Section 67
Background Information
Section 67 was received at a conference of the elders that was held on the 1st and 2nd of November 1831. As a note, at this time, the Lord has not yet set forth the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventies. The conference consisted only of the elders. The elders present were: Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, William E. McLellin, Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, and Lyman Johnson.
One purpose of the conference was to determine and decide which revelations of JS should be published in the Book of Commandments -- the predecessor to the Doctrine and Covenants. Sections 1 and 133 were received at this conference. Section 1, as discussed below, was the revelations that many of the elders offered their critiqued of JS and his writing.
In this revelation the Lord addresses two topics. The first is the explanation for why some of the elders had not received spiritual manifestations, which the Lord explains is due to "fears" in the hearts of the elders. Second, the Lord discloses that some of the elders had taken advantage of JS due to the "imperfections" of the language he used in his revelations. As a consequence, this revelation challenged the elders to write a revelation "like unto" those dictated by JS (particularly in reference to Section 1), with the Lord adding a caveat that if they failed, they would be justified in testifying to the world of the veracity of the JS' revelations and their divine origins.
Notably, it appears that this revelation silenced the elders who were critical of JS, except one, William McLellin who accepted the challenge. McLellin retired to an adjacent room to try and product a revelation equal to JS. Upon returning, he stood in the doorway and wept with nothing written on his note paper. He and others bore testimony of the veracity of JS' revelations.
This still did not solve the problem of some grammatical errors within the revelations, however. During the next session of the conference the elders voted that Joseph should review them again and make any corrections he felt were needed.
Section
1 Behold and hearken, O ye elders of my church, who have assembled yourselves together, whose prayers I have heard, and whose hearts I know, and whose desires have come up before me. 2 Behold and lo, mine eyes are upon you, and the heavens and the earth are in mine hands, and the riches of eternity are mine to give. 3 Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive. [Some of the elders were expecting to receive spiritual manifestation at the conference, but didn't. The Lord explain they didn't receive because of their fear. See verse 10 for detailed discussion] 4 And now I, the Lord, give unto you a testimony of the truth of these commandments which are lying before you.
5 Your eyes have been upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and his language you have known, and his imperfections you have known; and you have sought in your hearts knowledge that you might express beyond his language; this you also know. 6 Now, seek ye out of the Book of Commandments, even the least that is among them [Book of Commandments], and appoint him that is the most wise among you [the elders can choose any of JS revelations to imitate and choose whomever they want to do the writing]; 7 Or, if there be any among you that shall make one like unto it [any of the revelations the elders selected], then ye are justified in saying that ye do not know that they are true; 8 But if ye cannot make one like unto it [any of the revelations the elders selected], ye are under condemnation if ye do not bear record that they are true [the elders are condemned if they don't bear testimony after seeing that they were unable to reproduce any of the revelations] . 9 For ye know that there is no unrighteousness in them [the revelations in the Book of Commandments], and that which is righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights.
10 And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual. 11 For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God. 12 Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind. 13 Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected. 14 Let not your minds turn back; and when ye are worthy, in mine own due time, ye shall see and know that which was conferred upon you by the hands of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. Amen.
Verse 10: You Shall See Me
The Lord promises the elders that in due time and if they strip themselves of fear and jealousies, while humbling themselves, they will see the Lord. It is the objective of every disciple of Christ to know the Lord and speak with Him face-to-face as man speaks with each other. JS taught that there are two comforters each of us are to receive in our journey towards exaltation. The first is the Holy Ghost. The second comforter, also referred to as the Second Comforter, is Jesus Christ.
The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person hath faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands,) which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted, etc. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses . . . [verses 16, 17, 18, 21, 23] (TPJS, 150-51).
JS explained that after one has received the Holy Ghost, that person is to push on seeking after more righteousness, living by every word of God. Eventually, after the Lord has "thoroughly proved" the person, he will see the Lord and receive the promises of exaltation. By entering into the presence of the Lord, the heavens will be open and that an will have a perfet knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
...when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even he will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him; and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions—Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the First Born (TPJS, 150-51).
