Revelations: 1880-1890

compiled by
Ogden Kraut

1970

 

INTRODUCTION

The following revelations were previously compiled and printed in two separate publications. Part I was a collection most of which had already been circulated. The revelations in Part II were located more recently in a family journal.

Reprinted June 1979

Third Printing November 1986

 

PREFACE

During the 1880’s the Church suffered the indignities of persecution, prosecution, and confiscation of property. The leading men of the Church were in prison or dodging persecution. President John Taylor spent most of his time as president of the Church living in the underground to avoid imprisonment.

In the deepest of these sufferings the Lord was mindful of His people, and He bestowed upon them light and revelation for their comfort and encouragement. A few of many revelations received during this time were recorded in journals, on scraps of papers, or published in European editions of the Doctrine and Covenants. Those printed here are subject to controversy because of the manner in which they were recorded or printed. What little documentation has been available is included in the Notes following each revelation.

The reader must read these revelations in the light of apocryphal works–enlightened or benefited by whatever inspiration he can derive therefrom.

Ogden Kraut

[1]                     REVELATION OF JANUARY 26, 1880

Given Through Wilford Woodruff

Sunset, Arizona

REVELATION given through Wilford Woodruff while at Sunset, Arizona, January 26, 1880. This revelation was given for comfort, instruction, and showing forth the will of God concerning the nation and its inhabitants of Zion. The Government was prosecuting and persecuting the Saints through the Edmunds-Tucker law, causing them much distress and imprisonment. This revelation was in response to the prayers and desires of Wilford Woodruff to know the will of the Lord concerning the Saints and their destiny and the reasons for their persecutions.

1. “Thus saith the Lord unto my servant, Wilford Woodruff, I have heard thy prayer and will answer thy petition. I will make known unto thee my will concerning the nations who encumber the land of promise and also concerning Zion and her inhabitants.
2. “I have already revealed my will concerning this nation through the mouth of my servant Joseph, who sealed his testimony with his own blood, which testimony has been in force upon all the world from the hour of his death.
3. “What I the Lord have revealed in that testament and decreed upon this nation and upon all the nations of the earth, shall be fulfilled, saith the Lord of hosts. I the Lord have spoken and will be obeyed. My purposes shall be fulfilled upon this nation and no power shall stay My Hand. The hour is at the door when My wrath and indignation will be poured out upon the wicked of this nation.
4. “Their murders, blasphemies, lying, whoredoms, and abominations have come up before my face and before the heavens, and the wrath of my indignation is full.

 

[2]   5. “I have decreed plagues to go forth and waste my enemies, and not many years hence they shall not he left to pollute my heritage.

6. “The devil is ruling over his kingdom and my spirit has no place in the hearts of the rulers of this nation, and the devil stirs them up to defy my power and to make war upon my Saints. Therefore let mine Apostles and mine Elders who are faithful obey my commandments which are already written for their profit and guidance.
7. “Thus saith the Lord unto My servant, John Taylor, and My servant Wilford Woodruff, and My servant Orson Pratt, and to all the residue of mine Apostles; Have you not gone forth in My name without purse or scrip and declared the Gospel of life and salvation unto this nation and the nations of the earth and warned them of the judgments which are to come, as you have been moved upon by the power of the Holy Ghost and the inspiration of the Lord?
8. “You have done this year by year for the whole generation, as men count time. Therefore, your garments are clean of the blood of this generation and especially of this nation.
9. “Therefore as I have said in a former commandment, so I the Lord say again unto My Apostles: Go ye alone by yourselves, whether in heat or cold and cleanse your feet in water, pure water, it matters not whether it be by the running streams, or in your closets; but leave these testimonies before the Lord and the heavenly hosts; and when you have all done this, then gather yourselves together in your Holy places and clothe yourselves with the robes of the Holy Priesthood and there offer up your prayers according to my Holy law.
10. “Let him who presides be mouth and kneel at the Holy Altar, and there let mine Apostles bring all these testimonies before my face and before the heavenly hosts and before the justified spirits made perfect. [3] And thus saith the Lord unto you, mine apostles, when you bring these testimonies before me, let them be presented by name as far as the Spirit shall present them unto you:
11. “The Presidents of the United States, the Supreme Court, the Cabinet, the Senate and House of Congress of the United States, the Governors of the States and Territories, the judges and others sent unto you, and all men and persons who have taken any part in persecuting you or bringing distress upon you or your families, or who have sought your lives, or sought to hinder you from keeping my commandments or from enjoying the rights which the constitutional laws of the land guaranteed unto you.
12. “And what I the Lord say unto you, mine Apostles, I also say unto my servants the Seventies, the High Priests, the Elders, the Priests and all my servants who are pure in heart and who have borne testimony unto the nations. Let them go forth and cleanse their feet in pure water and bear testimony of it unto the Father who is in heaven.
13. “And then, saith the Lord unto mine Apostles and mine Elders, when ye do these things with purity of heart, I the Lord will hear your prayers and am bound by oath and covenant to defend you and fight your battles.
14. “As I have said in former commandments, it is not my will that mine Elders should fight the battles of Zion, for I will fight your battles.
15. “Nevertheless, let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake, for he that layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again and have eternal life.
16. “This nation is ripened in iniquity and the cup of the wrath of mine indignation is full and I [4] will not stay my hand in judgments upon this nation or the nations of the earth.
17. “I have decreed wars and judgments upon the wicked and my wrath and indignation are about to be poured out upon them and the wicked and rebellious shall know that I am God.
18. “As I the Lord have spoken so will I fulfill. I will spare none who remain in Babylon, but I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts. As I the Lord have suffered, so will I put all enemies under my feet. For I the Lord utter my word and it shall be obeyed.
19. “And the day of wrath and indignation shall come upon the wicked.
20. “And I say again, woe unto that nation or house or people who seek to hinder my people from obeying the Patriarchal law of Abraham, which leadeth to Celestial Glory, which has been revealed unto my Saints through the mouth of my servant Joseph, for whosoever doeth these things shall be damned, saith the Lord of Hosts, and shall be broken up and wasted away from under heaven by the judgments which I have sent forth, and which shall not return unto me void.
21. “And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed, and with famine and plagues and earthquakes and the thunder of heaven and the vivid lightnings shall this nation and the nations of the earth be made to feel the chastening hand of an Almighty God until they are broken up and destroyed and wasted away from under heaven, and no power can stay my hand. Therefore, let the wicked tremble; let them that blaspheme my name hold their lips, for destruction will swiftly overtake them.
22. “All that I the Lord have spoken through the mouths of my Prophets and Apostles since the world began, concerning the last dispensation and fullness of times, concerning my Church, which has been called out [5] of the wilderness of darkness and error, concerning the Zion and kingdom of God and concerning Babylon the great, and what I have spoken through the mouth of my servant Joseph, shall all be fulfilled.
23. “And though the heaven and earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall be fulfilled, saith the Lord.
24. “These revelations and testimonies are before you. Let my Saints search the Word of the Lord and treasure up wisdom and be prepared for that which is to come.
25. “As I have decreed, so shall my judgments begin at the House of God.
26. “There are those in my Church who have a name among you, who are adulterers and adulteresses, and those who blaspheme my name and those who love and make a lie, and those who revel and drink with the drunken.
27. “If they do not speedily repent of this wickedness and abomination, they should be severed from the ordinances of my house, saith the Lord.
28. “There are many who have need to repent, whose hearts are set upon the things of this world, who aspire to the honors of men, and do not honor the Priesthood, nor seek to build up the Kingdom of God as they should. Neither do they learn and comprehend:
29. “That the rights of the Priesthood, are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
30. “Such should repent and turn unto the Lord, and seek for the Holy Spirit to guide them.
31. “Judgments will begin upon my house, and from thence will they go forth unto the world and the wicked cannot escape.

 

[6]   32. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for my blessings await them in this life and eternal life in the world to come.

