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Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53]

Source Note

Revelation, [
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

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, OH], to
Sidney Gilbert

28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...

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, 8 June 1831. Featured version, titled “56th Commandment June 8th. 1831,” copied [ca. June 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 89–90; 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

Sidney Gilbert

28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...

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, the recipient of this revelation, was
Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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’s business partner and an early convert to the church. He may have been present at a 5 June 1831 meeting at which JS taught that “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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would have large congregations to speak to and they must soon take there departure into the Reagions west.”
1

Hancock, Autobiography, 92. According to Levi Hancock, following the 5 June meeting a group of participants “went to Gilberts” where they talked “with brother Whitnies [Newel K. Whitney] and told him what hapend at the conferance.”


Comprehensive Works Cited

Hancock, Levi. Autobiography, ca. 1854. Photocopy. CHL. MS 8174.

The next evening, JS dictated a revelation that commissioned a number of elders to accompany him 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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, which the text called “the land which I will
consecrate

The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...

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unto my People which are a remnant of Jacob & those who are heirs according to the
covenant

A binding agreement between two parties, particularly between God and man. The term covenant was often associated with “commandments,” referring to revelation texts. The gospel as preached by JS—including the need for faith, repentance, baptism, and reception...

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.”
2

Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:2].


The 6 June revelation did not name Gilbert among those who should travel to Missouri. JS’s history records that shortly after the reception of that revelation, Gilbert approached JS and requested direction for himself.
3

JS History, vol. A-1, 121.


In response, JS dictated this revelation that gave Gilbert assignments in the church, including the instruction to travel to Missouri with JS and
Sidney Rigdon

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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. Gilbert left for Missouri on 18 June with JS and Rigdon.
4

William W. Phelps, “Letter No. 6,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:97.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Hancock, Autobiography, 92. According to Levi Hancock, following the 5 June meeting a group of participants “went to Gilberts” where they talked “with brother Whitnies [Newel K. Whitney] and told him what hapend at the conferance.”

    Hancock, Levi. Autobiography, ca. 1854. Photocopy. CHL. MS 8174.

  2. [2]

    Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:2].

  3. [3]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 121.

  4. [4]

    William W. Phelps, “Letter No. 6,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:97.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53]
Revelation Book 1 Revelation, 8 June 1831, Sidney Rigdon Copy [D&C 53] Revelation, 8 June 1831, as Recorded in Gilbert, Notebook [D&C 53] 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 89

55 56th
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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June 8th. 1831
A Revelation to
Sidney Gilbert

28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...

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his Call &c
1

John Whitmer likely created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1.


Behold I say unto you my servent
Sidney

28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...

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that I have heard your prayers & ye have called upon me that it should be made known unto you of the lord your God concerning your calling & election in this
Church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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which I the Lord have raised up in these last days [p. 89]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 89

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53]
ID #
6514
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:332–334
Handwriting on This Page
  • John Whitmer

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    John Whitmer likely created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1.

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