A letter to Brother William W Phelps, from Joseph Smith Jr. Kirtland January 11, 1833 and a revelation recorded pages 158-161 of Revelation Book 1. Community of Christ (Section 85:1-16) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Section 88:1-65) Changes made for clarity by inspiration for use for the Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship are in italics.

  1. I send you the Olive Leaf, which we have plucked from the tree of Paradise, the Lord’s message of peace to us;
  2. For though our brethren in Zion indulge in feelings towards us, which are not according to the requirements of the new covenant;
  3. Yet, we have the satisfaction of knowing that the Lord approves of us, and has accepted us, and established his name in Kirtland, for the salvation of the nations;
  4. For the Lord will have a place from whence His word will go forth, in these last days, in purity;
  5. For if Zion will not purify herself, so as to be approved of in all things in His sight, He will seek another people;
  6. For His work will go on until Israel is gathered and they, who will not hear his voice, must expect to feel his wrath.
  7. Let me say unto you, seek to purify yourselves, and also all the inhabitants of Zion, lest the Lord’s anger be kindled to fierceness.
  8. Repent, repent is the voice of God to Zion; and yet, strange as it may appear, it is true, mankind will persist in self justification until all their iniquity is exposed, and their character past being redeemed, and that which is treasured up in their hearts be exposed to the gaze of mankind.
  9. I say to you, (and what I say to you, I say to all,) hear the warning voice of God, lest Zion fall, & the Lord swear in His wrath the inhabitants of Zion shall not enter into His rest.
  10. A Revelation given through Joseph Smith Jr. to the first Elders of this Church of Christ organized in these last days. Given December 27, 1832.
  11. [85:1a/88:1] Verily thus saith the Lord to you who have assembled yourselves together to receive his will concerning you:
  12. [85:1b1/88:2a] Behold, this is pleasing unto your Lord, and the Angels rejoice over you;
  13. [85:1b2/88:2b] The alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth and are recorded in the book of the names of the Sanctified, even they of the Celestial world.
  14. [851c1/88:3a] Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter even upon you, my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise,
  15. [85:1c2/88:3b] Which other comforter is the same that I promised unto my Disciples as is recorded in the testimony of John.
  16. [85:2a1/88:4] This comforter is the promise which I gave unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the Celestial Kingdom;
  17. [85:2a2/88:5] Which glory is that of the Church of the First Born, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ, His Son—
  18. [85:2b1/88:6-7a] He that ascended up on high, as also He descended below all things in that He comprehends all things, that He might be in all and through all things the light of truth therefore, which truth shines.
  19. [85:2b2-c/88:7b] This is the light of Christ, as also He is in the Sun, and the light of the Sun, and the power thereof by which it was made;
  20. [85:2c/88:8] As also He is in in the Moon, and is the light of the Moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
  21. [85:2d/88:9] As also the light of the Stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
  22. [85:2e/88:10] And the Earth also, and the power thereof, even the Earth upon which you stand.
  23. [85:3a1/88:11] And the light which now shines which gives you light is through Him which enlightens your eyes, which is the same light that quickens your understanding;
  24. [85:3a2/88:12] Which light proceeds forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space:
  25. [85:3b1/88:13a] The light which is in all things, which gives life to all things, which is the Law by which all things are governed—
  26. [85:3b2/88:13b] Even the power of God who sits upon His throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.
  27. [85:4a1/88:14] ¶ Now verily I say unto you that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead.
  28. [85:4a2-b1/88:15-16] And the spirit and the body is the soul of man, and the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.
  29. [85:4b2/88:17] And the redemption of the Soul is through Him who quickens all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it.
  30. [85:4c1/88:18] Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the Celestial glory;
  31. [85:4c2/88:19a] For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory,
  32. [85:4c3-d1/88:19b-20a] Even with the presence of God the Father and the Mother, that bodies who are of the Celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever.
  33. [85:4d2/88:20b] For this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified.
  34. [85:5a/88:21] And they who are not sanctified through the Law which I have given unto you, even the Law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a Terrestrial kingdom or that of a Telestial Kingdom;
  35. [85:5b1/88:22] For he that is not able to abide the law of a Celestial Kingdom cannot abide a Celestial glory;
  36. [85:5b2/88:23] And he who cannot abide the law of a Terrestrial Kingdom cannot abide a Terrestrial glory;
  37. [85:5b3/8824a] He who cannot abide the law of a Telestial Kingdom cannot abide the Telestial glory;
  38. [85:5b4-c/88:24b] Therefore, he is not fruit for a Kingdom of glory, therefore, he must abide a kingdom which is not a Kingdom of glory.
  39. [85:6a-b1/88:25-26a] And again, verily I say unto you: The earth abides the Law of a Celestial Kingdom, for it fills the measure of its creation and does not transgress the Law, wherefore, it shall be sanctified;
  40. [85:6b2/88:26b] Yea notwithstanding, it shall die it shall be quickened again and shall abide the power by which it is quickened and the righteous shall inherit it,
  41. [85:6c1/88:27] For not withstanding, they die they also shall rise again a spiritual body.
  42. [85:6c2/88:28a] They who are of a Celestial Spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body.
