The 1886 Revelation

A revelation received through President John Taylor at Centerville, Utah, on September 27, 1886. In it, the Lord affirms that the New and Everlasting Covenant is eternal and cannot be revoked. The original revelation, penned in President Taylor’s own hand, is preserved in the John Taylor Papers housed in the Church Historian’s Office.

1. My son John: You have asked me concerning the New and Everlasting Covenant and how far it is binding upon my people. 

2. Thus saith the Lord: All commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name unless they are revoked by me or by my authority and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant? 

3. For I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with; but they stand forever. 

4. Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject? 

5. Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my law and the keeping of my commandment, and yet have I borne with them these many years and this 

because of their weakness because of the perilous times. And furthermore it is more pleasing to me that men should use their free agency in regard to these matters. 

6. Nevertheless I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not. 

7. And as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph all those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law. 

8. And have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham's seed and would enter into my glory they must do the works of Abraham. 

9. I have not revoked this law nor will I for it is everlasting and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof, even so Amen. 

Following the death of President John Taylor, this revelation was presented to the members of the Quorum of the Twelve. It was read aloud during one of their council meetings, and none of the brethren disputed that it was written in John Taylor’s own handwriting.