Doctrine and Covenants 61

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Doctrine and Covenants 61

August 12, 1831, McIlwaine's Bend, Missouri River.
Water travel is not safe. The time is coming when no one will be safe on it. Take canals, not rivers. Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver should go directly to Cincinnati, for the people there are ripe for destruction. Watch for the coming of the Lord, for he will come when you don't expect it.
Book of Commandments, Law and Covenants, Book B heading: "a Commandment. recd. ~~about~~ the 12th Augt 1831 on the Banks of the missouri about 40 miles above Chairton [Chariton] on our return from Zion"
Book of Commandments 62 heading: A Revelation to eleven elders, given upon the bank of the Missouri river, August, 1831.
1835 Doctrine and Covenants 71 heading: Revelation given August, 1831.

		Background
Travel by canoe		On August 9, Joseph and ten elders leave Independence Landing for Kirtland. His companions are: Sidney, Frederick G. Williams, Oliver, Samuel H. Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, Sidney Gilbert, W. W. Phelps, Joseph Coe, and Ezra Booth. They travel fourteen miles by canoe to Fort Osage the first day.
W. W. Phelps vision of the destroyer on the waters		Nothing very important occurred till the third day, when many of the dangers so common upon the western waters, manifested themselves; and after we had encamped upon the bank of the river, at McIlwaine's Bend, brother Phelps, in open vision, by daylight, saw the destroyer in his most horrible power, ride upon the face of the waters. Others heard the noise, but saw not the vision.			in Papers 1:361n5. ¶ Ezra Booth Letters (7)
Revelation next morning		The next morning after prayer, Joseph receives this revelation.			in Papers 1:361n5. ¶ Ezra Booth Letters (7)
		Book of Commandments, Law and Covenants, Book B	*Evening and Morning Star* 1, no. 7 (Dec. 1832): {5}
Listen up	1	Behold and hearken unto the voice of him who hath all power, who is from everlasting to everlasting even Alpha & Omega the beginning & the end,	¶ [1] BEHOLD, and hearken unto the voice of him who has all power, who is from everlasting to everlasting even Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end,
Sins forgiven	2	behold verily thus saith the Lord unto you, o ye Elders of my Church, who are assembled upon this Spot, whose sins are now forgiven you, for I the Lord forgive Sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts,	[2] Behold verily thus saith the Lord unto you O ye elders of my church, who are assembled upon this spot, whose sins are now forgiven you, for I the Lord forgiveth sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts:		Blue: dropped in 1835
No need to bypass prospects while traveling on rivers	3	but verily I say, unto you, that it is not needful for this whole company of mine Elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief,	¶ [3] But verily I say unto you, that it is not needful for this whole company of mine elders, to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief:
Waters to be dangerous	4	nevertheless I suffered it that ye might bear record,	[4] nevertheless, I suffered it that ye might bear record:
		behold there are many dangers upon {2} upon the waters and more especially hereafter	[5] behold there are many dangers upon upon the waters and more especially hereafter,
Lord's angry decree	5	for I the Lord have decreed in mine anger many destructions upon the waters,	for I the Lord have decreed, in mine anger, many destructions upon the waters;
Especially these rivers		yea and especially upon these waters,	[6] yea and especially upon these waters:
Faithful won't drown	6	nevertheless all flesh is in mine hand & he that is faithful among you Shall not perish by the waters—	[7]nevertheless, all flesh is in mine hand and he that is faithful among you, shall not perish by the waters.
Sidney Gilbert and W. W. Phelps finish errand	7	Wherefore it is Expediant that my servant Sidney (Gilbert) and my Servant Wm. (Phelps) be in haste upon their Errand and mission,	¶ [8] Wherefore it is expedient that my servant Sidney (G.) and my servant William, (P.) be in haste upon their errand and mission:	2	Book of Commandments drops , (P). 1835 D&C has Sidney Gilbert and William Phelps.
Be one or perish	8	nevertheless I would not suffer that ye should part until you are Chastened for all your Sins that you might be one, that you might not perish in wickedness,	[9] nevertheless I would not suffer that ye should part until you are were chastened for all your sins, that you might be one; that you might not perish in wickedness;		Turquoise: dropped after 1835 Pink: added after 1835
Separate now	9	but now verily I say it behooveth me that ye should part,	[10] but now verily I say, it behooveth me that ye should part:
Gilbert, W. W. Phelps, et. al., hurry on		wherefore let them my servants Sidney (G_t) & William take their former company & let them take their journey in haste, that they may fill their mission and thro. {3} through faith they Shall overcome	[11] wherefore let them my servants, Sidney Gilbert and William W. Phelps take their former company, and let them take their journey in haste, that they may fill their mission, and through faith they shall overcome;		Red: added in 1835
Lord will preserve them if faithful	10	and inasmuch as they are faithful they Shall be preserved & I the Lord will be with them,	[12] and inasmuch as they are faithful, they shall be preserved, and I the Lord will be with them.
