“Doctrine and Covenants 88,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers (2020)
“Doctrine and Covenants 88,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers
Doctrine and Covenants 88
[This section comprises two separate revelations.]
Revelation, 27–28 December 1832
Source Note
Revelation, [Kirtland Township, OH], 27–[28] Dec. 1832. Featured version copied [between 22 Jan. and ca. 27 Feb. 1833] in Revelation Book 2, pp. 33–46; handwriting of Frederick G. Williams; CHL. Includes redactions. For more information, see the source note for Revelation Book 2 on the Joseph Smith Papers website.
Historical Introduction
JS dictated a lengthy revelation at a conference of high priests in Kirtland, Ohio, on 27–28 December 1832.1 The revelation’s heading, which was probably provided by Frederick G. Williams, states that the revelation was addressed to the “first Elders” of the church. The text of the revelation describes its audience as those who had congregated at the conference in Kirtland “to receive his [God’s] will concerning you.” Although in later years the term “first Elders” generally referred to the leading elders of the church, here it appears to have a less hierarchical meaning, equating the elders to whom the revelation was addressed with “the first Elders labourers, in this last kingdom” who were referenced in a parable presented in this revelation.2 A later JS history emphasizes that the revelation came two days after a revelation describing an outbreak of wars and slave rebellions that would precede Christ’s second coming.3
JS called this revelation “the Olieve leaf which we have plucked from the tree of Paradise” and “the Lords message of peace to us.” Perhaps JS described the revelation in this way because it offset the stark apocalyptic imagery of the 25 December revelation or perhaps because he saw its messages regarding the conduct of church members and the need for unity as a way to heal ongoing difficulties with Missouri church leaders.4 Like the 25 December prophecy of war, the 27–28 December revelation discusses eschatological events, but interspersed throughout the revelation are explanations of the requirements to enter the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms in the life to come and an exposition on light and its relation to Jesus Christ.5
Much like the first chapter of the book of John (which JS revised in late 1831 or early 1832 as part of his Bible revision6), the first part of this revelation connects Christ with light and the creative process. This explanation expanded on ideas expressed in earlier revelations. Revelations in 1829, for example, generally used the concept of light to represent Jesus Christ.7 By 1831, revelations were also using light as a metaphor for the gospel and as a more abstract representation of truth and knowledge.8 The 27–28 December revelation brings such ideas together by explaining that Christ’s light, which the revelation defines as truth and knowledge, is in all things, is the power by which they were created, and is the law governing them. Such concepts were not entirely novel; in the 1700s, Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg, for example, argued that “the light which proceeds from the Lord as a sun is Divine Truth, from which the angels derive all their wisdom and intelligence,” but this revelation goes further in its connection of light to the creative and governing processes.9
While it explored theological themes, the revelation also issued concrete directives, instructing the elders to sanctify themselves at a “solemn assembly,” to construct a house of God, and to be taught there in both spiritual and temporal matters before embarking on their missions to the Gentiles “for the last time.” These instructions came in response to specific prayers that God show “his will … concerning the upbuilding of Zion,” which suggests that the revelation would apply only to church members in Missouri. Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, however, took the direction as a call to action.10 Just two weeks after JS dictated this revelation, he informed church leaders in Missouri that the revelation provided a commandment from God “to build an house of God, & establish a school for the Prophets” in Kirtland. Regarding the direction as “the word of the Lord to us,”11 JS and the Saints in Kirtland promptly began to organize the “school for the Prophets.” A revelation dictated less than a week after the 27–28 December revelation, which would later become associated with it, provided more instructions on establishing the school.12 Over the next several months, church leaders in Kirtland took steps to construct a schoolhouse for “the Elders who should come in to receive ther education for the ministry” and broke ground for the building they called the House of the Lord.13
Many Saints focused more on the revelation’s immediate directives than on its metaphysical aspects. Samuel Smith, for example, wrote in his journal that the revelation instructed “the first labourers in this last vinyard” to “call a sollem assembly” where they could “sanctify themselves & wash their hands & feet for a testimony” against an unbelieving generation. He also highlighted the revelation’s requirement to “appoint a teacher among” the elders so that they could obtain “knowledge of countries & languages.”14 Nowhere in his journal did Samuel Smith refer to the eschatology of the revelation or its other doctrinal points. Likewise, when William W. Phelps printed part of the revelation in the February 1833 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star, he chose portions explaining the solemn assembly15 and the construction of the House of the Lord.16