It is when once has this knowledge that one has passed from having faith in the existence of Christ, to knowledge of Him. It is then that the person can testify that Jesus Christ lives, because the person does have actual and testimonial knowledge that He lives. This is why George Q. Cannon can declare that he knows Christ lives:
I know that God lives. I know that Jesus lives; for I have seen Him. I know that this is the Church of God, and that it is founded on Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. I testify to you of these things as one that knows-as one of the Apostles of the Lord that He lives send that He will live, and will come to reign on the earth, to sway an undisputed sceptre. I say that it is our duty to keep the commandments of God, and to be faithful in all things (Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, volume 1, iv, 1)
It is also why Melvin J. Ballard can bear the same testimony:
I know, as well as I know that I live and look into your faces, that Jesus Christ lives, and he is the Redeemer of the world, that he arose from the dead with a tangible body, and still has that real body which Thomas touched when he thrust his hands into his side and felt that wound of the spear, and also the prints of the nails in his hands. [John 20:26-29.] I know by the witness and the revelations of God to me that Thomas told the truth. I know by witness that Joseph Smith told the truth, for mine eyes have seen. For in the visions of the Lord to my soul, I have seen Christ’s face, I have heard his voice. I know that he lives, that he is the Redeemer of the World, and that as he arose from the dead, a tangible and real individual, so shall all men arise in the resurrection from the dead (Conference Report, April 1920, pp. 40-41)
Often, in testimony meeting, we hear people bearing testimony that they know Christ lives. While some may have this actual knowledge, what most mean to say is that they believe Christ lives or they have faith that he lives. If we fail to make this distinction the result is that actual testimonial declarations get conflated with belief testimonials, thereby causing actual testimonies (i.e., testimonies of what what one empirically knows) to lose their significance. Therefore, we should word "know" very carefully, lest we create confusion for others.
But fortunately, verse 10 provides clarity and insight into what is required of us to enter into the Lord's presence -- which the Book of Mormon refers to as the "rest of the Lord." To enter, we must "strip ourselves" of fears and jealousies and become sufficiently humble. Although simple in concept, this is an almost insurmountable task and would impossible but for the God's grace through His spirit.
Fear: Webster's 1828 dictionary defines fear as a "painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger". And since the Lord is instructing the elders to strip themselves of this fear, this type of fear is different than fearing the Lord, which is a positive thing. Instead this fear is the emotional one. It is the fear used to describe the wicked when the Lord comes and when he judges the world. It is fear of recognizing that the Lord's presence is a dread, instead of a vindication. When we possess this kind of fear, we cast out love -- including the Lord's love.
The scriptures attest that it is not light thing to come into His presence. When Isaiah saw the Lord he declared: "...Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5). Exodus describes the glory of the Lord like unto a "devouring fire" Due to their fears, the the Israelites were afraid to ascend Mount Sinai to behold the Lord, and instead appointed Moses as their mediator.
Prior to arriving at the base of Mount Sinai, the Israelites struggled in the wilderness, with their faith in the Lord vacillating. Many sinned -- and repeatedly sinned. Sin creates guilt. Guilt creates fear. The Israelite's sin therefore created such guilt that coming into God's presence was a terror, not a pleasure.
Jealousy: Webster's 1828 dictionary defines jealously is an uneasiness that is awaked "by whatever may exalt others, or give them pleasures and advantages which we desire for ourselves." This weakness is endemic to fallen man. Cain's resentment towards Abel was nothing more than jealousy. Cain felt "uneasy" to see that the Lord favored Abel over him. Cain killed him as a result.
Although this is an extreme example of what outcomes jealously can produce, it does explain why the Lord commands us to strip ourselves from it. Jealousy creates disharmony with our fellow neighbor thus creating disharmony between us and God. If we have fixated on the success of others or if the success of others stir up uneasiness within us, then how would we feel when we are in the presence of the greatest
Humility: In simple terms, humility means to subordinate our will to that of the Father. As one theologian aptly defined it: humility is the "disappearance of self in the vision and understanding that God is all." He wen on to state:
The creature must accept that its main concern...it’s only happiness, now and through all eternity, is to present itself an empty vessel in which God can dwell and demonstrate His power and goodness...when the create realized that this is true goodness, and consents to be the vessel in which the life and glory of God are at work and exhibit themselves, he sees that humility is simply acknowledging the truth of his position as a creature, and yielding to God his rightful place. (Tozer, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness)
To add another a couple other points. First, at crux of the problem with fear and jealousy is that it leads to doubt. When we have the unhealthy kind of fear, faith is replaced with doubt, since fear is the result of not trusting. Likewise, jealously creates feelings of inadequacy. When we see other succeeding and compare them to us, we will feel insecure. That insecurity will lead to seeking reassurance and doubt about our self worth. And doubt is a problem, because where doubt exists, faith is absent. Faith is a prerequisite for coming into the Lord's presence (see Ether 4:7).
