Revelation, , Seneca Co., NY, to JS and , 6 Jan. 1831. Featured version, titled “43rd. Commandment January 6th. 1831,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, p. 60; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
Historical Introduction
By 6 January 1831, the day after a revelation called him to preach the gospel, Methodist minister had departed , New York, leaving JS and searching for an explanation. As JS later recalled, after Covel “rejected the word of the Lord, and returned to his former principles and people,” the Lord gave JS and Sidney Rigdon this 6 January 1831 revelation, “explaining why he obeyed not the word.”
A Revelation to Joseph & Recd at Seneca County state of NY telling them why Receivdnot the obeyed not the Command which he Received &c
Behold verily I say unto you that his heart was right before me for he covenanted with me that he would obey my word & he Received the word with Gladness but Straitway Satan came & tempted him & the fear of persecution & the cares of the world caused him to reject the word wherefore he broke the covenant which he had made & it Remaineth in me to do with him as seemeth me good [p. 60]