1 THE Lord spake unto Joseph Smith, Jun., saying: Hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto me, saith the Lord your God, who are ordained unto the high priesthood of my church, who have assembled yourselves together;

2 And listen to the counsel of him who has ordained you from on high, who shall speak in your ears the words of wisdom, that salvation may be unto you in that thing which you have presented before me, saith the Lord God. [ Hebrew - Yahweh ( or Jehovah which means "to become" or "to exist") translated as Lord; Elohim translated as God ("the Gods") which together the words mean "He will cause Gods to be". ] .

3 For verily I say unto you, the time has come, and is now at hand; and behold, and lo, it must needs be that there be an organization of my people, in regulating and establishing the affairs of the storehouse for the poor of my people, both in this place and in the land of Zion—

4 For a permanent and everlasting establishment and order unto my church, to advance the cause, which ye have espoused, to the salvation of man, and to the glory of your Father who is in heaven; [ Note that the purpose is more than temporal. ]

5 That you may be equal [ "YOU" - The Lord is suggesting that this action is a personal and a voluntary one. The idea is that if you are willing to be equal by sharing then you are rid of selfishness, greed, envy and mammon worship. ] in the bonds [ In finance, a bond is an instrument of indebtedness of the bond issuer to the holders. It is a debt security, under which the issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay them interest (the coupon) and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed the maturity. How does one acquire a bond or bonds? They must have money that they are willing to loan. The idea is to loan the money today with the reward of a return on the bond to be paid in the future. ] of heavenly things, yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things.

6 For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things; [ What might the Lord be suggesting here? If you cannot overcome the desires of self - selfishness, and it partners or greed and envy then you are most likely not suited for the celestial things. ]

7 For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.

8 And now, verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient that all things be done unto my glory, by you who are joined together in this order;

9 Or, in other words, let my servant Newel K. Whitney and my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and my servant Sidney Rigdon sit in council with the saints which are in Zion; [In the 1835 edition of the D&C the text contained obscure names instead of the actual names present in v. 9 of the present text. The real names were present in the Knewel K. Whitney version and the Kirtland Revelation Book. The Orson Pratt quote from Journal of Discourses below explains why the obscure names were substituted. The 1835 edition also contained the addition of: Zion, who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman; 16 Who hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him upon high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end of life. which was not present in the Whitney version or the Kirtland Revelation Book, which had only “Israel” in place of the leading “Zion” above. The addition was presumably to provide an example of one who was exalted, and therefore whom they may be placed on par with if they are faithful, as well as reference the head of the exalted human family. There were some additional minor changes in the 1835 edition too insignificant to comment on. ]

10 Otherwise Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the truth, that they become blinded and understand not the things which are prepared for them.

11 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, to prepare and organize yourselves by a bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken. [ This order is entered into by covenant with no legal loopholes as is documented in D&C 82:11. ]

12 And he who breaketh it shall lose his office and standing in the church, [ excommunication ] and shall be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan until the day of redemption. [ Not really any different than those who fail to live up to their temple covenants - but it is noted in plain text that failure to live the covenant made here will bring the loss of protection from the Lord. ]

13 Behold, this is the preparation wherewith I prepare you, [ Living this law of consecration, keeping this new covenant will act to prepare us. But for what? Living this law will enrich our lives as we will have overcome the desire to please ourselves FIRST! We will have overcome jealousy and selfishness, to the point that others are just as important to us as we are to ourselves. If not totally we will at least be closer, and for exaltation see vs 15.] and the foundation, and the ensample which I give unto you, whereby you may accomplish the commandments which are given you;

