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Revelation, 8 August 1831 [D&C 60]

Source Note

Revelation,
Independence

Located twelve miles from western Missouri border. Permanently settled, platted, and designated county seat, 1827. Hub for steamboat travel on Missouri River. Point of departure for Santa Fe Trail. Population in 1831 about 300. Latter-day Saint population...

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, Jackson Co., MO, 8 Aug. 1831. Featured version, titled “63 Commandment given in Missorie Jackson County Independence August 8th. 1831,” copied [ca. Sept. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 100–101; handwriting of
John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

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; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.

Historical Introduction

On 8 August 1831, JS dictated a revelation instructing “some of the
Elders

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

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” who had traveled to
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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to return to
Ohio

French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...

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, preaching along the way. These elders had reached Missouri in mid- to late July and participated in the dedication of the land for the building of the
city of Zion

Also referred to as New Jerusalem. JS revelation, dated Sept. 1830, prophesied that “city of Zion” would be built among Lamanites (American Indians). JS directed Oliver Cowdery and other missionaries preaching among American Indians in Missouri to find location...

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, the dedication of a
temple site

JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, directed temple to be built short distance west of courthouse on hill just outside of Independence, Missouri. JS directed dedication of temple site by Sidney Rigdon, 3 Aug. 1831. On same date, church claimed site for eventual...

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, and a
conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

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with JS and other leaders.
1

JS History, vol. A-1, 126–127, 129, 137, 139; Minutes, 4 Aug. 1831.


“Finding but little or no business for us to accomplish” once this “work” was done,
Ezra Booth

14 Feb. 1792–before 12 Jan. 1873. Farmer, minister. Born in Newtown, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. Admitted on trial to Methodist ministry, 4 Sept. 1816, and stationed in the Ohio District in Beaver, Pike Co. Admitted into full connection and elected a deacon...

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wrote, “most of us became anxious to return home.”
2

Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—No. VI,” Ohio Star (Ravenna), 17 Nov. 1831, [3].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

A later JS history recounts that the elders inquired of JS “what they were to do,” and this revelation was the response.
3

JS History, vol. A-1, 141.


The original manuscript of this revelation is not extant.
John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

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copied the revelation into Revelation Book 1 (which he was keeping in
Ohio

French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...

More Info
), probably shortly after the elders returned from
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
.
4

See Historical Introduction to Revelation Book 1.


Others present at the time the revelation was dictated may have made personal copies as well;
Booth

14 Feb. 1792–before 12 Jan. 1873. Farmer, minister. Born in Newtown, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. Admitted on trial to Methodist ministry, 4 Sept. 1816, and stationed in the Ohio District in Beaver, Pike Co. Admitted into full connection and elected a deacon...

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, for example, referenced the revelation in a September letter to
Edward Partridge

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

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, suggesting that he had his own copy.
5

Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—No. VII,” Ohio Star (Ravenna), 24 Nov. 1831, [1].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 126–127, 129, 137, 139; Minutes, 4 Aug. 1831.

  2. [2]

    Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—No. VI,” Ohio Star (Ravenna), 17 Nov. 1831, [3].

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

  3. [3]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 141.

  4. [4]

    See Historical Introduction to Revelation Book 1.

  5. [5]

    Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—No. VII,” Ohio Star (Ravenna), 24 Nov. 1831, [1].

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, 8 August 1831 [D&C 60] Revelation Book 1 Book of Commandments, 1833 Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] Doctrine and Covenants, 1844 “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 101

residue which is to come to this Land
13

Several elders appointed to travel to Missouri, including Hyrum Smith, John Murdock, David Whitmer, and Harvey Whitlock, had yet to arrive. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]; see, for example, Murdock, Journal, Aug. 1831.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Murdock, John. Journal, ca. 1830–1859. John Murdock, Journal and Autobiography, ca. 1830–1867. CHL. MS 1194, fd. 2.

Behold they have been sent to preach my gospel among the congregations of the wicked wherefore I give unto them a
commandment

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

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Thus thou shalt not Idle away thy time
14

See Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:42].


neither shalt thou bury thy tallent that it may not be known
15

See Matthew 25:25.


& after thou hast come up unto the
land of Zion

JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, designated Missouri as “land of Zion” for gathering of Saints and place where “City of Zion” was to be built, with Independence area as “center place” of Zion. Latter-day Saint settlements elsewhere, such as in Kirtland,...

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& have proclaimed my word thou shalt speedily return preaching the word among the congregations not in haste neither in wrath nor with strife & shake off the dust of thy feet against those who receive thee not not in their presence lest thou provoke them but in secret & wash thy feet as a testimony against them in the day of Judgement
16

See Mark 6:11; Luke 10:10–11; and Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24:15].


this is sufficient for you & the will of him who hath sent you & by the mouth of my servent Joseph it shall be made known concerning
sidney

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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&
Oliver

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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the residue hereafter even so amen—— [p. 101]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 101

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, 8 August 1831 [D&C 60]
ID #
6520
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D2:35–37
Handwriting on This Page
  • John Whitmer

Footnotes

  1. [13]

    Several elders appointed to travel to Missouri, including Hyrum Smith, John Murdock, David Whitmer, and Harvey Whitlock, had yet to arrive. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]; see, for example, Murdock, Journal, Aug. 1831.)

    Murdock, John. Journal, ca. 1830–1859. John Murdock, Journal and Autobiography, ca. 1830–1867. CHL. MS 1194, fd. 2.

  2. [14]

    See Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:42].

  3. [15]

    See Matthew 25:25.

  4. [16]

    See Mark 6:11; Luke 10:10–11; and Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24:15].

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