"11. I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thee the law of my holy priesthood, as was ordained by me and my Father before the world was. Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelatiou and com- raaudment, by my word, saith the Lord, aud hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne.
" I'J. Abraham received promises concerning his seed and of the fruit of his loius— from whose loins ye are, viz. my servant Josejjh— which were to continue so long as they were in the world ; and as touching Abraham aud his seed, out of the world, they should continue ; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars; or if ye were to count the sand upon the sea-shore, ye could not number them. This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham ; and by this law are the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he ^lorifieth himself. Go ye, therefore, and do the works ot Abraham ; enter ye into my law, aud ye shall be saved. But if ye enter not into my law, ye can- not receive the promises of my Father which he made unto Abraham.
"13. God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law, and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulflllin>i, among other things, the promises. Was Abraham, tneiefore, under condemna- tion? Verily I say unto you, \ay; for I, the Lord, com- manded it. Abraham was commanded to ofl'er his son Isaac ; nevertheless it was written. Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted uuto him for righteousness.
"14. Abraham received concubines, and they bare him children, and it was accounted uuto him for righteous- ness, because they were given unto him for righteous- ness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law: as Isaac, also, and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded ; and because they did none other thiugs than that which they were com- manded, they have entered into their exaltation, accord- ing to the promises, aud sit upon thrones, and arc not angels, but are gods. David also received many wives and concubiues, as also Solomon, and Moses mv servant, and also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in nothing did they sin, save in those things which they received not of me.
"15. David's wives and cmicubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan my servaut, aud others of the prophets who h.id the keys of this ))ower; aud in none of these th'ugs did he sin" against me, save in the case of Uriah and his wife ; and therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation and received his portion ; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them nnio another, saith the Lord.
"lO. I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servaut Joseph, an anpointment, and to restore all things ; ask what ye will, ana it shall he given unto you according to my word; and as ye have asked concerning adultery, verily, verily I say unto you, if a man receivcth a wife iu the liew and everlasting covenant, and if she be with an- other man, and I have not appointed unto her by the holy anointing, sill' hath comniilied adultery, and shall be de- stroyed, if she !)«■ not in tlie new and everlasting cove- nant", and she be with another man, she has committed adultery; and if her hu-band be with auother woman, and he was under a vow, he hath broken his vow, and hatli committed adulteiy ; and if she hath not committed adiiltiTv, but is innocent, and hath not broken her vow, and she knoweth it, and I reveal it iinlo you, my servant Joseph, then shall you have power, by the jiowcr of my holy |)iiesthood, to take her ;uid givehcr niito him that hatli not committed adultery, but halh been faithful, for he shall be made ruler over many; for I have conferred upon you the keys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, aud make known unto you all things iu due lime.
" 17. And verily, verily I say nnto yon, that whatsoever you seal on eartli shall be sealed in heaven ; aud whatso- ever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith "the Lord, it shall be eternally bound iu the heavens; and whosesoever sins you remit on earth shall be remit- ted eternally in the ireavens; and whosesoever sins jO retain on earth shall be retained in heaven.
MORMONS
641
MORMONS
"IS. And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bles^s, aud whomsoevei- you curse I will curse, saith ttie Lord ; for I, the Lord, am thy God.
"I'J. And at;aiu, verily I say uuto you, my servant Jo- seph, that whatsoever you give ou earth, aud to whom- soever you give auy one ou earth, by my word aud ac- cording to my law, it shall be visited with blessing:^, aud not cursings, and with my power, sailh the Lord, aud shall be wiiliout condeiuuatiou ou earth and iu heaven ; for I am the Lord tliy Uod, aud will be with thee even unto the eud of the world aud through all eternity : for verily I seal upou you your exaltation, aud prepare a throne for vou iu the kingdom of my Father, with Abra- ham your father. Behold, I have seen your sacrifices, aud will torsive all your sins ; I have seeu your sacrifices in obedieuce to that which I have told you: go, therefore, and 1 make a way for your escape, as I accepted the of- fering of Abraham of his sou Isaac.