Church History
Joseph Smith’s Revelations, Doctrine and Covenants 18

“Doctrine and Covenants 18,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers (2020)

“Doctrine and Covenants 18,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers

Doctrine and Covenants 18

Revelation, June 1829–B

Source Note

Revelation, Fayette Township, Seneca Co., NY, to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and the future twelve disciples, June 1829. Featured version, titled “Chapter XV,” typeset [ca. early 1833] for Book of Commandments, 34–39. John Whitmer copied this revelation [ca. Mar. 1831] into Revelation Book 1, but the pages on which it was copied were removed at some point from that volume and are no longer extant.1 The version found in the Book of Commandments and featured below is the earliest extant version. For more information, see the source note for the Book of Commandments on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

Historical Introduction

JS dictated this revelation in Fayette, New York, within the first few days of June 1829.2 Although the first portion of the revelation is addressed to Oliver Cowdery, the remainder provides direction for Cowdery and David Whitmer jointly, including a call for them to find twelve disciples. The revelation then speaks to an intended future audience for JS’s revelation, addressing these unidentified twelve disciples. Previous revelations had always addressed the individuals directly involved as they or a scribe recorded the words JS dictated.

This revelation opens with an admonition that Cowdery “rely upon the things which are written,” especially the finished portion of the manuscript of the Book of Mormon.3 Just weeks earlier Cowdery had recorded from JS’s translation of the plates an account of Jesus Christ choosing twelve Nephite disciples and calling them to lead the church that he established.4 The revelation featured here then describes the duties of twelve leaders yet to be selected, using terminology similar to the Book of Mormon manuscript, including the responsibilities to preach, baptize, and “ordain priests and teachers to declare my gospel, according to the power of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and according to the callings and gifts of God unto men.”5 While the Book of Mormon uses both disciples and apostles, distinguishing between the twelve “disciples” in America and the twelve “apostles” in Jerusalem, the terms seem to refer to comparable offices. This revelation uses the term disciple to describe the calling of the twelve, but it is unclear whether in 1829 JS and Cowdery thought of the terms disciple and apostle as interchangeable, as they did later.6

It is also not known when Cowdery and Whitmer began to search for the twelve disciples or apostles. At a conference of the church on 26 October 1831, Cowdery informed those in attendance that he had recently been told that the twelve “would be ordained & sent forth from the Land of Zion.”7 In February 1835, when twelve apostles were called, Cowdery stated that since the time of this revelation in 1829, “our minds have been on a constant stretch to find who these Twelve were.”8

CHAPTER XV.

1 A Revelation to Joseph, Oliver [Cowdery] and David [Whitmer], making known the calling of twelve disciples in these last days, and also, instructions relative to building up the church of Christ, according to the fulness of the gospel: Given in Fayette, New-York, June, 1829.9

[1]NOW behold, because of the thing which you10 have desired to know of me, I give unto you these words:

[2]2 Behold I have manifested unto you, by my [p. 34] Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true:11

3 Wherefore you know that they are true; [3]and if you know that they are true, behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written; [4]for in them are all things written, concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock.12

[5]4 Wherefore if you shall build up my church, and my gospel, and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.13

[6]5 Behold the world is ripening in iniquity, and it must needs be, that the children of men are stirred up unto repentance, both the Gentiles, and also the house of Israel:

[7]6 Wherefore as thou hast been baptized by the hand of my servant, according to that which I have commanded him:14

7 Wherefore he hath fulfilled the thing which I commanded him.

[8]8 And now marvel not that I have called him unto mine own purpose, which purpose is known in me:

9 Wherefore if he shall be diligent in keeping my commandments, he shall be blessed unto eternal life, and his name is Joseph.

[9]10 And now Oliver, I speak unto15 you, and also unto David, by the way of commandment:

11 For behold I command all men every where to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called.16

[10]12 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God:

[11]13 For behold the Lord your God suffered death [p. 35] in the flesh: wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.17

[12]14 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him on conditions of repentance.

