Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood

Parallel in Script From Parallel References in

D&C 84:31-98; D&C 112:all; Ether 3:27,28; 4:all; JST-Matt. 6:25-39; 10:1-29,35-37; JST-Mark 6:9-14; KJV- Mark 13:9-13 w/JST; 16:14-20; JST-Luke 10:1-25; 12:1-5,13,14,24-35; III Nephi 13:25-34; Morm. 9:21-26.

from Oath & Covenant Parallel INTRO <PDF downlaod>
and Oath & Covenant Parallel <PDF downlaod>

Chapter 1

Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant, a son of Moses. I have heard thy prayers; and thine alms have come up as a memorial before me, in behalf of these, thy brethren.

2 Thou art the man whom I have chosen to write these things for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron, who are chosen and who shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord.

3 I have chosen thee to hold the keys of my kingdom, to bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples ⁽¹⁾ in the house of the Lord.

4 And verily I say unto you, that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious.⁽²⁾

5 And I will show these chosen sons concerning my kingdom and the house that shall be built in my name, in mine own due time in this generation--for the preparation wherewith I design to prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I may bring to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.⁽³⁾

6 For these chosen apostles shall bear testimony of my name unto the children of men and send it abroad among all nations, kindreds, tongues and people;

7 And the righteous shall be gathered out⁽⁴⁾ from among all nations unto the consecrated spot as I have appointed, even Zion.

8 And now, my servant, thou and the sons of Moses and of Aaron shalt be my servants, whom I, the Lord, have commanded and ordained;

9 And thou shalt be filled with the glory of the Lord to unlock that which has been sealed up, through the instrumentality of the two stones which ye have received upon Mount Zion in the door of the Lord's house.

10 Behold, ye are my servants, the sons of the kingdom, who have been hidden up to unlock the door of the kingdom in all places, even like unto Moses (and many others), who was not shown until the Lord should show him, having called him and sent him forth.

11 And the time is come that I the Lord should show you to be like unto my servant Joseph, and my servant Sidney, and my Servant Hyrum, along with many others, whom I have called and sent forth unto the children of men to build up my church again the second time.

12 Now I, the Lord, command you to be faithful. For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling until I come, shall come up unto the Mount and shall be sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies;

13 Yea, coming into the presence of the Lord, they become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham. And they shall write the things which they shall see for they are the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.

14 And also others who have been, to them have I shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in me, in mine own due time, unto the house of Israel.⁽⁵⁾

15 And they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that I should be lifted up upon the cross.

16 I am the same who came unto mine own and mine own received me not;⁽⁶⁾ and when I called again there was none of you to answer.⁽⁷⁾

17 And when the Lord of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.⁽⁸⁾

18 For I come quickly; and all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; for he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth my Father.

19 My reward is with me, and for this cause, he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom: even those things which have been kept that they should not come into the world;

20 For I will recompense every man according as his work shall be; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

21 Behold, I am Alpha, who shall show myself unto my people; and this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood;

22 And I am Omega, which hath truly showed myself unto my people, even all those who have received the priesthood, and have thus received this oath and covenant of my Father.

23 I have commanded that these things should be manifest, for this oath and covenant cannot be broken, neither can it be moved. Amen.

Chapter 2

And now, I, the Lord, say unto you: Pray in behalf of those, thy brethren, for whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it--and they have all dwindled in unbelief;

2 And there is none, even of the Twelve, save it be those likened to the Lamanites, but have altogether turned therefrom and have rejected it;

3 Yea admonish them sharply for my name's sake and for the gospel's--for whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.

4 And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood, yea, let them also be admonished for all their sins, for I have commanded that these things should remain forever hidden from them.

5 I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy brethren. Be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as for thyself; and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name.⁽⁹⁾

6 Therefore, be ye faithful to that which ye have received in this record, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, even which I have caused to be written by my own voice, using the very words that have been before you all along.

7 And if ye are faithful, and receive my words, I will reveal to you who are now hearing my voice--yea, I will write in fleshly tables of your heart⁽¹⁰⁾, by my own voice, and in mine own presence--the very things which the brother of Jared saw out of the heavens, unto my name.

8 And I have given the heavenly hosts even greater things to make manifest unto you than those which mine angels were charged to make manifest unto the brother of Jared.