As the note at the end of the inscription indicates, Frederick G. Williams wrote this revelation as JS dictated it. The original manuscript is not extant; Williams copied the revelation into Revelation Book 2, probably between late January and late February 1833. Soon after dictating the revelation, JS transmitted it to the Saints in Missouri by enclosing a copy of the text in a letter to Phelps, explaining that its contents showed “that the Lord approves of us & has accepted us, & established his name in kirtland for the salvation of the nations.”17 This revelation was first published in its entirety on a broadside in late 1833 or early 1834.18 It was later combined and printed with the revelation of 3 January 1833.19
A Revelation given the first Elders of this Church of Christ in the last days Dec 27th 183220
[1]Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, who have assembled yourselves together, to receive his will concerning you, [2]behold this is pleasing unto [p. 33] unto your lord, and the Angels rejoice over you, the prayers alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth,21 and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified,22 even they of the celestial world, [3]wherefore, I now send upon you another comfortor, even upon you my friends; that it may abide in your hearts, even the holy spirit of promise23 which other comforter, is the same, that I promised unto my deciples, as is recorded in the testamony of John,24 [4]This comfortor is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life; even the glory of the celestial kingdom, [5]which glory is that of the church of the first born; even of God. the holiest of all; through Jesus Christ, his son.25 [6]he that assended up on high, as also he, decended below all things;26 in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all, and through all things; the light of truth, therefore [7]which <truth> shineth— this is the light of Christ27 as also he is in the s◊n, and the light of the son, and the power thereof by which it was made, [8]as also he is in the moon, & is, the light of the moon, and the power thereof, by which it was made, [9]as also the light of the stars, and the power thereof; by which they were made; [10]and the earth also, and and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand, [11]and the light which now shineth; which giveth you light, is through him which enlightneth your eyes; which is the same light that quickneth your understandings, [12]which light, [p. 34] procedeth forth from the presence of God; to fill the emencity of space; [13]the light which is in all things which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are govorned, even the power of God, who sitteth upon his throne; who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things [14]Now verily I say unto you, that through the redemption, which is made for you; is brought to pass the resurection from the dead; [15](and the spirit, and the body is the soul of man)28 [16]and the resurection from the dead, is the redemption of the soul; [17]and the redemption of the soul, is through him, who quickneth all things, in whose bosom, it is decreed, that the poor, and the meek of the earth, shall inherit it;29 [18]therefore it must needs be sanctified, from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory; [19]for after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with the glory, even with the presence of God the father; [20]that bodies, who are of the celestial kingdom may posses it, for ever, & ever; for, for this intent was it made, and created, and for this intent, are they sanctified, [21]and they who are not sanctified, through the law which I have given unto you; even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom even that of a Terestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom, [22]for he that is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory, [23]and he who cannot abide, the law of a Terestrial kingdom cannot, abide a Terestrial glory, [24]he who cannot abide the law of a Telestial kingdom [p. 35] cannot abide a Telestial glory; therefore he is not meet, for a kingdom of Glory, therefore he must abide a kingdom, which is not a kingdom of glory.30 [25]And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law, of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth, the measur of its creation; and transg[r]esseth not the law [26]wherefore it shall be sanctified, yea notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power, by which it was quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it, [27]for notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again, a spiritual body, [28]they who are of a celestial spirit, shall receive the same body which was a natural body, even ye shall, receive your bodies; and your glory, shall be that glory, by which your bodies, are quickened,31 [29]ye who are quickened, by a portion, of the celestial glory, shall then receive of the same, even a fulness, [30]and they, who are quickened, by a portion of the Terestriall glory, shall then, receive of the same even a fulness; [31]and also they who are quickened by a portion, of the Telestial glory, shall then receive of the same, even a fulness, [32]and they who remain, shall also be quickend, nevertheless they shall, return again, to there own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive; because they were not, willing, to enjoy that which they might have received; [33]for what doth it poffet [profit] a man, if a gift, is bestowed, upon him and he receive not the gift, behold he rejoiceth not, in that which is given unto him, neither rejoice in him, who is the giver of the gift; [34]and again, verily I say unto