[13]15 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth.

[14]16 Wherefore you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

[15]17 And if it so be that you should labor in all your days, in crying repentance unto this people, and bring save it be one soul only unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father?

[16]18 And now if your joy will be great with one soul, that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy, if you should bring many souls unto me?

[17]19 Behold you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation:

[18]20 Ask the Father in my name in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost which manifesteth all things,18 which is expedient unto the children of men.

[19]21 And if you have not faith, hope and charity, you can do nothing.

[20]22 Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.19

[21]23 Take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness, [22]and as many as repent, and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.

[23]24 Behold Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved:20 [p. 36]

[24]25 Wherefore all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day:

[25]26 Wherefore if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father.21

[26]27 And now behold, there are others which are called to declare my gospel, both unto Gentile and unto Jew: [27]Yea, even unto twelve:

28 And the twelve shall be my disciples,22 and they shall take upon them my name:

29 And the twelve are they which shall desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart:

[28]30 And if they desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature:23

[29]31 And they are they which are ordained of me to baptize in my name, according to that which is written; [30]and you have that which is written before you:24

32 Wherefore you must perform it according to the words which are written.25

[31]33 And now I speak unto the twelve:

34 Behold my grace is sufficient for you:26 You must walk uprightly before me and sin not.

[32]35 And behold you are they which are ordained of me to ordain priests and teachers to declare my gospel, according to the power of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and according to the callings and gifts of God unto men:27

[33]36 And I Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it.

[34]37 These words are not of men, nor of man, but of me: [p. 37]

38 Wherefore you shall testify they are of me, and not of man; [35]for it is my voice which speaketh them unto you:

39 For they are given by my Spirit unto you:

40 And by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power, you could not have them:28

[36]41 Wherefore you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.

[37]42 And now behold I give unto you, Oliver, and also unto David, that you shall search out the twelve which shall have the desires of which I have spoken; [38]and by their desires and their works, you shall know them:29

[39]43 And when you have found them you shall show these things unto them.

[40]44 And you shall fall down and worship the Father in my name:

[41]45 And you must preach unto the world, saying, you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ:

[42]46 For all men must repent and be baptized; and not only men, but women and children, which have arriven to the years of accountability.30

[43]47 And now, after that you have received this, you must keep my commandments in all things:

[44]48 And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance; and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father:

[45]49 Wherefore the blessings which I give unto you are above all things.

[46]50 And after that you have received this, if you keep not my commandments, you cannot be saved [p. 38] in the kingdom of my Father. [47]Behold I Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, and your Redeemer, by the power of my Spirit, have spoken it. Amen.

Notes

  1. See Revelation Book 1, p. [207], in JSP, MRB:385.

  2. In the index to Revelation Book 1, John Whitmer listed this as the second of five revelations that were apparently dictated in June. (The text of these five revelations is not extant in Revelation Book 1.) This revelation was likely dictated after David Whitmer’s baptism, which also occurred in June, and before Oliver Cowdery’s 14 June letter to Hyrum Smith. (Revelation Book 1, p. [207], in JSP, MRB:385; JS History, vol. A-1, 23, in JSP, H1:314 [Draft 2]; Oliver Cowdery, Fayette, NY, to Hyrum Smith, 14 June 1829, in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 5–6.)

  3. Later in June Cowdery wrote “Articles of the Church of Christ,” which he labeled “a commandment from God unto Oliver how he should build up his Church & the manner thereof.” It relied upon passages in the Book of Mormon (and especially in the book of Moroni) as a model. (“Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829, in JSP, D1:370.)

  4. See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 574–575 [Moroni 2–3].

  5. A passage in the Book of Mormon specifies “the manner which the disciples, which were called the Elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers.” (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 575 [Moroni 3:1]; see also JS History, vol. A-1, 27, in JSP, H1:326–330 [Draft 2].)

