Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Published in Clayton, Revelations
Source Note
JS, Discourse, [, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, or , Hancock Co., IL], [between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839]. Version published [ca. 1857] in [William Clayton], Revelations, no date, 3–7. The copy used for transcription is held at CHL.
befal them to the latest generation: see D. C. sec. 8, p. 28, 29. This is why Abraham blessed his posterity. He wanted to bring them into the presence of God. They looked for a city, &c.— Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God through the power of the , but he could not.
In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing and then was Elias raised up who tried to restore these very glories but did not obtain them. They prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed. Paul spoke of the dispensation of the fulness of times when God would gather together all things in one, &c. Those men to whom these have been given will have to be there, and they without us could not be made perfect. These men are in heaven but their children are on earth; their bowels yearn over us. God sends down men for this reason: Matt. xiii, 41, and the Son of Man shall send forth his angels, &c. All these authoritative characters will come down and join hand in hand in bringing about this work.
The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed; the mustard seed is small but brings forth a large tree. The fowls are the angels, the Book of Mormon, perhaps; thus angels come down, combine together to gather their children and gather them. We cannot be made perfect without them nor they without us; when these are done the Son of Man will descend, the Ancient of Days sit. We may come to an innumerable company of angels, have communication and receive instruction from them. Paul had these things; we may; and have the fowls of heaven lodge in the branches. The horn made war with the and overcame them, &c., until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given to the Saints of the Most High from the Ancient of Days; the time came that the Saints possessed the kingdom.
It not only makes us ministers here but in eternity. Salvation cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for any one to minister without it. No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a prophet. No man can be the minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus and this is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever salvation has been administered it has been by testimony. Men at the present time testify of heaven and hell and have never seen either; and I will say that no man knows these things without this. Men profess to prophesy; I will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of Man are already com [p. 5]