The following is a revelation received by the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints organized in 1844, James Strang. We ask members of the Fellowship to read this revelation prayerfully to determine if it should be added to the Fellowship Doctrine and Covenants.
Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God.
1 Thou shalt swear by the name of the Lord thy God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit of God, and by nothing less:
2 Neither by the heavens, for God’s throne is there; nor by the hosts thereof, for they serve him;
3 Nor by the earth, for it is the place of the sole of his foot;
4 Nor by the inhabitants thereof, for they are mortal, and vanity;
5 Nor by thyself, for thou art of a day, and shalt cease; nor by any work of man, for it perisheth.
6 ¶ Remember that the Lord thy God swore by himself, because there was none greater:
7 But by the greater shalt thou swear, even by God Almighty, and by him whom he sitteth at his right hand forever; and whose is the Kingdom under the whole heaven.
8 Thou shalt not swear by the name of any other God.
9 ¶ Thou shalt not profane the name of the Lord thy God, nor of the Lord Jesus Christ, nor of the Holy Spirit of God, by any oath:
10 But such oaths only as the Law of the Lord thy God, and the commandments from the Lord requireth of thee and alloweth, shalt thou take upon thee; for all else is profane.
11 Thou shalt not profane the name of God by any oath or vow, of thine own.
12 ¶ An oath shall be before the High Priest and/or High Priestess, and the Judge, and the Ruler, and the Minister of the Law;
13 And before such as are set in authority, whensoever they require it:
14 And there may be an oath also between those who enter into covenant:
15 And also between him that serveth, and him that ordereth.
16 ¶ Thou shalt perform all thine oaths; whether unto God or unto man, thou shalt perform them.
17 Thou shalt do according to every word that proceedeth out of thy mouth.
18 Thou shalt not speak with thy lips when thy heart giveth not assent, to do and to perform all the words of thy mouth.
17 ¶ If thou swear by an oath to do anything which is known to thee, and it be sin, it is not an oath of the Lord thy God.
18 Thou canst not profane the name of the holy, to sanctify sin.
19 God shall judge thee, and him that asketh it of thee.
20 Ye shall bear your sins together.
21 ¶ But if thou swear by an oath to do a thing, and it be hid from thee, and thou know it not, and when it is known to thee it is sin;
22 Thou shalt submit thyself unto the judgment of God, and shalt do penance;
23 And shalt make restitution, as shall be put upon thee; that all sin may be put away, and thy heart purified, and wickedness put out of the land.
24 ¶ If thy spouse swear by an oath to perform anything which thou mayest disagree, and thou hold thy peace at them, the day that thou hearest it, there oath shall stand.
25 If thou wilt not that they perform it, thou shalt discuss it presently;
26 For if thou delay, and then disallow it, thou shalt answer for there oath, for the teams be one and both shalt bear the iniquity.
27 ¶ If thy son, or thy daughter, swear by an oath to perform anything which thou mayest disallow, and thou hold thy peace to thy child the day that thou hearest it, the oath shall stand.
28 If thou wilt not that the oath stand, thou shalt disallow it presently; for if thou delay, and then disallow it, thou shalt answer for the oath, and shalt bear the iniquity of thy child.
29 ¶ And if thy servant swear by an oath to do a thing which thou mayest disallow, and thou hold thy peace at him, the day that thou hearest it, his oath shall stand.
30 If thou wilt not that his oath stand, thou shalt disallow it presently; for if thou delay, and then disallow it, thou shalt answer for the oath, and shalt bear the iniquity of thy servant.
Interpretation
The Fellowship interprets this revelation to denote how to make oaths. We make oaths at baptism, when we take communion, in our temples, etc. and this guide helps us understand when we will be held to these oaths. In particular, members coming form the Latter-day Saint branch of our faith have made oaths to that denomination that the Lord does not hold them to, as they are neither required nor supported by Him.
We do not believe this to be a perfect translation as kings were not a calling from God to Israel until Saul was chosen. Changes made are in italics. In addition, while women were owned as property according to the Law, this chapter has been altered to reflect the higher Law of Christ, which makes men and women equal, and forbids buying or selling anyone, bringing equality to all, regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation.
If accepted, this chapter of the Book of the Law of the Lord will be added either after what is commonly known as the Lectures on Faith, or at the end of the collection of the Sections of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Thoughts, comments, and other interpretations are welcome below.