DC 42 Intro: SECTION 42
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., and addressed to the elders of the church. It was given February 9, 1831, in the presence of twelve elders who had assembled at Kirtland, Ohio, in harmony with instruction given them in an earlier revelation (D. and C. 41:1b). In the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants this revelation appears as Section 13, and is headed "Laws of the Church."
1a Hearken, O ye elders of my church, who have assembled themselves together, in my name, even Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world, inasmuch as they believe on my name and keep my commandments;
1b again I say unto you, Hearken and hear and obey the law which I shall give unto you; for verily I say,
1c As ye have assembled yourselves together according to the commandment wherewith I commanded you, and are agreed as touching this one thing, and have asked the Father in my name, even so ye shall receive.
2a Behold, verily I say unto you, I give unto you this first commandment, that ye shall go forth in my name, every one of you, excepting my servants Joseph Smith, Jr., and Sidney Rigdon.
2b And I give unto them a commandment that they shall go forth for a little season, and it shall be given by the power of my Spirit when they shall return;
2c and ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the voice of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God;
2d and ye shall go forth baptizing with water, saying, Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3a And from this place ye shall go forth into the regions westward;
3b and inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you, ye shall build up my church in every region, until the time shall come when it shall be revealed unto you from on high, when the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared, that ye may be gathered in one, that ye may be my people, and I will be your God.
3c And again, I say unto you, that my servant Edward Partridge shall stand in the office wherewith I have appointed him. And it shall come to pass that if he transgress, another shall be appointed in his stead. Even so. Amen.
