Prophet became, by the election of a council of elders, "Commander-in-chief of the Armies of Israel."
Revelations under the most favourable circumstances are not always over clear to ordinary mortals, and there is often controversy about the fulfilment of a prophecy; but this revelation given through Joseph for "the redemption of Zion" is so palpably applicable to this special period of Mormon history that it is deserving of particular attention. The situation of the exiled Saints from Jackson county, the gathering of "the Lord's hosts" to reinstate them in their possessions, the marching of those brethren a distance of 1,200 miles, and their unflagging zeal and faith up to the last moment, are unequivocal facts, yet the whole "pomp and circumstance of glorious war" accomplished nothing that was promised. Here is the revelation:
. . . "Verily I say unto you, I have decreed that your brethren which have been scattered shall return to the land of their inheritances, and build up the waste places of Zion, for after much tribulation, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, cometh the blessing. Behold this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations and the tribulations of your brethren, your redemption and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion to be established no more to be thrown down, nevertheless if they pollute their inheritances they shall be thrown down, for I will not spare them if they pollute their inheritances. Behold I say unto you the redemption of Zion must needs come by power, therefore I will raise up unto nay people a man who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel, for ye are the children of Israel and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage, by power, and with a stretched-out arm, and as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be. Therefore let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers, mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence; but I say unto you, mine angels shall go before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land."
. . . "Therefore let my servant Baurak Ale [Joseph Smith][1] say unto the strength of my house, my young men and the middle aged, gather yourselves together unto the land of Zion, upon the land which I have bought with monies that have been consecrated unto me; and let all the churches send up wise men with their monies and purchase land even as I have commanded them, and inasmuch as mine enemies come against you to drive you from my goodly land, which I have consecrated to be the- ↑ For the purpose of protecting Joseph when the revelations were printed, in those of a warlike character, he is designated as Baurak Ale, and in others he is represented by Enoch, Gazelam, and Seth.