9 Wherefore, I, the Lord, now give unto you a commandment to write them, that you might beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.

10 For you shall live by every word having been written that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

11 And I have commanded that the words of the Lord should be sealed up. And I have also commanded that the interpretation thereof and the interpreters should be sealed up.

12 Behold, the interpretation and the interpreters are truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to the commandment of the Lord.

13 And I have said that they shall not go forth unto the Gentiles who spurn⁽¹¹⁾ at that light that would be given even unto them; for the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world.

14 Therefore, these things go not forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they (as behooveth every man throughout the world) shall repent of their iniquity, and hearken to the voice of the Spirit, that they might be enlightened by the Spirit and become clean before the Lord.

15 Behold, verily, this promise is unto every one: that in that day that ye shall hearken and exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did hearken to the voice of the Spirit--that ye may become sanctified in me by the Spirit--then shall ye come unto me, even your God, for I will manifest myself unto you;

16 Yea, I will show unto you the things which the brother of Jared Saw--even the Father.

17 And the Father teacheth you of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, even to the unfolding unto you all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

18 Yea, verily I say unto you, I shall confirm them upon you.

19 Behold, I am the Father of the heavens for your sakes, and of the earth, but not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world--and all things that in them are.

20 And he that will contend against the word of the Lord and shall deny these things, let him be accursed, for he groaneth under darkness and the bondage of sin. And the whole world lieth in sin.

21 Thus saith Jesus Christ, for I am he who speaketh: By this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, for unto them will I show no greater things, because they come not unto me.

22 For whoso hearkeneth not to my command to come unto me and my word is under the bondage of sin; for at my command the heavens are opened and are shut.

23 And behold at my command, or at my word, the earth shall shake, and the inhabitants thereof, being under the bondage of sin, shall pass away, even so as by fire.

24 For the time speedily cometh that I shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will I destroy; and I will spare my people, yea, even if it so be that I must destroy the wicked by fire.⁽¹²⁾

25 And whoso receiveth not my words, is not acquainted with my voice, and believeth not my disciples, and is not of me.

26 And wo be unto him that will not hearken unto my words, and also to them whom I have chosen and sent among them; for whoso receiveth not my words and the words of those whom I have sent receiveth not me; and therefore I will not receive them at the last day;

27 And it would be better for them if they had not been born. For do ye suppose that ye can get rid of the justice of an offended God, who hath been trampled under feet of men, that thereby salvation might come?⁽¹³⁾

28 And if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye: and by this you shall know that it is I that do speak at the last day; yea, by this ye may judge the righteous from the wicked:

29 Behold, he that believeth shall know that these things which I have spoken are true, because him will I visit with the manifestations of my spirit, and he shall know and bear record that it is of me.

30 For whatsoever thing is of me, the same persuadeth men to do good, for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good.

31 Nevertheless, and notwithstanding, the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now.

32 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief; for you that will not believe my words will not believe me--that I am;

33 And you that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me, because you have treated lightly the things you have received--

34 Thus it is said again, like it was said by Moses:⁽¹⁴⁾ I AM hath sent me unto you.

35 Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) for their vanity they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.⁽¹⁵⁾

36 Know ye not that ye are less than the dust of the earth,⁽¹⁶⁾ which the wind shall carry away,⁽¹⁷⁾ yea, even my whirlwind?⁽¹⁸⁾

37 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD;⁽¹⁹⁾

38 For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world; but ye are full of vanity and unbelief--which have brought the whole church under condemnation;

39 Therefore come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.

40 For because you have not believed these things, the greater things have been withheld from you, unto your condemnation.⁽²⁰⁾

41 Yea, this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all;

42 Therefore come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world.

43 But it shall not come unto you, so long as ye shall remain under this condemnation because of unbelief.

44 Behold, when ye shall repent and rend that veil of unbelief, and remember⁽²¹⁾ that this doth cause you to remain in your awful state:

45 Yea, when ye shall root out of your breast your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, according to the new covenant--for a new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you⁽²²⁾--

46 Then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up, even the fulness of the Book of Mormon and my former commandments which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you, be given unto you.

