Prayer of Dedication, 27 March 1836, as Recorded in Kimball, Journal and Record [D&C 109]
Source Note
Prayer of Dedication, , Geauga Co., OH, 27 Mar. 1836. Version copied [between 1842 and 1856] in Kimball, “Journal and Record,” pp. 25–30; unidentified handwriting; Heber C. Kimball papers collection, CHL.
salvation be upon that city, that they may gather out of that city the righteous, that they may come forth to , or to her , the places of thine appointment, with songs of everlasting joy,— and until this be accomplished let not thy judgments fall upon that city.
And whatever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city receive not their testimony of thy servants, and thy servants warn them to save themselves from this untoward generation, let it be upon that city according to that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of thy prophets; but deliver thou O Jehovah, we beseech thee thy servants from their hands, and cleanse them from their blood. O Lord we delight not in the destruction of our fellow men; their souls are precious before thee; but thy word must be fulfilled:— help thy servants to say with thy grace assisting them, thy will be done O Lord and not ours.
We know that thou hast spoken by the mouth of thy prophets, terrible things concerning the wicked, in the last days, that thou wilt pour out thy judgments without measure: therefore O Lord deliver thy people from the calamity of the wicked; enable thy servants to up the law and bind up the testimony, that they may be prepared against the day of burning.
We ask thee holy Father to remember those who have been driven by the inhabitants of . Missouri, from the lands of their inheritance, and break off O Lord this yoke of affliction, that has been put upon them. Thou knowest O Lord that they have been greatly oppressed, and afflicted by wicked men, and our hearts flow out in sorrow, because of their grievous burdens. O Lord how long wilt thou suffer this people to bear this affliction and the cries of their innocent ones to ascend up in thine ears, and their blood to come up in testimony before thee, and not make a display of thy power in their behalf!
Have mercy O Lord upon that wicked mob who have driven thy people that they may cease to spoil, that they may repent of their sins, if repentance is to be found; but if they will not make bare thine arm O Lord and redeem that which thou didst appoint a Zion unto thy people! And if it cannot be otherwise, that the cause of thy people may not fail before thee, may thine anger be kindled and thine indignation fall upon them that they may be wasted away, both root and branch from under heaven; but inasmuch as they will repent, thou art gracious and merciful, and will turn away thy wrath when [p. 28]