Revelation on the Protection of Children

1. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto my people: Hearken, O ye who have taken my name upon you, and give ear, ye who speak often of covenants, priesthood, ordinances, and glory; for I the Lord search the hearts of men, and I know the secret chambers thereof.

2. Behold, many have supposed that there is no hell such as the nations have imagined, and many have spoken lightly concerning punishment, saying: Surely the mercy of God shall cover all things, and surely the Lord shall not prepare a place of everlasting anguish.

3. But behold, I say unto you, my mercy is not a cloak for the violent, neither is my patience a refuge for those who devour the innocent.

4. For there are sins committed in ignorance, and there are sins committed in confusion, and there are sins committed in times when the lines of men were darkened by custom, fear, bondage, or the blindness of generations.

5. And I, the Lord, have judged the dead according to the light they received, and according to the wounds they carried, and according to the measure of knowledge given unto them.

6. Yea, there were some in former days who were forgiven, for they knew not fully what they did; and there were some who themselves needed protection, being bound by fear, command, poverty, captivity, or the unrighteous dominion of others.

7. Nevertheless, this day I draw a line before heaven and earth, and I command that it shall not be moved.

8. Thou shalt not lie with a child. Thou shalt not take a child. Thou shalt not command a child. Thou shalt not prepare a child for such a thing. Thou shalt not bless it, excuse it, conceal it, defend it, or call it holy.

9. And by child I mean any soul who hath not reached the eighteenth year.

10. Let no man say: She is near unto womanhood. Let no man say: He is strong in body. Let no man say: The fathers did so. Let no man say: The prophet commanded it. Let no man say: The covenant requireth it.

11. For I, the Lord, say unto you: the covenant requireth righteousness, and righteousness protecteth the innocent.

12. Whosoever useth my name to lay claim upon a child blasphemeth my name.

13. Whosoever useth priesthood to frighten a child hath denied the priesthood.

14. Whosoever useth scripture to prepare a child for abuse hath wrested scripture unto damnation.

15. Whosoever commandeth silence when a child is harmed hath become a shield for darkness.

16. And whosoever knoweth and concealeth such a thing, saying, Let it be hidden for the sake of the church, the family, the leader, or the name of the people, behold, that man is not building Zion but burying blood beneath the altar.

17. Verily I say unto you, it is abhorrent before me. It riseth before my face as a cry from the dust.

18. Therefore I, the Lord, have appointed a place of judgment beneath the waiting prison, a deep place reserved for the corruption that must be cast out and cut away.

19. It is not prepared for the wounded who repent, nor for the confused who seek mercy, nor for those who were bound by fear and then turn unto me.

20. It is prepared for those who knowingly prey upon children, who call evil good, who use authority to devour innocence, and who command others to protect the devourer.

21. For such are not shepherds, but wolves. They are not fathers, but destroyers. They are not prophets, but deceivers clothed in stolen words.

22. And I was shown a vision of judgment, terrible and solemn, and I beheld warren jeffs, whose body remaineth upon the earth, yet whose soul is already imprisoned in darkness.

23. And he was alone, though surrounded by the memory of his works; and every commandment he twisted stood as a witness against him.

24. His mouth opened as if to cry out, yet no voice came forth; for the voice he had used to bind others was taken from him.

25. His eyes searched, yet he could not see; for the light he had stolen from the innocent was withheld from him.

26. And I beheld, as through the years of time, that his pain did not cease, neither did his excuses rise before God.

27. And the Lord said: Behold the end of the deceiver who maketh merchandise of my children and calleth it revelation.

28. And I trembled exceedingly, for the judgment was dreadful, and I desired to look away.

29. But the Lord said: Write it, that my people may fear to harm the innocent, and may never again mistake domination for priesthood.

30. For my law is plain from this day forth: never with a child beneath the eighteenth year. Never by command. Never by arrangement. Never by secrecy. Never by fear. Never in my name.

31. And if any man shall say, I have authority to make exception, he is a liar.

32. And if any woman shall say, I was commanded to prepare the child, she shall repent and cease, for no commandment from me leadeth to the harm of innocence.

33. And if any elder shall say, Let us handle this privately, and not bring it into the light, behold, he loveth darkness more than truth.

34. And if any people shall protect the name of a leader above the safety of a child, that people shall be scattered in shame unless they repent.

35. For Zion cannot be built upon the tears of children.

36. Zion cannot be governed by men who frighten the weak.

37. Zion cannot be established by hiding evil.

38. Zion is light, and light revealeth.

39. Therefore let every child be protected. Let every report be heard. Let every accusation be brought into truth. Let no child be threatened into silence. Let no mother be commanded to ignore the wound. Let no father place loyalty to a man above loyalty to God.

40. And let every household teach plainly: the body of a child is not the possession of prophet, priest, parent, husband, elder, bishop, or king.

41. Behold, children are mine, saith the Lord, and their angels behold the face of my Father.

42. Therefore, whosoever receiveth a child in righteousness receiveth me; but whosoever harmeth a child and hideth behind my name shall meet me as Judge.

43. And this commandment shall stand: eighteen years shall be the boundary, and none shall cross it.

44. Let this be written in the houses, taught in the assemblies, spoken by the fathers, defended by the mothers, remembered by the elders, and known by the children.

45. For the day of hiding is ended, and the Lord requireth clean hands.

46. Verily, verily, I say unto you: I will have a pure people, or I will have no people claiming purity in my name.

47. Let the deceivers tremble. Let the wounded be gathered. Let the children be shielded. Let the guilty repent openly and face justice. Let the people cease from protecting wolves.

48. For Christ is King, and he shall reign in righteousness; and no kingdom of his shall be founded upon the suffering of children.

49. Amen.