33. “Thus saith the Lord unto you, my servants and Apostles who dwell in the flesh. Fear ye not your enemies. Let not your hearts be troubled. I am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father.
34. “I have given mine angels charge concerning you. Mine eyes are upon you and the eyes of your heavenly Father and the Heavenly Hosts and all justified spirits made perfect are watching over you.
35. “Your works are manifest before the face of my servants who have sealed their testimony with their blood, and before all my servants of the Apostles whom I have taken unto myself.
36. “The veil is taken from off their faces and they know your works. They await your coming when you have finished your testimony in the flesh. Therefore, be ye faithful until I come. My coming is at the door.
37. “Call upon the Lord in mighty prayer, ask and you shall receive. Whenever you agree as touching anything and ask the Father in my name, it shall be given you.
38. “Seek diligently to build up Zion and to magnify your high calling and your enemies shall not prevail over you.
39. “Zion shall not be moved out of her place. Zion shall prevail against her enemies.
40. “My people shall not be hindered in the building of my temples unto my Holy Name, if they will hearken unto my voice and do as I command them.
41. “The blood of my servants Joseph and Hyrum and of mine Apostles and Elders which has been shed [7] for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, cries from the ground for vengeance upon the nation which has shed their blood.
42. “But their blood shall speedily be avenged and shall cease to cry unto me, for the hour of God’s judgment is fully come and shall be poured out without measure upon the wicked.
43. “But hearken and hear, O ye Apostles, Elders and people of my Church, to the Word of the Lord concerning you, that for all the blessings that I will pour out upon you and the inhabitants of Zion and the judgments and destruction upon the wicked, I will be inquired of by you to ask the Father in my name to do and to perform these things for you as I told all the House of Israel by my servant Moses, that they should ask at my hand for all the blessings which I the Lord have promised unto Israel in the latter days.
44. “And as I the Lord ordained mine Apostles who were with me in my ministry and promised them that they should sit upon twelve thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel, so I say unto you mine Apostles, whom I have raised up in these last days that I have ordained you to bear record of my name, and of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to the Gentiles first, and then to the House of Israel.
45. “I have also ordained you to sit upon thrones and judge the Gentiles and all the inhabitants of the earth unto whom you have borne testimony of my name in the day and generation in which you live. Therefore, how great is your calling and responsibility before me.
46. “Therefore, gird up the loins of your minds and magnify your calling in the fear of God, and prepare ye for the coming of the Son of Man, which is nigh at the door.
47. “No man knoweth the day nor the hour, but the signs of both heaven and earth indicate His coming, as [8] promised by the mouths of my disciples; the fig tree is leafing and the hour is nigh. Therefore, prepare yourselves, O ye Saints of the Most High God, with oil in your lamps, for blessed is he that watcheth for the coming of the Son of Man.
48. “Again, hear ye the Word of the Lord, O ye mine Apostles whom I have chosen in these last days to bear record of my name and lead my people Israel until the coming of the Son of Man.
49. “I the Lord have raised up unto you my servant John Taylor to preside over you and to be a lawgiver unto my Church. He has mingled his blood with that of the martyred Prophets. Nevertheless, while I have taken my servants Joseph and Hyrum unto myself, I have preserved my servant John Taylor for a wise purpose in me.
50. “I have also taken many others of the apostles unto myself, for I take whom I will take, and preserve in life whom I will preserve, according to the counsel of mine own will.
51. “And while my servant John Taylor is your President, I wish to ask the rest of my servants of the Apostles the question, although you have one to preside over your Quorum, which is the order of God in all generations, do you not, all of you, hold the apostleship, which is the highest authority ever given to men on earth? You do. Therefore you hold in common the Keys of the Kingdom of God in all the world.
52. “You each of you have the power to unlock the veil of eternity and hold converse with God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ and to have the ministrations of angels.
53. “It is your right, privilege and duty to inquire of the Lord as to His mind and will concerning yourselves and the inhabitants of Zion and their interests.

 

[9]   54. “And whenever any one of you receives the word of the Lord, let it be written and presented in your councils and whatever by united consent you deem wise to be presented unto the people, let it be presented by the President, my servant John Taylor, as the word of the Lord. In this way you will uphold him and strengthen his hands, as all the burden should not lie upon one man.

55. “For thus saith the Lord, all mine Apostles should be full of the Holy Ghost of inspiration and revelation to know the mind and will of God and be prepared for that which is to come.
56. “Therefore let mine Apostles keep my commandments and obey my voice and the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
57. “Fear not, for lo, I am with you until I come, I come quickly. Even So, Amen.”

* * * * *

 

NOTES

NOTE 1. “During the month of January, 1880, I was at Sunset, Arizona, with Brother Lot Smith and the brethren with him who were trying to establish a branch of the United Order at that place. At this time the Government, through its officers, were using every means in its power to enforce the Edmunds-Tucker and anti-polygamy law with the evident intent on the part of the officers to break us up as an organized community. Being away from president Taylor and my Quorum, I felt deeply distressed in mind concerning our conditions as a people. While thus exercised I went into “the Wilderness,” a region of country called by this name, situated about forty miles west of Sunset; and while there I stopped with two young men who were herding sheep belonging to the people of Sunset. I remained with them ten days, reading the revelations of God as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, and praying fervently unto the Lord to reveal to me His mind and will concerning Zion. On retiring [10] to bed on the night of the 25th of January, 1880, I found myself wrapt in vision, and the next morning the following revelation was given to me of the Lord which I wrote at the time.” (The preceding revelation was then quoted.)

THE JOURNAL OF WILFORD WOODRUFF

January 25, 1880

NOTE 2. “During the period of the extreme and unrelenting prosecutions under the anti-polygamy acts of Congress, President Woodruff spent much of the time among the churches in Arizona and Southern Utah. On January 26, 1880, having retired for some days in the mountains fasting and praying, he obtained important revelations from the Lord concerning the work of the Twelve Apostles and events which would happen, affecting both the church and the nations. These were submitted to President John Taylor and the Council of the Apostles and were accepted by them as profitable for doctrine, for comfort, for light as to the future and for encouragement in the work of the ministry.”

IMPROVEMENT ERA 1:874

NOTE 3. After his visit along the settlements up the Little Colorado Elder Woodruff returned to Brigham City, and later took up his abode in a shepherd’s tent about twenty-five miles from Sunset. Here he wrote letters to President Taylor and others, and was especially thoughtful of Elder George Reynolds, then a prisoner in Lincoln, Nebraska, Elder Reynolds having been convicted of polygamy. It was here in this shepherd’s tent that he felt the solemnities of eternity resting upon him and desired to know the mind and will of the Lord concerning the Apostles and the nation, and especially the purpose of the persecution against the Saints of God. On the 26th of January in his journal he says: “I went to bed filled with prayer and meditation. I fell asleep and remained in slumber until about midnight, when I awoke. The Lord then poured out His spirit upon me and opened the vision of my mind so that I could comprehend in a great measure the mind and will of God concerning the nation and concerning the inhabitants of Zion. I saw the wickedness of the nation, its abominations and corruptions and the judgments of God and the destruction that awaited it. Then I also comprehended the great responsibility which rested upon the Quorum of the Apostles. My head became a fountain [11] of tears, and my pillow was wet with the dews of heaven. Sleep departed from me. The Lord revealed unto me the duty of the Apostles and of all the faithful elders of Israel. The revelation was submitted to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles just prior to the April conference of that year; it was accepted by that body as the word of the Lord, according to Elder Woodruff’s journal, under the date of April 4th 1880.

On the morning following the revelation, January 27th, he said: “I arose in the morning after the vision of the night. My heart was filled with joy and gratitude for a manifestation of the spirit of God to me. It was given by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. I had read a revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants and prayed earnestly to the Lord to manifest to me His mind and will concerning myself and my brethren, the Apostles, and the Lord gave me that revelation in answer to my prayers.”

LIFE OF WILFORD WOODRUFF

By M. F. Cowley, p. 530-531

 

 

[12]                     REVELATION OF JUNE 27, 1882

Given Through John Taylor

Salt Lake City, Utah

REVELATION given through President John Taylor on June 27, 1882, in Salt Lake City, Utah. It relates to the Kingdom of God established in these last days, for the promulgation of the principles of freedom and liberty for all nations and people. Responsibility and duties of all who hold keys and authority of the Priesthood are defined.

1. “Verily, thus saith the Lord, I have instituted my Kingdom and my laws, with the keys and the power thereof, and I have appointed you as my spokesman and my Constitution, with President John Taylor at your head, whom I have appointed to my Church and my Kingdom as Prophet, Seer and Revelator unto and over my kingdom, and to be my mouthpiece unto my Church and unto my Kingdom, and I will honor him, and he shall speak forth the words that I will reveal unto him from time to time by the whisperings of my Spirit, by the revelation of my Spirit, by the revelation of my will and my word, or by mine own voice, as I will, saith the Lord, and ye shall listen to his words as my words, saith the Lord your God.
2. “Thus saith the Lord God, who rules in the heavens above and in the earth beneath: I have introduced my Kingdom and my government, even the Kingdom of God, that my servants have heretofore prophesied of and that I taught my disciples to pray for, saying:
3. “`Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,’ for the establishment of my rule for the introduction of my law, for the protection of my Church, and for the maintenance, promulgation and protection of civil and religious liberty in this nation and throughout the world;
4. “And all men of every nation, color and creed shall yet be protected and shielded thereby;

 

[13]  5. “And every nation and kindred, and people, and tongue shall yet bow the knee to me and acknowledge me to be Ahman Christ to the glory of God the Father.