Second, as stated above, our hearts must be pure before we can abide in the Lord's presence. Because fear and jealously produce negative effects, they are evil. And what is evil degrades instead of enlightens. Thus when we have these feelings in our heart, our heart is tainted and condemns us. And when we are condemned by our heart, we can't have confidence before God. If we have not stripped ourselves of fear and jealousies, then standing before the God will cause us guilt instead of comfort. Turning heaven into hell.
Thus when it comes to receiving great blessings from heaven, we are in control of whether and when we'll receive. And just because we believe in Christ, doesn't mean we'll receive what others have. Consider Orson Pratt's statement, who as one of the elders who received this promise from the Lord:
I have thought the reason why we have not enjoyed these gifts more fully is, because we have not sought for them as diligently as we ought. I speak for one, I have not sought as diligently as I might have done. More than forty years have passed away since these promises were made. I have been blessed with some revelations and prophecies, and with dreams of things that have come to pass; but as to seeing things as a seer, and beholding heavenly things in open vision, I have not attained to these things. And who is to blame for this? Not the Lord; not brother Joseph—they are not to blame. And so it is with the promises made to you in your confirmations and endowments, and by the patriarchs, in your patriarchal blessings; we do not live up to our privileges as saints of God and elders of Israel; for though we receive many blessings that are promised to us, we do not receive them in their fullness, because we do not seek for them as diligently and faithfully as we should (Orson Pratt, May 11, 1878, Journal of Discourses 25:146-147).
The promise to the elder to see the Lord also encapsulates a larger point: any promise that the Lord has given to us is our if we seek for it. Let's not make the mistake of reaching the end of our lives to only find that we have not received what was promised to be ours and what would have most assuredly been ours if we but acted. I know of no worse definition of hell than that.
Section 68
Background Information
According to JS history, after the November conference of elders had adjourned, four of the conference attendees -- Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, and William E. McLellin—approached JS during the conference and requested to know the Lord’s will concerning them. This revelation came in response to their inquiry. This revelation focuses on three main topics: 1) the office of the bishop; 2) The importance of teaching the gospel to our children; and 3) the different definitions of scripture. In the revelation, the Lord also calls Orson Hyde to "proclaim the everlasting gospel"
Section
1 My servant, Orson Hyde, was called by his ordination to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with and expounding all scriptures unto them. 2 And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth— 3 And this is the ensample [model, framework] unto them [those ordained to preach the gospel], that they shall speak as [when] they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. 4 And whatsoever they [those ordained to proclaim the gospel] shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. [In order for thier speaking to be scripture, they must first be prompted by the Holy Ghost. If no prompted, then their speaking is not scripture] 5 Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.
6 Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you [the elders]; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come. 7 This [what the Lord has spoken in verses 3-5] is the word of the Lord unto you, my servant Orson Hyde, and also unto my servant Luke Johnson, and unto my servant Lyman Johnson, and unto my servant William E. McLellin, and unto all the faithful elders of my church— 8 Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 9 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned. 10 And he that believeth shall be blest with signs following, even as it is written [to believe in this context is to receive the Holy Ghost. Signs will accompany those who receive the Holy Ghost]. .
11 And unto you [the elders] it shall be given to know the signs of the times, and the signs of the coming of the Son of Man; 12 And of as many as the Father shall bear record, to you shall be given power to seal them up unto eternal life. Amen.
13 And now, concerning the items in addition to the covenants and commandments, they are these— 14 There remain hereafter, in the due time of the Lord, other bishops to be set apart unto the church, to minister even according to the first; 15 Wherefore they shall be high priests who are worthy, and they shall be appointed by the First Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood, except they be literal descendants of Aaron. 16 And if they be literal descendants of Aaron they have a legal right to the bishopric, if they are the firstborn among the sons of Aaron; 17 For the firstborn holds the right of the presidency over this priesthood, and the keys or authority of the same. 18 No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a literal descendant and the firstborn of Aaron.
19 But, as a high priest of the Melchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power, under the hands of the First Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood. 20 And a literal descendant of Aaron, also, must be designated by this Presidency, and found worthy, and anointed, and ordained under the hands of this Presidency, otherwise they are not legally authorized to officiate in their priesthood. 21 But, by virtue of the decree concerning their right of the priesthood descending from father to son, they may claim their anointing if at any time they can prove their lineage, or do ascertain it by revelation from the Lord under the hands of the above named Presidency.
