ON THE BORDERS OF THE WILDERNESS—LAYING THE FIRST LOG—DEDICATION AND CONSECRATION OF THE LAND OF ZION AND TEMPLE SITE—BACK TO CIVILIZATION—SIGN-SEEKING AND VIOLENCE.  
When will the wilderness blossom as the rose? When will Zion be built up in her glory? And where will Thy temple stand unto which all nations shall come in the last days?
 
The cry of the ancient prophets was repeated by the Prophet of the last dispensation as he looked out upon the wilderness; and the Lord answered the supplication with words of comfort and instruction. In a revelation given immediately after Joseph's arrival with his party in July, 1831, the Lord designated Independence and the lands surrounding as the promised spot, appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the Saints. It was the revealed purpose of the Almighty to give to His devoted Saints an everlasting inheritance in that region. Independence was to be the centre place of Zion, and the voice of the Lord indicated the exact spot upon which He would have a temple erected to His glory.
 
In this revelation the Prophet and his brethren were informed, also, concerning the division of lands among the Saints, that all might be planted in their inheritances; and special instruction was given to such of the Elders as were required to perform special duties.
 
On the first Sunday after the Prophet reached Independence, William W. Phelps preached a sermon over the western boundary line of the United States, Joseph and the other Elders being present. The strangers in the congregation were Indians, negroes and many white citizens who dwelt in the borders of the wilderness. Before the meeting adjourned two believers were baptized into the Church.
 
Within a week after this time the members of the Colesville branch of the Church, who had been instructed to establish themselves in the land of Zion, arrived at Independence. About the first of August the word of the Lord was received, in which was made known many of His purposes concerning this land; that it should be the place upon which the Zion of God should stand, and where a feast of fat things should be prepared for the poor.
 
God promised that unto this land all nations should be invited:
 
Firstly, the rich and the learned, the wise and the noble; and after that cometh the day of my power; then shall the poor, the lame and the blind, and the deaf, come in unto the marriage of the Lamb, and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come.
 
It was in this revelation that the Lord made known His will concerning all rightful submission of His Saints to earthly powers. He said:
 
Let no man think he is ruler, but let God rule him that judgeth, according to the counsel of his own will;
 
Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land:
 
Wherefore be subject to the powers that be, until He reigns whose right it is to reign, and subdues all enemies under His feet.
 
Behold the laws which ye have received from my hand are the laws of the Church, and in this light ye shall hold them forth.
 
There was a disposition on the part of many, now that God had raised up a Prophet, through whom the word of the Lord could be given, to not act upon their own agency, nor even exert their own powers in many directions, without they received a command from the Lord, or counsel from His servant to do so. The great anxiety of the people to comply with the will of the Lord engendered this disposition. But there was danger of this being carried too far. The Prophet could under the inspiration of the Almighty, give general laws and counsel for the government and guidance of the Church, and as occasion might require, receive special revelations making known to individuals the will of the Lord concerning them and their labors. But as the Church increased in numbers there was necessarily a limit to this. It was not the design of the Lord to keep His people in leading strings; but to develop in them the attributes of Deity inherited from Himself. It was for them, therefore, to seek for His inspiration for themselves, and to exercise their own faculties ever subject to the general laws which He would give through him whom He had chosen as the leader of His people.
 
Upon this subject His word came to the people at this time on this wise:
 
For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things, for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
 
Verily, I say men should be actively engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.
 
For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in no wise lose their reward.
 
But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with a doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.
 
It was also declared that by the voice of Sidney Rigdon the land should be consecrated and dedicated unto the Lord, and that the temple site should be blessed and set apart. Further, the Lord commanded that Joseph and Oliver and Sidney, after the conference meeting of the Church at Independence, should return to Kirtland and pursue their work there.
 
This revelation closed with the words:
 
Verily, the sound [of the gospel] must go forth from this place into all the world and unto the uttermost parts of the earth—the gospel must be preached unto every creature with signs following them that believe.
 
And behold the Son of Man cometh.
 
The first log for a house as a foundation for Zion, was laid at ............