Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]

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Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]
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, 6 June 1831. Featured version, titled “55th. Commandment given at Kirtland June 6th. 1831,” copied [ca. June 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 87–89; 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
In June 1831 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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was held in
Kirtland
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, Ohio, which all 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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of the church had been directed to attend by a February revelation.
1
Revelation, Feb. 1831–B [D&C 44:1–2]; see also Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.
As part of the conference, according to
Levi Hancock
7 Apr. 1803–10 June 1882. Born at Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. Son of Thomas Hancock III and Amy Ward. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 16 Nov. 1830, at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Clarissa Reed, 20 Mar. 1831....
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, many church members gathered on 5 June “on the hill in a field whare there was a larg concours of people collected.” JS addressed the congregation and told them that “from that time the Elders would have large congregations to speak to and they must soon take there departure into the Reagions west.”
2
Hancock, Autobiography, 92.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Hancock, Levi. Autobiography, ca. 1854. Photocopy. CHL. MS 8174.
The next day, 6 June, the conference continued, and that night JS dictated the text featured here, later writing that he received it “by an heavenly vision.”
3
Hancock, Autobiography, 94; John Smith, Journal, 3–4; JS, “To the Elders of the Church of Latter Day Saints,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1835, 1:179.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

The revelation declared that the next conference would be held in
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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and directed the elders to travel to Missouri two by two, by different routes, preaching along the way. Nearly all the men who had been
ordained
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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to the “
high priesthood
The authority and power held by certain officers in the church. The Book of Mormon referred to the high priesthood as God’s “holy order, which was after the order of his Son,” and indicated that Melchizedek, a biblical figure, was a high priest “after this...
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” a few days earlier were now called to preach, as were several others.
4
Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.
The revelation further instructed 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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to leave for Missouri as soon as possible, promising that if they were faithful, the Lord would make known the location in Missouri of “the land of your inheritance.”
Footnotes
[1]
Revelation, Feb. 1831–B [D&C 44:1–2]; see also Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.
[2]
Hancock, Autobiography, 92.
[3]
Hancock, Autobiography, 94; John Smith, Journal, 3–4; JS, “To the Elders of the Church of Latter Day Saints,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1835, 1:179.
Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
[4]
Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]
Revelation Book 1 Revelation, 6 June 1831, Symonds Rider Copy [D&C 52] 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 87
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55th.
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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given at
Kirtland
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June 6th. 1831

Directions 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 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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&c
1
John Whitmer likely created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1.
Behold thus saith the Lord unto the Elders whom he hath called & chosen in these last days by the voice of his Spirit saying I the Lord will make known unto you what I will make known that ye sh◊◊ld do from this time untill the next
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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which shall be held in
Missorie
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2
Minute Book 2, 4 Aug. 1831.
upon the land which I will consecrate unto my People which are a remnant of Jacob & those who are heirs according to the covenant
3
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 501 [3 Nephi 21:22–26]. A September 1830 revelation declared, “The decree hath gone forth from the father that they shall be gethered in unto one place upon the face of this land.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:8].)
wherefore verily I say unto you let my Servents Joseph &
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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take their Journey as Soon as preperations can be made to leave their homes & Journey to the land of
Missorie
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& in as much as they are faithfull unto me it shall be made known unto them what they shall do & it shall also in as much as they are faithfull be made known unto them the land of your inheritance & in as much as they are not faithfull they shall be cut off even as I will as Seemeth me good & again verily I say unto you let my Servent
Lyman (Wight)
9 May 1796–31 Mar. 1858. Farmer. Born at Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of Levi Wight Jr. and Sarah Corbin. Served in War of 1812. Married Harriet Benton, 5 Jan. 1823, at Henrietta, Monroe Co., New York. Moved to Warrensville, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ...
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4
John Whitmer apparently added the surnames parenthetically when he copied this revelation into Revelation Book 1.
& my Servent
John (Corrill)
17 Sept. 1794–26 Sept. 1842. Surveyor, politician, author. Born at Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Married Margaret Lyndiff, ca. 1830. Lived at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10 Jan. 1831,...
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take their Journey speedily & also my Servent
John (Murdock)
15 July 1792–23 Dec. 1871. Farmer. Born at Kortright, Delaware Co., New York. Son of John Murdock Sr. and Eleanor Riggs. Joined Lutheran Dutch Church, ca. 1817, then Presbyterian Seceder Church shortly after. Moved to Orange, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ca. 1819....
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& my Servent
Hyram [Hyrum] (Smith)
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
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take their Journey unto the Same place by the way of
Detroit
Port city located between west end of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair. State capital and county seat. French first visited site, ca. 1610, and established settlement and fort, by 1701. Britain obtained possession, 1760. Became part of U.S. territory, 1783. First...
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& let them Journey from thence preaching the word by the way saying none other things than the Prophets &
Apostles
A title indicating one sent forth to preach; later designated as a specific ecclesiastical and priesthood office. By 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery were designated as apostles. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church explained that an “apostle is an elder...
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have written & that which is [p. 87]
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Source Note
Document Transcript
Page 87
Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]
ID #
6513
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:327–332
Handwriting on This Page
John Whitmer
Footnotes
[1]
John Whitmer likely created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1.
[2]
Minute Book 2, 4 Aug. 1831.
[3]
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 501 [3 Nephi 21:22–26]. A September 1830 revelation declared, “The decree hath gone forth from the father that they shall be gethered in unto one place upon the face of this land.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:8].)
[4]
John Whitmer apparently added the surnames parenthetically when he copied this revelation into Revelation Book 1.