6. “And my law and my rule and my dominion shall yet be known and extended to all people.
7. “And now, behold, I speak unto you through my servant John, whom you have acknowledged and shall acknowledge as my spokesman.
8. “Thus saith the Lord God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Ruler of the universe, whose right it is to rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath, behold I raised up my servant Joseph Smith to introduce my Gospel and to build up my Church and establish my Kingdom on the earth;
9. “And I gave unto him wisdom and knowledge and revelation, and intelligence pertaining to the past; the present and the future, even to that extent which was not known among men;
10. “And I endowed him with power from on high and conferred upon him the Priesthood of Aaron and also the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which is after the order of the Son of God, even the holiest of all, and after the power of endless life, and administereth forever in this world and in the world to come.
11. “He was called and ordained to this office before the world was. He was called by me; and empowered by me, and sustained by me to introduce and establish my Church and Kingdom upon the earth;
12. “And to be a Prophet, Seer and Revelator to my Church and Kingdom; and to be a King and Ruler over Israel.
13. “He was slain for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God; but he yet lives, and is with me where I am.

 

[14]  14. “And now I speak unto you who are members of this Council, and of my Kingdom, and I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples of old, Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.

15. “I called you by my servant Joseph, and by my servant Brigham, and by my servant John. You did not teach and instruct me; but I have taught and instructed you and organized you according to my eternal laws.
16. “Ye are my Constitution, and I am your God; and I will be acknowledged and my will and my word and my law shall bear rule in my Kingdom, saith the Lord. If it does not, then it is not my Kingdom, and then are ye not my man, and under the direction of man, then it is a kingdom of man, and it is not of me, and I will not acknowledge it, saith the Lord God.
17. “Have I not instructed you in all that you know, and is not this Kingdom organized and directed by revelation from me?
18. “Is it not called the Kingdom of God? If, therefore, it is not my Kingdom, why do you make use of my name and involve my authority and my aid?
19. “Is this Kingdom not called `The Kingdom of God, and His laws, with the keys and power thereof, and judgment in the hands of His servant, Ahman Christ?’
20. “And because I am kind and beneficent to all peoples, and because I have given to man his free agency and have always maintained that free agency among all peoples, and have treated all men alike among all nations, and made the sun to shine on the evil and the good, on the just and the unjust, and have never controlled the consciences of men, think ye, therefore, that I have no rights, and will yield up all my authority to the dictates and caprices of wicked and corrupt men?
21. “Verily, I say unto you, Nay. Behold, Satan sought to take away the free agency of man in the [15] beginning for which cause he was thrust out of heaven, and has sought to introduce the same principles upon the earth, which principles are opposed to me, to my institution and my laws, and to the freedom, the welfare and happiness of man, and by which principles the Government of the United States sought to deprive my people of their free agency; and because men have been under the influence and power and dominion of Lucifer, and because tyranny and oppression and misrule, and anarchy, deception and fraud forever prevail?
22. “Verily, I say unto you, Nay; and for this cause have I introduced my Church and my Kingdom, that pure and righteous principles might be inculcated, and man, by his free agency, yield a willing obedience to my law;
23. “For after this testimony and the rejection thereof, I will sweep the earth of evil doers, as with the besom of destruction;
24. “For this is my right, and while man has his free agency, judgment belongs to me, saith the Lord.
25. “And I will come out of my hiding place and vex the nations of the earth because of their iniquities, their misrule, their tyranny, their oppression, their corruption, their murders, their adulteries and fornications and all their abominations;
26. “And because my servant Joseph, whose soul was pained because of their cruelties and oppressions, the injustice, fraud and corruption and the inhumanity of men, proclaimed himself the advocate of human rights, the advocate of liberty, and the friend of man;
27. “And because, according to my eternal decrees, the free agency of men should be guaranteed to all men, I moved upon him to introduce into my Kingdom certain parties not in my Church, for the purpose of exhibiting unto my Kingdom that I would still maintain the free agency of man, and that I hold inviolate that principle [16] and will still maintain it to the end.
28. “Think ye, therefore, that because they are thus admitted to a share in my Government and my laws that they shall be permitted to break their covenants, violate their obligations, and reject me and my laws and authority, and seek to overthrow the Kingdom of God and deprive my people who are contending for freedom, and who shall yet maintain it, of their agency and of my laws?
29. “Verily, I say unto you, Nay! They may be admitted to the rights of representation in the manner appointed, after subscribing to my covenants and commandments, and have a full and free opportunity of presenting their views, interests and principles, and enjoying all the freedom and rights of this Council;
30. “But they shall acknowledge me and my laws in this Council, saith the Lord God;
31. “For my people’s rights and immunities and free agency shall be acknowledged as well as those of all other people, and my laws and government shall be sustained, or I will not acknowledge you, saith the Lord.
32. “I have invested you with the keys and power of my Kingdom and they cannot be bartered away to others.
33. “Shall all men be free? Yes, free to do right; free to express their sentiments and opinions and have a full, fair and free representation;
34. “But no man shall violate his covenants, pervert my laws, subvert others’ free agency, and trample upon mine authority in this Council, saith the Lord your God.

 

[17]  35. “Again, I say unto you, as I said before, Henceforth do as I shall command you, saith the Lord your God. Even so Amen.

NOTE 1. Documentation for this revelation was taken from the private journals of the John Taylor family.

 

 

[18]                    REVELATION OF OCTOBER 13, 1882

Given Through John Taylor

Salt Lake City, Utah

REVELATION given through President John Taylor on October 13, 1882, in Salt Lake City, Utah. George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant called to the apostleship; the admonition of all who preside in the Stakes of Zion to establish law and righteousness. Heads of families and all people to repent and thereby obtain special blessings and promises.

1. “Thus saith the Lord to the Twelve, and to the Priesthood and people of my Church.
2. “Let my servants George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant be appointed to fill the vacancies in the Twelve, that you may be fully organized and prepared for the labors devolving upon you, for you have a great work to perform; and then proceed to fill up the presiding quorum of Seventies, and assist in organizing that body of my priesthood who are your co-laborers in the ministry. You may appoint Seymour B. Young to fill up the vacancy in the presiding quorum oœ Seventies, if he will conform to my law;
3. “For it is not meet that men who will not abide my law shall preside over my priesthood;
4. “And then proceed forthwith and call to your aid any assistance that you may require from among the Seventies to assist you in your labors in introducing and maintaining the gospel among the Lamanites through-out the land. And then let High Priests be selected, under the direction of the First Presidency, to preside over the various organizations that shall exist among this people; that those who receive the Gospel may be taught in the doctrines of my church and in the ordinances and laws thereof, and also in the things pertaining to my Zion and my kingdom, saith the Lord, [19] that they may be one with you in my Church and my Kingdom.
5. “Let the Presidency of my Church be one in all things; and let the Twelve also be one in all things; and let them all be one with me as I am one with the Father. And let the High Priests organize themselves, and purify themselves, and prepare themselves for this labor, and for all other labors that they may be called upon to fulfill.
6. “And let the Presidents of Stakes also purify themselves, and the priesthood and people of the Stakes over which they preside, and organize the priesthood in their various stakes according to my law, in all the various departments thereof, in the High Councils, in the Elders’ quorums, and in the Bishops and their councils, and in the quorums of Priests, Teachers, and Deacons, that every quorum may be fully organized according to the order of My Church;
7. “And, then, let them inquire into the standing and fellowship of all that hold my Holy Priesthood in their several stakes; and if they find those that are unworthy let them remove them, except they repent;
8. “For My Priesthood, whom I have called and whom I have sustained and honored, shall honor Me and obey My laws, and the laws of My Holy Priesthood, or they shall not be considered worthy to hold My Priesthood, saith the Lord.
9. “And let my priesthood humble themselves before me, and seek not their own will but my will;

 

10. “For if my priesthood, whom I have chosen and called, and endowed with the spirit and gifts of their several callings, and with the powers thereof, do not acknowledge me, I will not acknowledge them, saith the Lord; for I will be honored and obeyed by my priesthood.

 

[20]  11. “And, then, I call upon My Priesthood and upon all of my people, to repent of all their sins and shortcomings, of their covetousness and pride and self-will, and of all their iniquities wherein they sin against me;

12. “And to seek with all humility to fulfill my law, as my priesthood, my Saints and my people;
13. “And I call upon the heads of families to put their houses in order according to the Law of God, and attend to the various duties and responsibilities associated therewith, and to purify themselves before me, and to purge out iniquity from their households.
14. “And I will bless and be with you, saith the Lord, and ye shall gather together in your holy places wherein ye assemble to call upon me, and ye shall ask for such things as are right, and I will hear your prayers and my spirit and power shall be with you and my blessings shall rest upon you, upon your families, your dwellings and your households, upon your flocks and herds and fields, your orchards and vineyards, and upon all that pertains to you;
15. “And you shall be my people and I will be your God;
16. “And your enemies shall not have dominion over you, for I will preserve you and confound them, saith the Lord, and they shall not have power nor dominion over you; for my words shall go forth, and my work shall be accomplished, and my Zion shall be established, and my rule and my power and my dominion shall prevail among my people, and all nations shall yet acknowledge Me. Even so, Amen.”

 

[21]                                NOTES

NOTE 1. Documentation for this revelation may be found in the following places:

Doctrine and Covenants, Section 137, German edition, Salt Lake City printing 1893, second edition; and 1903 Berlin printing, third edition.

Doctrine and Covenants, Section 137, Danish 6th edition, Salt Lake City printing, 1900.