47 Yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name--drawing near to me not only with your lips but with all your hearts,⁽²³⁾ not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written, even calling upon the Father with a broken heart and a contrite spirit: that ye may bring forth fruit meet for your Father's kingdom--

48 Then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.

49 Yea, call upon the Lord, that this kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.⁽²⁴⁾

50 Otherwise there remaineth a scourge, and judgment, and much tribulation, because they yielded to their temptations and did not hearken to my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servants;

51 And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded, to be poured upon the children of Zion in the eyes of all the people. Behold, I the Lord am he who doeth it.⁽²⁵⁾

52 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.

53 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.

54 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.

55 And the time speedily cometh that great things are to be shown forth unto the children of men;

56 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.⁽²⁶⁾

57 And after their temptations, even their scourge and judgment and much tribulation, behold, I, the Lord will feel after them.

58 For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.

59 And if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them.

60 Yea, if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land⁽²⁷⁾ in the eyes of all the people.

61 Verily, verily, I say unto you who have been polluted in some few things in thine heart, but who now hear my words:

62 Remember, when ye see these things and hear in thine hearts my words, which are my voice--even I, the Lord, with thee--then shall ye know me.

63 Verily the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed; and blessed are ye, for I, the Lord am well pleased with thee.

64 Therefore, inasmuch as the time has now come that thou hast abased thyself and received these things in this record, thou shalt be exalted that ye may know the work of the Father; therefore all thy sins are forgiven thee.

65 For behold, this is the work of the Father, even that thou mayest be exalted and all thy sins be forgiven thee--which work has now commenced upon all the face of the land; therefore, I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment:

Chapter 3

Behold, this is the commandment, and it is the same commandment which I gave unto the eleven when I appeared unto them as they sat at meat.

2 Behold, I say unto you that you must remain steadfast in your minds; yea, let thy heart be of good cheer before my face, and be not unbelieving, and I upbraid you not;

3 For whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, in solemnity, hardening not his heart, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ in the spirit of prayer, believing, it shall be granted him.

4 And after this manner shalt thou bear record of my name not only unto the Gentiles, who must needs be upbraided for the hardness of their heart, but also unto the Jews, because they believed not.

5 And this promise of repentance is unto all; therefore those of you which have seen me shall bear testimony to all the world; and thou shalt send forth my word even unto the ends of the earth.

6 For behold, thus saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto all my disciples, and the Twelve whom I have chosen: Remember the words which I have spoken in the hearing of the multitude, for thou shalt bear testimony of those things which are communicated unto you, yea, this shall be thy speech:

7 Even that men must repent and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name;

8 Contend thou, therefore, morning by morning; and day after day let thy warning voice go forth; and when the night cometh let not the inhabitants of the earth slumber, because of thy speech.

9 Therefore, go ye into all the world, and unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send; and preach the gospel unto every creature who has not received it, that the testimony may go from you into all the world.

10 And as I said unto mine apostles, even so I say again unto you, for you are mine apostles and my friends, even God's high priests, whom my father hath given me.

11 Behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people; for unto you, the Twelve, and those, the First Presidency, who are appointed with you to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this priesthood given again, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times.

12 And every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall be saved, for they shall receive the Holy Ghost.

13 But verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father's kingdom where my Father and I am.

14 And these signs shall follow them that believe--in my name they shall do many wonderful works;

15 In my name they shall cast out devils; yea, as lightning falleth from heaven, I beheld Satan also falling;

16 And they shall speak with new tongues; and the tongue of the dumb shall speak;

17 They shall have power given them, by me, over serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; yea, the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them;

18 And if any man shall administer poison unto them, or if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; yea, nothing shall by any means hurt them.

19 In my name they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover;

20 In my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf, and bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house;⁽²⁸⁾

21 And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness, and the deaf shall hear the words of the book.⁽²⁹⁾

22 For the kingdom of God is nigh at hand: that he who was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God, shall come down from heaven and reign in your midst, even on the earth, which is his footstool.⁽³⁰⁾

23 Yea, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing.

24 Therefore, unto them that go forth, preaching everywhere, the Lord working with them, will I confirm all my words with signs following, even unto the ends of the earth.

25 But a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation.

26 Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.⁽³¹⁾ Amen.