you, that which is [p. 36] govorned by law, is also preserved by law, and perfected, and sanctified by the same; [35]that which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin; and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law; neither of mercy, justice, or judgment; therefore they must remain filthy still, [36]all kingdoms have a law given; [37]and there are many kingdoms; for there is no space, in the which there is no kingdoms; and there is no kingdom, in which there is no space, eather a greater or lesser kingdom, [38]and unto evry kingdom, is given a law, and unto evry law there are certain bounds also, and conditions, [39]all beings who abide not, in those conditions, are not justified, [40]for inteligence, cleaveth unto inteligence, wisdom, receiveth wisdom, truth embraceth truth, virtue, Loveth virtue, light, Cleaveth unto light, mercy hath compassion on mercy, and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own, judgment, goeth before the face of him, who sitteth up[on] the throne, and gove[r]neth, and executeth all things, [41]he comprehendeth all things, and all things, are before him,32 and all things, are round about him, and he is, above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all thing[s] and all things are by him, and of him, even God for ever, and ever, [42]And again <verily> I say unto you, he hath given a law, unto all things, by which they moove in there times, and there seasons, [43]and there cources are fixed, even the cources of the heavens, and the earth which, comprehend the earth, and all the planets, [44]and they give light to each other in there times, and in there seasons, in there minuits in there hours, in there days, in there week, in there months, in there years; all these are one year with God. but not with man; [45]the [p. 37] <Earth> rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth her light by day, and the moon, giveth her light by night, and the stars also giveth there light as they roll upon, there wings, in there glory in the midst, of the power, of God, [46]unto what shall I33 liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand, [47]behold all these <are> kingdoms, and any man, who hath seen, any, or the least of these, have seen God, moving in his magesty and power; [48]I say unto you, he hath seen him, nevertheless, he who came unto his own, was not comprehended, [49]the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness compre[hen]deth it not,34 nevertheless, the day shall come, when you shall, comprehend even God, being quickened in him, and by him, [50]then35 shall ye know, that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light,36 that is in you, and that you are in me, otherwise ye could not abound, [51]Behold I will liken these37 kingdoms, unto a man, having a field, and he sent forth, his servants, into the field, to dig in the field, [52]and he said unto the first, go ye and labour in the field, and in the first hour, I will come unto you, and ye shall behold the joy of my countenance, [53]and he said, unto the seccond, go ye also into the field, and in the seccond hour, I will visit you with the joy of my countenance, [54]and also unto the third saying, I will visit you, [55]and unto the fourth; and so on unto the twel[f]th, [56]and the Lord of the vineyard field went unto the first, in the first hour, and tarried with him, all that hour, and he was [p. 38] made glad, with the light of this countenance, of his lord, [57]and then he withdrew, from the first, that he might visit the seccond also, and the third, and the fourth, and so on, unto the twelveth, [58]and they all received, the light of the countinance, of their Lord, every man, in his hour, and in his time, and in his season, [59]begining at the first, and so on unto the last, and from the last unto the first, and from the first, unto the Last, [60]evry man in his own order, untill his hour was finished, even according, as his lord, had commanded him, that his Lord might be glor[i]fied in him,38 [61]therefore unto this parable, will I liken all those kingdoms; and the inhabitants thereof, evry kingdom, in its hour, and in its time, and in its season, even according to the decree, which God, hath made; [62]and again; and now verily I say unto you, my friends, I I leave these sayings, with you, for to ponder in your hearts; with this commandment, which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me, while I am near,39 [63]draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto you,40 seek me dilligently, and ye shall find me,41 ask, and ye shall receive, knock, and it shall be opened unto you;42 [64]whatsoever ye ask the father, in my name, it shall be given unto you,43 that is expedient for you, [65]and if ye ask any thing, that is not, expedient for you, it shall turn unto your own condemption [condemnation], but [66]behold, that which you hear, is as the voice, of one crying in the wilderness,44 In the wilderness, because you cannot see him; my voice, because my voice is spirit,45 my spirit is truth, truth abideth, and hath no end, and if it be in you, it shall abound, [67]and if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies, shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you,46 and that body, which is filled with light comprehendeth all things; [68]therefore sanctify yourselves that your minds [p. 39] become single to God, The days come, that you shall see him, for he will, unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according, to his own will;47 [69]Remember the last promise which I gave unto you, cast away your idle thoughts, and your excess of Laughter, far from you; [70]tarry ye, tarry ye in this place, and call a solemn