Doctrine and Covenants, Section 137, Swedish first edition, 1888, Salt Lake City printing; and 1928 second edition, Stockholm edition.

Life of John Taylor, by B. H. Roberts, p. 349-51.

Gospel Kingdom, by Samuel W. Taylor, p. 390.

NOTE 2. “Fri. 13, October 1882–George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant were chosen by revelation to fill the vacancies in the Council of Twelve Apostles, caused by the death of Orson Pratt and the recent reorganization of the First Presidency. Seymour P. Young was chosen by the same revelation as one of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies. These three brethren were ordained on the 16th.”

CHURCH CHRONOLOGY

by Andrew Jensen, p. 110

NOTE 3. “I came to the Sunday afternoon meeting of the conference, because of this partial sentence, and the balance that was given to me, with the assurance in my heart that Brother Teasdale and myself would be sustained as apostles. Those of you who were at that conference remember that it adjourned without filling those vacancies. I do not believe that any mortal man ever more humbly supplicated God during the next few days to forgive him for his egotism than I did for thinking I was to be chosen as an apostle. As you are aware within a week a revelation came to John Taylor calling Brother Teasdale and myself to those positions.”

Heber J. Grant

CONFERENCE REPORT

October, 1922:2-3

 

[22]        NOTE 4. “I have felt my own lack of ability. In fact, when I was called as one of the apostles, I arose to my feet to say it was beyond anything I was worthy of; and as I was rising the thought came to me, `You know as you know that you live that John Taylor is a prophet of God, and to decline this office when he had received a revelation is equivalent to repudiating the prophet.’ I said, “I will accept the office and do my best.’ I remember that it was with difficulty that I took my seat without fainting,

“There are two spirits striving with us always: one telling us to continue our labor for good, and one telling us that with the faults and failings of our nature we are unworthy. I can truthfully say that from October, 1882, until February, 1883, that spirit followed me day and night, telling me that I was unworthy to be an apostle of the Church and that I ought to resign. When I would testify of my knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Redeemer of mankind, it seemed as though a voice would say to me: `You lie! You lie! Him. You have never seen Him.'”

Heber J. Grant

IMPROVEMENT ERA 44:267

NOTE 5. “On the 13th of October the First Presidency and the Twelve met to receive the revelation of God to President Taylor, in which the duties of the Priesthood and of the Saints were set forth. In that same revelation appears the call of President George Teasdale of the Juab Stake, and President Heber J. Grant of the Tooele Stake to the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Seymour P. Young was called to fill the vacancy in the First Council of Seventies and requested to keep the whole law of God as a preparation of his new calling and labors.

“Concerning the Patriarchal Order of Marriage, President Taylor said: `If we do not embrace that principle soon, the keys will be turned against us. If we do not keep the same law that our Heavenly Father has kept, we cannot go with Him. A man obeying a lower law is not qualified to preside over those who keep a higher law.’ In harmony with the remarks of President Taylor, Elder Woodruff observed: `This is why the Church and Kingdom of God cannot advance without [23] the Patriarchal Order of Marriage is that it belongs to this dispensation just as baptism for the dead does, or any law or ordinance that belongs to a dispensation. Without it, the Church cannot progress. The leading men of Israel who are presiding over stakes will have to obey the law of Abraham, or they will have to resign.'”

LIFE OF WILFORD WOODRUFF

by Matthias F. Cowley, p. 542

NOTE 6. “October 13, 1882. We met in council at President Taylor’s office. We heard the revelation read in which George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant were called to fill the vacancies in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and Seymour P. Young, to fill the vacancy in the First Presidency of Seventies.

“October 14, 1882. We held a meeting with the Presidency, Twelve Apostles and the Presidents of Stakes. Remarks were made by President Taylor. Then the revelation was read. George Q. Cannon spoke to us and said, `How can we teach the people any law or principle that we do not keep ourselves?’

“Joseph F. Smith spoke upon several subjects upon the Patriarchal Order of Marriage.

“President Taylor told what Joseph Smith said to him upon the subject, and said, `If we do not embrace that principle soon, the keys will be turned against us; for if we do not keep the same law our Heavenly Father has kept, we cannot go with Him. The word of the Lord to us was that if we did not obey that law, we could not go where our Heavenly Father dwelt. A man obeying a lower law is not qualified to preside over those who keep a higher law.’

“W. Woodruff said he was glad the Quorum of the Twelve and Seventies were now to be filled, and said that the reason why the Church and Kingdom of God could not progress if we did not receive the Patriarchal Law of Marriage is that it belonged to this dispensation as well as the baptism for the dead, and any law or ordinance that belongs to this dispensation must be received by the members of the Church, or it cannot progress. The leading men of Israel who are presiding over stakes will have to obey the law of Abraham, or they will have to stop.

 

[24]        “L. Snow said that Joseph Smith said that the parable that Jesus spoke of that the man who had one talent and hid it in the earth was the man who had but one wife and would not take another, would have her taken from him and given to one who had more.”

WILFORD WOODRUFF JOURNAL

Dates: Oct. 13 & 14, 1882

 

 

[25]                     REVELATION OF APRIL 14, 1883

Given Through John Taylor

Salt Lake City, Utah

REVELATION given through President John Taylor on April 14, 1883, Salt Lake City, Utah. Given in answer to President’s prayer in which he asked the Lord to “Show unto us Thy will, O Lord, concerning the organization of the Seventies.” It affirms that the things that had been written were acceptable and that the Lord would further reveal more concerning his kingdom and for Zion.

1. “What ye have written is my will, and is acceptable unto me:
2. “And furthermore, thus saith the Lord unto the First Presidency, unto the Twelve, unto the Seventies and unto all my holy priesthood, let not your hearts be troubled, neither be ye concerned about the management and organization of my church and priesthood and the accomplishment of my work.
3. “Fear me and observe my laws and I will reveal unto you, from time to time, through the channels that I have appointed, everything that shall be necessary for the future development and perfection of my church, for the adjustment and rolling forth of my kingdom, and for the building up and the establishment of my Zion.
4. “For ye are my priesthood and I am your God. Even so. Amen.”

 

[26]                                NOTES

NOTE 1. Documentation for this revelation may be found in the following places:

Doctrine & Covenants, Section 138, German second edition, Salt Lake City 1893 edition, and the 1903 Berlin third edition.

 

Doctrine & Covenants, Section 138, Danish 6th edition, Salt Lake City 1900 printing.

Doctrine & Covenants, Section 138, German 1893 second edition and 1903 third edition.

Doctrine & Covenants, Section 138, Swedish 1888, first edition and 1928 second edition.

Seventy’s Course in Theology, by B. H. Roberts, p. 16.

NOTE 2. “. . . the number of quorums was greatly increased, and after arriving in Utah the multiplication of quorums went on, but without definitely districting them. The result was that a quorum was scattered to wherever its members wandered, and the only meetings that could be held were “mass meetings” in appointed districts, instead of in quorum meetings. Under the readjustment of the quorums in 1883, however, it was proposed that quorum districts be organized with the establishment of headquarters for each quorum, where its records should be kept; such districts to be distributed throughout the church territory under the direction of the first council as the number of the priesthood residing in such localities might seem to justify; and any vacancies that existed, either in the presidency or the membership, might be filled by the ordination of persons residing in the locality in which the respective quorums were located; seventies removing from one district to another could take a transfer to the one into which they moved, and thus the quorums would be kept in existence, meet in their quorum capacity, and maintain a permanent entity, as a unit in the priesthood organization.

[27]        The first quorum was to consist of the first council of the first seventy, and the senior presidents of other quorums might act in their place. In all cases where members of the quorum were called in question a majority of their respective quorums were declared to have jurisdiction in all cases involving their standing as members of their respective quorums. Any complaints regarding the presidents of quorums made to the first seven presidents of seventy, who might suspend them, if the conduct complained of seemed to justify it, pending the action of the first quorum. Any presidents or members from whom fellowship was withdrawn were to be reported to the high council having jurisdiction. These several arrangements written as instructions for the setting in order of this body of priesthood, received the sanction of formal revelation through President John Taylor, on the 13th of April, 1883, by the Lord saying: “What ye have written is my will, and is acceptable unto me.”

COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF CHURCH

Vol. 6:107-108

 

 

[28]                        REVELATION OF MAY 1884

Given Through John Taylor

Logan, Utah

REVELATION given through President John Taylor in May 1884, Logan, Utah. It was given in answer to President Taylor’s inquiry if the Lord had accepted the Logan Temple dedication. Revelations pertaining to the past, the present and the future are promised.

