George Burket, in a letter dated December 18, 1870, recollects hearing from Joseph the conditions necessary for the Latter-day Saints to return to Jackson County, Missouri.
George Burket, Letter to Elizabeth Burket, December 18, 1870, MS 14715, Church History Library
Do not be in a hurry of going to Jackson County for the land has to be redeemed and the power of God to restore upon it before we think of returning there. I heard Joseph Smith say in my house when in Clay County that when we return to there. there not would be a dog to wag his tail or move his tongue against us more, but the pure in heart will enjoy there, and the Lord will prepare his people, they shall be being as the sun fair as the moon and valiant <terrible> as an army with banners there are to go in the hundred and forty and four thousand that shall stand on Mount Zion there are the whole the Lamb’s wife this place is building up very fast the Kingdom of God being built up in the mountains the highways casting up for the return of Ephraim to return to their own land and when the house is the they will return and not before . . .