| D&C 51 |
| May 20, 1831, Thompson, Ohio. Consecration and stewardship. The bishop deeds what is needed to participating families. Excommunicants retain deeded property but bishop retains their surplus for the poor and for his own family's needs. Be one. Behave as though this were a permanent settlement until the Lord directs otherwise. This is a church-wide policy. Eternal life promised to participants. Earliest known manuscript: Kirtland Revelations Book. Not published in the Book of Commandments (1833). Blue text from the Kirtland Revelations Book was omitted for the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Red text was added. |
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| Bishop's
instructions Bishop organizes people |
1 | Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, and I will speak unto my servant Edward Partridge, and give unto him directions; for it must needs be that he receive directions how to organize this people. | ||
| 2 | For it must needs be that they be organized according to my laws; if otherwise, they will be cut off. | |||
| Edward
receives donated property and money Lord pleased with counselors Returns what is needed to each family |
3 | Wherefore, let my servant Edward Partridge, and those whom he has chosen, in whom I am well pleased, appoint unto this people receive the properties of this people which have covenanted with me to obey the Laws which I have given. And let my servant Edward receive the money as it shall be laid before him according to the covenant, and go and obtain a deed or article of this land unto himself of him who holdeth. For I have appointed him to receive these things, and thus through him the properties of the church shall be consecrated unto me their portions, every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs. | ||
| Give
receipt Property belongs to church Property of excommunicants reverts to the church |
4 | And let my servant Edward Partridge, when he shall appoint a man his portion, give unto him a writing that shall secure unto him his portion, that he shall hold it, even this right and this inheritance in the church, until he transgresses and is not accounted worthy by the voice of the church, according to the laws and covenants of the church, to belong to the church. | ||
| Excommunicants have no claim on donated portion, only on property deeded to them | 5 | And if he shall transgress and is not accounted worthy to belong to the church, he shall not have power to claim that portion which he has consecrated unto the bishop for the poor and needy of my church; therefore, he shall not retain the gift, but shall only have claim on that portion that is deeded unto him. | ||
| Legal | 6 | And thus all things shall be made sure, according to the laws of the land. | ||
| 7 | And let that which belongs to this people be appointed unto this people. | |||
| Agent receives cash to buy necessities for people | 8 | And the money which is left unto this people—let there be an agent appointed unto this people, to take the money to provide food and raiment, according to the wants of this people. | ||
| Be honest, equal, one | 9 | And
let every man deal honestly, and be alike among this people, and receive
alike, that ye may be one, even as I have commanded you. |
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| Branches operate independently | 10 | And let that which belongeth to this people not be taken and given unto that of another church. | term: church = branch | |
| 11 | Wherefore, if another church would receive money of this church, let them pay unto this church again according as they shall agree; | |||
| 12 | And this shall be done through the bishop or the agent, which shall be appointed by the voice of the church. | |||
| Bishop in charge of storehouse | 13 | And again, let the bishop appoint a storehouse unto this church; and let all things both in money and in meat, which are more than is needful for the wants of this people, be kept in the hands of the bishop. | ||
| Keep what his family needs | 14 | And let him also reserve unto himself for his own wants, and for the wants of his family, as he shall be employed in doing this business. | ||
| These are my laws | 15 | And thus I grant unto this people a privilege of organizing themselves according to my laws. | ||
| Abide by these laws in Kirtland until told otherwise | 16 | And I consecrate unto them this land for a little season, until I, the Lord, shall provide for them otherwise, and command them to go hence; | ||
| Treat Kirtland as a permanent location | 17 | And the hour and the day is not given unto them, wherefore let them act upon this land as for years, and this shall turn unto them for their good. | ||
| An example | 18 | Behold, this shall be an example unto my servant Edward Partridge, in other places, in all churches. | ||
| Eternal life for good stewards | 19 | And whoso is found a faithful, a just, and a wise steward shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life. | ||
| Lord comes quickly, surprise | 20 | Verily, I say unto you, I am Jesus Christ, who cometh quickly, in an hour you think not. Even so. Amen. | ||