1. “As thou hast asked me concerning this Temple, thus saith the Lord:
2. “I accept this house which thou hast built, and also the labors of the Committee, the Superintendent, and the Architect thereof, and of those who have in anywise contributed to the building or beautifying the same, by their labor or by their means;
3. “And inasmuch as it shall be preserved pure, and not be defiled, my presence shall be there, even the power of my Spirit, the Gift of the Holy Ghost; which shall be in this house hereafter more fully;
4. “And I will acknowledge the ordinances which shall be administered therein, both for the living and the dead;
5. “And my blessings shall attend the administration of the ordinances and shall rest upon those who administer therein; inasmuch as they comply with the order and institutions of my house, and act with purity and singleness of heart before me, according to my word, my ordinances and my law;
6. “And this house shall be a house of prayer, a house of learning, a house of God, wherein many great principles pertaining to the past, to the present and the future shall be revealed, and my word and my will be made known;

 

[29]  7. “And the laws of the Universe, pertaining to this world and other worlds be developed;

8. “For in these houses which have been built, I will reveal the abundance of those things pertaining to the past, the present and the future, to the life that now is, and the life that is to come, pertaining to law, order, rule, dominion and government, to things affecting this nation and other nations;
9. “The laws of the heavenly bodies in their times and seasons, and the principles or laws by which they are governed, and their relation to each other, and whether they be bodies celestial, terrestrial, or telestial, shall all be made known as I will, saith the Lord;
10. “For it is my will and my purpose to place my people in closer communion with the heavens, inasmuch as they will purify themselves and observe more diligently my law, for it is in mine heart to greatly bless and exalt my people, and to build up, exalt and beautify my Zion, inasmuch as they shall observe my law. Even so, Amen.”

 

* * * * *

 

NOTES

NOTE 1. “The Lord accepted dedication of the House of His people.”

JOURNAL OF WILFORD WOODRUFF

May 22, 1884

 

 

[30]                   REVELATION OF SEPTEMBER 26, 1886

Given Through John Taylor

Centerville, Utah

REVELATION given through President John Taylor on September 26, 1886 in Centerville, Utah. Everlasting covenants stand forever and are not revoked. Men to use their free agency pertaining to God’s laws.

1. “My Son John: You have asked me concerning the New and Everlasting Covenant and how far it is binding upon my people;
2. “Thus saith the Lord: All commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name, unless they are revoked by me or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant;
3. “For I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated, nor done away with, but they stand forever.
4. “Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject?
5. “Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my laws and the keeping of my commandments, and yet have I borne with them these many years; and this because of their weakness, because of the perilous times, and furthermore, it is more pleasing to me that men should use their free agency in regards to these matters.
6. “Nevertheless, I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not,
7. “And as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph: All those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law.

 

[31]  8. “And have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham’s seed and would enter into my glory, they must do the works of Abraham?

9. “I have not revoked this law, NOR WILL I, for it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof; Even so, Amen.”

* * * * *

 

NOTES

NOTE 1. “Tuesday, March 29, 1892. . . John W. Taylor spoke in relation to the Manifesto: `I do not know that thing was right, though I voted to sustain it, and will assist to maintain it; but among my father’s papers I found a revelation given him of the Lord, and which is now in my possession, in which the Lord told him that the principle of plural marriage would never be overcome. Pres. Taylor desired to have it suspended, but the Lord would not permit it to be done.’ At the close of John W.’s remarks, our meeting adjourned till tomorrow at 10 o’clock. I closed with prayer.”

ABRAHAM H. CANNON JOURNAL

March 29, 1892

Page 24

NOTE 2. “September 1, 1934. After reading some expressions in a letter ascribed to A. W. Ivins in which the foregoing revelation (1886) is referred to as an unsigned scrap of paper–a so-called revelation–the words of a man which were never submitted to the people of the Church and are not binding, etc., I went up and talked with my sister Nellie E. Taylor, plural wife of John W. Taylor to learn what she knew about it. She says John W. referred to the circumstances on several occasions and told how his father was in hiding at the home of John Woolley at Centerville the night it was received. That Lorin Woolley was on guard in the next room and witnessed a strange light under Pres. Taylor’s door. Next day a message was sent to those of the Apostles then at home to meet Pres. T. at Centerville. Bro. Geo. Gibbs arranged for a sheep wagon well closed in and drove them up. [32] John W. was asked to stand guard in the adjoining room. He said the revelation was submitted and received. The original was brought to the Temple, but as there was danger of the Temple being raided, it and other records were hidden by Wm. Salmon. This copy was later given to John W. who asked his brother-in-law, Rodney Badger, to place it in a safety box at the bank where he worked. It was later returned to John W. Taylor, who kept it in his office. While in this office, Ellen Sanberg was his secretary. He married her as a plural wife. After John’s death Ellen kept the revelation and worked for L. N. Stohl, who persuaded her to let him make photographic copies of it.

Nellie says that one night after his death, John W. came to her with a troubled look on his face and it was made known to her that he was concerned about this revelation–the one given to John Taylor. Nellie went to Mill Creek and Ethan reluctantly surrendered it. Nellie took it to Frank Y. Taylor and asked that he deliver it to the Church historian. Frank delayed and some inquiry was made about it. Nellie again saw him about it and Frank decided to surrender it but instead of taking it to the historian’s office, he took it to Pres. Grant and asked him if it was genuine and in the handwriting of his father. Pres. Grant said it was. Bro. Taylor asked how he could get around it. “I am not going to try to get around it,” replied Pres. Grant.

The revelation given to President Taylor Sept. 27, 1886, is as well authenticated as any we have, and is just as sacred and just as true. It is from the Lord and set forth His mind and will at that time. It has been claimed by several that inasmuch as it never was presented to the Church, it is not binding upon the Church. That simply announces that unless we in conference vote to accept a commandment of God, we are not required to keep that particular commandment, which is not true. If God gave a commandment to 100 men and 60 of them rejected it, that would not affect the commandment. Of course, they couldn’t obey the commandment till they heard it. This revelation could not be presented to the Church when it was received and by the time it could be presented, we had already acted in a way quite opposite to its injunctions, so it was not presented to the members in conference at all, but that does not change the revelation.

 

[33]        Anyone in the Church who refers to any one of these revelations received by President Taylor or Apostle or President Woodruff as “purported,” “so-called,” “pretended,” or as scraps of paper not binding because they were never accepted by the Church or as being received when an Apostle, is sowing confusion for himself and the Church to reap.

Excerpts from the

JOURNAL OF DOUGLAS M. TODD, SR.

1. 10-13

NOTE 3. The following excerpts were taken from the trial of John W. Taylor, held in the Salt Lake Temple, February 22 and March 1, 1911:

 

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“My father received a revelation which however was never presented to the Church, and I refer to this not because it was a revelation to my father; I don’t think a revelation because it came through him was any greater than one receive of through any other president of the Church, but because it seems to pertain to this question.”

(The revelation was read by Brother Penrose.)

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“There are two things I am drawing your attention to. I am not in politics and very little in the Church, but I do this as a matter of privilege. This revelation is either true or it is false. Assuming that it is true, it seems to me that it would be better to offer leniency on the side of the Lord if you are going to offer any leniency, than on the side of politics. . . . Brother Lyman, what do you think of the revelation to my father?”

PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN:

“If you ask me if I believe in the plurality of wives, I would say that I believe it is true and will always be so, but the Lord may suspend the practice of it, and how much of the responsibility remains with the people and with the government, I don’t know. I am living with my wives now all the time, but I don’t hold the Church responsible for it but shoulder the responsibility myself . . . . I have no fault to find with the revelation.”

APOSTLE CHARLES W. PENROSE:

“Do you understand the free agency referred to in the revelation gives any one the privilege of taking a plural wife?”

[34] APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I take it that it refers to the individual and relieved the Church of the responsibility and placed the responsibility upon the individual.”

PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN:

“When did you find this revelation?”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I found it on his desk immediately after his death, when I was appointed administrator of his estate. . . .”

PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN:

“Do you think anyone can solemnize plural marriages with authority now?

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I feel under certain circumstances they could, but it would depend on the circumstances.”

PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN:

“What conditions?”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I fully explained that last time.”

APOSTLE CHARLES W. PENROSE:

“What are your views with regard to that revelation?”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I am not the one to pass upon that revelation. I think you are the ones to do that.”

APOSTLE CHARLES W. PENROSE:

“What I desire to get at is as to how you view the matter, whether you have been guided by that in your case. You brought the revelation to us and it has never been accepted by the Church or presented to it.”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I think the only thing to do is to go to the presiding priesthood of the Lord and get his idea on it and get him to inquire of the Lord what His mind is regarding it.

APOSTLE CHARLES W. PENROSE:

“I don’t think Brother Taylor should come here and tell us what we need to do. But what I wanted to know is what he thought the President meant by the revelation, whether the man was placed upon his own responsibility by that revelation and the President and Church relieved of all responsibility or not.”

APOSTLE ANTHONY W. IVINS:

“Do you know how extensively this revelation has been circulated in times past and has guided people in their actions in this regard?”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR

“Brother Joseph Robinson came to me and asked for a copy of it upon the suggestion of Brother Cowley and he got it from Brother Badger. Brother Joseph F. Smith, Jr. also got a copy but I don’t know how many have got copies from these.”

