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Revelation, 13 August 1831 [D&C 62]

Source Note

Revelation, Bank of the [at Chariton, Chariton Co.], MO, 13 Aug. 1831. Featured version copied [ca. Sept. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, p. 104; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.

Historical Introduction

On 13 August 1831, as JS and several were on their way back to after spending a few weeks in , Jackson County, Missouri, JS dictated this revelation outlining the responsibilities of elders traveling to who had not yet reached the land of . At this time, some elders commanded to journey to Missouri had been delayed, in part because of their efforts to preach along the way and in part because of illness. and , for example, were instructed in a June 1831 revelation to go to Missouri by way of , Michigan Territory. They followed this direction but were delayed when Murdock fell ill in the first part of August. Murdock and Hyrum Smith spent a week in Chariton, Chariton County, Missouri, while Murdock recovered, and were soon joined by and , who were also en route to Independence. In anticipation of the arrival of these missionaries, a 1 August revelation had instructed “the residue of the Elders of this church which are coming to this land” to “hold a conference” in once they arrived.
On 13 August, JS and his companions crossed the at Chariton and found , , , and there. “After the joyful salutations with which brethren meet each other,” a later history recounted, JS dictated the present revelation. The copy of the revelation made by locates the revelation “on the Bank of the river Missorie,” likely meaning the northern bank, at Chariton. The revelation instructed those elders to continue to , to hold a meeting there, and then to return to their homes.
The original manuscript of this revelation is not extant. copied the text featured here into Revelation Book 1, probably shortly after JS, , and returned to , Ohio, at the end of August. Some personal copies of the revelation were also made, including a copy Elizabeth Van Benthusen Gilbert showed to when he came to in late 1831.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 142, 145.

  2. [2]

    See, for example, Murdock, Journal, Aug. 1831; “Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock,” ca. 1896, 27–40; and Whitmer, History, 32.

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

  3. [3]

    Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:8–9].

  4. [4]

    Murdock, Journal, Aug. 1831.

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

  5. [5]

    Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:61].

  6. [6]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 145; see also Cahoon, Diary, Aug. 1831; and McLellin, Journal, 15 and 24 Aug. 1831.

    Cahoon, Reynolds. Diaries, 1831–1832. CHL. MS 1115.

    McLellin, William E. Journal, 18 July–20 Nov. 1831. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 1. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

  7. [7]

    See Historical Introduction to Revelation Book 1; and JS History, vol. A-1, 146.

  8. [8]

    According to Hancock’s account, when the Saints in Jackson County saw a copy of this revelation—probably brought to them by one of the four elders to whom it was directed—it “tried” their faith. The revelation’s contents, which included commendations of those who had borne testimony and which implied high expectations for proselytizing success, apparently struck the Missouri Saints as incongruous with the results of the elders’ preaching. As Elizabeth Van Benthusen Gilbert explained to Hancock, “Their faith almost failed them because they had heard that nothing was done.” In reference to the elders, she said that “many had appostatized.” After Hancock, Zebedee Coltrin, Simeon Carter, and Solomon Hancock arrived later in the fall with news that they had baptized over a hundred individuals, the “drooping Spirits” of the Missouri saints were “revived.” (“Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock,” ca. 1896, 40–41; see also History of the Reorganized Church, 1:195; and Minutes, 1 Sept. 1831.)

