Selected from Joseph Smith’s summer 1829 revelation
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Location Given: Manchester, New York
Background: At this time the price of $3,000 (equivalent of $85,000 in 2021) had already been agreed upon with the printer, E. B. Grandin, to publish The Book of Mormon. The only hold up was the funding, which was to be provided by Martin Harris.
Harris was a Universalist and was troubled by some of the anti-universalistic rhetoric in the BoM and was considering withholding his funding from the project. This was also an especially large decision, since the price tag would require him to essentially mortgage all of the property that he owned in order to fund the publication.
This revelation addresses Harris’s universalistic concerns when it states that “Eternal punishment” actually means “God’s punishment”, since “eternal” is just another name for God, and the implication is that Hell is not a permanent destination. The rest of the revelation is imploring Harris to fund the publication, and even says that he will be personally and financially destroyed if he doesn’t.
Martin Harris conceded and ended up mortgaging his farm in order to fund the publication of The Book of Mormon. The addition of this revelation to the scriptural canon opens the door for a universal reconciliationistic theology.
1. I am He, the beginning and the end: Yea, Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord, the Redeemer of the world:
2. I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father—having done this, that I might subdue all things unto myself;
3. Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, every man according to his works, and the deeds which he hath done.
4. And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I God am endless:
5. Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand.
6. Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written “endless torment.”
7. Again, it is written “eternal damnation.” Wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.
8. Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is mete unto you to know even as mine apostles.
9. I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest; for behold, the mystery of Godliness—how great is it?
10. For behold I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand, is endless punishment, for Endless is my name:
11. Wherefore: “Eternal punishment” is God’s punishment; “Endless punishment” is God’s punishment.
12. Wherefore, I command you by my name, and by my Almighty power, that you repent: repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore.
13. How sore you know not!
14. How exquisite you know not!
15. Yea, how hard to bear, you know not!
16. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent, but if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I;
17. which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, both body and spirit; and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink;
18. nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
19. Wherefore, I command you again by my Almighty power, that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.
20. Wherefore, learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me, Jesus Christ, by the will of the Father.