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Revelation, February 1831–A [D&C 43]

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, [Feb.] 1831. Featured version, titled “45th. Commandment AD 1831,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 67–70; 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

JS dictated this revelation following his arrival in
Kirtland

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...

More Info
, Ohio. It clarified JS’s position as the only person authorized to “receive
commandments

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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& Revelations” for the
Church of Christ

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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.
1

For an earlier event that resulted in similar clarification, see Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28]; and Minutes, 26 Sept. 1830. The instruction in the September 1830 text was a response to revelations that Hiram Page had received from a seer stone and that Oliver Cowdery and others had accepted as divine communications. The September revelation stated that only JS had “the keys of the mysteries of the Revelations which are sealed until I shall appoint unto him another in his stead.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:7].)


Before JS’s arrival in Kirtland, the converts in the area were left for several months without any experienced leadership.
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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and many of his followers 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...

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had been
baptized

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

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into the church in November 1830, and Rigdon then left Ohio to meet JS in
New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

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while
Oliver Cowdery

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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and other missionaries who had baptized the Ohio believers left for the western borders of the
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

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. Concerned about the lack of leadership, JS sent
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...

View Full Bio
to Ohio with copies of the revelations “to comfort and strengthen my brethren in that land.” When Whitmer arrived in mid-January, the conduct of the Ohio members surprised and concerned him. He wrote, “The enemy of all righteous had . . . made them think that an angel of God appeard to them, and showed them writings on the outside cover of the Bible, and on parchment, which flew through the air, and on the back of their hands, and many such foolish and vain things, others lost their strength, and some slid on the floor, and such like maneuvers, which proved greatly to th[e] injury of the cause.” Whitmer concluded that it was “ne[ce]ssary that this people should have instruction, and learn to decern between the things of God and the works of Satan.”
2

Whitmer, History, 10–11; “Mormonism,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 18 Jan. 1831, [3]; see also Revelation, 9 May 1831 [D&C 50].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

In this atmosphere of religious excess came a specific challenge to JS’s authority. In February 1831, the same month that JS and other members arrived from
New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

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,
3

Sidney Rigdon apparently arrived in Kirtland 1 February 1831, and JS arrived three days later. ([Matthew S. Clapp], “Mormonism,” Painesville [OH] Telegraph, 15 Feb. 1831, [1] –[2]; see also JS History, vol. A-1, 92.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

a woman referred to as Mrs. “Hubble” claimed to receive revelations, which she shared publicly with other members.
4

Whitmer, History, 18. This was possibly Laura Fuller Hubbell, older sister of Edson Fuller, who had joined the church and been ordained an elder, but the woman was more likely “Mrs. Louisa Hubbell,” who had converted from the Disciples of Christ and later rejoined the Disciples in May 1831. (Hayden, Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, 472; Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 79–80, 111–114.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Hayden, Amos Sutton. Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio; with Biographical Sketches of the Principal Agents in Their Religious Movement. Cincinnati: Chase and Hall, 1875.

Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.

As
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...

View Full Bio
explained in his later history: “About these days there was a woman by the name of Hubble who professed to be a prophetess of the Lord. and professed to have many revelations, and knew that the Book of mormon was true; and that she should become a teacher in the Church of Christ. She appeard very sanctimonious and deceived some, who were not able to detect her in her hypocracy.” According to Whitmer, “The Lord gave [this] Revelation that the saints might not be decived.”
5

Whitmer, History, 18. Critic Ezra Booth reported that Hubbell “so ingratiated herself into the esteem and favor of some of the Elders, that they received her, as a person commissioned to act a conspicuous part in Mormonizing the world.” Booth added, “Rigdon, and some others, gave her the right hand of fellowship, and literally saluted her with what they called the kiss of charity. But Smith viewing her as encroaching upon his sacred premises, declared her an impostor, and she returned to the place from whence she came.” (Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—Nos. VIII–IX,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 8 Dec. 1831, [1].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

Similarly, the introduction to this revelation in JS’s history notes that “a woman came with great pretentions to revealing commandments, laws and other curious matters” and that JS felt it was “necessary to inquire of the Lord.”
6

JS History, vol. A-1, 101.


This revelation appears to have been dictated between 9 February and the end of the month.
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...

