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Letter from First Presidency to Saints Scattered Abroad, 15 September 1840

 
and by obedience to the heavenly com mand, escape the things which are com ing on the earth and secure to them selves an inheritance

Generally referred to land promised by or received from God for the church and its members. A January 1831 revelation promised church members a land of inheritance. In March and May 1831, JS dictated revelations commanding members “to purchase lands for an...

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 among the sancti fied in the world to come.
Having been placed in a very re sponsible situation in the church, we at  all times feel interested in the welfare  of the Saints and make mention of them  continually in our prayers to our heav enly Father, that they may be kept  from the evils which are in the world  and ever be found walking in the path  of truth.
The work of the Lord in these last  days, is one of vast magnitude and al most beyond the comprehension of  mortals: its glories are past description  and its grandeur insurpassable. It has  been the theme which has animated  the bosom of prophets and righteous  men from the creation of this world  down through every succeeding gen eration to the present time; and it is  truly the dispensation of the fulness of  times

A period of God’s work on earth, such as the “dispensation of the gospel of Abraham.” The biblical phrase “dispensation of the fulness of times” appears often in the writing of early Latter-day Saints; they typically used it to describe the final dispensation...

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, when all things which are in  Christ Jesus, whether in heaven or on  the earth, shall be gathered

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

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 together in  him, and when all things shall be resto red, as spoken of by all the holy proph ets since the world began: for in it  will take place the glorious fulfillment  of the promises made to the fathers,  while the displays of the power of the  Most High will be great, glorious, and  sublime.
The purposes of our God are great.  his love unfathomable, his wisdom infi nite, and his power unlimited; there fore, the Saints have cause to rejoice  and be glad, knowing that “this God is  our God forever and ever and he will  be our guide unto death.”
Having confidence in the power, wis dom and love of God, the Saints have  been enabled to go forward through the  most adverse circumstances, and fre quently when to all human appearances  nothing but death presented itself, and  destruction, inevitable, has the power  of God been manifest, his glory reveal ed, and deliverance effected; and the  Saints, like the children of Israel who  came out of the land of Egypt, and  through the Red Sea, have sung an  anthem of praise to his holy name: this  has not only been the case in former  ages, but in our own day, and within  a few months, have we seen this fully  verified.
Having, through the kindness of our  God, been delivered from destruction,  and secured a location upon which we  have again commenced opperations for  the good of his people, we feel disposed  to go forward and unite our energies  for the upbuilding of the kingdom, and  establishing the Priesthood

In the early 1830s, often referred to an “order of men set apart for sacred offices”; also referred more generally to power or authority from God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands to adult male members of the church in good standing...

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 in their ful ness and glory.
The work which has to be accom plished in the last days is one of vast  importance, and will call into action  the energy, skill, talent, and ability of  the Saints, so that it may roll forth  with that glory and majesty described  by the prophets: and will consequent ly require the concentration of the  Saints, to accomplish works of such  magnitude and grandeur.
The work of the gathering

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

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 spoken  of in the scriptures, will be necessary  to bring about the glories of the last  dispensation: It is probably unneces sary to press this subject on the Saints,  as we believe the spirit of it is mani fest, and its necessity obvious to every  considerate mind; and every one zeal ous for the promotion of truth and  righteousness, is equally so for the  gathering of the Saints.
Dear brethren feeling desirous to  carry out the purposes of God, to which  we have been called; and to be co- workers with him in this last dispensa tion

A period of God’s work on earth, such as the “dispensation of the gospel of Abraham.” The biblical phrase “dispensation of the fulness of times” appears often in the writing of early Latter-day Saints; they typically used it to describe the final dispensation...

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: we feel the necessity of having  the hearty co-operation of the Saints  throughout this land, and upon the Is lands of the sea; and it will be neces sary for them to hearken to council,  and turn their attention to the church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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,  the establishment of the kingdom, and  lay aside every selfish principle, every  thing low, and groveling; and stand  forward in the cause of truth, and as sist to the utmost of their power, those  to whom has been given the pattern  and design; and like those who held up  the hands of Moses, hold up the hands  of those who are appointed to direct  the affairs of the kingdom, so that they  may be strengthened, and be enabled  to prosecute their great designs and be  instrumental in effecting the great work  of the last days.
Believing the time has now come  when it is necessary to erect a house

The sacred edifice in Kirtland, Ohio, since known as the Kirtland temple. Although the term temple in the early days of the church designated a category of buildings, the proper name applied to the structure in Kirtland was “House of the Lord.” JS and the...

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  of prayer, a house of order, a house for [p. 178]

Facts

Editorial Title
Letter from First Presidency to Saints Scattered Abroad, 15 September 1840
ID #
575