Page:The Rocky Mountain Saints.djvu/72

38 the New Jerusalem should be built and where the Saints "should eventually be gathered in one." On the 7th of March they were commanded to gather up their riches with one heart and one mind to purchase the inheritance which "the Lord" would point out to them. Of this inheritance they knew nothing definite, but were told that it was somewhere on the western frontiers. In June, about thirty elders were sent out westward on a preaching tour. They were to go out by twos, and were to build up branches of the Church wherever the people would listen to them, and were eventually to meet together when the place of the New Jerusalem would be made known to them.

About the middle of July, Joseph and several of the elders met at Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, and then at length the revelation about the New Jerusalem was forthcoming. It was very explicit concerning the great things "the Lord" would do in this generation, but, as will presently be seen, that troublesome devil, who never to the moment of his tragic death forsook Joseph, was determined to thwart the purposes of "the Lord" and lead the Prophet and his brethren into fearful affliction. By the light of facts which have since transpired, the following revelation of "the Lord" on the gathering to Missouri becomes intensely interesting, showing as it does the measure of confidence which the world can place in modern revelation, and inculcating a salutary lesson to the Mormons themselves now under the prophetic guidance of Brigham Young.

"Verily this is the Word of the Lord, that the City New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the Saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the Temple, which Temple shall be reared in this generation, for verily this generation shall not pass away until an house shall ~be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord which shall fill the house."

"Hearken, O ye elders of my Church, saith the Lord your God, who have assembled yourselves together according to my commandments in this land, which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the Saints; wherefore this is the land of promise and the place for the City of Zion. And thus saith the Lord your God, If you will receive wisdom, here is wisdom. Behold the place