SEC. 17. "And verily, verily I say unto you, that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you remit on earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whosesoever sins ye retain on earth shall be retained in heaven." SEC. 18. "And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bless, and whomsoever you curse I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God." SEC. 19. "And again, verily I say unto you, my servant Joseph, that whatsoever you give on earth, and to whomsoever you give any one on earth, by my word, and according to my law, it shall be visited with blessings, and not cursings, and with my power, saith the Lord, and shall be without condemnation, on earth and in heaven." Then follows a declaration to the effect that Smith has found favor with God, and that he will forgive his sins, etc. SEC. 20 commands Emma Smith "that she stay herself, and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all," etc., and continues as follows: "And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they are pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God; for I am the Lord thy God," etc. SEC. 21 commands Emma Smith, wife of Joseph, to abide and cleave unto Joseph and none else, under penalty of destruction. She is also exhorted to forgive Joseph his trespasses. SEC. 22 forbids Joseph putting his property out of his hands. SEC. 23 touches upon the law of the priesthood, and says of any one who is called of God, as was Aaron, "if he do anything in my name, and according to my law, and by my word, he will not commit sin, and I will justify him." Joseph is to be justified, etc. The last two sections are as follows:--