Episode 105: Real Estate laws in the land of Zion

Doctrine and Covenants

Section 104

Revelation given to Joseph Smith Prophet, at or near Kirtland, Ohio, April 23, 1834

Deliver to Satan those who transgress against the united order

¹ I am giving you a commandment about the property of the united order - the everlasting order that I commanded to be established until I come. ² I have cursed those who were not faithful with a very sore and grievous curse. ⁵ I will curse anyone who belongs to the order and breaks its covenant. ⁶ Don't mock me on these things. ⁸ If you're guilty, you can't escape my wrath in your lives. They will be trampled on by whomever I want. ⁹ You can't escape Satan either. ¹⁰ Anyone member of the order who transgresses will be delivered to Satan.

¹¹ It is wisdom that you appoint every man his stewardship. ¹² He is accountable to me for his stewardship.

¹⁵ Everything belongs to me. ¹⁶ This is the way I've decided to do things. The rich will be humbled, and the poor will be exalted. ¹⁸ Whoever doesn't share with the poor will be tormented in hell with the wicked.

Real Estate laws in the land of Zion

¹⁹ And now, about the properties of the order – ²⁰ Let Sidney Rigdon live where he is now living, and let him be in charge of the tannery. ²¹ Everything must be done according to the counsel of the order, whose headquarters is in Kirtland.

²² I bless Sidney Rigdon and his seed. ²³ I'll multiply the blessings on him if he humbles himself before me.

²⁴ Let Martin Harris (and his seed) have the land that John Johnson gave from his former inheritance. ²⁵ If he's faithful, I'll multiply blessings on him and his seed. ²⁶ Martin Harris must give his money to spend as Joseph Smith, Jr. directs.

²⁸ Let Oliver Cowdery have the lot next to the printing office, which is lot #1, and also the lot where his father is living.

²⁹ Let Frederick G. Williams and Oliver Cowdery have the printing office and everything that pertains to it. ³¹ If they are faithful, I'll multiply blessings on them and their seed.

³⁴ Let John Johnson have the house he's living in, except for the ground which is reserved for my houses. ³⁶ But sell the lots for building the city of my saints, as made known by the Sprit and the voice of the order.

³⁹ Let Newel K. Whitney have the lot and houses where he currently resides, along with the lots where the store and ashery is located.

⁴³ I've given Joseph Smith, Jr. the lot for my house, which is 660 feet long and 198 feet long. This is also where his father lives. ⁴⁶ I'll multiply blessing on Joseph Smith, Jr. if his is faithful.

The divided united order

⁴⁷ And now I give you a commandment about Zion: You're no longer bound as a united order to Zion. ⁴⁸ You now will be called the United Order of the Stake of Zion, the city of Kirtland. And the others will be called the United Order of the City of Zion. ⁵³ You are dissolved as a united order. ⁵⁵ All of the properties are mine. ⁵⁶56 You are the stewards of my property.

The sacred treasury of the Lord

⁶⁰ Appoint a treasurer. ⁶² There will be a seal on the treasury, which belongs to all of you collectively. ⁶³ I give it to you this very hour for the purpose of printing these sacred things. ⁶⁶ It will be called the sacred treasury of the Lord. 68 Money will go into the Lord's treasury by hundreds, fifties, twenties, tens, or by fives. ⁶⁹ Or in other words, if you obtain five dollars, put it in the treasury. Or if you obtain ten, twenty, fifty, or a hundred dollars, do likewise. ⁷⁰ Don't say it's your own money. It's not yours, not even part of it. ⁷¹ Money may only be withdrawn from the treasury by common consent of the order. ⁷² This is the voice of common consent - that a man say, I need it for my stewardship. ⁷⁴ Until the man is found to be an unfaithful and unwise steward. ⁷⁷ If the treasurer is found to be an unfaithful and unwise steward, he shall be removed and replaced by the order.

Write a letter to New York dictated by my Spirit

⁷⁸ It's my will that you pay your debts. ⁸⁰ If you humble yourselves before me, I'll soften th hearts of those who loaned you the money. ⁸¹ So write to New York that will be dictated by my Spirit. I'll soften the hearts of those to whom you owe money. ⁸² I'll give you victory if you humbly call on my name. ⁸³ I promise you'll be delivered from your bondage. ⁸⁴ You'll obtain loans of hundreds or thousands - it's your privilege. ⁸⁶ Amen.