assembly, even <of> those, who are the first Elders labourers, in this last kingdom, [71]and let those, whom they have warned, in there travling, call on the Lord and ponder, the warning in there hearts; which they have received, for a little season, [72]behold and lo I will take care of your flocks, and will raise up elders, and send unto them, [73]behold I will hasten my work, in its time, [74]and I give unto you, who are the first labourers, in this last kingdom, a commandment, that you assembl yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselvs yea purify yourselves, hearts, and clean your hands, and your feet, before me, that I may make you clean, [75]that I may testify unto your father, and your God, and my God, that you, are clean, from the blood of this, wicked generation, that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will, [76]also I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall continue in prayer, and fasting, from this time forth; [77]and I give unto you a commandment, that you shall teach one another, the doctrines, of the kingdom, [78]teach ye diligently, and my [p. 40] grace, shall attend you, that ye may be inst[r]ucted more perfectly, in theory, in principle, in doctrine in the law of of the Gospel, in all things, that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that is expedient, for you, to understand, [79]of things, both in heaven, and in the earth, and under the earth, things which have been, things, which are, things, which must shortly, come to pass, things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars, and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments, which are on the land, and a knowledge also, of Countries, and of kingdoms; [80]that ye may be prepared, in all things when I shall send you again, to magnify the calling, whereunto I have called you,48 and the mission with which, I have commissioned you, [81]behold I send you out, to testify, and to want warn the people, and it becometh evry man, who hath been warned, to wa◊n his neighbour,49 [82]therefore they are left with<out> excuse, and there sins are upon your own heads,50 [83]he that seeketh me early, shall find me,51 and shall not be forsaken, [84]therefore tarry ye, and labour diligently, that you may be perfected, in your ministry to go forth among the gentiles, for the last time, as many, as the mouth, of the Lord shall name, to bind up the law, and seal up the testamoy [testimony]52 and to prepare the saints, for the hour of judgments, which is to come, [85]that there souls may escape the wrath of God, the dessolation, of abomination,53 which awaiteth the wicked, both in this world, and in the world to come, verely I say unto you, let those who are not the first elders, continue in the vineyard untill the mouth of the Lord shall call them, for there [p. 41] time is not yet come, there garments are not clean from the blood of this generation,54 [86]abide ye in the liberty, wherewith ye are made free, entangle not yourselves in sin,55 but lit [let] your hands be clean, untill the lord come, [87]for not many days hence, and the earth shall tremble, and real to and fro as a drunken man,56 and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light, and the moon shall be bathed in blood, and the stars shall become exceding angry and shall cast themselves down, as a fig, that falleth from off a fig tree,57 [88]and after your testamony, cometh wrath, and— indignation, upon the people, [89]for after your testamony cometh the testamony, of earthquakes, and shall cause gronings in the midst of her, and men, shall fall upon the ground, and shall not be able to stand, [90]and also, cometh the testamony, of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves, beyond there bounds,58 [91]and all things shall be in commotion; and surely mens hearts, shall fail them,59 for fear shall come up on all people, [92]and Angels shall fly through the midst of heaven crying, with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth, for the judgment of our God is come,60 behold and lo, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him61 [93]and [p. 42] immediately, there shall appear, a great sign in heaven, and all people, shall see it together,62 [94]& another Angel shall sound, his trump, saying that great Church, the mother of abominations that made all nations, drink of the wine, of the earth of its fornication, that per◊iteth [persecuteth] i the saints of God, that shed there blood, her who sitteth upon many waters, and upon the Is[l]ands of the sea63 behold she is, the tears [tares] of the earth, she is bound in bundles, her bands are made strong no man can loose them, therefore she is ready to be burned64 and he shall sound his trump both long and loud, and all nations shall hear it, [95]and there shall be silence in heaven for the space, of a half an hour,65 imediately after, shall the curtain, of heaven be unfolded as a scroll is unfolded, after it is rolled up and the face, of the Lord, shall be unveiled66 [96]and the saints, that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened, and be caught up to meet him,67 [97]and they who have slept in there graves, shall come forth, for there graves shall be opened, and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven [98]they are Christs the first fruits, they who shall decend with him first, and they who are on the earth, and in there graves, who are first caught up to meet him, and all this by the voice, of the sounding of the trump, of the Angel of God,68 [99]and after this, another trump shall sound, which is the seccond trump and then cometh, the redemption of those who are Christs, at his coming,69 who have receved there part in that prision, which