14 That through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world;

15 That you may come up unto the crown prepared for you, and be made rulers over many kingdoms, saith the Lord God, [ Hebrew - Yahweh ( or Jehovah which means "to become" or "to exist") translated as Lord; Elohim translated as God ("the Gods") which together the words mean "He will cause Gods to be". ] , the Holy One of Zion, who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman; [ It means the place where Adam dwelt. “Ahman” signifies God. The whole term means Valley of God, where Adam dwelt. It is in the original language spoken by Adam, as revealed to the Prophet Joseph. (Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt, delivered in the Eighteenth Ward Meetinghouse, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, Feb. 25, 1877. https://www.josephsmithfoundation.org/journalofdiscourses/speakers/orson-pratt/daniels-vision-nebuchadnezzars-dream-its-interpretation-the-coming-of-the-ancient-of-days-joseph-smiths-prophecy-things-yet-to/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLFWbBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFhUWIyVWhBdFl2V25xazViAR4iAVAsq51wqyebnplkR3jkRjJRHim_hMJDBz9Ey7b9C5OcKDXNe3_WyIn1mg_aem_xNZ-IHzIRTPgRVOVzykIFw) ]

16 Who [ It is the Lord speaking - So he (the Lord). ] hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, [ Provided him with a sure foundation for life - the plan of salvation]. and set him upon high, [ Gave him the priesthood which provided him the ordinances required for salvation providing Adam with the power to be just like our Father in Heaven and receive all that he has. "Adam received priesthood authority before the world was formed" (Keys of the Priesthood - Elder Russell M. Nelson) ( Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 157, 167–68)] and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, [ Adam has been established as the one who holds the keys under who's direction we can receive our salvation. ] who is without beginning of days or end of life.

17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, [ You still have much to learn. ] and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. [ Just like any good father - he is there watching, helping us to endure and overcome. He will lead us - but we must follow - that is our responsibility. ] The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, [ Jacob 2:19 - After obtaining a hope in Christ if you seek for riches it will be to do good with them. ] even an hundred fold, yea, more.

20 Wherefore, do the things which I have commanded you, saith your Redeemer, even the son Ahman, [i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ. Orson Pratt (Journal of Discourses, volume 2, page 342) says this title is the name of the Lord in “the pure language”, presumably meaning the Adamic tongue.] who prepareth all things before he taketh you;

21 For ye are the church of the Firstborn, [ the exalted, those resurrected who receive eternal life, cp. D&C 76:50-54. "The Church of the Firstborn is Christ's heavenly church, and its members are exalted beings who gain an inheritance in the highest heaven of the celestial world and for whom the family continues in eternity. In the scriptures Jesus Christ is called the Firstborn. He was the first spirit child born of God the Father in the premortal existence and was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-5, 14). Christ also became the Firstborn from the dead, the first person resurrected, "that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18; Acts 26:23; 1 Cor. 15:23; Rev. 1:5). Even as the first principles and ordinances, including baptism in water and the reception of the Holy Ghost, constitute the gate into the earthly Church of Jesus Christ, so higher ordinances of the priesthood constitute the gate into the Church of the Firstborn. To secure the blessings that pertain to the Church of the Firstborn, one must obey the gospel from the heart, receive all of the ordinances that pertain to the house of the Lord, and be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise in the Celestial Kingdom of God (D&C 76:67, 71, 94;77:11;78:21;88:1-5; TPJS, p. 237). Revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith supplement those of the New Testament to indicate that the Church of the Firstborn consists of those who have the inheritance of the Firstborn and become joint-heirs with Christ in receiving all that the Father has (Rom. 8:14-17; D&C 84:33-38; see Heirs: Heirs of God). The Lord said, "If you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; …I…am the Firstborn; …And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the Church of the Firstborn" (D&C 93:20-22). The Church of the Firstborn is the divine patriarchal order in its eternal form. Building the priesthood family order on this earth by receiving sealings in the temple is a preparation and foundation for this blessing in eternity (see Gospel of Abraham). When persons have proved themselves faithful in all things required by the Lord, it is their privilege to receive covenants and obligations that will enable them to be heirs of God as members of the Church of the Firstborn. They are "sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise" and are those "into whose hands the Father has given all things" (D&C 76:51-55). They will be priests and priestesses, kings and queens, receiving the Father's glory, having the fulness of knowledge, wisdom, power, and dominion (D&C 76:56-62; cf. 107:19). At the second coming of Jesus Christ, the "general assembly of the Church of the Firstborn" will descend with him (Heb. 12:22-23; JST Gen. 9:23; D&C 76:54, 63). Bibliography Smith, Joseph Fielding. DS, Vol. 2, pp. 8-9, 41-49. Salt Lake City, 1973." and he will take you up in a cloud, and appoint every man his portion.