Chapter 4

Therefore, see to it that ye trouble not yourselves concerning the affairs of my church in this place, saith the Lord, but purify your hearts before me.

2 For I have called unto me twelve disciples and have given them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

3 These twelve, and the other seventy which I have appointed also, shall go into all the world;

4 And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, yea I send you forth two and two before my face into every city and place whither I myself will come, to preach my gospel unto every creature who has not received it.

5 Therefore I command you, saying, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

6 But, verily I say unto all those to whom the kingdom has been given: Go not yet into the way of the lost sheep of the house of Israel;⁽³²⁾ but go rather to the Gentiles;

7 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;

8 And now, behold, who can stand against the works of the Lord?

9 Therefore, from you it must be preached first among those among you, saith the Lord, that they shall repent of their former evil works:

10 For they have denied my sayings, yet have professed to know my name.

11 For this are they to be upbraided; yea, for their evils hearts which have not known me but rise up against the almighty power of the Lord.

12 They despise the works of the Lord in their unbelief, and have blasphemed against me.

13 Yea, your brethren in Zion, in the midst of my house, have despised the children of Christ by their rebellion against you, saith the Lord.

14 But now, at this time, though men despise and wonder, I send you to go forth as holding power in connection with all those who have received a dispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation.

15 Wherefore I say: Behold, all ye who are despisers of the works of the Lord, for ye shall wonder and perish.

16 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord which my servants shall preach, saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

17 And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, who hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven: Ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need.

18 Behold, these are the keys of the kingdom of heaven from henceforth in this dispensation.

19 Doubt not, and I shall call you friends of the dispensation which ye have received by believing, for it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment: that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them;

20 For behold, the time is at hand that the keys which have come down from the fathers, who were my friends in times of old, now last of all be sent down from heaven unto you.

21 Or, in other words, as in days when I was with the fathers, now in these times, I am sent down from heaven unto you.

22 Verily I say unto you, behold how great is your calling, to come unto the Lord with all your heart, traveling to preach the gospel, healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, casting out devils--all in my power.

23 Yea, this is my power by which ye may work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before me--even this: freely ye have received, freely give;

24 And by this power you may cleanse your hearts and your garments, lest the blood of this generation be required at your hands.

Chapter 5

Now, I say unto you, and what I say unto you, I say unto all the Twelve: Arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep.

2 And I command you that ye should take nothing for your journey: carry neither purse, nor script, nor bread, neither two coats or shoes, and only one staff.

3 Behold, I send you out to prove the world, for the laborer is worthy of his hire.

4 And any man that shall go shall beware of the leaven of hypocrisy; for if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

5 Fear them not therefore, but preach this gospel of the kingdom, for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

6 Therefore, fail not, for whatsoever I tell you and ye have spoken in darkness, continue faithful and preach ye that in the light.

7 And that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

8 For all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth.⁽³³⁾

9 And I say unto you my friends, Be not weary in mind of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do, for they are not able to kill the soul.

10 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast both soul and body into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him, and you shall not be darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint.

11 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthing, or two sparrows for one farthing? yet not one of them is forgotten before God.

12 Yea, even the very hairs of your head are all numbered and not one shall fall to the ground unnoticed, but your Father knoweth it.

13 Fear ye not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows; and ye shall not go hungry.

14 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God, yea him will I confess also before my Father which is heaven:

15 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God, yea him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

16 Therefore, Come ye, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.⁽³⁴⁾

17 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.⁽³⁵⁾

18 Therefore I say unto you, take ye no thought for your life for the morrow, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall clothe your body. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

19 Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? How much more will he not feed you?

20 Wherefore take no thought for these things, but keep my commandments wherewith I have commanded you.

21 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

22 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;

23 And yet I say unto you, the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these.

24 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he not provide for you, if ye are not of little faith.

25 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? neither be ye of doubtful mind.

26 Why is it that ye murmur among yourselves, saying, We cannot obey thy word because ye have not all these things, and seek to excuse yourselves, saying that, After all these things do the nations of the world seek.

27 Behold, I say unto you, that your Father, which is in heaven, knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

28 And ye are sent unto them to be their ministers, and the laborer is worthy of his hire; for the law saith that a man shall not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.

29 Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to bring forth the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

30 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

31 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, but let the morrow take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day shall be the evil thereof.

