Church History
Joseph Smith’s Revelations, Doctrine and Covenants 119

“Doctrine and Covenants 119,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers (2020)

“Doctrine and Covenants 119,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers

Doctrine and Covenants 119

Revelation, 8 July 1838–C

Source Note

Revelation, Far West, Caldwell Co., MO, 8 July 1838. Featured version copied [ca. 8 July 1838]; handwriting of Edward Partridge; one page; Revelations Collection, CHL. Includes docket. For more information, see the source note on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

Historical Introduction

On Sunday, 8 July 1838, JS dictated five revelations, each of which concerned church leadership or finances; one of these revelations outlined a plan for raising church revenue. The subject of church finances was not new to the Saints. From the time the church was established, JS dictated revelations and instituted programs related to economic and social concerns. An 1831 revelation on “the Laws of the Church of Christ” directed the Latter-day Saints to consecrate their property to the church bishop and then manage stewardships of property or other responsibilities assigned to them.1 Church members attempted to follow this program of consecration and stewardship in Jackson County, Missouri, but their attempts ended when they were driven out of the county in 1833.2 In the early and mid-1830s, JS and other church leaders in Ohio engaged in a number of business and banking ventures, most of which ultimately failed.3 The troubled situation of church finances was compounded by the nationwide panic of 1837 and the ensuing economic recession.4 During this period, JS and Sidney Rigdon incurred several thousand dollars of debt.5

In the latter half of 1837, the bishops in Missouri and Kirtland, Ohio, took new steps to address the church’s financial problems. In September, the church published an appeal from Bishop Newel K. Whitney and his counselors in Kirtland, calling on church members everywhere to “bring their tithes into the store house” to relieve church debts and to help establish the community of Saints in Missouri.6 While this general request did not include recommended donation amounts, in December 1837 a committee composed of Edward Partridge, the bishop of Zion; Isaac Morley, the first counselor in the bishopric; and John Corrill, the appointed “keeper of the Lord’s Storehouse,”7 proposed that every head of household be asked to annually donate a certain percentage of net worth, with the percentage based on church needs for the year. To cover anticipated church expenses for 1838, the committee proposed a “tithing” of 2 percent. The committee believed that such a program would “be in some degree fullfilling the law of consecration.”8 In February 1838, when Thomas B. Marsh, the pro tempore president of Zion, wrote to JS about coming to Missouri, Marsh reported that the Saints there “seem to wish to have the whole law of God lived up to; and we think that the church will rejoice to come up to the law of consecration, as soon as their leaders shall say the word, or show them how to do it.”9 In April a revelation called for Far West, Missouri, to be built up as a city of Zion with a temple but directed the presidency not to go into debt to build the Far West temple as they had when building the Kirtland temple.10 The issue of JS’s and Rigdon’s debts was raised again in May when the two petitioned the high council to obtain compensation for their services in the church.11 Debts continued to loom over JS and Rigdon, and on 8 July 1838 the first payment on a debt totaling over $4,000 was due to JS’s attorneys.12

That day, JS dictated this revelation on tithing—apparently in a church leadership meeting held in Far West.13 This revelation was the third dictated that day that George W. Robinson copied into JS’s journal. A copy of the revelation states that JS dictated it in direct response to the petition, “Lord, show unto thy servents how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a Tithing?”14 The resulting revelation called for the Latter-day Saints to consecrate all of their surplus property and thereafter to pay “one tenth of all their interest annually.” Robinson, who was present at the leadership meeting, may have transcribed the revelation as JS dictated it.

The revelation was read later that day to a congregation of Latter-day Saints. Over the next few weeks, church members responded to the revelation by consecrating surplus property. According to the 27 July entry in JS’s journal, “Some time past the bretheren or saints have come up day after day to consecrate, and to bring their offerings into the store house of the lord, … They have come up hither Thus far, according to the ord[e]r of the Dan-Ites.”15 Officers in the Danite society had attended the leadership meeting in which JS apparently dictated this revelation, and members of the society were now helping gather the consecrated goods.16 The success in collecting surplus property apparently did not last long. John Corrill, the keeper of the storehouse, recounted in 1839 that the Danites “set out to enforce the law of consecration; but this did not amount to much.”17 Brigham Young, who was serving in the pro tempore church presidency in Zion, recollected several years later that church members were sparing in what they considered surplus property.18

Robinson made a copy of the revelation in JS’s journal, apparently sometime in mid- or late July 1838.19 The revelation was also copied by other church leaders: Newel K. Whitney made one copy, and Edward Partridge made at least two copies.20 A comparison of the copies by Robinson, Whitney, and Partridge suggests that one of Partridge’s copies most closely represents the wording of the original revelation. This version is featured here.21 Partridge was present when the revelation was dictated and probably made the featured copy shortly thereafter; the latest possible copying date is 27 May 1840, the day he died.

Far West July 8th 1838

A revelation

Question O Lord show unto thy servants22 how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing?