Others take clothes	11	and let the residue take that which is needful for clothing,	¶ [13] And let the residue take that which is needful for clothing;
Gilbert take unneeded items	12	let my servant Sidney take that which is not needful with him as you shall agree,	[14] let my servant Sidney Gilbert take that which is not needful with him, as you shall agree,		Red: added in 1835
Lord reasons	13	and now behold for your good I give unto you a commandment concerning these things, and I the Lord will reason with you as with men in days of old,	¶ [15] And now behold, for your good I gave unto you a commandment concerning these things: and I the Lord will reason with you as with men in days of old.		Purple: dropped in EMS Orange: added in EMS
John cursed the waters	14	behold I the Lord in the beginning blessed the waters, but in the last days by the mouth of my Servant John I cursed the waters,	¶ [16] Behold I the Lord in the beginning, blessed the waters, but in the last days by the mouth of my servant, John I cursed the waters:	3	Cursings Which John?
In future, no one will be safe on them	15	wherefore the days will come that no flesh Shall be Safe upon the waters,	[17] Wherefore, the days will come that no flesh shall be safe upon the waters,		Cursings Which John?
Only righteous will be able to go to Zion on them	16	and it shall be Said in days to come that none is able to go up to the Land of Zion upon the waters, but he that is upright in heart,	[18] and it shall be said in days to come, that none is able to go up to the land of Zion, upon the waters, but he that is upright in heart.
Land cursed, but in last days for Saints	17	and as I the Lord in the beginning cursed {4} the Land, even so in the last days have I blessed it in its time for the use of my Servants, that they may partake the fatness thereof,	And, as I the Lord in the beginning cursed the land, even so in the last days have I blessed it, in its time, for the use of my saints, that they may partake the fatness thereof.		Purple: dropped in EMS Orange: added in EMS
Warn brethren about waters	18	and now I give unto you a commandm<t>, & what I say unto one I say unto all, that you Shall forewarn your brethren Concerning these waters that they Come not in journeying upon them, lest their faith fail & they are caught in her SnareS,	¶ [19] And now I give unto you a commandment, and that what I say unto one I say unto all, that you shall forewarn your brethren concerning these waters that they come not in journeying upon them, lest their faith fail and they are caught in her snares:		Turquoise: dropped after 1835 Pink: added after 1835
Destroyer rides	19	I the Lord have decreed & the destroyer rideth upon the face thereof & I revoke not the decree.	[20] I the Lord have decreed, & the Destroyer rideth upon the face thereof, and I revoke not the decree:
Lord not angry today	20	I the Lord was angry with you yesterday but to day mine anger is turned away,	¶ [21] I the Lord was angry with you yesterday, but to day mine anger is turned away:
Gilbert and Phelps to hurry	21	wherefore let those Concerning whom I have Spoken that Should take their journey in haste	[22] wherefore let those concerning whom I have spoken, that should take their journey in haste:
			[23] again I say unto you, let them take their journey in haste,		Orange: added in EMS
They can decide, land or water	22	and it mattereth not unto me after a {5} little if it so be that they fill their mission, whether they go by water or by land,	and it mattereth not unto me, after a little, if it so be that they fill their mission, whether they go by water or by land:		In February 1834 the Kirtland council discusses whether Zion's Camp should travel by land or water. They decide to go by land. Minutes of February 24, 1834 When Heber C. Kimball returns from his mission to England in 1838, he travels on the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri rivers to reach Far West. Heber C. Kimball (h5) Red: added in 1835
		let this be as it is made known unto them according to their judgements hereafter	[24] let this be as it is made known unto them according to their judgements, hereafter.