- Verses 13-20: Literal Descendant
- Until literal descendants of Aaron can be found, high priests of the Melchizedek Priesthood serve as placeholders in the office of Presiding Bishop of the Church. President Jospeh Fielding Smith taught:
- The office of Presiding Bishop of the Church is the same as the office which was held by Aaron. It is the highest office, holding the presidency in the Aaronic Priesthood. It was this office which came to John the Baptist, and it was by virtue of the fact that he held the keys of this power and ministry that he was sent to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to restore that priesthood, May 15, 1829. . . . Should it be shown by revelation that there is one who is the “firstborn among the sons of Aaron,” and thus entitled by the birthright to this presidency, he could “claim” his “anointing” and the right to that office in the Church (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:259).
22 And again, no bishop or high priest who shall be set apart for this ministry shall be tried or condemned for any crime, save it be before the First Presidency of the church; 23 And inasmuch as he is found guilty before this Presidency, by testimony that cannot be impeached, he shall be condemned; 24 And if he repent he shall be forgiven, according to the covenants and commandments of the church.
25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents. 26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized. 27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands. 28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord. 29 And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
- Verse 28: They Shall Also Teach Their Children . . . to Walk Uprightly Before the Lord
- Proper parental instruction and guidance for children is crucial. Children come into the world ignorant and vulnerable. Their basis for forming their values will derive in large part form their parents. This is why Jesus was born into a family who loved and feared the Lord. The task of child rearing is a sacred one because parents imbue their kids with habits and values that shape their worldview. Much of the ills of society stem from the failure of parents to properly teach their kids virtue and values. This is why the Lord speaks sternly against parents who fail to properly teach their kids the gospel.
- Parents teach their children through both instruction and example. Parents can model what proper prayer looks like to their kids, which will serve as a template for their their kids to work from. Parents can model what proper worship looks like, so their kids can follow.
- To proper role of the father is acquire light and truth and then disseminate that to this children. As Paul taught, the father is the Christ figure within the home. Instead of being served, the father serves. He leads by example -- by applying the character of Christ into his everyday experience. Like Christ, the father is to bear the burden of his family and to intercede for them. His to exercise patience, meekness, and long suffering as his kids learn, grow and make mistakes. Like the sun, the presence of the father should enlighten and edify his household.
- The role of the mother is to reflect the husband's light to her kids. Being filled with wisdom, the mother distills the light acquired by her husband to her children. She affirms the father and supports him. She teaches compassion and show love to her kids, filling them with peace and comfort. Like a hen, the mother's "wings" will provide a refuge from the storms of life. Rather than being enabled to be weak, she will teach resilience and fortitude. Her domain is the home. She is the protector of it ensuring that home is a refuge for her children.
- Parents who fail to properly teach the children the gospel, instilling eternal values, set themselves up for heartache and disappointment because their child will gain his value and views from the world -- not the Lord.
- One of the ways that we can seek for Zion is to build Zion within out homes. A home built on prayer, worship and proper fear of the Lord can overcome trials and serve as a light unto others. A home established in the Lord will be a place of comfort, joy, and peace.
30 And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord. 31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness. 32 These things ought not to be, and must be done away from among them; wherefore, let my servant Oliver Cowdery carry these sayings unto the land of Zion. 33 And a commandment I give unto them—that he that observeth not his prayers before the Lord in the season thereof, let him be had in remembrance before the judge of my people. 34 These sayings are true and faithful; wherefore, transgress them not, neither take therefrom. 35 Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, and I come quickly. Amen.
- Verse 30: The Idler
- One great obstacle to establishing Zion is the human tendency to do less than our best in the belief that others will make up for our laziness. President Kimball has stated: “No true Latter-day Saint, while physically or emotionally able, will voluntarily shift the burden of his own or his family’s well-being to someone else” (Ensign, May 1978, 86) (CR, October 1978, 86).
- This mentality of shifting responsibility from one's self is becoming more pervasive. We're now entering an epoch where the larger part of society will promote policies that punish the hard working individuals at the expense of the lazy and self-entitled. The early church suffered much due to the idlers within the church. Sadly our society hasn't learned that lesson.
Section 69
Background Information
This revelation was received on November 11th, 1831. The subject of this revelation concerned the assigning of John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery on an upcoming trip to Missouri. Prior to this revelation, Cowdery received the assignment to carry JS' revelations to Missouri so they could published by William W. Phelps. Whitmer was appointed to accompany Cowdery, as he later recorded in his journal.
