1It is the duty of the Lord's clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep a history, and a general church record of all things that transpire in Zion, and of all those who consecrate properties, and receive inheritances legally from the bishop;
85:1-121It is the duty of the Lord's clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep a history, and a general church record of all things that transpire in Zion, and of all those who consecrate properties, and receive inheritances legally from the bishop;
It's the duty of the Lord's clerk to keep a record of everything that happens in Zion, including those who consecrate properties and receive an inheritance from the bishop.
2 And also their manner of life, their faith, and works; and also of the apostates who apostatize after receiving their inheritances.
The clerk also must keep a record of those who apostatize after receiving their inheritance.
3 It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God.
Those who belong to the church and pay the tithe will be protected on the day of vengeance and burning.
4Neither is their genealogy to be kept, or to be had where it may be found on any of the records or history of the church.
5 Their names shall not be found, neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of the children written in the book of the law of God, saith the Lord of Hosts.
6 Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest, saying:
But the genealogy of those who don't will not be kept.
7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;
I will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand. He will be clothed with light, will say eternal words, and his bowels will be a fountain of truth. [1]
He'll clean up God's house and distribute by lot the inheritances among church members.
8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the bark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.
The man who was appointed by God to steady God's ship will die like a tree that is stuck by lightning.
9 And all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance shall find none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing and gnashing of teeth.
10 These things I say not of myself; therefore, as the Lord speaketh, he will also fulfil.
11 And they who are of the High Priesthood, whose names are not found written in the book of the law, or that are found to have apostatized, or to have been cut off from the church, as well as the lesser priesthood, or the members, in that day shall not find an inheritance among the saints of the Most High;
Those who aren't listed in the book of remembrance will get no inheritance and will be cast out among the unbelievers, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
12 Therefore, it shall be done unto them as unto the children of the priest, as will be found recorded in the second chapter and sixty-first and second verses of Ezra.
It'll be done like it was in Ezra 2:61-62. [2]
This prophecy by Joseph Smith has caused more trouble in the Mormon church than any other, with the possible exception of Section 135 - the prophecy on polygamy and celestial marriage.
Dozens of church members have claimed to be, or were believed to be by others, the "one mighty and strong" that God said (through his prophet Joseph Smith) would straighten out the church. Most of them were (and are) polygamist Mormon fundamentalists.
This verse doesn't say who is going to be killed, which has caused much speculation among Mormons. But whoever it is, he will be kiled by God like Uzzah who tried to steady the ark when it was falling. (See 1 Chronicles 13:10 and 2 Samuel 6:6-7)
And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. Ezra 2:61-62
