| 88 you have sought for; that inasmuch as it was expedient in me to preserve my church or a remnant thereof, agreeable to the covenants which I have made with all the holy saints from the beginning of the world; therefore as I had built up my kingdom according to my holy order, and placed you upon this land, and consecrated you to the holy order of my priesthood, therefore my servant David if thou shouldst leave this land, and those of thy brethren who have remained with thee, then you shall forfeit your right and make the word of God of none effect. For I have said unto you in days past and gone, that but few should remain to receive their inheritances. Therefore a commandment I give unto you my servant David, and also my servants John, and Hiram, and Jacob, that you must remain until I command you, and then you shall only be permitted to visit the faithful in my kingdom. For now ye do hold the right of this, the consecrated land of Zion, that in the fullness of time your brethren may claim by right of the covenant which ye have kept, inheritances in the land of Zion. Now I say unto you all, that from time to time ye shall see and know by my Spirit all things pertaining to these words which I have now given you. Now I say no more unto you concerning this matter; even so; amen.'
"With the above I was perfectly satisfied. Cause and effect were both set forth, and we felt to acquiesce. But then I saw what a great responsibility would rest on me, especially when I should return to Kirtland. I then saw and in some measure realized that we should see each other but seldom. Near a thousand miles would separate us and our fields of labor, for a season at least. And I said in my heart, O Lord, if thou hast a word of intelligence more for me, reveal it, O reveal it now to me! I expressed my anxiety to my brethren present, and the enquiry [inquiry] being made, the Lord through his servant David made known, while I wrote the following:-[Here follows a revelation to McLellin.]
"But here David said a vision opened before him, and the spirit which was upon him bade him stop and talk to me concerning it. He said that in the bright light before him he saw a small chest or box of very curious and fine workmanship
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