Section
1 Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, for my servant Oliver Cowdery’s sake. It is not wisdom in me that he should be entrusted with the commandments and the moneys which he shall carry unto the land of Zion, except one go with him who will be true and faithful [Oliver was carrying the manuscript of the Book of Commandments that was to be published in Missouri and also the funds collected from the saints in Ohio]. 2 Wherefore, I, the Lord, will that my servant, John Whitmer [one of the eight witnesses], should go with my servant Oliver Cowdery; 3 And also that he [John Whitmer] shall continue in writing and making a history of all the important things which he shall observe and know concerning my church [see Section 47] ; 4 And also that he receive counsel and assistance from my servant Oliver Cowdery and others.
5 And also, my servants who are abroad in the earth should send forth the accounts of their stewardships to the land of Zion; 6 For the land of Zion shall be a seat and a place to receive and do all these things. 7 Nevertheless, let my servant John Whitmer travel many times from place to place, and from church to church, that he may the more easily obtain knowledge— 8 Preaching and expounding, writing, copying, selecting, and obtaining all things which shall be for the good of the church, and for the rising generations that shall grow up on the land of Zion, to possess it from generation to generation, forever and ever [John Whitmer was to travel from place to place in the Church learning and recording what he could for future generations]. Amen.
Section 70
Background Information
This revelation was received on November 12, 1831. The subject of this revelation addresses the appoint of stewards over the revelations and commandments of the church. JS and five others were designated as stewards over the publishing concerns of the church. The revelation provides for them them to receive compensation for their service in recording, preserving, and publishing the revelations. According to the revelation, the stewards would have claim to any profits resulting from the publication of the revelations “for their necessities & their wants,” with any remainder to be transferred to the Lord’s storehouse.
Section
1 Behold, and hearken, O ye inhabitants of Zion, and all ye people of my church who are afar off, and hear the word of the Lord which I give unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and also unto my servant Martin Harris, and also unto my servant Oliver Cowdery, and also unto my servant John Whitmer, and also unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also unto my servant William W. Phelps, by the way of commandment unto them. 2 For I give unto them a commandment; wherefore hearken and hear, for thus saith the Lord unto them— 3 I, the Lord, have appointed them [the five listed], and ordained them to be stewards over the revelations and commandments which I have given unto them, and which I shall hereafter give unto them; 4 And an account of this stewardship [over the revelations and commandments] will I require of them in the day of judgment.
5 Wherefore, I have appointed unto them, and this is their business in the church of God, to manage them [the revelations and commandments] and the concerns thereof, yea, the benefits thereof. 6 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto them [the five elders], that they shall not give these things [the benefits received (see v. 5) from sale of the scripture. The proceeds from the sale of scriptures are for the 5 elders, not to go to the church] unto the church, neither unto the world; 7 Nevertheless, inasmuch as they receive more than is needful for their necessities and their wants, it shall be given into my storehouse [any surplus, after expenses are met for their needs and wants, will go the the bishop's storehouse]; 8 And the benefits shall be consecrated unto the inhabitants of Zion, and unto their generations, inasmuch as they become heirs according to the laws of the kingdom.
9 Behold, this is what the Lord requires of every man in his stewardship, even as I, the Lord, have appointed or shall hereafter appoint unto any man. 10 And behold, none are exempt from this law who belong to the church of the living God; 11 Yea, neither the bishop, neither the agent who keepeth the Lord’s storehouse, neither he who is appointed in a stewardship over temporal things. 12 He who is appointed to administer spiritual things, the same is worthy of his hire, even as those who are appointed to a stewardship to administer in temporal things; 13 Yea, even more abundantly, which abundance is multiplied unto them through the manifestations of the Spirit [ministering over spiritual things is greater than ministering over temporal things].
14 Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld [murmuring and complaining withholds the Spirit from our lives]. 15 Now, this commandment [the instruction contained in this section about the scope of the stewardship of the 5 elders, their responsibility, and dispersing of funds] I give unto my servants [the 5 elders] for their benefit while they remain, for a manifestation of my blessings upon their heads, and for a reward of their diligence and for their security; 16 For food and for raiment; for an inheritance; for houses and for lands, in whatsoever circumstances I, the Lord, shall place them, and whithersoever I, the Lord, shall send them. 17 For they have been faithful over many things, and have done well inasmuch as they have not sinned. 18 Behold, I, the Lord, am merciful and will bless them, and they shall enter into the joy of these things. Even so. Amen.
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