is prepared for them, that they m[i]ght receive the gospel [p. 43] and be judged, according to men in the fless [flesh],70 [100]and again, another trump shall sound, which is the third trump, and then cometh, the spirits of men, who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation [101]and these, are the rest of the dead, and they live not again, untill the thousand years are ended, neither again, untill, the end of the earth,71 [102]and another trump shall sound, which is the fo[u]rth trump, saying; these72 are found among those,73 who are to remain, untill that great, and last day, even the end, who shall remain filthy still,74 [103]and another trump shall sound, which is the fifth trump, which is the fifth angel, who comitteth the everlasting gospel, flying through the midst of heaven, unto all Nations, Kindred Tongues, & people,75 [104]and this, shall be the sound of his trump, saying, to all people, both in heaven, and in earth, and that are under the earth, for evry ear shall hear it, and evry knee, shall bow, and evry tongue shall confess,76 while, they hear, the sound of the trump, saying fear God, and give glory to him, who sitteth upon the throne for ever, and ever, for the hour of his judgment is come; [105]and again another angel, shall sound, his trump, which is the sixth Angel, saying he is fallen, who made, all Nations drink, of the wine, of the wrath, of her fornication; she is fallen, is fallen,77 [106]and again, another Angel, shall sound, his trump which is the seventh Angel, saying, it is finished, it is finished, the lamb of God, hath overcome, and troden the winepress allone, even the winepress of the fierceness, of the wrath, of Almighty God;78 [107]and then shall the Angels be crowned, with the glory, of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, [p. 44] and receive, their inheritance, and be made equal, with him [108]and then, shall the first Angel, again sound his trump, in the ears of all living, and reveal79 the secret acts, of men, and the mighty works of God; in the first thousandth year, [109]and then shall the seccond, Angel, sound his trump, and reveil the secret acts of men, and the thoughts, and intents of their hearts, and the mighty works of God, in the seccond thousandth year; [110]and so on untill the seventh, Angel shall sound, his trump, and he shall stand forth upon the land, and upon the sea,80 and sware, in the name of him, who sitteth upon the throne, that there shall be time, no longer,81 and satan, shall be bound, that old serpant who is called the devle [devil], and shall [not] be loosed, for the space, of a thousand years; [111]and then he shall be loosed, for a little season, that he may gather, together, his armies,82 [112]and Michael, the seventh, Angel, even the archangel,83 shall gather, together, his armies, even the hosts of heaven, [113]and the Devel, shall gather his armies, even the hosts of hell, and shall come up to battle, against Michael, and his armies; [114]and then cometh the battle, of the Great God, and the Devell, and his armies shall be cast away, into there own place;84 that they shall not [have] power, over the saints any more at all, [115]for Michael, shall fight, their battles, and shall ove[r]come him, who seeketh the throne, of him who sitteth upon upon the throne, even the Lamb, [116]this is the glory of God, and the sanctified, and they shall not, any more see death;85 [117]Therefore verily, I say unto you my friends, call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you, [118]and as all have not faith, seek ye diligently, and teach one another, words of wisdom, yea seek ye out of the best books, words of wisdom, seek Learning even by study, and also, by faith [119]organize yourselves, prepare evry needful [p. 45] [thing] and establish, an house, even an house of prayer and house of fasting, an house of faith, an house of Learning, an house of glory, an house of order an house of God, [120]that your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, and your outgoing may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations, may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands, unto the most high, [121]therefore ceace from all your light speaches, from all laughter from all your lustful des[i]res, from all your pride and lightmindness, and from all your wicked doings, [122]appoint among yourselves, a teacher, and and lit [let] not all be spokesmen at once, but let one speak at a time, and lit [let] all listen, unto his sayings that when all have spoken, that all may be edified, of all, and that evry man, may have an equal privelege, [123]see that ye love one another86 ceace to be covetous, learn to impart, one to another as the gospel requires, [124]ceace to be Idle, cease to be unclean, ceace <to> find fault, one with another ceace to sleep, any longer then is needful, retire to thy bed early that ye may not be weary, arise early, that your bodies, and your minds may be invigorated, [125]and above all things, clothe yourselves, with the bonds of charity, as with a mantle, which is <the> bonds of perfectness and peace,87 [126]prey always, that you may not faint88 until I come, behold, and lo, I will come quickly and receive you unto myself89 Amen;——
Given by Joseph the seer and writen by F.G. William [Frederick G. Williams] assistan[t] scribe and counceller to sd. Joseph—— [p. 46]
Revelation, 3 January 1833
Source Note
Revelation, Kirtland Township, OH, 3 Jan. 1833. Featured version copied [between 22 Jan. and ca. 27 Feb. 1833] in Revelation Book 2, pp. 47–48; handwriting of Frederick G. Williams; CHL. Includes redactions. For more information, see the source note for Revelation Book 2 on the Joseph Smith Papers website.
