Episode 114: We believe in religious freedom but condemn sedition and rebellion (133-135)

Doctrine and Covenants

Section 133

Revelation given through Joseph Smith at Hiram, Ohio, November 3, 1831

I have trampled them in my fury

¹ I'm God. Listen to me. ² I'm going to come down and curse the world. ³ I'll show everyone my holy arm. ¹⁰ The bridegroom is coming. ¹⁵ Don't hurry, but don't look back or you'll be destroyed.

¹⁸18\\ The Lamb will stand on Mount Zion with 144,000 people, with his Father's name written on their foreheads. ¹⁹ So go meet the bridegroom.

²¹ He'll speak from Jerusalem, but everyone on earth will hear him. ²² His voice will be like many waters, and the voice of thunder. It will break mountains and fill valleys. ²³ The ocean will be driven back to the north countries, and the islands will merge to become one land. ²⁴ The earth will be like it was before it was divided. ²⁶ The prophets will break rocks and melt ice. ²⁷ There will be a highway over the ocean. ²⁹ The deserts will become less dry.

³⁶ I've sent my angel flying through heaven, who has appeared to some people. ⁴⁸ The Lord will be dressed in red garments. ⁴⁹ The moon will not shine and the stars will be thrown. ⁵⁰ And he'll say: "I've trodden the winepress alone. ⁵¹ I've trampled them in my fury. I’ve treaded on them in my anger. I've sprinkled their blood on my garments.”

⁵⁶ The graves of the saints shall be opened, and they'll sing the song of the Lamb.

⁶⁴ Someday the Lord will burn all the wicked people.

⁶⁸ I [the Lord] killed all the fish in the rivers and sea and made them stink. ⁷³ They will go into the outer darkness where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. ⁷⁴ That's what God said. Amen.

Section 134

A declaration adopted by unanimous vote at a general assembly of the Church held at Kirtland, Ohio, August 17, 1835

We believe in religious freedom but condemn sedition and rebellion

¹ We believe that governments were instituted by God for the benefit of men. And that men should make laws and administer them for the good of society. ² And that governments should ensure that individuals are free and have the right to protect their life and property.

³ We believe that laws must be enforced equally, and that they should be upheld by the voice of the people, if a republic, or by a monarch.

⁴ We believe that religion is instituted by God and can be changed only by him. We do not believe that human law has a right to interfere with religion.

We believe that the government should restrain crime but never control conscience; it should punish guilt but never suppress freedom.

⁵ We believe that men should uphold their government, that sedition and rebellion should be punished, and that governments should enact laws for the public good, while protecting freedom of conscience.

⁶ We believe that laws should be respected and obeyed.

⁷ We believe that laws should be enacted to protect religious freedom, as long as such beliefs do not justify sedition or conspiracy.

⁸ We believe that crimes should be punished.

⁹ We do not believe that religion should influence government, or that one religion should be granted special privileges.

¹⁰ We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal manage their own affairs and excommunicate their members as they see fit.

¹¹ We believe that men should appeal to the civil law to redress wrongs, but individuals also have the right to defend themselves and their property when such relief is unavailable.

We do not believe it is right to interfere with a slave owner's right to own slaves

¹² We do not believe that it is right to interfere with the right of slave owners to own slaves, or to encourage slaves to rebel against their masters.

Section 135

Announcement of the death of Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum Smith at Carthage, Illinois, June 27, 1844

The death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith

¹ Joseph and Hyrum Smith were shot to death in the Carthage, Illinois jail at about 5 pm on June 27, 1844. Hyrum's last words were, "I am a dead man!" Joseph's were, "Oh Lord my God!" They each received four balls.

Joseph Smith did more for the salvation of men than any other man (except Jesus)

³ Joseph Smith did more for the salvation of men than any other man who has ever lived, except for Jesus. He translated the Book of Mormon, received the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, and founded a great city.

⁴ Hyrum and Joseph were 44 and 38 years old, respectively, when they died. ⁷ Their innocent blood will cry out to God until he avenges that blood on the earth.