Not one will be left to stand by a wall (117-123)

Episode 109: Not one will be left to stand by a wall (117-123)

Doctrine and Covenants

Section 117

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838

The mountains of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and the plains of Olaha Shinehah

¹ This is what the Lord says to William Marks and Newel K. Whitney: Settle up you businesses and go to Kirtland, before I, the Lord, send snows again upon the earth. ² I command them to hurry. ³ If they tarry, things won't go well with them. ⁴ They must repent of the sins and covetous desires. Because what is property to me? ⁵ Sell the properties to pay or debts. If there's anything left over, you can have it.

⁸ Isn't there enough room on the mountains of Adam-ondi-Ahman? And on the plains of Olaha Shinehah where Adam lived? ⁹ So come up to Zion where my people live.

¹⁰ William Marks will rule over the city of Far West.

¹¹ Newel K. Whitney should be ashamed of the Nicolaitane band with all their secret abominations. He should bring his little soul to the land of Adam-ondi-Ahman and be a bishop. ¹² Everyone will remember Oliver Granger forever and ever. ¹³ Let him run for the office of First Presidency of my church. When he fails, let him try again. ¹⁴ He should come quickly to the land of Zion, where he'll become a merchant for me. ¹⁵ No one should despise him. ¹⁶ I'm telling everyone in Kirtland again to overthrow the moneychangers in my own time, says the Lord. Amen.

Section 118

Revelation given through Joseph Smith at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838

Replacing four or the Twelve who have been excommunicated

¹ Let's have a conference to organize the Twelve and replace any who have fallen. ² Thomas will remain for a while in the land of Zion to publish my word. ³ Let those who remain continue to preach. If they do, I promise to provide for their families, and an effectual door will open for them. ⁴ Next spring they will go over the great waters to preach for me. ⁵ They will leave the city of Far West on April 26 from the spot where my house is being built. ⁶ John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff, and Willard Richards will replace those who have fallen.

Section 119

Revelation given through Joseph Smith at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838

The law of tithing

¹ I, the Lord, require that all surplus property be given to the bishop. ² For the building of my house, the foundation of Zion, the priesthood, and to pay the debts of my church. ³ And now the tithing of church members begins. ⁴ Everyone must pay one-tenth of their income each year for my holy priesthood. This is a law that is forever binding. ⁵ Those who refuse to tithe will be expelled from the church.⁷ Amen.

Section 120

Revelation given through Joseph Smith at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838,

The money from tithes belongs to the church

¹ The money from tithes belongs to the Church and will be disposed of by a council - and by my own voice. Amen.

Section 121

By Joseph Smith while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 20-22, 1839

Not one will be left to stand by a wall

¹ Where are you hiding, God? ³ When will your bowels be moved with compassion? ⁵ Get angry with our enemies and avenge us with your sword.

¹² God will blind their minds so they can't understand his marvelous workings. ¹⁵ And in a few years, not one of them or their posterity will be left to stand by the wall. ²² It'd be better for them to be drowned with a millstone around their necks. ²³ They are generation of vipers who will all be damned to hell.

²⁶ God will give you knowledge by his Holy Spirit that hasn't been revealed until now. ²⁸ It will be revealed whether there is one God or many gods.

Section 122

The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 22, 1839

God will be with Joseph Smith forever

¹ Everyone on earth will know about you [Joseph Smith]. Fools will deride you, and hell will rage against you. ² Pure, wise, noble, and virtuous people will ask you for your advice and blessing. ⁴ Though you will get into trouble and jail, you will be a fierce lion to your enemies. And God will be with you forever.

Section 123

By Joseph Smith while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 22, 1839

We shall call our Heavenly Father forth from his hiding place

¹ Make an account of all of the damages the saints have suffered from the people of Missouri. ³ And also make a list of the people who have oppressed them.⁴ Gather all the libelous magazines, encyclopedias, and histories, and make a list of their authors. ⁵ Present the whole diabolical rascality, nefarious, murderous list of things that have been produced against us. ⁶ Present them to government in all their dark and hellish hue. Use this list to call our Heavenly Father from his hiding place. So that the whole nation will be without excuse when he sends forth the power of his mighty arm. ¹⁰ These dark and black deeds are enough to make hell shudder and make the devil's hands tremble. ¹² Many sects and denominations are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, who seek to deceive others, and are blind to the truth because they don't know where to find it.

A few more words about this episode

The mountains of Adam-ondi-Ahman (117:8a): Adam-ondi-Ahman is where Adam and Eve lived after leaving the Garden of Eden. It's in modern-day Daviess County, Missouri - which isn't known for its mountains.
The plains of Olaha Shinehah (117:8b): No one knows what Olaha Shinehah refers to. But "Shinehah" was a code name for Kirtland in Section 82. So I guess Adam and Eve also lived in the Kirtland area.
The Nicolaitane band (117:11): No one knows what Jesus is talking about here, although he did say that he hated the deeds and doctrine of someone called Nicolaitanes in Revelation 2:6 and 15. I guess his secret band was still around in Far West, Missouri in 1838.
Let's have a conference to organize the Twelve and replace any who have fallen. (118:1): When I first read this, I figured this was referring to those who have died. But no, it's referring to members of "The Twelve" who were excommunicated. This includes: William E. McLellin, Luke S. Johnson, John F. Boynton, and Lyman E. Johnson. So I guess by this time, eight years after the founding of the church, The Twelve have become The Eight (or less).
Thomas (118:1): Thomas B. Marsh published the Lord's word in the Elder's Journal from October 1837 to August 1838. He was excommunicated in 1839.
John Taylor (118:6a): John Taylor later became the third President of the LDS church in 1880.
John E. Page (118:6b): John E. Page was excommunicated from the LDS church on June 26, 1846.
Wilford Woodruff (118:6c): Wilford Woodruff became the fourth President of the LDS church in 1889.
Willard Richards (118:6d): Willard Richards became Second Counselor to Brigham Young on December 27, 1847.
Not one of them will be left to stand by the wall. (121:15): This revelation is quoting the Bible here. But it changed the words of the verses in the King James Version. Here for example is just one of six verses that say "pisseth against the wall" (meaning "kill every man").; See 1 Samuel 24:34; 1 Kings 14:10, 21:21; and 2 Kings 9:8 for the other five verses.
Whether there be one God or many gods (1221:28): This is the first revelation to introduce the idea of polytheism in the LDS church.