APOSTLE ANTHONY W. IVINS:

“You don’t know what inference was placed upon it in early times?”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“No, I don’t know.”

[35] APOSTLE ANTHONY W. IVINS:

“I ask this question because I have heard some of the brethren interpret this revelation in this way, and I would like to find out to what extent they had the endorsement of the Church in view of this revelation, and what was the reason these brethren went to Canada and Mexico. Do you know what they based their belief upon; as they seemed to be sincere. Whether it was from this revelation or from the President of the Church or from what grounds were taken that they could come in contact with the law of the land and still win out. I would like to know from Brother Taylor what he knows about this and if they were justified in it.”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“President Smith has come out on numerous occasions with the statement that there have been no marriages of a polygamous nature solemnized with the approval of the Church, since 1890. He stands at the head of this dispensation at this moment and has adopted that policy, and as far as I am concerned I don’t want to come in conflict with President Smith on this proposition. I don’t know what others have taken from this revelation. If the revelation is true, it would certainly impress me that the Church was relieved of responsibility in this matter and the responsibility placed upon the individual.”

APOSTLE ORSON F. WHITNEY:

“Was it not the policy during your father’s administration to leave everything to the mind of the individual? I know this was the case with me when I went to inquire if I should take the test oath. I was told to exercise my own judgment. Also there is no authority as far as I can see in that revelation, no authority given to man to exercise such authority in marrying anyone, but the question of whether they should go into the relationship was left with the individual, as in President Young’s time men were commanded to go into it.”

APOSTLE CHARLES W. PENROSE:

“I feel that we should not express our own views on this revelation but should have Brother Taylor’s views if he will give them; if not, we can get through with that question.”

PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN:

“The date of this revelation is September 1886, four years before the manifesto of President Woodruff and I remember at that time that President Taylor and all his brethren were very strongly entrenched in the principle of plural marriage. From [36] 1880 to 1890 men were almost commanded to enter it, especially the officials of the Church. We were all pretty well engaged in this question. The change came in 1890 when President Woodruff felt the necessity that plural marriage should cease and after that he felt just as strong against it, as President Taylor had felt for it before. It was subsequent to this that President Smith made his declaration that the Church took no responsibility for the unlawful co-habitation of those in plural marriage and the performance of plural marriages. I would like to ask if you have encouraged others to take plural wives, or taken them yourself or if you think these brethren who have copies of this revelation have taken it as an encouragement, for instance, Brother Robinson.”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I will answer that by asking if anyone you have had here before you has ever said that I encouraged him.”

PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN:

“No one except Wolff, and you admit having encouraged him under the direction of a superior officer.”

APOSTLE DAVID O. McKAY:

“I would like to know who the man is that directed you to instruct Brother Wolff to marry a certain party.”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I would not wish to take issue with the President of the Church or anyone who is at the head of the Church. I went to President Smith’s office the other day and had a three and one-half hour talk with him and John Henry Smith and he said that he had never authorized anyone to perform a plural marriage. I am not saying that he is the one to whom I refer, but I do not want to say any more on this point.”

APOSTLE HYRUM M. SMITH:

“I would like Brother Taylor to feel that we are not persuading him or any other man to do harm but simply to get at the bottom of these matters. I feel that you are responsible for the circulation of that revelation.”

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“I am willing to put in a supplemental answer to the effect that I have never married anyone without the endorsement and authority of the President of the Church and, if you desire, I will give the names of those I have married, but I think this would be unwise. . . .”

APOSTLE CHARLES W. PENROSE:

“Under this purported revelation from your father, do you think this authority is given [37] to anyone to perform a plural marriage on their own free agency?”

JOHN W. TAYLOR:

“If a men had been authorized in any way by authority to perform a marriage, under that revelation he would be.”

MINUTES FROM SPECIAL MEETINGS

OF QUORUM OF TWELVE

Salt Lake Temple

Feb. 22 & Mar. 1, 1911

 

 

[38]                   REVELATION OF NOVEMBER 24, 1889

Given Through Wilford Woodruff

Salt Lake City, Utah

REVELATION given through President Wilford Woodruff, November 24, 1889. Given in answer to his prayer about making concessions to the Government and the courts in regard to plural marriages. Church Presidency not to deny His law, make promises or pledges to the enemies, Judgments at the door. Anointed to keep commandments and exercise faith.

 

1. “Thus saith the Lord to my servant Wilford. I, the Lord, have heard thy prayers and thy request, and will answer thee by the voice of my spirit.
2. “Thus saith the Lord unto my servants the presidency of My Church, who hold the Keys of the Kingdom of God on the earth. I the Lord hold the destiny of the courts in your midst, and the destiny of this nation, and the destiny of all other nations of the earth, in mine own hands, and all that I have revealed and promised and decreed concerning the generation in which you live shall come to pass, and no power shall stay my hand.
3. “Let not my servants who are called to the presidency of my Church deny my word or my law, which concerns the salvation of the children of men.
4. “Let them pray for the Holy Spirit which shall be given them to guide them in their acts.
5. “Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise.”
6. “Your enemies seek your destruction and the destruction of my people.
7. “If the Saints will hearken unto my voice, and the counsel of my servants, the wicked shall not prevail.

 

[39]  8. “Let my servants who officiate as your counselors before the courts make their pleadings as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit, without any further pledges from my Priesthood.

9. “I, the Lord, will hold the courts, with the officers of government and the nation responsible for their acts towards the inhabitants of Zion.
10. “I, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father.
11. “Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
12. “Fear not the wicked and ungodly.
13. “Search the scriptures, for they are they which testify of me; also those revelations which I have given to my servant Joseph, and to all my servants since the world began, which are recorded in the record of divine truth.
14. “Those revelations contain the judgments of God which are to be poured out upon all nations under the heavens, which include Great Babylon. These judgments are at the door. They will be fulfilled as God lives.
15. “Leave judgment with me, it is mine, saith the Lord.
16. “Watch the signs of the times and they will show the fulfillment of the words of the Lord. Let my servants call upon the Lord in mighty prayer, retain the Holy Ghost as your constant companion and act as you are moved upon by the Spirit, and all will be well with you.
17. “The wicked are fast ripening in iniquity, and they will be cut off by the judgments of God.

 

[40]  18. “Great events await you and this generation and are nigh at your doors.

19. “Awake! O Israel, and have faith in God and his promises and he will not forsake you.
20. “I the Lord will deliver my Saints from the dominion of the wicked in mine own due time and way.
21. “I cannot deny my Word, neither in blessings nor judgments. Therefore let mine anointed gird up their loins, watch and be sober, and keep my commandments.
22. “Pray always and faint not. Exercise faith be in the Lord and in the promises of God; be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.
23. “The eyes of the Lord and the Heavenly Hosts are watching over you and your acts. Therefore be faithful until I come. I come quickly to reward every man, according to the deeds done in the body. Even so, Amen.”

 

[41]                                NOTES

NOTE 1.

Thursday, Dec. 19th: . . . During our meeting a revelation was read which Pres. Woodruff received Sunday evening, Nov. 24th. Propositions had been made for the Church to make some concessions to the Courts in regard to its principles. Both of Pres. Woodruff”s counselors refused to advise him as to the course he should pursue, and he therefore laid the matter before the Lord. The answer came quick and strong. The word of the Lord was for us not to yield one particle of that which He had revealed and established. He had done and would continue to care for His work and those of the Saints who were faithful and we need have no fear of our enemies when we were in the line of our duty. We are promised redemption and deliverance if we will trust in God and not in the arm of flesh. We were admonished to read and study the Word of God, and to pray often. The whole revelation was filled with words of the greatest encouragement and comfort, and my heart was filled with joy and peace during the entire reading. It sets all doubts at rest concerning the course to pursue.

JOURNAL OF ABRAHAM CANNON

December 19, 1889

NOTE 2.

Saturday, Nov. 23, 1889: . . . The Church attorneys and John W. Young met at the office with Prsts. Cannon and Smith to consider the property of putting further testimony in Court more fully explaining the instructions to pray for the avenging the blood of the prophets in the Endowments also in regard to anointing the arm. Bro. Young felt it will be a proper time to state in Court that instructions have been given by the Presidency that no more plural marriages shall be solemnized, etc. Pres. Cannon was not in favor of such action and said that Pres. Woodruff was the only one to decide that. Bro. Young suggested that to have time to see Pres. Woodruff, the attorneys should ask to have the case continued till Monday morning. This was approved and it was proposed that Bro. Young see Pres. Woodruff tomorrow.

