Covenant 17:

Selected from Joseph Smith’s March 7th, 1831 revelation


1. A light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel;

2. but they receive it not, for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.

3. And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.

4. But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die.

5. And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one another.

6. And now, when I, the Lord, had spoken these words unto my disciples, they were troubled.

7. And I said unto them: Be not troubled, for, when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled.

8. And when the light shall begin to break forth, it shall be with them like unto a parable which I will show you—

9. Ye look and behold the fig trees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender, that the summer is now nigh at hand;

10. even so, it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh.

11. And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man;

12. and they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath;

13. And they shall behold blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke; and before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven;

14. and the remnant shall be gathered unto this place; and then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come.

15. and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off.

16. But before the arm of the Lord shall fall, an angel shall sound his trump, and the saints that have slept shall come forth to meet me in the cloud.

17. Wherefore, if ye have slept in peace blessed are you; for as you now behold me and know that I am, even so shall ye come unto me and your souls shall live, and your redemption shall be perfected, and the saints shall come forth from the four quarters of the earth.

18. Then shall the arm of the Lord fall upon the nations; and then shall the Lord set his foot upon this mount, and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro;

19. and the heavens also shall shake, and the Lord shall utter his voice, and all the ends of the earth shall hear it, and the nations of the earth shall mourn.

20. And they that have laughed shall see their folly, and calamity shall cover the mocker, and the scorner shall be consumed, and they that have watched for iniquity shall be hewn down and cast into the fire.

21. And then shall the Jews look upon me and say: What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?

22. They shall then know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

23. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.

24. And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king.

25. And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have a part in the first resurrection, and it shall be tolerable for them.

26. And Satan shall be bound, that he shall have no place in the hearts of men.

27. And in that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

28. For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—Verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

29. And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance, and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation.

30. For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver.