Church History
Joseph Smith’s Revelations, Doctrine and Covenants 68

“Doctrine and Covenants 68,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers (2020)

“Doctrine and Covenants 68,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers

Doctrine and Covenants 68

[The revelation in this section first appeared in 1831. A significantly revised version of the revelation was published in 1835. Both versions of the text appear here.]

Revelation, 1 November 1831–A

Source Note

Revelation, Hiram Township, OH, 1 Nov. 1831. Featured version, titled “70 A Revelation to Orson Luke Lyman & William,” copied [ca. Nov. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 113–114; handwriting of Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer; CHL. Includes redactions. For more information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1 on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

Historical Introduction

On 1–2 November 1831, ten elders convened a conference in Hiram, Ohio, to discuss the publication of the Book of Commandments, a compilation of JS’s revelations.1 According to a later JS history, four of the conference attendees—Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, and William E. McLellin—approached JS during the conference and requested to know the Lord’s will concerning them.2 This revelation came in response to their inquiry.3 The revelation provided more information about the evangelizing duties of the four men specifically and of elders in general. While Hyde, McLellin, and Luke Johnson were all ordained to the high priesthood at a conference held in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, a week earlier, Lyman Johnson was ordained to the high priesthood at the Hiram conference on 2 November.4

After closing the portion of the revelation addressed specifically to the four men with an “Amen,” the document shifts its audience to the church in general and gives additional information about the office of bishop, as well as counsel to members of the church “in Zion” about teaching and baptizing their children and avoiding idleness and greed. The text may originally have been dictated as two discrete revelations, which, like some other revelations closely related in time or content, were then copied together and presented as a single, unified text. All extant copies of the text—whether in manuscript or published form—present both parts as one revelation.

The original manuscript of the revelation is not extant, and the conference minutes do not mention the revelation.5 However, the copy in Revelation Book 1 is dated 1 November 1831 and a heading states that it was “given in Hiram Nov. 1. 1831.”6 John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery copied the revelation into Revelation Book 1, probably soon after its dictation.7

Recipients of Revelation, 1 November 1831–A.
Recipients of Revelation, 1 November 1831–A.
Recipients of Revelation, 1 November 1831–A.
Recipients of Revelation, 1 November 1831–A.

Recipients of Revelation, 1 November 1831–A. A 1 November 1831 revelation instructed Orson Hyde (top), Luke Johnson (second), William E. McLellin (third), and Lyman Johnson (bottom) to preach to the world. All four men were under the age of twenty-seven at that time and were ordained high priests at either the 25–26 October 1831 conference or the 1–2 November 1831 conference. (Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)

/8given in Hiram Nov. 1. 1831

709 A Revelation to /10Orson [Hyde] Luke [Johnson] & Lyman [Johnson] & William [E. McLellin]

The mind & will of the Lord as made known by the voice of the spirit made <known to> a confrence held November first 1831 concerning certain Elders who requested of the Lord to kno◊ his will concerning them & also certain items as made known in addition to the Laws & commandments which have been given to the church11 firstly [1]my servant Orson was called by his ordinance12 to proclaim the everlasting Gospel by the spirit of the living God from people to people & from land to land from <in the> congregtions of the wicked in their Synagogues13 reas[o]ning with & expounding all scriptures <un>to them14 [2]& behold & lo this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth [3]& this is the ensample unto them that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost [4]& whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be Scripture15 shall be the will of the Lord shall be the mind of the Lord shall be the voice of the Lord & shall be the power of God unto Salvation16 [5]behold this is the promise of the Lord unto you o ye my servants [6]wherefore be of good cheer & do not fear for I the Lord am with you & will stand by you & you <ye> shall bear record of me even Jesus christ that I am the Son of God that I was that I am & that I am to come [7]this is the word of the Lord unto you my Servant Orson & also to my servant Luke & unto my servant Lyman & unto my servant William & unto all the faithful Elders of my church [8]go ye unto all the world preach the gospel to every creature acting in the authority which I have given you baptising in the name of the Father & of the Son & of <of the> Holy Ghost [9]& he that believeth & is baptised shall be saved & he that believeth not shall be damned [10]& he that believeth shall be blessed with signs following even as it is written17 [11]& unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the times & the signs of the coming of the Son of man18 [12]& of as many as the Father shall bear record to you it shall be given to seal them up unto Eternal life19 Amen—

[13]And now conc[e]rning the items in addition to the Laws & commandments20 they are these [14]there rema[i]neth hereafter in the due [p. 113] time of the Lord other Bishops to be set apart unto the church to minister even according to the first21 [15]wherefore it shall be an high priest who is worthy & he shall be appointed by a confrenc of high priests22 [22]And again no Bishop or judge23 which shall be set apart for this ministry shall be tried or condemned for any crime save it be before a confrence of high priests [23]& inasmuch as he is found guilty before a confrenc of high priests by testimony that cannot be impeached he shall be condemned [24]or forgiven according to the Laws of the church24 [25]And again inasmuch as parents have children in Zion that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance faith in Christ the Son of the living God & of baptism & the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying <on> of the hands when eight years old the sin be upon the head of the parents [26]for this shall be a Law unto the inhabitants of Zion [27]& their children shall be baptised for the remission of their sins when eight years old & receive the laying on of the hands25 [28]& they also shall teach their children to pray & to walk uprightly before the Lord [29]& the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe to the Sabath day to keep it holy26 [30]& the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors inasmuch as they are appointed to labor in all faithfulness for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord [31]now I the Lord am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion for there are idlers among them27 & their children also are growing up in wickedness they also seek not earnestly the riches of Eternity28 but their eyes are full of greediness29 [32]these things ought not to be & must be done away from among them wherefore let my servant Oliver [Cowdery] cary these sayings unto the land of Zion30 [33]& a commandment I give unto them that he that obse[r]veth <not> his prayers before the Lord in the season thereof let them be had in remembrance before the judge of my people [34]these sayings are true & faithful31 wherefore transgress them not neither take therefrom [35]behold I am Alpha & Omega32 & I come quickly Amen

Given a in Hiram November first 1831 by Joseph the Seer

Revelation, circa June 1835

Source Note

Revelation, Hiram Township, Portage Co., OH, 1 Nov. 1831; substantial revisions, Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH, ca. June 1835. Featured version published in Evening and Morning Star, Oct. 1832 [June 1835], pp. 73–74. For more information, see the source note for the Evening and Morning Star on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

Historical Introduction

In June 1835, as part of a larger project commenced in November 1834, F. G. Williams & Co. reprinted the October 1832 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star, the church newspaper published from June 1832 to September 1834.33 The issue included the text of a 1 November 1831 revelation that Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer had recorded in Revelation Book 1 soon after its dictation by JS.34 In its reprinted form, featured here, the revelation has several significant additions and changes not present in either the 1831 Revelation Book 1 version or the October 1832 publication.

The original November 1831 revelation addressed some of the responsibilities of elders and high priests in the church and provided additional instructions for church members in Missouri.35 The version in the reprinted Evening and Morning Star contained substantial additions, including new passages about who could serve as a bishop and how bishops were to be appointed. Extant records are silent on how or when the additions were made, but JS was undoubtedly involved in the process. In November 1831, a conference resolved that JS should review his revelations and provide corrections to them as instructed “by the holy Spirit.”36 That same process was likely used with this revelation. As new offices developed in the church, and as JS’s understanding of these offices increased, he likely reviewed the revelation and made the additions. Some of the additions—such as the information about literal descendants of Aaron holding a right to the office of bishop—originated (and in places are nearly verbatim) with the Instruction on Priesthood that JS presented to the Twelve Apostles sometime in spring 1835.37 Other additions first appeared in the Evening and Morning Star reprint of the revelation featured here.38 With the Instruction on Priesthood and the additional information included in this revelation, church members had a significant body of instructions about the roles and responsibilities of church officers, as well as important information about the priesthood governing the church.

In addition to the doctrinal additions, some typographical changes were made to the revelation. These resulted from the process of reprinting The Evening and the Morning Star. In September 1834, Oliver Cowdery announced that F. G. Williams & Co. would be reprinting the Star, partly to present it in a smaller, more convenient size and partly to correct typographical and other errors in the original publication. Cowdery was especially interested in correcting the “many errors, typographical, and others,” in the published revelations. These mistakes, “occasioned by transcribing manuscript[s],” were to be corrected by comparing the printed material to the original manuscripts.39 When the first issue of the Star was reprinted in January 1835, Cowdery noted that he and others were “not a little surprised to find the previous print so different from the original.” However, Cowdery wrote, he and others “whose known integrity and ability is uncensurable” were able to make the necessary corrections.40 Since JS, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams had been appointed, along with Cowdery, as a committee “to arrange the items of the doctrine of Jesus Christ for the government of the church of Latter-Day Saints,” they may have assisted Cowdery in this effort. John Whitmer and William W. Phelps, who began working in the Kirtland printing office in May 1835, may have helped as well.41

This revelation was included in the church’s Doctrine and Covenants, which was available by September 1835.42 The version in that publication is almost exactly the same as the reprinted version here. Differences between the featured version and the versions in Revelation Book 1 and the 1832 publication are noted herein.