Answer. [1]Verily thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property,23 to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church of Zion24 [2]for the building of mine house25 and for the laying the foundation of Zion26 and for the priesthood and for the debts of the presidency of my church [3]and this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people [4]and after that those who have been thus been tithed shall pay one tenth27 of all their interest annually28 and this shall be a standing law unto them forever for my holy priesthood saith the Lord. [5]Verily I say unto you it shall come to pass that all those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties and shall observe this law or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you29 [6]and behold I say unto you if my people observe not this law to keep it holy and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me30 that my statutes and <my> judgements31 may be kept thereon that it may be most holy, behold verily I say unto you it shall not be a land of Zion unto you[.] [7]And this shall be an ensample unto all the stakes of Zion even so amen

Notes

  1. Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831, in JSP, D1:251–252 [D&C 42:30–36], herein; see also Revelation, 20 May 1831, in JSP, D1:315–316 [D&C 51:4–6], herein; and Questions and Answers, 8 May 1838, in JSP, D6:140–141. The Book of Mormon, which was translated a year before the church was organized, recounts that after the resurrected Christ visited people in the Americas, they “had all things common among them,” as did some members of Christ’s church in Jerusalem during New Testament times. (See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 507, 514 [3 Nephi 26:19; 4 Nephi 1:3]; and Acts 2:44; 4:32.)

  2. See Cook, Joseph Smith and the Law of Consecration, 5–28.

  3. See Parkin, “Joseph Smith and the United Firm,” 4–66; “Joseph Smith Documents from April 1834 through September 1835,” in JSP, D4:xxiii–xxiv; Introduction to Part 5: 5 Oct. 1836–10 Apr. 1837, in JSP, D5:285–293; Introduction to Part 6: 20 Apr.–14 Sept. 1837, in JSP, D5:363–366; and Historical Introduction to Notes Receivable from Rigdon, Smith & Co., 22 May 1837, in JSP, D5:382–384.

  4. “Editorial,” Messenger and Advocate, June 1837, 3:522; see also Lepler, Many Panics of 1837, 1–7.

  5. See Statement of Account from John Howden, 29 Mar. 1838; Statement of Account from Perkins & Osborn, ca. 29 Oct. 1838, in JSP, D6:252–261; and Statement of Account from Hitchcock & Wilder, between 9 July and 6 Nov. 1838, in JSP, D6:285–290.

  6. Newel K. Whitney et al., To the Saints Scattered Abroad, the Bishop and His Counselors of Kirtland Send Greeting [Kirtland, OH: ca. Sept. 1837], copy at CHL; see also Newel K. Whitney et al., Kirtland, OH, to “the Saints scattered abroad,” 18 Sept. 1837, in Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1837, 3:561–564.

  7. Minutes, 7 Nov. 1837, in JSP, D5:471.

  8. Minute Book 2, 6–7 Dec. 1837.

  9. Letter from Thomas B. Marsh, 15 Feb. 1838, in JSP, D6:24.

  10. Revelation, 26 Apr. 1838, in JSP, D6:115 [D&C 115:8, 13], herein; see also Discourse, 6 Apr. 1837, in JSP, D5:356–357.

  11. JS, Journal, 12 May 1838, in JSP, J1:269; see also Minute Book 2, 12 May 1838. Ebenezer Robinson, the clerk for the high council, recounted decades later when he was antagonistic toward JS that the high council approved an annual stipend of $1,100 for each member of the presidency, that when church members heard of the decision they “lifted their voices against it,” that the high council therefore revoked the decision, and that JS dictated the revelation on consecration and tithing “a few days after.” As these decisions were not documented in extant high council minutes, Robinson’s veracity regarding this episode is questionable. (Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, Sept. 1889, 136–137; see also Minute Book 2, 24 May–6 July 1838.)

  12. See Statement of Account from Hitchcock & Wilder, between 9 July and 6 Nov. 1838, in JSP, D6:288.

  13. See Revelation, 8 July 1838–A, in JSP, D6:175–180 [D&C 118], herein.

  14. JS, Journal, 8 July 1838, in JSP, J1:288.

  15. JS, Journal, 27 July 1838, in JSP, J1:293.

  16. See Historical Introduction to Revelation, 8 July 1838–A, in JSP, D6:176–177 [D&C 118], herein.

  17. Corrill, Brief History, 46, in JSP, H2:193. Reed Peck wrote that “the business of consecration was immediately followed by the formation of four large firms,” implying the strategy for church finances shifted from private donations to cooperative labor. According to JS’s journal, agricultural firms were established in late August. JS, his counselors in the First Presidency, and the presidency’s scribe, George W. Robinson, reportedly visited Adam-ondi-Ahman about two days after the 8 July 1838 leadership meeting and probably shared the new revelations with church leaders there. Lyman Wight, a counselor in the stake presidency at Adam-ondi-Ahman, preached on the principle of consecration on 22 July. (Reed Peck, Quincy, IL, to “Dear Friends,” 18 Sept. 1839, pp. 51–52, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA; JS, Journal, 20–21 Aug. 1838, in JSP, J1:305; JS History, vol. B-1, 804; Swartzell, Mormonism Exposed, 23–24.)

  18. Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 3 June 1855, 2:306–307.

  19. Robinson copied the 8 July revelations into JS’s journal as part of the entry for that day. This entry, which consists almost entirely of revelation transcripts, appears in a gap in regular journal keeping. Robinson apparently did not resume making regular journal entries until late July, indicating that he may not have copied the revelations into the journal before then.

  20. Revelation, 8 July 1838–C, copies, Revelations Collection, CHL [D&C 119].

  21. Partridge’s two versions have a few variants. The variants in Partridge’s version featured here match the wording in the version Robinson copied into JS’s journal, which suggests that this wording represents the original transcript, whereas the wording in Partridge’s other version deviates somewhat from the original. This other version appears to be the source from which Whitney’s version was derived.

  22. Instead of “show unto thy servants,” Whitney’s version has “shew unto us thy servants.” (Revelation, 8 July 1838–C, copy, Revelations Collection, CHL.)

  23. Property was apparently considered “surplus” if it could not be put to good use by the owner. In a council meeting held 26 July 1838, it was agreed that the First Presidency would “keep all their properties, that they can dispose of to their advantage and support, and the remainder be put into the hands of the Bishop or Bishops, agreeably to the commandments, and revelations.” Brigham Young later shared his understanding that church members were asked to donate property, such as land and cattle, that they could not “make use of to advantage.” (JS, Journal, 26 July 1838, in JSP, J1:291; Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 3 June 1855, 2:306–307.)

  24. Partridge was appointed in 1831 to receive donations and administer church property in Missouri. (Revelation, 4 Feb. 1831, in JSP, D1:244–245 [D&C 41:9–10], herein; Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831, in JSP, D1:251–252 [D&C 42:31–34], herein; Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831, in JSP, D2:15 [D&C 58:14–17], herein; see also Minutes, 7 Nov. 1837, in JSP, D5:471.)

  25. A revelation JS dictated in April 1838 directed that the Saints should construct a temple in Far West and that the First Presidency should not go into debt to fund the construction. JS and other church officers had ceremonially laid cornerstones for the temple four days prior to this revelation. (Revelation, 26 Apr. 1838, in JSP, D6:116 [D&C 115:13], herein; “Celebration of the 4th of July,” Elders’ Journal, Aug. 1838, 60.)

  26. See Isaiah 28:16.

  27. Hebrews 7:4 states that the Old Testament patriarch Abraham “gave the tenth of the spoils,” alluding to his donation of “tithes” to Melchizedek following the victory over Chedorlaomer. The Book of Mormon similarly states that Abraham “paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed.” Similar to the covenant that Abraham’s grandson Jacob made with the Lord—“of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee”—JS and Oliver Cowdery signed a covenant in 1834 promising that if they were able to relieve themselves of their debts, they would “give a tenth, to be bestowed upon the poor in his church, or as he shall command.” (Genesis 14:17–20; 28:22; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 260 [Alma 13:15]; JS, Journal, 29 Nov. 1834, in JSP, J1:46; see also Numbers 18:21–28.)

  28. Edward Partridge, the bishop of Zion, was present on 8 July 1838 in the leadership meeting that was apparently the setting in which JS dictated this revelation. Two weeks later, Partridge wrote a letter to Newel K. Whitney, the bishop in Kirtland, in which Partridge explained that “the saints are required to give all their surplus property into the hands of the bishop of Zion, and after this first tithing they are to pay annually one tenth of all their interest. that is if a man is worth a $1000, the interest on that would be $60, and one/10. of the interest will be of course $6.— thus you see the plan.”a Six percent was a common interest rate at the time.b Both Ohio and Missouri statutes fixed interest rates at six percent if no other rate was agreed upon.c (a. Edward Partridge, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 24 July 1838, in Reynolds Cahoon, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 23 July 1838, CHL. b. See, for example, Burritt, Burritt’s Universal Multipliers for Computing Interest, 4. c. An Act Fixing the Rate of Interest [12 Jan. 1824], Statutes of Ohio, vol. 2, chap. 586, p. 1297, sec. 1; An Act Regulating Interest of Money [11 Dec. 1834], Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri [1835], p. 333, sec. 1.)

  29. In the early 1830s, JS also dictated revelations regarding church members’ observance of God’s laws in the land of Zion. Three weeks prior to this 8 July 1838 revelation, prominent dissenters had been warned to leave the county. (Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831, in JSP, D2:15 [D&C 58:19], herein; Revelation, 11 Sept. 1831, in JSP, D2:66 [D&C 64:34–36], herein; Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832, in JSP, D2:298 [D&C 84:55–59], herein; Letter to William W. Phelps, 27 Nov. 1832, in JSP, D2:320 [D&C 85:9–11], herein; Letter to Oliver Cowdery et al., ca. 17 June 1838.)

  30. JS previously dictated revelations stating that the Saints would be sanctified by living the laws of God. (Revelation, Feb. 1831–A, in JSP, D1:258 [D&C 43:9], herein; Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832, in JSP, D2:338 [D&C 88:21, 34–35], herein.)

  31. This passage echoes the phrasing in Deuteronomy that refers to the law of Moses, which the Israelites were commanded to live by in their promised land. (Deuteronomy 12:1; see also Deuteronomy 16:12.)