    The History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 8 vols. Independence, MO: Herald Publishing House, 1896–1976.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Revelation, 13 August 1831 [D&C 62]
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 104

65
given Aug 13th. 1831 on the Bank of the at a meeting of some of the which had not yet arived at their Journeys end &c
Behold & hearken oh ye Elders of my saith the Lord your God even Jesus Christ your advocate who knoweth the weakness of man & how to sucour they that are tempted & verily mine eyes are upon you those who have not as yet gone up unto the wherefore your mission is not yet full nevertheless ye are blessed for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the Angels to look upon & they rejoice over you & your sins are forgiven you & now continue your Journey assemble yourselves upon the land of Zion & hold a meeting & rejoice together & offer a unto the most high & then you may return to bear record yea even all together or two by two as seemeth you good it mattereth not unto me only be faithfull & declare glad tidings unto the inhabitants of the Earth or among the Congregations of the wicked Behold I the Lord have brought you together that the promise might be fulfilled that the faithfull among you should be preserved & rejoice together in the Land of I the Lord promised the faithfull, & cannot lie I the Lord am willing if any among you desireth to ride upon horses or upon mules or in chariots shall receive this blessing if he receive it from the hand of the Lord with <​a​> thankfullness hearts in all things these things remain with you to do according to Judgement & the directions of the spirit Behold the kingdom is yours And Behold & lo I am with the faithfull always even so Amen—— [p. 104]
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Source Note

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Page 104

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, 13 August 1831 [D&C 62]
ID #
6522
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D2:44–48
Handwriting on This Page
  • John Whitmer

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    John Whitmer assigned this number to the revelation when recording it in Revelation Book 1.

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “&c” possibly inserted at a later time. This heading likely did not appear in the original manuscript; John Whitmer likely added it when he copied the revelation into Revelation Book 1.

  3. [3]

    See Hebrews 2:18.

  4. [4]

    Although this is a clear reference to John Murdock, Hyrum Smith, Harvey Whitlock, and David Whitmer, who were present at this revelation’s dictation, it apparently also applied to other elders traveling to Missouri, including Zebedee Coltrin and Levi Hancock. Coltrin and Hancock were shown the revelation when they arrived in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, in late 1831. (“Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock,” ca. 1896, 40–41.)

  5. [5]

    For examples of these testimonies, see Murdock, Journal, June 1831; and “Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock,” 27–40.

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

  6. [6]

    This instruction reiterates direction given in an August 1831 revelation. (Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:61–62].)

  7. [7]

    The elders held a conference in Kaw Township, Missouri, on 24 August 1831 “to fill the commandment which they received at Charatin.” According to William E. McLellin, the conference “offer[ed] a sacrament to the most High.” The 2 August date of the minutes as recorded in Minute Book 2 is in error. The meeting was held on 24 August, as McLellin’s journal relates. Several of the individuals listed in the minutes as attending, including McLellin, David Whitmer, Hyrum Smith, and Harvey Whitlock, were not in Jackson County on 2 August. (McLellin, Journal, 24 Aug. 1831; see also Minute Book 2, 2 Aug. 1831; and Revelation, 7 Aug. 1831 [D&C 59:12].)

    McLellin, William E. Journal, 18 July–20 Nov. 1831. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 1. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

  8. [8]

    See Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:59, 63].

  9. [9]

    John Murdock, Hyrum Smith, Harvey Whitlock, and David Whitmer traveled to Independence together. Smith and Whitmer apparently traveled back to Ohio in September, though whether they went together is not certain. Both men were listed as attending conferences in Ohio in October 1831. Murdock stayed in Missouri until 26 January 1832, when he departed with Parley P. Pratt, Lyman Wight, and Levi Hancock on a preaching mission. When Whitlock departed is not known, but he was still in Missouri in January 1832. (Murdock, Journal, Aug. 1831 and Jan. 1832; Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831; Minutes, 11 Oct. 1831; see also Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 28 Jan. 1832.)

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

  10. [10]

    See Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:42].

  11. [11]

    John Murdock, Hyrum Smith, Harvey Whitlock, and David Whitmer subsequently purchased a horse that Murdock rode because he was still ill. (Murdock, Journal, Aug. 1831.)

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

  12. [12]

    The 1 August 1831 revelation told the elders to “do many things of their own free will” because “the power is in them wherein they are agents unto themselves.” (Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:26–28].)

  13. [13]

    See Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830 [D&C 35:27]; and Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:9, 15].

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