Verily I say unto you who have assembled together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of mine afflicted people, Behold I say unto you were it not for the transgressions of my people speaking concerning the church and not individually they might have been redeemed even now. But behold they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I require at their hands but are full of all manner of evil & do not impart of their substance or becometh saints to the poor & afflicted among them & are not united according to the union required by the law of the and Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the Celestial Kingdom otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself & my people must needs be chastend untill they learn obedience if it must needs be by the things which they suffer I speak not concerning those who are appointed to lead my people who are the first elders of my church for they are not all under this condemnation but I speak concerning the church abroad there are many who will say where is their god behold he will deliver in time of trouble otherwise we will not go up unto Zion & will keep our monies Therefore in consequ<​ence​> of the transgressions of my people it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion that they themselves may be prepared & that my people may be taught more perfectly & have experience & know more perfectly concerning their duty & the things <​that​> I require at their hand & they cannot be brought to pass untill my are endowed with power from on high for behold I have prepared a great & blessing to be poured out upon them inasmuch they are faithful & continue in humility before me Therefore it is expedient in me that mine Elders should wait for a little season for the the redemption of Zion For behold I do not require at their hands that they should <​to​> fight the battles of Zion, for as I have said in a previous even so I will fulfill: I will fight your battles; behold the destroyer I have sent forth to destroy & lay waste mine enimies & not many years hence they shall not be left to pollute mine heritage and to blasphem my name upon the land which I have consecrated for the gathering together of my saints— Bhold I have commanded my servant Joseph to say to the strength of my house even my warriors my young men & middle aged to gather together for the redemption of my people & throw down the towers of mine enimies & scatter their watchmen but the strength of my house has not harkened unto my word but inasmuch as there are those that have harkened unto my word I have prepared a blessing & an endowment for them. I have heard their prayers & will accept their offering [p. [1]]