| 218 miles southeasterly from Kirtland. From this time until the fore part of October I did little more than to prepare to recommence the translation of the Bible. About this time Ezra Booth came out as an apostate. He came into the church upon seeing a person healed of an infirmity of many years standing. He had been a Methodist priest for some time previous to his embracing the fullness of the gospel as developed in the Book of Mormon, and upon his admission into the church he was ordained an elder, as will be seen by the foregoing revelations. He went up to Missouri as a companion of Elder Morley, but when he actually learned that faith, humility, patience, and tribulation, were before blessing; and that God brought low before he exalted; that instead of 'the Savior's granting him power to smite men, and make them believe' (as he said he wanted God to do him), he found he must become all things to all men that he might peradventure save some, and that too by all diligence, by perils by sea and land; as was the case in the days of
verily I say, To-morrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of hosts and I will not spare any that remaineth in Babylon. Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called to-day. And it is not meet that my servants Newel K. Whitney and Sidney Gilbert should sell their store, and their possessions here, for this is not wisdom until the residue of the church, which remaineth in this place, shall go up unto the land of Zion.
6. Behold, it is said in my laws, or forbidden, to get in debt to thine enemies; but, behold, it is not said at any time, that the Lord should not take when he please, and pay as seemeth him good: wherefore, as ye are agents, and ye are on the Lord's errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord, is the Lord's business, and he hath set you to provide for his saints in these last days, that they may obtain an inheritance in the land of Zion, and, behold, I, the Lord, declare unto you, and my words are sure and shall not fail, that they shall obtain it; but all things must come to pass in their time; wherefore be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
7. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days; and the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away, and shall not inherit the land; for, verily, I say that the rebellious are not of the blood of Ephraim, wherefore they shall be plucked out. Behold, I, the Lord, have made my church in these last days, like unto a judge sitting on a hill, or in a high place, to judge the nations; for it shall come to pass, that the inhabitants of Zion shall judge all things pertain, to Zion; and liars, and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they who are not apostles and prophets shall be known.
8. And even the bishop, who is a judge, and his counselors, if they are not faithful in their stewardships, shall be condemned, and others shall
(page 218) |
