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Letters to John Burk, Sally Phelps, and Almira Scobey, 1–2 June 1835
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Copy this half and let each grade of officers have one copy.Kirtland June 1st 1835
President Burk: You will not value the postage of <a> letter I presume when you learn that this part of the sheet is for the benefit of the saints of God. According to the order of the kingdom began in the last days, to prepare men for the rest of the Lord, the elders in Zion or <in> her immediate region have no authority, nor right to medelle [meddle] with her affairs to reg ulate, or even hold any courts. The high council has been organized expressly <to> administer over <in> all her spiritual affairs; And the bishop and his council are set over her temporal matters: so thus the elders’ acts are null and void: Now the Lords wants the tares and wheat to grow to gether; <while in an organized states,> Zion must be redeemed with Judgments and her Converts by righteousness: Every elder that can, after he has provided for his family (if any he has) and paid his debts must go forth and clear his skirts from the blood of this generation: while they are there, instead of holding courts to stop communion, or any thing <else,> let every one laber to bind up the broken hearted; reclaim the wanderer, and persuade back into the Kingdom, such as have been cut off. by encouraging <them> to lay to and work rightousness, and prepare with one heart and one mind to redeem Zion, that goodly land of promise, where the willing and the obedient shall be blessed. Soul[s] are as precious in the sight of God as they ever were, and the elders were never called to drive any down to hell, but entice <invite> and persuade men every where to repent— It is the acceptable year of the Lord. The priests too, should not be <idle> their duties are plain and unless <they> do them. they can not expect to be approved. Righteousness must govern the saints in all things, and <when> the new covenants come forth the priests will learn that great <things> may be expected <at> their hands.
The Teachers and Deacons are the standing ministers of the church, and in the absence of other officers, they will have great things required at their hands— They must strengthen the members;— persuade such as are out of the way to repent, and meekly urge and persuade every one to forgive each other all their trespasses, offences, and sins; Bear and forbear one with another, brethren, for so God does with us. Cease to find fault and learn to do well: Pray <for> your enemies in the church, and curse not <your> foes <with>out: for vengence belongs to God. Know you not, that “there is more Joy in heaven over One sinner that reprents, than over there is oever <ninety> nine Just persons, that need no repentance!” Strive not about the mys teries of the kingdom; to one is given the word of wisdom; to another the power of healing difficulties: To every officer we say be merciful and you shall find mercy. Your Brethren, who leave their families and go forth to warn the present generation of the great things to <come>, expect great things of those who enjoy the society of the sain[ts] and their families— They pray that they may be very prayerful and very humble, will working dil igently for spiritually <&> temporally for the redemption of Zion, when all the pure in heart can return with songs of everlasting Joy, to enjoy the good of the land of Zion: Brethren, in the name of Jesus we entreat you to live worthy [p. [1]]
