Revelation given to
Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at or near Fayette, New York,
December 7, 1830. At this time, the Prophet was engaged almost daily in making
a translation of the Bible. The translation was begun as early as June 1830,
and both Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer had served as scribes. Since they had
now been called to other duties, Sidney Rigdon was called by divine appointment
to serve as the Prophet’s scribe in this work (see
verse 20). As a preface to the record of this revelation, Joseph Smith’s
history states: “In December Sidney Rigdon came
[from Ohio] to inquire of the Lord, and with him came Edward Partridge. …
Shortly after the arrival of these two brethren, thus speak the Lord.”
1-2, How men may become
the sons of God; 3-7, Sidney Rigdon is called to baptize and to confer the Holy
Ghost; 8-12, Sign and miracles are wrought by faith; 13-16, The Lord’s
servants will thresh the nations by the power of the Spirt; 17-19 Joseph Smith
holds the keys of the mysteries; 20-21, The elect will abide the day of the
Lord’s
coming; 22-27, Israel will be saved.
1 Listen to the voice
of the Lord your God, even the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,
whose course is one eternal round the same today as yesterday, and forever.
2 I am Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as
will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me
as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.
3 Behold, verily,
verily, I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have
heard thy prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work.
4 Thou art blessed, for
thou shalt do great things. Behold thou wast sent forth, even as John, to
prepare the way before me, and before Elijah which should come, and thou
knewest it not.
5 Thou didst baptize by
water unto repentance, but they receive not the Holy Ghost;
6 But now I give unto
thee a commandment, that thou shalt baptize by water, and they shall receive
the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, even as the apostles of old.
7 And it shall come to
pass that there shall be a great work in the land, even among the Gentiles, for
their folly and their abominations shall be made manifest in the eyes of all
people.
8 For I am God, and
mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto
all those who believe on my name.
9 And whoso shall ask
it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick;
they shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and
the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk.
10 And the time speedily
cometh that great things are to be shown forth unto the children of me;
11 But without faith
shall not anything be shown forth except desolations upon Babylon, the same
which has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
12 And there are none
that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my gospel,
which I have ent forth unto this generation.
13 Wherefore, I call
upon the weak thigs of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to
tresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;
14 And their arm shall
be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up
their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be
under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the
fire of mine indignation will I preserve them.
15 And the poor and the
meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth
for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand—
16 And they shall learn
the parable of the fig tree, for even now already summer is nigh.
17 And I have sent forth
the fulness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and in weakness have
I blessed him;
18 And I have given
unto him the keys of the mystery of those which have been sealed, even things
which shall come from the foundation of the world, and the things which shall
come from this time until the time of my coming if he abide I me, and if not,
another will I plant in his stead.
19 Wherefore, watch
over him that his faith fail not, and it shall be given by the Comforter, the
Holy Ghost, that knoweth all things.
20 And a commandment I give
unto thee—that thou
shalt write for him; and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine
own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect;
21 For they will hear
my voice, and shall see me, and shallot be asleep, and shall abide the day of
my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure.
22 And now I say unto
you, tarry with him, and he shall journey with you; forsake him ot, and surely
these things shall be fulfilled.
23 And inasmuch as ye
do not write, behold, it shall be given unto him to prophesy; and thou shalt
preach my gospel and call on the holy prophets to prove his words, as they
shall be given him.
24 Keep all the
commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I will cause the heavens
to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the
hills and flourish;
25 And Israel shall be
saved in mine own due time; and by the keys which I have given shall they be
led, and no more be confounded at all.
26 Lift up your hearts
and be glad, your redemption draweth nigh.
27 Fear not, little
flock, the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen.
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