Today we’re looking at the real meaning of a ‘revelation’ Joe Smith pronounced upon Martin Harris, one of the original 3 BoM Witnesses. I use the word ‘pronounced’ because it was more like a curse put on Harris, if he didn’t adhere to the demands of Smith’s god.
“A commandment of God and not of man to you.” Prophecy from Joseph Smith meant for Martin Harris, March, 1830.
You can find two versions of this – one in the Book of Commandments Chapter XVI, the other in Doctrine and Covenants Section 19. The Church had to rewrite the BoC when their printing press was burned down by the locals in July 1833. As ‘luck’ would have it, two young sisters managed to salvage some of the writings during the mêlée. You can read more on that story in our article The True Story of Mary Rollins Lightner.
Below is a side-by-side comparison from both writings. For the sake of brevity, we’ve only listed the relevant verses; to read them in full, see links above.
As a heads up, the revelations from this section are all over the board. They run the gamut of where Jesus atoned for man’s sin, to a curse on Harris’ head if he didn’t pay for the final printing for the BoM. As a reminder, Harris had already given Smith several thousands of dollars to fund the BoM.
Moreover, preceding this event history reveals the many goose chases Smith sent his followers on; one of which was sending David Whitmer, and others to Toronto in an attempt to sell the BoM copyright. Comprehensive History of the Church 1:162-165.
Smith was obviously hard up for cash, and found an easy target in Harris’ gullibility to shame him for losing the original 116 BoM pages. Invoking a so-called revelation (aka, curse) from the Mormon god to pony up, or die for the remainder of the BoM printing cost, was a no-brainer for Smith.
The sad part of our topic today is twofold. Not only has Smith tricked millions of people with his charade, but he also took advantage of Harris’ meager wealth, and his obvious mental health problems. Harris was well known to have changed his mind about things each time the wind blew, and fell for Smith’s tactics many times over.
If you’re Mormon, we want you to know we pray for you every single day. We don’t post these things to bash or to embarrass you. We do this because we understand where you are now – we’ve been in your shoes.
We’re praying you want a real relationship with Jesus, and hope to hear from you soon!
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
| Book of Commandments | Doctrine & Covenants |
| 16:22 And I command you, that you preach naught but repentance; and show not these things, neither speak these things unto the world, for they can not bear meat, but milk they must receive: | 19:21 And I command you that you preach naught but repentance, and show not these things unto the world until it is wisdom in me. |
| 16:23 Wherefore, they must not know these things lest they perish | 19:22 For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive; wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish. |
| 16:27 And again: I command you, that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God, which is my word to Gentile, that soon it may go to the Jew, of which the Lamanites are a remnant; that they may believe the gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come which has already come. | 19:26 And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God— |
| 16:32 And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior and remission of sins by baptism and by fire; yea, even the Holy Ghost. | 19:31 And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost. |
| 16:33 Behold this is a great and the last commandment which I shall give unto you: | 19:32 Behold, this is a great and the last commandment which I shall give unto you concerning this matter; for this shall suffice for thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life. |
| 16:34 For this shall suffice for thy daily walk even unto the end of thy life. | 19:33 And misery thou shalt receive if thou wilt slight these counsels, yea, even the destruction of thyself and property. |
| 16:35 And misery thou shalt receive, if thou wilt slight these counsels: Yea, even destruction of thyself and property. | 19:34 Impart a portion of thy property, yea, even part of thy lands, and all save the support of thy family. |
| 16:36 Impart a portion of thy property; Yea, even a part of thy lands and all save the support of thy family. | 19:35 Pay the debt thou hast contracted with the printer. Release thyself from bondage. |
| 16:37 Pay the printer’s debt. | 19:36 Leave thy house and home, except when thou shalt desire to see thy family |
| 16:38 Release thyself from bondage. | |
16.27 and 19.26 are what the Mormon is largely about now days. Tithing and Tithing Settlement. How come: No Honesty Settlement; Profanity Settlement; Pornography Settlement; Adultery Settlement; Lust Settlement’ R- Rated Movies Settlement; Sharing the Gospel Settlement?
Why you ask.? Because it’s all about the money!! Build new temples, even in places where the active Mormon population is less than 5,000 people; Pay your way into the Temple in order to receive your saving ordinances, because without them, you can’t go to heaven; attend the temple regularly and then clean the temple when asked.
Temples, Temples Temples: Tithing, Tithing, Tithing