  6. When JS and Cowdery convened a meeting to select twelve apostles in February 1835, they referred to the proceedings as being a fulfillment of this revelation. Similarly, although the text featured here (from the 1833 Book of Commandments) refers to the calling of “disciples,” the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants describes the purpose of the same revelation as the “calling of twelve apostles,” as does JS’s history begun in 1838. (Minute Book 1, 14 Feb. 1835; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Record, 14 Feb. 1835; Doctrine and Covenants 43, 1835 ed.; JS History, vol. A-1, 27, in JSP, H1:328 [Draft 2].)

  7. Minute Book 2, 25–26 Oct. 1831.

  8. Minute Book 1, 14 and 21 Feb. 1835.

  9. The editors of the Book of Commandments composed revelation headings loosely based on John Whitmer’s headings found in Revelation Book 1. Because the pages in Revelation Book 1 that apparently contained this revelation are missing, it is unknown whose work is reflected in this heading. Regardless, it was most likely not part of the original revelation text.

  10. Oliver Cowdery.

  11. This is a reference to the revelatory texts for which Cowdery had served as scribe, principally JS’s dictation of the Book of Mormon.

  12. An earlier revelation to Hyrum Smith used similar wording: “Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my Rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine.” (Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11:16], herein.)

  13. See Matthew 16:18.

  14. For Cowdery’s account of his baptism, see Oliver Cowdery, Norton, OH, to William W. Phelps, 7 Sept. 1834, Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:15.

  15. TEXT: “u” printed upside-down.

  16. This passage could be evidence that the ordination of JS and Oliver Cowdery to the apostleship took place before this revelation. Soon after this declaration, Cowdery concluded his “Articles of the Church of Christ” with these words: “Behold I am Oliver I am an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God the Father & the Lord Jesus Christ.” (See “Joseph Smith Documents Dating through June 1831,” in JSP, D1:xxxviii–xxxix; and “Articles of the Church of Christ,” ca. June 1829, in JSP, D1:374; see also Ephesians 1:1; and Colossians 1:1.)

  17. See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 160–161 [Mosiah 3:5–13].

  18. See Revelation, June 1829–A [D&C 14:8], herein.

  19. Compare with the phrase “kingdom of the Devil” in Book of Mormon verses translated in June 1829. (See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 33, 58 [1 Nephi 14:10; 22:22–23].)

  20. See Acts 4:12.

  21. See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 166–167 [Mosiah 5:7–12]. Oliver Cowdery wrote to Hyrum Smith on 14 June 1829, urging him to “stir up the minds of our friends aganst the time we come unto you that then they may be willing to take upon them the name of Christ for that is the name by which they Shall be called at the Last day and if we Know not the name by which we are called I fear we shall be found on the [left] hand.” The similarity in the language between the revelation and this letter suggests that JS dictated the revelation prior to 14 June 1829. (Oliver Cowdery, Fayette, NY, to Hyrum Smith, 14 June 1829, in JS Letterbook 1, p. 6.)

  22. Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 485 [3 Nephi 15:11–12].

  23. See Mark 16:15; and Matthew 28:19.

  24. This is one of the earliest statements in JS’s revelations defining who had the authority to baptize. This passage is also the first extant reference in JS’s revelations to authority outside of angelic or divine authority. (See, for example, Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 575 [Moroni 3]; compare Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 74, 193, 238, 258 [2 Nephi 6:2; Mosiah 18:18; Alma 6:1; 13:1].)

  25. Instructions for performing baptisms are found in Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 478 [3 Nephi 11:23–27].

  26. See 2 Corinthians 12:9.

  27. This description of the responsibilities of the twelve is similar to instructions given to the twelve Nephite disciples as “the elders of the church” in the Book of Mormon. (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 575 [Moroni 3].)

  28. See Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11:11], herein.

  29. The immediacy of this statement suggests that Cowdery and Whitmer were to choose the twelve soon. It appears, however, that they may not have called disciples immediately.

  30. The Book of Mormon denounces infant baptism. A later revelation indicated that children reached the “years of accountability” and could be baptized at age eight. (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 581–582 [Moroni 8:8–22]; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:27], herein.)