not seen my face in the flesh, as those who have.
We begin to expect our brother Pratt, soon; we have heard from him only when he was at St. Louis. We are all well (bless the Lord) and preach the gospel we will, if earth and hell oppose our way, and we dwell in the midst of scorpions: for in Jesus we trust. Grace be with you all: Amen.
P. S. I beseech brother Whitney to remember and write; and direct to me, Independence, Jackson county, Missouri.
OLIVER COWDRY [COWDERY]."
While we were preparing for our journey to Missouri, about the middle of June, W. W. Phelps and his family arrived among us, and as he said, to do the will of the Lord, I inquired and received the following
Revelation to W. W. Phelps, given June, 1831.
Behold thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant William, yea even the Lord of the whole earth, thou art called and chosen and after thou hast been baptized by water, which if you do with an eye single to my glory, you shall have a remission of your sins, and a reception of the Holy Spirit, by the laying on of hands. And then thou shalt be ordained by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, jr. to be an elder unto this church, to preach repentance and remission of sins by way of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God; and on whomsoever you shall lay your hands, if they are contrite before me, you shall have power to give the Holy Spirit.
And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver to do the work of printing, and selecting, and writing books for schools, in this church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me. And again verily I say unto you, for this cause you shall take your journey with my servants Joseph Smith, jr. and Sidney Rigdon, that you may be planted in the land of your inheritance, to do this work.
And again let my servant Joseph Coe also take his journey with them. The residue shall be made known hereafter; even as I will:-Amen.
Soon after I received the above, elder T. B. Marsh came to inquire what he should do; as elder Ezra Thayer, his yoke-fellow, in the ministry, could not get ready for his mission, to start as soon as he (Marsh) would; and I inquired of the Lord and received the following
Revelation given June, 1831
Hearken O ye people who profess my name, saith the Lord your God, for behold mine anger is kindled against the rebellious, and they shall know mine arm and mine indignation in the day of visitation and of wrath upon the nations. And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments, shall not be saved.
Behold I the Lord commandeth, and he that will not obey shall be cut off in mine own due time: and after that I have commanded and the commandment is broken, wherefore I the Lord command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious saith the Lord: wherefore I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servant Thomas B. Marsh and Ezra Thayre, and give a new commandment unto my servant Thomas, that he shall take up his journey speedily to the land of Missouri; and my servant Selah J. Griffin shall also go with him: for behold I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servant Selah J. Griffin and Newel Knight, in consequence of the stiffneckedness of my people which are in Thompson; and their rebellions: wherefore let my servant Newel Knight, remain with them, and as many as will go may go, that are contrite before me, and be led by him to the land which I have appointed.
And again, verily I say unto you, that my servant Ezra Thayre must repent of his pride, and of his selfishness, and obey the former commandment which I have given concerning the place upon which he lives; and if he will do this, as there shall be no division made upon the land, he shall be appointed still to go to the land of Missouri; otherwise he shall receive the money which he has paid, and shall leave the place, and shall be cut off out of my church, saith the Lord God of hosts: and though the heaven and the earth shall pass away, these words shall not pass away, but shall be fulfilled.
And if my servant Joseph Smith, jr. must needs pay the money, behold I the Lord will pay it unto him again in the land of Missouri,
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