Historical Introduction
According to the index in Revelation Book 2, the subject of this 3 January 1833 revelation is “instructions how to regulate the Elders school.”90 On 27–28 December 1832, JS dictated a revelation directing the elders of the church to establish a school so that they could be taught in both “the doctrines, of the kingdom” and in temporal matters before proclaiming the gospel to the world “for the last time.” It also instructed the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, to build a “house of God” that, among other things, would serve as a “house of Learning.”91 This 3 January revelation provided information on how the school was to be conducted in the House of the Lord, including how members of the school were to act when entering it. Little is known about the circumstances of the 3 January revelation, other than that it was dictated in Kirtland, probably in Newel K. Whitney’s white store, where JS and his family were staying.
Frederick G. Williams wrote the revelation as JS dictated it, but the original manuscript is not extant. Williams later copied the revelation into Revelation Book 2, probably between late January and late February 1833. On 11 January 1833, JS sent a copy of the 27–28 December 1832 revelation to William W. Phelps and other leaders in Jackson County, Missouri.92 It is unclear whether JS also included this revelation in that transmission, but Phelps published the revelation in the March 1833 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star, titling it “Revelation Given Kirtland, Ohio, January 3, 1833.”93 Though it was presented in early manuscript sources and in The Evening and the Morning Star as separate from the 27–28 December 1832 revelation, the 3 January 1833 revelation was combined with that earlier revelation into one text in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, probably because the 3 January revelation included instructions for implementing the school required by the 27–28 December revelation.94 The two became so closely associated that when the 3 January revelation was reprinted in Evening and Morning Star (an 1835–1836 reprint of The Evening and the Morning Star), it was dated 27 December 1832.95 Likewise, the heading for the combined revelations in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants listed the date as 27 December 1832.96
Kirtland January 3d. 1833. Revelation given to organize for a patern &c
[127]The order of the house, of God prepared for the presedency,97 and instruction, in all things, that is expedient for the officers; or in other words, them who are called to the ministry in the Church, begining at the high Priests, even down to the deacon, [128]and this shall be the order of the house, he that is appointed, to be a teacher,98 shall be found standing in his place, which shall be appointed prepared, for him, [129]in the house of God, in a place that the congregation, in the house may hear his words, correctly and distinctly; not with loud speach; [130]and99 he cometh into the house of God, (for he should be first in the house, behold this is beautiful, that he may be an example) [131]let him offer himself in prayer upon his knees, before God, in token of the everlasting covenant, [132]and when any shall, come in after him, let the teacher arise, and with uplifted hands to heaven, yea even directly, salute his brother, or brethren, with these words saying, [133]art thou a brother, or brethren, I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in tocen [token] of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant, I receive you to fellowship, in a determination, that is fixed immovable, and unchangable, to be your friend and brother, through the grace of God, in the bonds of Love, to walk in all the commandments, of God, blameless,100 in thanksgiving for ever, and ever; Amen. [135]and he that cometh, in, and is a brother, or brethren shall salute the teacher with uplifted hands to heaven, with this same prayer, and covenant or by saying amen; in token of the same, [136]Behold verily I say unto you, this [is] a sample, unto you for a salutation, to one another, in the house of God,101 [137]and ye are called to do this by prayer, and thanksgiving, as the spirit shall give utterance102 [p. 47] in all your doings, in the house of the Lord, that it may become a sanctury, a tabernacle, of the holy spirit to your, edefication Amen
Given by Joseph the seer, and writen by Frederick [G. Williams] assistant scribe and councellor——