  43. [85:6c3/88:28b] Even you shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened.
  44. [85:6d/88:29] You who are quickened by a portion of the Celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness;
  45. [85:6e/88:30] And they who are quickened by a portion of the Terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness;
  46. [85:6f/88:31] And also they who are quickened by a portion of the Telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness;
  47. [85:6g1/88:32a] And they who remain shall also be quickened.
  48. [85:6g2/88:32b] Nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received;
  49. [85:7.1/88:33a] For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him and he receive not the gift?
  50. [85:7.2/88:33b] Behold, he does not rejoice in that which is given unto him, neither rejoice in him who is the giver of the gift.
  51. [85:8a/88:34] And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by Law is also preserved by Law, and perfected and sanctified by the same.
  52. [85:8b/88:35] That which breaks a Law and abides not by Law, but seeks to become a law unto itself and wills to abide in sin and altogether abides in sin cannot be sanctified by Law; neither of Mercy, Justice, or Judgment; therefore, they must remain filthy still.
  53. [85:9a1/88:36-37a] All Kingdoms have a Law given, and there are many Kingdoms, for there is no space in the which there is no Kingdom.
  54. [85:9a2/88:37b] And there is no Kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or lesser Kingdom.
  55. [85:9b/88:38] And unto every Kingdom is given a Law, and unto every Law there are certain bounds also, and conditions.
  56. [85:10a1/88:39-40a] All beings who abide not in those conditions are not Justified: for intelligence cleaves unto intelligence, wisdom receives wisdom, truth embraces truth,
  57. [85:10a2-b1/88:40b] Virtue loves virtue, light cleaves unto light, mercy has compassion on mercy, and claims her own;
  58. [85:10b2/88:40c] Justice continues its course and claims is its own; Judgment goes before the face of Him who sits upon the throne and governs and executes all things;
  59. [85:10c1/88:41a] He comprehends all things, and all things are before Him, and all things are round about him;
  60. [85:10c2/88:41b] And He is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things, and all things are by Him and of Him—even God forever and ever.
  61. [85:11a1/88:42] ¶ And again, verily I say unto you, He has given a Law unto all things by which they move in their times and their seasons;
  62. [85:11a2/88:43] And their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and of the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets;
  63. [85:11b1/88:44a] And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes and in their hours; in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years.
  64. [85:11b2/88:44b] All these are one year with God, but not with man;
  65. [85:12a1/88:45a] The earth rolls upon her wings and the Sun gives her light by day, and the moon gives her light by night,
  66. [85:12a2/88:45b] And the Stars also give her light as they roll upon their wings in their glory in the midst of the power of God.
  67. [85:12b/88:46] Unto what shall I liken their kingdoms that ye may understand?
  68. [85:12c/88:47] Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who has seen any or the least of these have seen God moving in His majesty and power.
  69. [85:12d/88:48a] I say unto you: He has seen Him, nevertheless he who came unto his own was not comprehended;
  70. [85:12e1/88:49] The light shines in darkness and the darkness cannot comprehend it.
  71. [85:12e2/88:49b] Nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in Him and by Him;
  72. [85:12f/88:50] Then shall you know that you have seen me; that I AM, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me otherwise ye could not abound.
  73. [85:13a/88:51] ¶ Behold, I will liken these Kingdoms unto a man having a field, and he sent forth his servants into the field to dig in the field:
  74. [85:13b/88:52] And he said unto the first: Go and labor in the field and in the first hour I will come unto you, and you shall behold the Joy of my countenance.
  75. [85:13c/88:53] And he said unto the second: Go also into the field and in the second hour I will visit you with the Joy of my countenance.
  76. [85:13d1/88:54] And also unto the third saying: I will visit you.
  77. [85:13d2/88:55] And unto the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth.
  78. [85:14a/88:56] And the Lord of the field went unto the first in the first hour and tarried with him all that hour, and he was made glad with the light of the countenance of his Lord.
  79. [85:14b/88:57] And then he withdrew from the first that he might visit the second, also the third and the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth.
  80. [85:14c1/88:58] And thus they all received the light of the countenance of their Lord, every man in his hour and in his time, and in his season;
  81. [85:14c2/88:59] Beginning at the first and so on unto the last, and from the last unto the first, and from the first unto the last;
  82. [85:14d/88:60] Every man in his own order until his hour was finished, even according as his Lord had commanded him, that his Lord might be glorified in him, and he in him that they all might be glorified
  83. [85:15.1/88:61a] Therefore, unto this parable will I liken all those Kingdoms and the inhabitants thereof:
  84. [85:15.2/88:61b] Every kingdom in its hour, and in its time, and in its Season, even according to the decree which God has made.
  85. [85:16a/88:62] ¶ And again, verily I say unto you my friends: I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts with this commandment which I give unto you that ye shall call upon me while I am near.
  86. [85:16b/88:63a] Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you;
  87. [85:16c/88:63b] Seek me diligently and ye shall find me,
  88. [85:16d-e/88:63c] Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.
  89. [85:16f/88:64-65] Whatsoever ye ask the father in my name it shall be given unto you that is expedient for you, and if ye ask any thing that is not expedient for you it shall turn unto your condemnation.