“The Saints Leave Jackson County, Missouri,” Friend, Oct. 1986, 17
The Saints Leave Jackson County, Missouri
Adapted from Doctrine and Covenants Stories (PBIC037A)
(See D&C 97:10–14 preface; D&C 98:4–10, 39 preface; D&C 101:6–8 preface.)
1 While Joseph Smith was in Kirtland, Ohio, he received revelations about the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri.
2 The Lord said that the Saints were to build a temple in Missouri from the tithing they contributed to the Church. The temple would help them “in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth.”
3 But the building of the temple had to be put off because the Saints were being persecuted. Some of them suffered physically.
4 The mobs destroyed much of the Saints’ property.
5 The Saints were forced to leave their homes, and some of them died in the bitter winter weather.
6 When they turned to the Lord for help, He told them that they had caused much of their own suffering by arguing with and cheating each other and by doing other wicked things.
7 The Lord said that the Saints ought to be forgiving.
8 Furthermore, not only should they obey the laws of the land, but they should also seek to vote good men into public office.
9 The Lord said that if the Saints would repent and be obedient, He would help them.