32 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

33 But take heed to yourselves to beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten and scourged:

34 And ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them, and again against the Gentiles.

35 For again the second time this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked.

36 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand how or what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that ye shall speak:

37 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you, for the Holy Ghost shall tell you whatsoever⁽³⁶⁾ shall be meted unto every man.

38 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another; and many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many; therefore, let no such man among you.

39 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and to kill you; and ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; for this commandment is unto all.

40 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; but he that shall endure unto the end, and is faithful, the same shall be saved.

Chapter 6

Let thy habitation be known in Zion, for ye are called of God, and no man can serve two masters.

2 Have I not said: When that which is new is come, the old is ready to be put away?⁽³⁷⁾

3 Behold, Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: therefore what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?⁽³⁸⁾

4 But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.⁽³⁹⁾

5 Yea, this is my church, even whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me.⁽⁴⁰⁾

6 Howbeit, no man having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, the old is better.⁽⁴¹⁾

7 Yea, either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

8 Therefore I, the Lord, have a great work and ministry for thee to do, in publishing my name among the children of men.

9 Therefore, gird up thy loins for the work. Let thy feet be shod also; and from this hour take neither purse nor script, for ye cannot serve God and mammon.

10 And, again, I say unto you, go ye into the world, for thou art chosen to go forth to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom; and thy path lieth among the mountains, and among many nations.

11 And care not for the world, for behold, I send you out to reprove the world. And by thy word many high ones shall be brought low, and by thy word many low ones shall be exalted.

12 Thy voice shall be a rebuke unto the transgressor, of all their unrighteous deeds. Wherefore the world will hate you, and will persecute you.

13 And at thy rebuke let the tongue of the slanderer cease its perverseness, yea teach them of a judgement which is to come--though they turn you out of their synagogues.

14 Nevertheless, on you have I laid the burden of all the churches for a little season, and ye shall go forth from house to house. And whoso receiveth you, there will I be also.

15 Wherefore, whithersoever I shall send you, go ye, teaching the people, and I will be with you; for I will go before your face; and in whatsoever place ye shall proclaim my name an effectual door shall be opened unto you.

16 Yea, I will be on your right hand and on your left; and your heavenly Father will provide for you, whatsoever things ye need; and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, that they may receive my word;

17 What more need ye than this? Yea, and mine angels shall be round about you.

18 And inasmuch as those whom you shall teach shall humble themselves before me, and abide in my word, mine angels shall be round about them, to abide with them. And this shall be thy food, what ye shall eat.

19 Yea, inasmuch as they hearken to the voice of my Spirit, they shall provide for food, what ye shall eat; and for raiment, what ye shall wear or put on, to bear you up--even by this same Spirit.

20 And again I say unto you, my disciples, He that heareth you heareth me, for whosoever receiveth my word receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me; and the same will feed you, and clothe you, and give you money.

23 And he who feeds you, or clothes you, or gives you money, shall in nowise lose his reward. And he that doeth not these things is not my disciple; by this you may know my disciples.

22 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

23 And whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent, whom I have made counselors for my name's sake unto you.

24 And he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. It is the same.

25 And again, I say unto you, that whosoever ye shall send in my name, by the voice of your brethren, and Twelve, duly recommended and authorized by you, shall have power to open the door of my kingdom unto any nation whithersoever ye shall send them--

26 And into whatsoever city or town or village ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and as they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

27 And into whatsoever house ye enter, do likewise. First salute it, saying, Peace be to this house. And if the house be worthy, and the Son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you again.

28 And into whatsoever house they receive you, there remain, abiding till ye go thence, eating and drinking such things as they give. Go not from house to house.

29 But into whatsoever house, or village, or city ye enter, and they receive you not, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, go your ways out into the streets of the same, alone by yourselves;

30 And cleanse your feet even with water, pure water, whether in heat or in cold, and say, Even the very dust of your city, or house, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

31 And bear testimony of it unto your Father which is in heaven, and return not again unto that house or city.

32 Nevertheless, search diligently and spare not; that they all may be sure that the kingdom of God has come nigh unto them.

33 Verily I say unto you, Wo unto that house, or that village or city that rejecteth you, or your words, or your testimony concerning me, for it shall be more tolerable in the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that house, or that village or city.

