Church History
Doctrine and Covenants 125–128


“Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources: Doctrine and Covenants 125–128,” Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources (2025)

“Doctrine and Covenants 125–128,” Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources

Doctrine and Covenants 125–128

Black-and-white photo of a two-story home built of light brick with an annex in the back.

The Edward and Ann Hunter home, Nauvoo, Illinois, USA, was the site of two revelations received by Joseph Smith in September 1842 concerning baptisms for the dead. Church History Library, PH 9641.

Historical Background

Revelations in Context

Essays on the background of each revelation

Organizing the Church in Nauvoo

D&C 124, 125

“Take Special Care of Your Family”

D&C 118, 126

Letters on Baptism for the Dead

D&C 127, 128

Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days

Narrative history of events surrounding the revelations

Volume 1, Chapter 39

The Seventh Trouble

Volume 1, Chapter 46

Endowed with Power

Recording Baptisms for the Dead

A Church historian displays rarely seen records of baptisms for the dead that illustrate important principles

4:50

Worship Services in the Unfinished Nauvoo Temple

A Church historian explains how Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo worshipped in the still-unfinished Nauvoo temple

2:56

People

Biographical facts and historical images of individuals associated with the revelations

Places

Maps and information about places associated with the revelations from The Joseph Smith Papers, Historic Sites, and other helpful sources

Events

Timeline placing each revelation in the context of key events in the Church’s first century

Topics

Essays on subjects related to the revelations

Baptism for the Dead

Female Relief Society of Nauvoo

Emma Hale Smith

Eliza R. Snow

Missouri Extradition Attempts

Sealing

Photograph of a clock in a small ornate metal case.

As a missionary in Great Britain, Wilford Woodruff sent his wife, Phebe, this key-wind mantle clock when he learned of the death of their young daughter Sarah. The clock was crafted by the Church’s first London convert, watchmaker Henry Connor. Mantle clock owned by Phebe Woodruff, 1841, Church History Museum.

Sources

Historical background and the earliest version of each section of the Doctrine and Covenants, as published in The Joseph Smith Papers and the Church History Library catalog

Revelation, circa Early March 1841 [D&C 125]

Revelation, 9 July 1841 [D&C 126]

Letter to “All the Saints in Nauvoo,” 1 September 1842

Letter to the Church, 7 September 1842 [D&C 128]

Photograph of a book with a tan leather cover.

This substantial volume contains the minutes of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo from its founding on March 17, 1842, through its final meeting on March 16, 1844. Eliza R. Snow, secretary of the Nauvoo society, later carried the book to Utah and used it frequently in instructing local Relief Society leaders and members. Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book, 1842–1844, Church History Museum.

Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book

Photograph of an ornate pocket watch

Joseph Smith gave this watch to Eliza R. Snow, secretary of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, admonishing her to begin and end the meetings on time. Pocket watch owned by Eliza R. Snow, ca. 1840s, Church History Museum.