Chapter XIII.
Project Gutenberg HTML edition
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Smith, Joseph, Jr., and Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
{143} 37. And they have farms that cannot be sold, let them be left or rented as seemeth them good.
38. See that all things are preserved; and when men are endowed with power from on high and sent forth, all these things shall be gathered unto the bosom of the Church.
39. And if ye seek the riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the riches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old.
40. And again I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that every man, both Elder, Priest, Teacher, and also member, go to with his might, with the labor of his hands, to prepare and accomplish the things which I have commanded.
41. And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness.
42. And go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Even so. Amen.
James Covill.
Not long after this conference of the 2nd of January closed, there was a man came to me by the name of James Covill, who had been a Baptist minister for about forty years, and covenanted with the Lord that he would obey any command that the Lord would give to him through me, as His servant, and I received the following:
Revelation to James Covill, given at Fayette, New York, January 5th, 1831.[2]
1. Hearken and listen to the voice of Him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I AM, even Jesus Christ,
2. The light and life of the world; a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not:
3. The same which came in the meridian of time unto my own, and my own received me not;
4. But to as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons, and even so will I give unto as many as will receive me, power to become my sons.
5. And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my Gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my Gospel receiveth not me.
{144} 6. And this is my Gospel: repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the Kingdom.
7. And now, behold, I say unto you, my servant James, I have looked upon thy works and I know thee;
8. And verily I say unto thee, thine heart is now right before me at this time, and behold, I have bestowed great blessings upon thy head.
9. Nevertheless thou hast seen great sorrow, for thou hast rejected me many times because of pride and the cares of the world;
10. But, behold, the days of thy deliverance are come, if thou wilt hearken to my voice, which saith unto thee, arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on my name, and you shall receive my Spirit, and a blessing so great as you never have known.
11. And if thou do this, I have prepared thee for a greater work. Thou shalt preach the fullness of my Gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days; the covenant which I have sent forth to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel.
12. And it shall come to pass that power shall rest upon thee; thou shalt have great faith, and I will be with thee and go before thy face.
13. Thou art called to labor in my vineyard, and to build up my Church, and to bring forth Zion, that it may rejoice upon the hills and flourish.
14. Behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou art not called to go into the eastern countries, but thou art called to go to the Ohio.
15. And inasmuch as my people shall assemble themselves to the Ohio, I have kept in store a blessing such as is not known among the children of men, and it shall be poured forth upon their heads. And from thence men shall go forth into all nations.
16. Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the people in Ohio call upon me in much faith, thinking I will stay my hand in judgment upon the nations, but I cannot deny my word;
17. Wherefore lay to with your might and call faithful laborers into my vineyard, that it may be pruned for the last time.
18. And inasmuch as they do repent and receive the fullness of my Gospel, and become sanctified, I will stay my hand in judgment:
19. Wherefore, go forth, crying with a loud voice, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand; crying Hosanna! blessed be the name of the most High God.
20. Go forth baptizing with water, preparing the way before my face, for the time of my coming;
21. For the time is at hand; the day nor the hour no man knoweth; but it surely shall come.
{145} 22. And he that receiveth these things receiveth me; and they shall be gathered unto me in time and in eternity.
23. And again, it shall come to pass, that on as many as ye shall baptize with water, ye shall lay your hands, and they shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and shall be looking forth for the signs of my coming, and shall know me.
24. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen.
Why Covill Rejected the Commandment.
As James Covill rejected the word of the Lord, and returned to his former principles and people, the Lord gave unto me and Sidney Rigdon the following revelation, explaining why he obeyed not the word:
Revelation given at Fayette, New York, January 6, 1831.[3]
1. Behold, verily, I say unto you, that the heart of my servant James Covill was right before me, for he covenanted with me that he would obey my word,
2. And he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan tempted him; and the fear of persecution, and the cares of the world, caused him to reject the word;
3. Wherefore he broke my covenant, and it remaineth with me to do with him as seemeth me good. Amen.
The Prophet Removes to Ohio.