A Revelation given to Joseph, in Harmony, Pennsylvania, May, 1829,
informing him of the alteration of the Manuscript of the fore part of
the book of Mormon.
- Now, behold I say unto you, that because you delivered up so many
writings, which you had power to translate, into the hands of a wicked
man, you have lost them, and you also lost your gift at the same time,
nevertheless it has been restored unto you again: therefore, see that
you are faithful and go on unto the finishing of the remainder of the
work as you have begun. Do not run faster then you have strength and
means provided to translate, but be diligent unto the end, that you
may come off conquerer; yea, that you may conquer satan, and those that
do uphold his work.
- Behold they have sought to destroy you; yea, even the man in whom
you have trusted, and for this cause I said, that he is a wicked man,
for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been intrusted;
and he has also sought to destroy your gift, and because you have delivered
the writings into his hands, behold they have taken them from you: therefore,
you have delivered them up; yea, that which was sacred unto wickedness.
And behold, satan has put it into their hearts to alter the words which
you have caused to be written, or which you have translated, which have
gone out of your hands; and behold I say unto you, that because they
have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated
and caused to be written; and on this wise the devil has sought to lay
a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work; for he has put it into
their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught
you in the words which you have pretended to translate.
- Verily I say unto you, that I will not suffer that satan shall accomplish
his evil design in this thing, for behold he has put it into their hearts
to tempt the Lord their God; for behold they say in their hearts, We
will see if God has given him power to translate, if so, he will also
give him power again; and if God giveth him power again, or if he translate
again, or in other words, if he bringeth forth the same words, behold
we have the same with us, and we have altered them: Therefore, they
will not agree, and we will say that he has lied in his words, and that
he has no gift, and that he has no power: therefore, we will destroy
him, and also the work, and we will do this that we may not be ashamed
in the end, and that we may get glory of the world.
- Verily, verily I say unto you, that satan has great hold upon their
hearts; he stirreth them up to do iniquity against that which is good,
that he may lead their souls to destruction, and thus he has laid a
cunning plan to destroy the work of God; yea, he stirreth up their hearts
to anger against this work; yea, he saith unto them, Deceive and lie
in wait to catch, that ye may destroy: behold this is no harm, and thus
he flattereth them and telleth them that it is no sin to lie, that they
may catch a man in a lie, that they may destroy him, and thus he flattereth
them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell;
and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare; and
thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to destroy
the souls of men.
- Verily, verily I say unto you, wo be unto him that lieth to deceive,
because he supposeth that another lieth to decieve, for such are not
exempt from the justice of God.
- Now, behold they have altered those words, because satan saith unto
them, He hath decieved you, and thus he flattereth them away to do iniquity,
to tempt the Lord their God.
- Behold I say unto you, that you shall not translate again those words
which have gone forth out of your hands; for behold, they shall not
lie any more against those words; for behold, if you should bring forth
the same words, they would say that you have lied; that you have pretended
to translate, but that you have contradicted your words; and behold
they would publish this, and satan would harden the hearts of the people,
to stir them up to anger against you, that they might not believe my
words: thus satan would overpower this generation, that the work might
not come forth in this generation: but behold here is wisdom, and because
I show unto you wisdom, and give you commandments concerning these things,
what you shall do, show it not unto the world until you have accomplished
the work.
- Marvel not that I said unto you, here is wisdom, show it not unto
the world, for I said, show it not unto the world, that you may be preserved.
Behold I do not say that you shall not show it unto the righteous: but
as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell
the wicked from the righteous: therefore, I say unto you, hold your
peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world
concerning the matter.
- And now, verily I say unto you, that an account of those things that
you have written, which have gone out of your hands, are engraven upon
the plates of Nephi; yea, and you remember, it was said in those writings,
that a more particular account was given of these things upon the plates
of Nephi.
- And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of
Nephi, is more particular concerning the things, which in my wisdom
I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account: therefore,
you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi,
down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you
come to that which you have translated, which you have retained; and
behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi, and thus I will
confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they
shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is
greater than the cunning of the devil.
- Behold they have only got a part, or an abridgement of the account
of Nephi. Behold there are many things engraven on the plates of Nephi,
which do throw greater views upon my gospel: therefore, it is wisdom
in me, that you should translate this first part of the engravings of
Nephi, and send forth in this work. And behold, all the remainder of
this work, does contain all those parts of my gospel which my holy prophets;
yea, and also my disciples desired in their prayers, should come forth
unto this people. And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto
them according to their faith in their prayers: yea, and this was their
faith, that my gospel which I gave unto them, that they might preach
in their days, might come unto their brethren, the Lamanites, and also,
all that had become Lamanites, because of their dissensions.
- Now this is not all, their faith in their prayers were, that this
gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other nations
should possess this land; and thus they did leave a blessing upon this
land in their prayers, that whosoever should believe in this gospel,
in this land, might have eternal life; yea, that it might be free unto
all of whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue, or people, they may be.
- And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers, will
I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold,
I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build
it up.
- And for this cause have I said, if this generation harden not their
hearts, I will establish my church among them. Now I do not say this
to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church: therefore,
whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit
the kingdom of heaven: but it is they who do not fear me, neither keep
my commandments, but buildeth up churches unto themselves, to get gain;
yea, and all those that do wickedly, and buildeth up the kingdom of
the devil; yea, verily, verily I say unto you, that it is they that
I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the centre.
- Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God: I came unto my own, and
my own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and
the darkness comprehendeth it not. I am he who said other sheep have
I which are not of this fold, unto my disciples, and many there were
that understood me not.
- And I will show unto this people, that I had other sheep, and that
they were a branch of the house of Jacob; and I will bring to light
their marvelous works, which they did in my name; yea, and I will also
bring to light my gospel, which was ministered unto them, and behold
they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build
it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine: Yea,
and the only doctrine which is in me; and this I do, that I may establish
my gospel, that there may not be so much contention: Yea, satan doth
stir up the hearts of the people to contention, concerning the points
of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the
scriptures, and do not understand them: therefore, I will unfold unto
them this great mystery, for behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts:
Yea, if th[e]y will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life
freely.
- Behold this is my doctrine: whosoever repenteth, and cometh unto me,
the same is my church: whosoever declareth more or less than this, the
same is not of me, but is against me: therefore, he is not of my church.
- And now, behold whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church
to the end, him will I establish upon my Rock, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against them.
- And now, remember the words of him who is the life and the light of
the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God: Amen.
|