REVELATIONS.

A Revelation, given November, 1831, to Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson and William E. McLel[l]in.43 The mind and will of the Lord, as made known by the voice of the Spirit to a conference44 concerning certain elders:45 and also certain items, as made known, in addition to the covenants46 and commandments:—47

48[1]My servant, Orson Hyde, was called, by his ordinance,49 to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with and expounding all scriptures unto them: [2]And behold and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth: [3]And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost; [4]and whatsoever they shall speak, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, shall be scripture; shall be the will of the Lord; shall be the mind of the Lord; shall be the word of the Lord;50 shall be the voice of the Lord, and 51the power of God unto salvation; [5]Behold this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants: [6]wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living52 God; that I was; that I am; and that I am to come. [7]This is the word of the Lord unto you my servant, Orson Hyde; and also unto my servant, Luke Johnson, and unto my servant, Lyman Johnson, and unto my servant William E. McLelin; and unto all the faithful elders of my church: [8]Go ye into all the world; preach the gospel to every creature; acting in the authority which I have given you; baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; [9]and he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned; [10]and he that believeth shall be blessed with signs following,53 even as it is written: [11]And unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the times, and the signs of the coming of the Son of man; [12]and of as many as the Father shall bear record, to you it shall be given power54 to seal them up unto eternal life:55 Amen.

[13]And now concerning the items in addition to the covenants56 and commandments, they are these; [14]there remaineth hereafter, in the due time of the Lord, other bishops to be set apart unto the church to minister even according to the first:57 [15]Wherefore they shall be high priests who are worthy, and they shall be appointed by the first presidency of the Melchisedek priesthood,58 except they be literal descendants of Aaron; [16]and if they be literal descendants of Aaron, they have a legal right to the bishopric, if they are the first born among the sons of Aaron: [17]for the first born holds the right of presidency over this priesthood, and the keys or authority of the same.59 [18]No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a literal descendant and the first born of Aaron:60 [19]but as a high priest of the Melchizedek priesthood, has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices,61 he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found; provided he is called and set apart, and ordained unto this power under the hands of the first presidency of the Melchizedek priesthood.62 [20]And a literal descendant of Aaron, also, must be designated by this presidency, and found worthy, and annointed, and ordained under the hands of this presidency, otherwise they are not legally authorized to officiate in their priesthood: [21]but by virtue of the decree concerning their right of the priesthood descending from father to son,63 they may claim their annointing, if at any time they can prove their lineage, or do ascertain it by revelation from the Lord under the hands of the above named presidency.64

[22]And again, no bishop or high priest,65 who shall be set apart for this ministry, shall be tried or condemned for any crime save it be before the first presidency of the church;66 [23]and inasmuch as he is found guilty before this presidency,67 by testimony that cannot be impeached, he shall be condemned,68 [24]and if he repents he shall be forgiven, according to the covenants and commandments of the church.

[25]And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized,69 that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance; faith in Christ the Son of the living God; and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old: the sin be upon the head of the parents, [26]for this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized,70 [27]and their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands:71 [28]and they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord. [29]And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.72 [30]And the inhabitants of Zion, also, shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness, for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord. [31]Now I the Lord am not well pleased [p. 73] with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them;73 and their children are also growing up in wickedness: They also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness. [32]These things ought not to be, and must be done away from among them: wherefore let my servant Oliver Cowdery, carry these sayings unto the land of Zion.74 [33]And a commandment I give unto them, that he that observeth not his prayers before the Lord in the season thereof, let him be had in remembrance before the judge of my people. [34]These sayings are true and faithful: wherefore transgress them not, neither take therefrom. [35]Behold I am Alpha and Omega, and I come quickly: Amen.

Notes

  1. For more information on this conference, see Minutes, 1–2 Nov. 1831, in JSP, D2:94..

  2. JS History, vol. A-1, 163. A few days earlier, JS had dictated a revelation to McLellin regarding God’s will for him, but McLellin and his copetitioners apparently desired more direction. (Revelation, 29 Oct. 1831 [D&C 66], herein.)

  3. JS History, vol. A-1, 163.

  4. Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831, in JSP, D2:80; Minutes, 1–2 Nov. 1831, in JSP, D2:98.

  5. See Minutes, 1–2 Nov. 1831, in JSP, D2:94.

  6. A 2 November date for the revelation cannot, however, be ruled out. A later JS history places the revelation as the final event of the two-day conference. (JS History, vol. A-1, 157–163.)

  7. Cowdery and Whitmer left for Missouri on 20 November 1831 with Revelation Book 1, and the revelation was likely copied before they left. When this revelation was published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, additional verses were included. (Whitmer, History, 38, in JSP, H2:49; Doctrine and Covenants 22, 1835 ed.)

  8. TEXT: John Whitmer handwriting begins.

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

  10. TEXT: John Whitmer handwriting ends; Oliver Cowdery begins.

  11. This heading may not have appeared in the original manuscript; it may have been added by Oliver Cowdery when he copied the revelation into Revelation Book 1.

  12. “Ordinance” likely refers to Hyde’s ordination to the high priesthood. “Ordinance”—which, according to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, could mean “appointment”—was changed to “ordination” in the 1921 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. Hyde later recalled that, at the same conference where this ordination occurred, he was “appointed on a mission to Elyria and Florence [Ohio] in connection with Bro. Hyrum Smith.” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:1, 1921 ed.; “Ordinance,” in American Dictionary [1828]; “History of Orson Hyde,” 8, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL.)

  13. Although “synagogue” refers specifically to a Jewish house of worship, it is also used in the Book of Mormon to denote a general place of worship. (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 492 [3 Nephi 18:32].)

  14. See Revelation, 29 Oct. 1831 [D&C 66:7], herein.

  15. Former church member Ezra Booth claimed that it was JS’s responsibility to determine whether revelations received by other individuals were “from the Lord or the devil.” A September 1830 revelation declared that JS was the only one “appointed to Receive commandments & Revelations” for the church. (Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—No. II,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 20 Oct. 1831, [3]; Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:2], herein; see also Revelation, Feb. 1831–A [D&C 43:2–4], herein.)

  16. See Romans 1:16.

  17. See Mark 16:15–18; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 537 [Mormon 9:22–24]; and Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830 [D&C 35:8–9], herein.

  18. A March 1831 revelation delineated some of these signs. (Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:39–44], herein.)

  19. The minutes of the conference held in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, a week earlier record that “Br. Joseph Smith jr. said that the order of the High priesthood is that they have power given them to seal up the Saints unto eternal life.” (Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831, in JSP, D2:82.)

  20. That is, in addition to the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” dated February 1831, and other commandments. (See Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72], herein; Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93], herein.)

  21. Edward Partridge was appointed bishop in February 1831. (See Revelation, 4 Feb. 1831 [D&C 41:9], herein.)

  22. Extant records predating this revelation generally use the term “high priesthood” instead of “high priests.”a After this revelation, the term “high priests” is increasingly used in records.b Although a conference of elders appointed “assistants” to Edward Partridge in June 1831, there is no extant record of a conference appointing Partridge bishop.c A license created for Partridge, however, states that Partridge had been appointed bishop “with and by the consent of the whole church.”d (a. See, for example, Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831, in JSP, D2:80; and Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831. b. See, for example, Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107], herein; and Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:1], herein. c. Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831, in JSP, D1:327. d. License for Edward Partridge, ca. 4 Aug.1831–ca. 5 Jan. 1832, in JSP, D2:29.)

  23. An August 1831 revelation explained that one of the functions of a bishop was to “be a Judge in Israel” and “to Judge his people by the testimony of the Just.” (Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:17–18],herein.)

  24. The February 1831 revelation of the “Laws of the Church of Christ” stated, “If he [Partridge] transgress another shall be appointed in his Stead.” This same revelation provided instructions on how to deal with church members who committed adultery or offended other members of the church. (Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:10], herein; Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:80–83, 88–93], herein.)

  25. According to an 1829 revelation, children were not to be baptized until they had reached the “years of accountability.” Sometime between 1 February 1831 and 7 March 1831, JS revised Genesis 17:11 so that it explained “that children are not accountable before me till eight years old.” (Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18:42], herein; Old Testament Revision 1, p. 41, [Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 17:11]; see also Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 64.)

  26. See Revelation, 7 Aug. 1831 [D&C 59:12–13], herein.

  27. The “Laws of the Church of Christ” specifically prohibited idleness, stating “he that is Idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garment of the labourer.” (Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:42], herein.)

  28. See Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:39], herein.

  29. See Revelation, 15 June 1831 [D&C 56:17], herein.

  30. Sidney Gilbert, who had returned to Kirtland, Ohio, in August 1831 to “procure the necessaries” for his store in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, was similarly told to communicate “that which he hath seen & heard … unto my Deciples” in Missouri “that they perish not & for this cause have I spoken these things.” (Edward Partridge, Independence, MO, to Lydia Clisbee Partridge, 5–7 Aug. 1831, Edward Partridge, Letters, 1831–1835, CHL; Revelation, 11 Sept. 1831 [D&C 64:19], herein.)

  31. See Revelation 22:6; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 119 [2 Nephi 31:15]; and Revelation, 29 Oct. 1831 [D&C 66:11], herein.

  32. These titles for Jesus Christ were used in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and earlier JS revelations. (See, for example, Revelation 1:8, 11; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 473–474 [3 Nephi 9:18]; and Revelation, ca. Summer 1829 [D&C 19:1], herein.)

  33. “Prospectus,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Sept. 1834, 192; Evening and Morning Star, Oct. 1832 (June 1835), 65–80.

  34. Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68]; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3].

  35. Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68].

  36. Minutes, 8 Nov. 1831, in JSP, D2:123.

  37. Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107], herein.

  38. When the 1833 Book of Commandments was published, it did not include this revelation, likely because of the destruction of the church’s printing office in Jackson County, Missouri, which prevented the sixth gathering of the book from being printed. If it had been printed, it is likely the text would have followed the version in the October 1832 Star, which had a few changes from the manuscript version in Revelation Book 1. (“Proposed Sixth Gathering of the Book of Commandments,” in JSP, R2:173, 180–181; for a comparison of the original and the reprint, see JSP, R2:251–254.)

  39. “Prospectus,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Sept. 1834, 192; “Address to the Patrons of the Evening and the Morning Star,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Sept. 1834, 185.

  40. Notice, Evening and Morning Star, June 1832 (Jan. 1835), 16.

  41. Minutes, 24 Sept. 1834, in JSP, D4:175; JS History, vol. B-1, 592.

  42. Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Doctrine and Covenants 22, 1835 ed. [D&C 68]; William W. Phelps, Kirtland Mills, OH, to Sally Waterman Phelps, Liberty, MO, 16–18 Sept. 1835, private possession, copy at CHL.

  43. According to a later JS history, this revelation was originally dictated after Hyde, Johnson, Johnson, and McLellin asked JS at a 1–2 November 1831 conference to tell them the Lord’s will concerning them. Hyde, Luke Johnson, and McLellin had all been ordained high priests at a 25–26 October 1831 conference held in Orange, Ohio. Lyman Johnson was ordained a high priest at the 1–2 November 1831 conference. (JS History, vol. A-1, 163; Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831, in JSP, D2:85; Minutes, 1–2 Nov. 1831, in JSP, D2:98.)

  44. The Revelation Book 1 version includes here “held November first 1831.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199.)

  45. The Revelation Book 1 version includes here “who requested of the Lord to kno[w] his will concerning them.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199.)

  46. The Revelation Book 1 version has “Laws” instead of “covenants.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199.)

  47. In the Revelation Book 1 version, this passage beginning with “The mind and will of the Lord” and ending with “and commandments” is included as part of the revelation, not as a heading. That version also has “which have been given to the church” at the end of the passage. The whole heading is omitted in the version published in the October 1832 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star. (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3].)

  48. The Revelation Book 1 version includes “firstly” here. (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199.)

  49. That is, ordination as a high priest.

  50. The phrase “shall be the word of the Lord” is in the October 1832 published version of the revelation, but it is not in the Revelation Book 1 version. (“A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3]; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199 [D&C 68:4].)

  51. The Revelation Book 1 version includes “shall be” here. (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199 [D&C 68:4].)

  52. “The living” is not included in the Revelation Book 1 version, but it is in the October 1832 publication. (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:6].)

