Scriptures
Doctrine and Covenants 56


Section 56

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, June 15, 1831. This revelation chastises Ezra Thayre for not obeying a former revelation (the “commandment” referred to in verse 8), which Joseph Smith had received for him, instructing Thayre concerning his duties on Frederick G. Williams’ farm, where he lived. The following revelation also revokes Thayre’s call to travel to Missouri with Thomas B. Marsh (see section 52:22).

1–2, The Saints must take up their cross and follow the Lord to gain salvation; 3–13, The Lord commands and revokes, and the disobedient are cast off; 14–17, Wo unto the rich who will not help the poor, and wo unto the poor whose hearts are not broken; 18–20, Blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, for they will inherit the earth.

1 Hearken, O ye people who aprofess my name, saith the Lord your God; for behold, mine anger is bkindled against the rebellious, and they shall know mine arm and mine indignation, in the day of cvisitation and of wrath upon the nations.

2 And he that will not take up his across and bfollow me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.

3 Behold, I, the Lord, command; and he that will not aobey shall be bcut off in mine own due time, after I have commanded and the commandment is broken.

4 Wherefore I, the Lord, command and arevoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the brebellious, saith the Lord.

5 Wherefore, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants aThomas B. Marsh and Ezra Thayre, and give a new commandment unto my servant Thomas, that he shall take up his journey speedily to the land of Missouri, and my servant Selah J. Griffin shall also go with him.

6 For behold, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants aSelah J. Griffin and Newel Knight, in consequence of the bstiffneckedness of my people which are in Thompson, and their rebellions.

7 Wherefore, let my servant Newel Knight remain with them; and as many as will go may go, that are contrite before me, and be led by him to the land which I have appointed.

8 And again, verily I say unto you, that my servant Ezra Thayre must repent of his apride, and of his bselfishness, and obey the former commandment which I have given him concerning the place upon which he lives.

9 And if he will do this, as there shall be no divisions made upon the land, he shall be appointed still to go to the land of Missouri;

10 Otherwise he shall receive the amoney which he has paid, and shall leave the place, and shall be bcut off out of my church, saith the Lord God of hosts;

11 And though the heaven and the earth pass away, these words shall not apass away, but shall be fulfilled.

12 And if my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., must needs pay the money, behold, I, the Lord, will pay it unto him again in the land of Missouri, that those of whom he shall receive may be rewarded again according to that which they do;

13 For according to that which they do they shall receive, even in lands for their inheritance.

14 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people—you have many things to do and to repent of; for behold, your asins have come up unto me, and are not bpardoned, because you seek to ccounsel in your own ways.

15 And your hearts are not satisfied. And ye obey not the truth, but have apleasure in unrighteousness.

16 Wo unto you arich men, that will not bgive your substance to the cpoor, for your driches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The eharvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!

17 Wo unto you apoor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of bgreediness, and who will not clabor with your own hands!

18 But blessed are the apoor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are bcontrite, for they shall see the ckingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the fatness of the dearth shall be theirs.

19 For behold, the Lord shall come, and his arecompense shall be with him, and he shall breward every man, and the poor shall rejoice;

20 And their generations shall ainherit the earth from generation to generation, forever and ever. And now I make an end of speaking unto you. Even so. Amen.