View Full Bio
copied it into Revelation Book 1 directly after a 9 February 1831 revelation and before a revelation dated “Febu. 1831.” Sometime later a revelation dated 23 February was inserted on a loose sheet immediately following the 9 February 1831 revelation and before the revelation featured here.
7

Revelation Book 1, pp. 62–70. Although the insertion of the 23 February 1831 revelation immediately after the 9 February 1831 revelation may indicate that Whitmer thought the text featured here was written after 23 February, it is equally plausible that Whitmer simply meant to bring together the 9 and 23 February revelations, which were later published as a single text. (Revelation, 9 and 23 Feb. 1831, in Doctrine and Covenants 13, 1835 ed. [D&C 42].)


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    For an earlier event that resulted in similar clarification, see Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28]; and Minutes, 26 Sept. 1830. The instruction in the September 1830 text was a response to revelations that Hiram Page had received from a seer stone and that Oliver Cowdery and others had accepted as divine communications. The September revelation stated that only JS had “the keys of the mysteries of the Revelations which are sealed until I shall appoint unto him another in his stead.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:7].)

  2. [2]

    Whitmer, History, 10–11; “Mormonism,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 18 Jan. 1831, [3]; see also Revelation, 9 May 1831 [D&C 50].

    Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

  3. [3]

    Sidney Rigdon apparently arrived in Kirtland 1 February 1831, and JS arrived three days later. ([Matthew S. Clapp], “Mormonism,” Painesville [OH] Telegraph, 15 Feb. 1831, [1] –[2]; see also JS History, vol. A-1, 92.)

    Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

  4. [4]

    Whitmer, History, 18. This was possibly Laura Fuller Hubbell, older sister of Edson Fuller, who had joined the church and been ordained an elder, but the woman was more likely “Mrs. Louisa Hubbell,” who had converted from the Disciples of Christ and later rejoined the Disciples in May 1831. (Hayden, Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, 472; Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 79–80, 111–114.)

    Hayden, Amos Sutton. Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio; with Biographical Sketches of the Principal Agents in Their Religious Movement. Cincinnati: Chase and Hall, 1875.

    Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.

  5. [5]

    Whitmer, History, 18. Critic Ezra Booth reported that Hubbell “so ingratiated herself into the esteem and favor of some of the Elders, that they received her, as a person commissioned to act a conspicuous part in Mormonizing the world.” Booth added, “Rigdon, and some others, gave her the right hand of fellowship, and literally saluted her with what they called the kiss of charity. But Smith viewing her as encroaching upon his sacred premises, declared her an impostor, and she returned to the place from whence she came.” (Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—Nos. VIII–IX,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 8 Dec. 1831, [1].)

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

  6. [6]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 101.

  7. [7]

    Revelation Book 1, pp. 62–70. Although the insertion of the 23 February 1831 revelation immediately after the 9 February 1831 revelation may indicate that Whitmer thought the text featured here was written after 23 February, it is equally plausible that Whitmer simply meant to bring together the 9 and 23 February revelations, which were later published as a single text. (Revelation, 9 and 23 Feb. 1831, in Doctrine and Covenants 13, 1835 ed. [D&C 42].)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Revelation, February 1831–A [D&C 43]
*Revelation Book 1 Revelations printed in The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1832–June 1833 Book of Commandments, 1833 Revelations printed in Evening and Morning Star, January 1835–June 1836 Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 John Whitmer, History, 1831–circa 1847 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] Doctrine and Covenants, 1844 “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 67

45th.
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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AD 1831
given to 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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of 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...

View Glossary
at
Kirtland

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...

More Info
Geauga Ohio
1

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


Oh hearken ye Elders of my Church & give ere [ear] to the words which I shall speak unto you for Behold verily Verily I say unto you that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my Church
2

Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72]; Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93]. At least the portion written 9 February preceded the text featured here.


through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments & Revelations from my hand & this ye shall know asshuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments & Revelations untill he be taken if he abide in me. but Verily Verily I say unto you that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead & this shall be a law unto you that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall [p. 67]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 67

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, February 1831–A [D&C 43]
ID #
6502
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:256–260
Handwriting on This Page
  • John Whitmer

Footnotes

  1. [1]

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

  2. [2]

    Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72]; Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93]. At least the portion written 9 February preceded the text featured here.

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