History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

70
THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
lish a church and build a city, 25 at a point to be designated
later.
"Behold, I say unto thee, Oliver, that it shall be
given unto thee that thou shalt be heard by the
church in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them
by the comforter concerning the revelations and commandments
which I have given. But behold, verily,
verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to
receive commandments and revelations in this church,
excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jr, for he receiveth
them even as Moses; and thou shalt be obedient
unto the things which I shall give unto him,
even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments
and the revelations with power and authority
unto the church. And if thou art led at any time by
the comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the
way of commandment unto the church, thou mayest
do it. But thou shalt not write by way of commandment,
but by wisdom; and thou shalt not command
him who is at thy head and at the head of the church;
for I have given him the keys of the mysteries and
the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint
unto them another in his stead."
They required elbow-room, and rightly judged that a rural population would
Mack-
be more favorable than an urban one to the reception of their doctrine. '
ay's The Mor., 63.
25 The most ancient prophecy which the saints are now in possession of
relating to the New Jerusalem was one delivered by Enoch, the seventh from
Adam. This was revealed anew to Joseph Smith in December 1S30. In ib
the Lord is represented as purposing 'to gather out mine own elect from
the four quarters of the earth unto a place which I shall prepare. . .But this
revelation does not tell in what part of the earth the New Jerusalem should
be located. The book of Mormon, which the Lord has brought out of the
earth, informs us that this holy city is to be built upon the continent of
America, but it does not inform us upon what part of that vast country it
should be built.' Pratt's Series of Pamphlet*, vii. 4; Pratt's Interesting Account,
10-25; First Book of Nephi in Book of Mormon.