22 And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things. Amen.

[Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 78 Excerpt from History of the Church Besides the work of translating, previous to the 20th of March, I received the four following revelations: [text of D&C 78, 79, 80, 81 quoted] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 1, page 255) Excerpt from The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith Section 78 was received by Joseph Smith while he was visiting the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio. The revelation calls for an “order” to be established according to a “bond” or “covenant” that cannot be broken. This order, variously known as the “United Order,” the “Order of Enoch,” and the “United Firm,” was created at this time. The United Firm was a business partnership consisting of about a dozen Church leaders. Members of the firm were either landowners or merchants whose purpose was to work in concert, using the financial means at their disposal, to generate profits. Inasmuch as the members of the partnership were also presiding Church leaders, it is difficult to determine which of their financial transactions were purely personal and which were Church-related. This dual relationship has led some writers to erroneously conclude that the United Firm administered the law of consecration. Specifically, the Church bishop administered the program of consecration. The United Order was essentially a private business concern. The nucleus from which the United Firm grew was the Gilbert- Whitney mercantile establishment in Kirtland, Ohio. The Gilbert- Whitney store, as it was called, expanded to two branches (one in Kirtland and one in Independence) after Newel K. Whitney and Sidney Gilbert joined the Church and Gilbert was called by revelation to reside in Missouri. Other Church brethren who had financial means, namely Martin Harris, Frederick G. Williams, and John Johnson, were called by revelation to be part of this order. Section 78 directed that the order be formed and commanded that Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Newel K. Whitney “sit in council with the Saints...in Zion,” to regulate the affairs of the poor. Obeying the command, Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Jesse Gause, and Newel K. Whitney left Ohio on 1 April 1832 and traveled to Independence, Missouri, arriving 24 April. During their visit in Missouri, a meeting of the United Firm essentially incorporated the Missouri branch of the Gilbert-Whitney Store into the firm. William E. McLellan stated on more than one occasion that there were nine members of the United Firm, but there may have been more. The following are known to have been members in 1832: Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Jesse Gause, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, A. Sidney Gilbert, Newel K. Whitney; undoubtedly Edward Partridge, William W. Phelps, and John Whitmer were also members in that year. Frederick G. Williams and John Johnson became members of the order in 1833. The members of the United Firm were consecrated in their respective responsibilities, and although they were to benefit personally from the profits of the firm, the surplus profits were to be used for the operation and blessing of the whole Church. The United Firm was short-lived. On 10 April 1834 members of the firm met and decided that the order should be dissolved, and on 23 April 1834 a revelation (section 104), commanded that the two branches of the firm become separate entities and that the members discontinue operating jointly. (Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith). Excerpt from Journal of Discourses The names that were incorporated when it [Doctrine and Covenants] was printed, did not exist there when the manuscript revelations were given, for I saw them myself. some of them I copied. And when the Lord was about to have the Book of Covenants given to the world it was through wisdom, in consequence of the persecutions of our enemies in Kirtland and some of the regions around, that some of the names should be changed and Joseph was called Baurak Ale, which was a Hebrew word; meaning God bless you. [D&C 103:21-22, 35; 105:16, 17.] He was also called Gazelam, being a person to whom the Lord had given the Urim and Thummim. He was also called Enoch." (Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, volume 16, page 156)]