Shaking off the Dust of Our Feet

• D&C 24:15

"And in whatsoever place ye shall enter, and they receive you not in my name, ye shall leave a cursing instead of a blessing, by casting off the dust of your feet against them as a testimony, and cleansing your feet by the wayside."

From section heading: "Revelation given to Joseph Smith the prophet and Oliver Cowdery ..."

This section, like other sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, and even the book of Mormon, clearly distinguishes between "thou" and "ye". For those not familiar with the proper usage of these terms, "thee" and "thou" are singular, (referring to one person in the second person) while "you" and "ye" are plural (referring to more than one person in the second person). In this case, both Joseph and Oliver are being referred to, at least. (Whereas, some earlier verses only referred to one or the other, Oliver being referred to in the third person.) Verse 19 continues and makes clear that, in accordance with the section summary, these laws are general:

"For thou art called ... and also all those whom thou hast ordained, and they shall do even according to this pattern. Amen."

Considering that not all of the verses are applicable to all of the Elders nowadays, there is precedent for considering that "casting off the dust of your feet" might only be prescribed in a limited fashion. Particularly, it is apparent that few are called in modern times to go without purse or scrip, but rather to live by the support of the church according to their needs (v. 19). Apostles do so, but missionaries can only be considered to do so in a very limited sense.

• Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 85-87

Shaking off the Dust of the Feet is prescribed to elders when teaching and the master of slaves or the father of a family forbids them to teach.