Section 21

1–3, Joseph Smith is called to be a seer, translator, prophet, apostle, and elder; 4–8, His word will guide the cause of Zion; 9–12, The Saints will believe his words as he speaks by the Comforter.

1. Behold, there shall be a

record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a

seer, a translator, a prophet, an

apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ,

2. Being

inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to

build it up unto the most holy faith.

3. Which

church was

organized and established in the year of your Lord eighteen hundred and thirty, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April.

4. Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give

heed unto all his words and

commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all

holiness before me;

5. For his

word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.

6. For by doing these things the

gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of

darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to

shake for your

good, and his name’s

glory.

7. For thus saith the Lord God: Him have I inspired to move the cause of

Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard.

8. Yea, his weeping for Zion I have seen, and I will cause that he shall mourn for her no longer; for his days of rejoicing are come unto the

remission of his sins, and the manifestations of my blessings upon his works.

9. For, behold, I will

bless all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty blessing, and they shall believe on his words, which are given him through me by the

Comforter, which

manifesteth that Jesus was

crucified by

sinful men for the sins of the

world, yea, for the remission of sins unto the

contrite heart.

10. Wherefore it behooveth me that he should be

ordained by you, Oliver Cowdery mine apostle;

11. This being an ordinance unto you, that you are an elder under his hand, he being the

first unto you, that you might be an elder unto this church of Christ, bearing my name—

12. And the first

preacher of this church unto the church, and before the world, yea, before the Gentiles; yea, and thus saith the Lord God, lo, lo! to the

Jews also. Amen.