record of the ancient inhabitants of America, the Indians on the western frontier were the first to be honoured with a special mission, and a number of the elders were set apart for this work and sent forth "without purse or scrip" to preach to the "Lamanites."[1]
In addition to the instruction which Joseph claims to have received from the angels who frequently visited him, he was also endowed with the "gift of revelation," by which he was able to give "the word of the Lord" on every subject and to everybody. Men were called, chosen, ordained, and sent on missions by the commandment of revelation; they were blessed, honoured, reproved and cursed by it as the case might require, and Joseph, as frequently as any one else, got his full share of rebuke and chastisement. Jesus Christ is said to be the author of the numerous revelations given to the Mormon Church through Joseph Smith, and in this way the early disciples were directed in all their affairs, whether spiritual or temporal. Joseph became, in the language of one of the hymns, "the mouthpiece of God," and henceforth his address to the Saints in all matters of importance was: "Thus saith the Lord."
Sidney Rigdon was successful with many of his congregation and "the people round about," so that Ohio became the object of the Prophet's attention. In December, 1830, Rigdon paid a visit to the Prophet and prolonged his stay till January, aiding him in his inspired translation of the New Testament, after which the Prophet returned with him to Ohio. During this visit "the Lord commanded the Saints in the State of New York to gather in Ohio," and instructions to that effect were promulgated and obeyed. In a few months they were comfortably situated in the northern portion of that State. But all this was only temporary. Joseph had ever present in his mind the "New Jerusalem" that was to be built up somewhere in the last days, but where that was to be he had not yet learned. "The Lord," who guided Joseph, would appear to have resolved to keep the locality of the New Jerusalem secret as long as possible and therefore only spoke of it in vague terms. "In February, 1831, the Saints were commanded to ask the Lord and he would in due time reveal unto them the place where
- ↑ The designation of the Indians in modern revelation.