34 Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face.

35 Therefore, Wo, I say again, upbraiding the people in every house, or village or city wherein my mighty works are done, that rejecteth you, or your words, or your testimony of me; for the same receive me not.

36 Wo, wo unto thee, for vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth.

37 Behold, I, the Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations, to scourge them in a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation;

38 For if the mighty works had been done among chosen Israel,⁽⁴²⁾ which have been done in you, they would have repented of their wickedness, sitting in sackcloth and ashes, with weeping, mourning, and lamentation.

39 But it shall be more tolerable for them in the day of judgment, which shall come as a whirlwind and plagues going forth, than for you.

40 And these woes shall not be taken from the earth, until all those upon the face of the earth which art exalted to heaven shall be thrust down to hell, saith the Lord.

Chapter 7

Therefore, verily thus saith the Lord unto my disciples: Exalt not yourselves, yea, rejoice not in that the spirits are subject unto you;

2 But rather rejoice, and rebel not, because your names are written with my servant Joseph--even in heaven.

3 For verily I say unto you, I am with him in heaven, and my hand shall be over him.

4 And now in this hour do I rejoice in spirit, saying, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid from them who think they are wise and prudent the keys which I have given unto him;

5 And thou hast revealed them unto babes, even to youward, my disciples: even so, Father; for so it seemeth good in thy sight.

6 And they shall not be taken from him and also from youward until I come and all things are delivered to me of my Father, and I have completed my work--which shall be cut short in righteousness.

7 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name, yea, blessed shall be that day when all men shall know me--that the Son is the Father, and the Father is the Son.

8 And no man shall know this but him who remaineth at the last day, even from the least unto the greatest.

9 For, the Son will reveal it to him; yea, he shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world.

10 And now I say unto you, my disciples, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see. For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them.

11 Nevertheless, it shall come to pass that many of those of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were of ancient, that had seen the first house--when the foundation of this house is laid before their eyes, shall weep with a loud voice; and many shall shout aloud for joy;⁽⁴³⁾ and shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.⁽⁴⁴⁾

12 And ye also shall lift up your voice for joy for them, because they shall hear the things which ye hear:

13 Yea, thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.⁽⁴⁵⁾

14 Behold it is I.

15 For since the beginning of the world have not men heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath any eye seen, besides me, how great things I have prepared for him that waiteth for me.⁽⁴⁶⁾

16 And with the voice together shall ye sing the new song. Amen.

by Sterling D. Allan, Fountain Green, Utah; August 4, 1995

See also:

Notes

1. Isaiah 8:16.

2. Doctrine and Covenants 1:8.

3. DC 95:4.

4. Doctrine and Covenants 45:71.

5. 1 Nephi 14:26.

6. Doctrine and Covenants 11:29.

7. Doctrine and Covenants 133:67.

8. JST-Matthew 21:55.

9. Doctrine and Covenants 112:11.

10. 2 Corinthians 3:3.

11. 3 Nephi 29:4.

12. 2 Nephi 30:10.

13. 3 Nephi 28:34,35.

14. Exodus 3:14.

15. 3 Nephi 21:11.

16. Helaman 12:7; Isaiah 40:17.

17. Isaiah 57:13.

18. Jeremiah 23:19.

19. Ezekiel 13:23.

20. 3 Nephi 26:10.

21. Alma 5:6.

22. Ezekiel 36:26.

23. Isaiah 29:13.

24. DC 65:5.

25. 3 Nephi 20:19.

26. DC 35:7-11.

27. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

28. Isaiah 42:7.

29. Isaiah 29:18.

30. See D&C 49:6; A. of F. #10; John 14:23.

31. DC 112:10.

32. "First shall be last..." This time first to the Gentiles, then to Israel.

33. 2 Nephi 27:11.

34. 2 Nephi 9:50.

35. Isaiah 55:2.

36. 2 Nephi 32:3.

37. JST-Matthew 9:21

38. Acts 7:49,50; Isaiah 66:1.

39. Isaiah 66:2.

40. Doctrine and Covenants 10:67.

41. Luke 5:39.

42. "First shall be last..."

43. Ezra 3:12.

44. Isaiah 52:8.

45. Isaiah 30:21.

46. DC 133:45.