Sunday, Nov. 24, 1889: Bro. D. R. Bateman called for me with a buggy this evening and took me to the Gardo House. I found Pres. Woodruff there. He with Pres. George Q. Cannon [42] had met this afternoon with Bro. John W. Young, LeGrand Young, Jas. H. Moyle and R. W. Young to consider the matters as presented and talked upon yesterday, and the question was left with Pres. Woodruff to decide. The President told me of this and said that he had made the subject a matter of prayer and by the voice of the spirit he was directed to write, after he had concluded writing which he was doing when I arrived. He asked me to copy a revelation which he had received–I did so. Having heard Bro. J. W. Young’s reasoning, I felt very much worked up in my feelings for I did not feel that as a Church we could assume the position in regard to Celestial Marriage which he seemed to desire should be taken, and when Pres. Woodruff commenced talking to me this evening I felt that he had become converted and actually trembled, for I know such had not been Pros. Woodruff’s feelings before, but as I wrote at his dictation, I felt better all the time and when completed I felt as light and joyous as it is possible to feel, for I was satisfied that Pres. Woodruff had received the word of the Lord. When Pres. Jos. F. Smith returned and read the revelation he was moved to tears and expressed his approval and acceptance of the word of the Lord to His Servants and Saints. We all felt well and thankful to the Lord.

Monday, Nov. 27, 1889. The presidency of the Office. I attended to our Mail Matter. . . . I also wrote a letter to Bro. J. D. T. McAllister, St. George for Pres. Woodruff. Revelation of Pres. Woodruff, Sunday Nov. 24th, 1889: (Revelation then quoted.)

1. JOHN NUTTALL JOURNAL

(Original) 16:162-170

 

 

REVELATIONS

1880 – 1890

 

PART II

 

Table of Contents

 

Compiled by

OGDEN KRAUT

 

1973

 

 

PREFACE

During the national crusades against the Church from 1880 to 1890, President John Taylor received many revelations from the Lord. Those revelations were seldom brought to the attention of the membership of the Church because the leading men were either hiding in the underground or in prison.

The following revelations were recorded by one of his daughters and have just recently been located. A sample of one of the hand-written pages is reproduced on the following page of this pamphlet.

These four revelations are in addition to those eight recorded in our previous book on “Revelations.”

Ogden Kraut

 

 

[1]                    REVELATION OF JUNE 25 & 26, 1882

Given Through John Taylor

REVELATION given through John Taylor in answer to a question on Celestial Marriage. This principle is not for the nations of the world, but only for the elect. Those that have this law revealed to them and don’t obey it, are damned. Any covenants or contracts not sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise are of no force or efficacy after the resurrection. It is contrary to the constitution to prohibit the living of Celestial Marriage in this country.

 

Celestial Marriage

1. Question: Is the law of Celestial Marriage a law given to this nation or to the world?
2. Answer: No, in no other sense than as the Gospel is given, and in accordance with the laws thereof. So far as it is made known unto them as the Gospel is made known unto them and is a part of the New and Everlasting Covenant;
3. And it is only those who receive the Gospel that are able to, or capable of, entering into this Covenant.
4. Have I not said through my servant, Joseph, that “all Kingdoms are governed by law,” and if they receive not the law of my Gospel, they cannot participate in the blessings of celestial marriage, which pertains to my elect.
5. No person, or people, or nation can enter into the principle of celestial marriage unless they come in by me, saith the Lord, and obey the law of my Gospel through the medium of him who is appointed unto this [2] power, as made known unto my people through my servant, Joseph, in a revelation on “The eternity of the marriage covenant, including plurality of wives.”
6. I have therein stated that “All those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same; for, behold I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting Covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.” [Doc. & Cov. Sec. 132, Ver. 3, 4.]
7. Furthermore; “And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fullness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fullness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God.” [Doc. & Cov. Sec. 132, Ver. 6.]
8. It is again written that “all Kingdoms have a law given.” [Doc. & Cov. Sec. 88, Ver. 36.]
9. The Celestial Kingdom, including the promise of eternal life pertains to “the Church of the First Born, even of God the holiest of all, thro’ Jesus Christ his son;” [Doc. & Cov. Sec. 88, Ver. 5.]
10. Therefore, such must be sanctified from all unrighteousness that they may be prepared for the Celestial Glory, “for he who is not able to abide the law of a Celestial Kingdom, cannot abide a celestial glory;
11. And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial Kingdom, cannot abide a terrestrial glory.

 

[3]   12. He who cannot abide the law of a telestial Kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory: therefore he is not meet for a Kingdom of glory; therefore he must abide a Kingdom which is not a Kingdom of glory.” [Doc. & Cov. Sec. 88, Ver. 22, 24.]

13. Each of the persons inhabiting these several kingdom shall be quickened by the same power that pertains to the Kingdom that they are destined to inherit, whether Celestial, terrestrial, or telestial, and shall receive of their respective glories.
14. And, again, it is written, “And, again, Verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law, and perfected and sanctified by the same.
15. That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment.” [Doc. & Cov. Sec. 88, Ver. 34, 35.]
16. It is further written, speaking of Celestial Marriage, “And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations that are not made, and entered into, and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and Commandment thro’ the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power, (and I have appointed unto my servant, Joseph, to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth [4] at a time, or on whom this power and the keys of this Priesthood are conferred,) are of no efficacy, virtue or force, in and after the resurrection from the dead;
17. For all contracts that are not made unto this end, have an end when men are dead.”
18. This law is a Celestial law and pertains to a Celestial Kingdom.
19. It is a new and everlasting Covenant, and appertains to thrones, principalities, powers, dominions, and eternal increase in the Celestial Kingdom of God.
20. You are not now sent to proclaim this principle to the United States, nor the world; nor to urge it upon them.
21. It is not for them as a nation, or nations, only as many as accept the law of my Gospel and are governed thereby.
22. Behold, if you were to preach this principle unto them and they said, “We accept it,” could you then administer it unto them? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.
23. Have I not said, “Behold, mine house is a house of order,” saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.
24. Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not made in my name, or will I receive at your hands that which I have not appointed, and will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be by law, even as I and my Father ordained before the world was!
25. “I am the Lord thy God, and I give unto you this commandment, that no man shall come unto the Father but by me, or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord;

 

[5]   26. And everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord, your God;

27. For whatsoever things remain, are by me; and whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed.
28. “Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me, nor by my word; and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she be with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.” [Doc. & Cov. Sec. 132, Ver. 9-15.]
29. You ask, what shall we do?
30. Thus saith the Lord God, obey my law, and seek not to become a law unto yourselves, nor trust to outside influences;
31. But seek in the way appointed to the Lord your God. Ye are my spokesmen, I am your God; and as I have before said, I now again say, Henceforth do as I shall command you.
32. Concerning the course taken by the United States, they have a right to reject this law themselves; as they have a right to reject the Gospel; but it is contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, for them to prohibit you from obeying it.

 

[6]   33. Therefore, abide in my law which I have revealed unto you, saith the Lord God, and contend for your rights by every legal and constitutional method and in accordance with the institutions, laws, and Constitution of the United States.

34. Be humble, be faithful, be diligent, seek unto me and it shall be made known unto you, from time to time, what my will is pertaining to this matter.
35. I am the Lord Your God, hearken unto me, and obey my law, and your enemies shall be confounded, and my Kingdom shall be victorious. Amen.

 

 

[7]                    REVELATION OF JUNE OR JULY 1882

Given Through John Taylor

REVELATION given through John Taylor in late June or very early in July of 1882. Rulers of Kingdom and Church identified. Kingdom established to protect the Church. Any kingdom or government that fights against the Lord shall be overthrown.

1. Am I not King of Kings and Lord of lords?
2. Do I not rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath, as I will, saith the Lord?
3. And though men do not acknowledge me yet do I control them; and I will control them according to my will and purposes, and I will make use of the Kings of the earth, and the rulers and powers of the earth to accomplish my purposes, saith the Lord God your Redeemer, and none shall stay my hand.
4. And I will build up my Kingdom as I have heretofore decreed and made known through the mouth of mine holy Prophets, so far as they have declared my purposes pertaining thereto;
5. And I have many other things to make known and to proclaim relative to my Church and to my Kingdom, and to the building up of my Zion on the earth.
6. Behold, you are my Kingdom and rulers in my Kingdom and then you are also, many of you, rulers in my Church according to your ordinations therein. For are you not of the First Presidency, and of the Twelve Apostles, and some Presidents of Stakes, and some Bishops, and some High Priests and some Seventies and Elders therein?
7. And are ye not all of my Church and belong to my holy Priesthood?

 

[8]   8. And then, are ye not all of my Kingdom, and do you not belong to my Kingdom, and are ye not the representatives thereof, even my Constitution?

9. And am I not your God, even your Redeemer and your King?
10. Behold, I have told you to do as I command you, and have I not a right to dictate in the affairs of my Kingdom, and is it not incumbent upon you to obey me as your Lord, your lawgiver and your King?
11. Behold, thus saith the Lord, I will be obeyed by my Council, and if they do not acknowledge me, I will not acknowledge them, saith the Lord of hosts, the God and King of the whole earth.
12. Speaking of my Church, Behold I established my Church that I might reveal unto them my word, and my will and the law of the Gospel, and the order of the holy Priesthood, and I set in order my Priesthood, even the Aaronic and Melchesidek, and I have sent forth mine Elders to the world to preach this Gospel of the Kingdom to all people, and to gather mine elect from among all nations, that a people might be prepared through my Gospel, through the manifestation of my Spirit, even the Spirit of Truth, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and through the teachings of my holy Priesthood and the revelations of my will, to comprehend the law of my Gospel, to be one with each other, and to be one with me as I am one with the Father, to comprehend and obey the principles of righteousness, virtue, holiness, purity, and the love and fear of God, and to assist in building my Zion unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and to prepare for the salvation and redemption of the world, even the living and the dead.
13. And, again, it required this Gospel, this Priesthood, this revelation, this unity, this Spirit, to [9] introduce the Kingdom of God, the law of God, the authority and dominion of God, that the will of God might be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
14. I rule now among the nations but not by their consent, and the rulers of the earth do not know me or my law, nor recognize my authority.