Sidney, Joseph, Oliver to travel only on the canal, not the rivers	23	& now Concerning my Servants Sidney & Joseph & Oliver let them Come not again upon the waters, save it be upon the Canal while journeying unto their homes, or in other words, they shall not come upon the waters to journey save upon the Canal—	¶ [25] A nd now, concerning my servants Sidney Rigdon, and Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver, let them come not again upon the waters, save it be upon the canal, while journeying unto their homes, or in other words they shall not come upon the waters to journey, save upon the canal.	4
Travel by land	24	behold I the Lord have appointed a way for the journeying of my Saints—& behold this is the way,	¶ [26] Behold I the Lord have appointed a way for the journeying of my saints, and behold this is the way:
		that after they leave the Canal they shall journey by land inasmuch as they are Commanded to Journey & go up unto the land of Zion	[27] That after they leave the canal, they shall journey by land inasmuch as they are commanded to journey and go up unto the land of Zion;
	25	& they shall do like unto the Children of Israel pitching their {6} tents by the way	and they shall do like unto the children of Israel, pitching their tents by the way.
	26	and behold this Commandment you Shall give unto all your brethren,	¶ [28] And behold this commandment, you shall give unto all your brethren:	5
Some can command waters	27	nevertheless unto whom is given power to Command the waters unto him it is given by the Spirit to know all his ways	nevertheless unto whom is given power to command the waters, unto him it is given by the Spirit to know all his ways:
	28	wherefore let him do as the Spirit of the living God Commandeth him whether upon the land or upon the waters as it remaineth with me to do hereafter,	[29] wherefore let him do as the Spirit of the living God commandeth him, whether upon the land or upon the waters, as it remaineth with me to do hereafter;
Saints decide	29	and unto you is given the course for the Saints, or the way for the Saints of the Camp of the Lord to journey—	[30] and unto you it is given the course for the saints, or the way for the saints of the camp of the Lord, to journey.
Sidney, Joseph, Oliver not to speak in churches until Cincinnati	30	and again verily I say unto you, my Servants Sidney & Joseph & Oliver shall not open their mouths in the congregations of the wicked until they arrive at Cincinnati,	¶ [31] And again: verily I say unto you, my Servants Sidney Rigdon, and Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery shall not open their mouths in the congregations of the wicked, until they arrive at Cincinnati;		Red: added in 1835
Lord angry with Cincinnati citizens	31	& in that place they Shall lift up their voices unto God against that people	[32] and in that place they shall lift up their voices unto God against that people;
		{7} yea unto him whose anger is kindled against their wickedness, a people who is well ripened for destruction	[33] yea, unto him whose anger is kindled against their wickedness; a people which who is well nigh ripened for destruction;		Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835 Orange: added in EMS Purple: dropped in EMS Orange: added in EMS
Sidney, Joseph, Oliver needed more among the brethren	32	& from thence let them journey for the Congregations of their Brethren, for their labours even now are wanted more abundantly among them than among the Congregations of the wicked,	[34] and from thence let them journey for the congregations of their brethren, for their labours, even now, are wanted more abundantly among them, than among the congregations of the wicked.
Let the others preach to the wicked	33	and now Concerning the residue let them journey & declare the word among the Congregations of the wicked, inasmuch as it is given,	¶ [35] And now concerning the residue, let them journey and declare the word among the congregations of the wicked, inasmuch as it is given,	6
Clean their garments	34	& inasmuch as they do this they shall rid their garments and they Shall be spotless before me,	and inasmuch as they do this they shall rid their garments, and they shall be spotless before me;
Missionaries go in pairs Reynolds and Samuel not to part	35	& let them journey together or two by two as seemeth them good, only let my Servant Reynolds and my servant Samuel with whom I am well pleased {8} be not Separated until they return to their homes, & this for a wise purpose in me—	[36] and let them journey together, or two by two, as seemeth them good, only let my Servant Reynolds Cahoon, and my servant Samuel H. Smith, with whom I am well pleased, be not separated until they return to their homes, and this for a wise purpose in me.		Red: added in 1835
Cheer up, I am with you	36	and now verily I say unto you and what I say unto one I say unto all be of good Cheer little Children for I am in your midst & I have not forsaken you	¶ [37] And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer little children for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you,
If humble, blessings	37	and inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom is yours,	and inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours:
Watch for second coming surprise	38	gird up your loins and be watchful and be sober looking forth for the Coming of the Son of man for he cometh in an hour ye think not—	[38] gird up your loins and be watchful, and be sober, looking forth for the coming of the Son of man, for he cometh in an hour you think not.		Purple: dropped in EMS Orange: added in EMS
Pray not to enter into temptation	39	pray always that ye enter not into temptation that ye may abide the day of his Coming, whether in life or {9} in death, even So = Amen	[39] Pray always that you enter not into temptation, that you may abide the day of his coming, whether in life or in death; even so: Amen.
		D&C 62 D&C 60 Jackson County Revelations Doctrine and Covenants