D&C 48

Given at Kirtland in March, 1831

Joseph Smith wanted to know how the Church should go about procuring land for the Saints to begin gathering

This was really typical in this era: as new congregations would form, congregants would migrate to live close to one another

The Lord commands the Saints to REMAIN in Kirtland and NOT begin migrating westward at the present time (v. 1)

People in Kirtland who own land should GIVE some of it (consecration) to those who are on their way to join them from the east (converts who are coming to strengthen the Church)

People in Kirtland who do NOT own land should try to buy land so that when others arrive, there is enough space for everyone

This verse is about prosperity, and makes it abundantly clear that the Lord not only gives us permission to prosper, but WANTS us to.

This verse tells the Saints to...

SAVE "all the money that you can,"

OBTAIN all that you can (in righteousness)

PURCHASE land for an inheritance (for an eventual CITY)

Nobody knows yet where it will be, but after everyone gets here, the Lord will reveal where everyone should gather

Then the Church will be tasked with purchasing lands and laying the foundation of a city and beginning to gather

Is this LITERAL? or FIGURATIVE? Were they supposed to lay a literal foundation? We sing the hymn "How Firm a Foundation," and talk about building our foundation on Christ. The Saints chose to interpret this literally, and we believe it will be eventually. But first it will be a spiritual gathering