 

15. They have their free agency and use it; so have also my people, and they use their agency through my Gospel to serve me, to obey my law and to build up my Church and Kingdom.
16. For outside of my Church there is no people on the earth who will listen to my law, and if there was no people who would listen to my law, how could I have a Kingdom, and how could I be their ruler?
17. I have established my Kingdom to be a shield and protection to my Church, to learn and comprehend my law, and to carry out my purposes, that my will may be done on earth as it is done in heaven;
18. The Church through the law and Spirit of the Gospel to preserve the virtue and purity of the Kingdom; and the Kingdom to preserve and protect the Church from the aggressions of the wicked and ungodly.
19. And behold, I do not want my own will, but the will of my Father; the same is my Father and my God, and your Father and your God, and we are one, I in him, and you in me.
20. Are I and my Father with the Church? Yes.
21. Are we not also with the Kingdom? Yes.
22. Am I not your God, your Ahman Christ? acknowledge me.

You so acknowledge me.

 

[10]  23. My Father is King of Kings and Lord of lords. I rule as my Father directs me, and if ye rule and direct according to my will, under the direction of my servant who is your president and head, are we not one, and is it not the rule and government of God?

24. And any Kingdom, or government, or dominion that is not under my direction, and does not acknowledge me I will not acknowledge, saith the Lord of hosts;
25. And if they fight against me and my laws, and my Church, and my Kingdom, they shall be overthrown in mine own due time, for I have so decreed. Even so, Amen.

 

 

[11]                     REVELATION OF APRIL 28, 1883

Given Through John Taylor

Salt Lake City

REVELATION given through John Taylor in response to his question why his mind had been confused and dull for the past two days. The contemplated arrangement with Thomas not acceptable. Forbidden for the Presidency to go into debt, unless commanded by the Lord. John Taylor to be the Lord’s mouthpiece. His counselors, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith, acceptable before the Lord. School of the Prophets to be organized for those who were worthy.

1. You have asked me why your mind was confused and dull within the last two days.
2. Verily, thus saith the Lord, by the whisperings of his spirit and the still small voice, that the arrangement which you have contemplated with my servant, Thomas, is not acceptable to me.
3. He should have listened to your offer which would have been profitable to himself and acceptable to me.
4. When you rejected his offer you did right, and Spirit was with you;
5. But when you, in your zeal to show that you had faith in me and in my word, accepted propositions and assumed responsibilities which were not in accordance with the order that I showed you, you did wrong, and I withdrew my Spirit.
6. For it is forbidden my Presidency to go into debt unless I, the Lord, command it; for these things lead to confusion and bondage.

 

[12]  7. Besides, have I not shown unto you, my servant John, a way to raise a fund which should be at your disposal for the accomplishment of my purposes, and by which the rights and properties of my people should be preserved in all of these matters?

8. You must abide by this principle. My servant, Thomas, does not understand fully this matter.
9. Confer with him on this subject, and if he can see these things and follow counsel he shall assist you in the developments contemplated.
10. For you, nor my servant, George Q. Cannon, cannot attend to these details; but if he, Thomas, cannot enter freely into this matter without restraint, then shall you arrange with him, according to wisdom, and withdraw from the consummation of the contemplated arrangement.
11. Behold, I have shown unto you many things, and I will continue to make known unto you my will, from time to time, on things temporal as well as spiritual, things pertaining to my Church, my Kingdom and my Zion;
12. And you shall be my mouthpiece saith the Lord, and I will greatly bless you, and lift you up, and exalt you, saith the Lord, for your words and works are acceptable unto me, and I know of your zeal and integrity in my cause, and you shall be made a blessing to my people, and your name shall be honored in Israel, and in this nation and among the nations of the earth;
13. For they that honor me I will honor.
14. And I will also greatly bless my servant, George Q. Cannon, who is acceptable before me, and who is exceedingly desirous to do my will.

 

[13]  15. And I will also bless my servant, Joseph F. Smith, whose heart and spirit is right before me, and who is also desirous to fulfil my law,

16. And these your counselors shall be greatly blessed with you; and you shall be my mouthpiece unto them, and I will also show unto them my will from time to time.
17. And you shall be one in spiritual things, and also in temporal things in due time, and I will show unto my people and unto the world, that this world is mine, and that I created it by my power, and the gold and silver, and copper, and brass, and iron and riches and precious things thereof, and all that pertains there-unto are mine;

 

18. And my people shall know that they are mine, and that they live in me, and move and exist by me, and have their being from me, and that all which they possess is mine, and is obtained of me, and that they are, and can only be, stewards over that which I have given unto them to possess, and which they could not have only of me and by me, whether it relates to this earth and the fulness thereof, to wives, children, and friends, to gold, silver, houses, lands, riches and possessions pertaining thereto, or to thrones, principalities, powers, dominions and exaltations in my eternal Kingdoms.
19. And my presidency shall be one, and the Twelve shall be one, and the Presidencies of Stakes and the High Councils shall be one, and all of my holy Priesthood in their several quorums, standings, offices, and positions, shall be one and all of my Priesthood shall be united as one, and they shall be one with my people, and my people shall be one with them, and they shall be my Church, my Kingdom and my Zion, and I will be one with them and be their God.

 

[14]  20. Let every person, therefore, be diligent and act in their several positions, callings or Priesthood, and honor and magnify the same, and honor and obey me, the Lord their God, and respect and obey the counsels of my holy Priesthood, and I will honor and exalt them, saith the Lord, in time and throughout eternity.

21. And as it regards my servant, John Taylor, it is not necessary for him to attend to the minutia or details of either spiritual or temporal things, but only to give general directions, or as I may make manifest from time to time.
22. And his counselors are to be his assistants.
23. And the First Presidency shall call upon the Twelve, the Presidents of Stakes, the Bishops, and others to assist in these duties, and I will raise up wise and prudent men, from time to time, to assist in Temporal as well as Spiritual things, for they are all one with me.
24. And, then, let the Twelve call upon the Seventies; and let the High Priests, the High Councils, and Elders, and Bishops and the lesser Priesthood, and all who labor for Zion be diligent and obedient, and let every man put in his sickle and reap, and fulfil and magnify his calling, office or Priesthood.
25. These things belong to my Priesthood, but more properly to the School of the Prophets.
26. Let the School of the Prophets be organized, even all such as are worthy, but if they are found unworthy; they shall not have a place in my school;
27. For I will be honored by my Priesthood; and let my laws be made known unto them as may be deemed expedient.

 

 

[15]                   REVELATION OF DECEMBER 25, 1884

Given Through John Taylor

Salt Lake City

REVELATION given through John Taylor to instruct the families to put themselves in order and obey his law in order to receive blessing and protection from the Lord. A day of judgment and sorrow soon to overtake this and other nations. The Lord will sustain the righteous.

 

1. There are some things that ought to be put right.
2. Some time ago there was word given for the brethren and their families to put themselves in order before the Lord; and it is necessary that these things should be carried out, for there has been a negligence in some of these matters;
3. And if my people and Priesthood desire my blessing, and guidance, and protection, they must and shall be subject to my law.
4. And it is necessary that the various quorums of the Priesthood should place themselves right before me, saith the Lord;
5. And that as individuals they should place themselves in that position, for if they do not they have no claim upon my blessing or my protection.
6. A day of trouble, and anxiety and sorrow, and judgment will soon overtake this nation and other nations: it is nigh at hand, and the inhabitants of Zion must purge themselves from iniquity, folly, covetousness, and vanity, and listen to and obey my laws, or they cannot have my protection.
7. For I, the Lord, will not be mocked, but the wrongdoer shall receive the just recompense of reward; and the sinners in Zion shall be afraid;

 

[16]  8. And fearfulness shall also take hold of the wicked and the ungodly that are in your midst.

9. And if you, my people, obey my law and keep my commandments, to do them not in name only, but in reality, I will be your shield and protector, and your strong tower and no man shall be able to hurt you, for I will be your defense.
10. Therefore, humble yourselves before me, and purify yourselves, that your acts and doings may be acceptable before me.
11. For if you do not you will share in the condemnation of the wicked.
12. Therefore, listen to the counsels of those whom I have appointed, and seek not your own will and way, but the will of the Lord your God;
13. For by him only can you be sustained in the time of trouble which is just approaching. Even so, Amen.