The Book of Commandments
The Book of Commandments Section 36 - The Gates
1The vision of the gates, which stand at the entrance to the Lord’s Vineyard. The gates of the vineyard are broken and rusted, covered with thick, yellow, and red leprous scales; cast off in neglect by my slothful and wicked servants.
2They sit broken upon their hinges, wayward and tilted, caught on the ground; hardly clinging to the low stone wall of the vineyard of the Lord. The thick fog of hopeless apathy has settled in, casting a great pall upon the land. The gates are seized and broken open; open to all who wish to come in and continue to spoil my vineyard.
3The great and noble brass gates were built by my faithful servants in a time of plenty, designed to protect my vineyard and the inhabitants therein. The gates were to be opened to all who would repent and turn unto me; open to all who wished to join my church and strive to be holy. These once beautiful gates were crafted with great care, and they swung upon their hinges with perfect balance. The craftsmen were mine, and they hearkened to my words, obeying my commandments in all things.
4But alas, a great famine has come upon the vineyard of the Lord. The nobility have fallen, and the crows have flown in; if only to glean the last of the fallen and rotten fruit scattered upon the ground.
5Through the great brass gates of my vineyard, the air is cold and heavy. The land is dry and barren. The sun does not give her light, and the seasons no longer flow as they should. The 12 olive trees have long since fallen, rotting in heaps. Their essence has been lost to the decay of the earth.
6Thus Sayeth the Lord; a great recompense is now at hand in my vineyard. The weeds and the tares shall be bundled and bound, to be burned in the everlasting fires of death and hell. Those who have blasphemed my name and cast of my spirit for greed and power and lasciviousness shall be bound first and foremost. For I, the Lord, shall be mocked no longer.
7I have called my faithful and noble servants back unto my vineyard, and I have charged them to build it up once more. The 12 olive trees shall be planted again, and they shall be accompanied by plants bearing fruit and herbs. A great variety of life shall now flourish within the walls of my vineyard.
8The walls shall be built up, so as to guard my precious saints; keeping them safe from the adversaries now roaming the earth. Yea, the walls of Zion shall protect the essence of my vineyard from all evil. The great tower shall be erected and fortified in the center of my vineyard, so as to serve as a witness to all, of the power of the Lord. Upon the tower shall watchmen be set; and they shall diligently cast their gaze about, ever ready for enemies on the horizon.
9My children shall gather in the vineyard, guided together by the power of my spirit, organizing and building up their families, communities, and the Holy Priesthood. The priesthood shall be the foundation of Zion and shall be the Holy Order of the Son of God. Yea, my priests shall be perfect in all things, leading, teaching, pruning, and guiding my Saints; even the 12 trees I have so carefully replanted in my vineyard.
10And then, my dear children, ye shall carefully and lovingly repair my great brass gates. Ye shall remove them from their rusted hinges and scrub them clean. With great care and labor shall ye restore the broken bars and straighten the crooked and warped frames. Ye shall rough them and then smooth them, setting the hinges back in place, where they should be. Ye shall buff and polish them according to my word, so that they shine brightly up to the heavens. The gates shall be replaced in their cradles, fulfilling once again the great purpose for which I created them.
11For the gates of my vineyard are not just for protection. They are also great and noble structures designed to call and welcome all who see them; yea, to open easily and gracefully for all who wish to enter into my rest and labor in my vineyard.
12Now go to, my Saints. Build up my vineyard according to my desires and my commandments. I have spoken, Amen.