  53. See Mark 16:15–17; and Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:62–65], herein.

  54. “Power” is not in the Revelation Book 1 version, but it is in the October 1832 publication. (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, MRB:199; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:12].)

  55. According to the minutes of a conference held in Orange, Ohio, on 25 and 26 October 1831, JS said “that the order of the High priesthood is that they have power given them to seal up the Saints unto eternal life.” (Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831, in JSP, D2:82.)

  56. The Revelation Book 1 version and the October 1832 publication have “Laws” instead of “covenants.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 113, in JSP, D2:82; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:13].)

  57. Edward Partridge was appointed the first bishop in the church in February 1831. Newel K. Whitney was appointed a bishop in Ohio in December 1831. (Revelation, 4 Feb. 1831 [D&C 41:9], herein; Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:2, 8], herein.)

  58. The Revelation Book 1 version and the October 1832 publication have “a conference of high priests” instead of “the first presidency of the Melchisedek priesthood.” This appears to be one of the first times that the presidency of the high priesthood is referred to as the “first presidency.” The change may have been made to distinguish the presidency of the high priesthood from the presidencies of the high councils in Kirtland and Missouri. None of the text after this point and up through the sentence ending “under the hands of the above named presidency” is in the Revelation Book 1 version or the October 1832 publication. (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 114, in JSP, MRB:201; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:15].)

  59. The Instruction on Priesthood states that “the bishopric is the presidency” of the priesthood of Aaron “and holds the keys, or authority of the same.” (Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:15], herein.)

  60. Oliver Cowdery published an article in the March 1835 Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate that referred to the priesthood being “conferred upon Aaron and his seed throughout their generations” and stated that “if the literal descendants of Aaron are no more, then this priesthood is lost from Israel, unless God bestows it upon another family.” (“Delusion,” Messenger and Advocate, Mar. 1835, 1:91.)

  61. See Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:10–12], herein.

  62. See Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:16–17], herein.

  63. A September 1832 revelation states that “the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed throughout all the generations of the Jews.” (Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:18], herein.)

  64. At this point, the text found in the Revelation Book 1 version and the October 1832 published version resumes. (See JSP, D4:357n733.)

  65. The Revelation Book 1 version and the October 1832 publication have “judge” instead of “high priest.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 114, in JSP, MRB:201; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:22].)

  66. The Revelation Book 1 version and the October 1832 publication have “a conference of high priests” instead of “the first presidency of the church.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 114, in JSP, MRB:201; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:22].)

  67. The Revelation Book 1 version and the October 1832 publication have “a conference of high priests” instead of “this presidency.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 114, in JSP, MRB:201; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:23].)

  68. The Revelation Book 1 version and the October 1832 publication include here “or forgiven according to the Laws of the church.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 114, in JSP, MRB:201; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:23].)

  69. Neither the Revelation Book 1 version nor the October 1832 publication contains “or in any of her stakes which are organized.” Kirtland was designated as the first stake of Zion in an April 1832 revelation. No other locations had received a similar designation by June 1835. (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 114; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:25]; Revelation, 26 Apr. 1832 [D&C 82:13], herein.)

  70. Neither the Revelation Book 1 version nor the October 1832 publication contains “or in any of her stakes which are organized.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Revelation Book 1, p. 114, in JSP, MRB:201; “A Revelation, Given November, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Oct. 1832, [3] [D&C 68:26].)

  71. According to an 1829 revelation, children were not to be baptized until they reached the “years of accountability.” Sometime between 1 February and 7 March 1831, JS revised Genesis 17:11 to include the explanation “that children are not accountable before me till eight years old.” (Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18:42], herein; Old Testament Revision 1, p. 41 [Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 17:11]; see also Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 64.)

  72. See Revelation, 7 Aug. 1831 [D&C 59:12–13], herein.

  73. The “Laws of the Church of Christ” specifically prohibited idleness, stating “he that is Idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garment of the labourer.” (Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:42], herein.)

  74. Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer were directed in a November 1831 revelation to take copies of JS’s revelations to Independence, Missouri, where the church was to publish them. The two departed for Missouri on 20 November 1831 and arrived in Independence on 5 January 1832. Cowdery stayed in Missouri until summer 1833, when he returned to Kirtland, Ohio. (Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 69:1–2], herein; Whitmer, History, 38, in JSP, H2:49; Minute Book 2, 23 Jan. 1832; Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 10 Aug. 1833, in JSP, D3:238.)