I mentioned previously that my big project for the year associated with Come, Follow Me is working on an annotated Doctrine and Covenants and closely related content. For this part of the project, I am going through the assigned reading each week and comparing every major edition of the text that I can find (including those available through the Joseph Smith Papers Project) to note differences, reading several notable commentaries, and making remarks about scholarship that I’ve read or intertextuality with other scriptures. I’m going to share some of it here and there as I go, though be aware that this is still a very rough draft based on the 1921 edition (for copyright reasons). I have a lot of work to go before I plan to look into publishing the full thing for real (e.g., further analysis of intertextuality, more literature review for the Doctrine and Covenants, etc.).
Abbreviations and notation:
BoC = Book of Commandments
RB1 = Revelation Book 1
RB2 = Revelation Book 2
D&C**** = Edition of the Doctrine and Covenants published in the year ****
CoC D&C = Community of Christ Doctrine and Covenants
[n] Verse divisions in D&C1835
Index
SECTION 1
“The Voice of the Lord to all People.” Revelation given through Joseph Smith during a special conference of Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held at Hiram, Ohio, November 1, 1831. Many revelations had been recorded prior to this time; and the compilation of these for publication in book form was one of the principal subjects discussed at the conference. Members of the conference assigned Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery, and William McLellin to write a preface to the book of revelations and present it to them later that day. The three men began writing immediately, but when they returned with a preface, the council was unhappy with it and asked Joseph Smith, Jr. to seek the Lord’s will on it. Joseph prayed, and then dictated this document as the preface for the Book of Commandments, with Sidney Rigdon recording. This revelation has been called “the closest thing to a divine manifesto for the Restoration” and that it represents the Great Commission to the early church in ways not so dissimilar to what is to be read in Matthew 28:19–20.[1]
Chronologically, this section was revealed at the same conference as section 67 and section 68, but has been placed at the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants in all editions due to its status as a preface (just as section 133 is towards the end of the Doctrine and Covenants as an epilogue, despite being revealed two days after sections 1, 67, and 68). Originally, the Book of Commandments was the title of the compilation of revelations that this document would preface, though the name was later changed to the Doctrine and Covenants before publication in 1835. See Revelation, November 1, 1831–B, RB1, 125–127; BoC, Chapter I; D&C 1 (all editions). This section was included in its entirety in Latter-day Revelation. See also Saints, 1:140–43.
[1] 1 Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of Him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together. 2 For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated. 3 And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow, for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed. 4 And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days, 5 and they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.
[2] 6 Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments,[2] which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth. 7 Wherefore, fear and tremble, O ye people, for what I the Lord have decreed, in them, shall be fulfilled. 8 And verily, I say unto you, that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal, both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious;[3] 9 yea, verily, to seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure;[4] 10 unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work,[5] and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man.[6]
[3] 11 Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear:
12 “Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; 13 and the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven,[7] and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth; 14 and the arm of the Lord shall be revealed;[8] and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;[9] 15 for they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;[10] 16 they seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.”
[4] 17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun.,[11] and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;[12] 18 and also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets:
- 19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh,[13] 20 but that every man might speak in the name of God, the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
- 21 That faith also might increase in the earth;
- 22 That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
- 23 That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.
[5] 24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding;[14] 25 and inasmuch as they erred it might be made known; 26 and inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed; 27 and inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent; 28 and inasmuch as they were humble, they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time. 29 And after[15] having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun.[16] might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon. 30 And also, those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness,[17] the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually, 31 for I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. 32 Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; 33 and he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received,[18] for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.
[6] 34 And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth, I, the Lord,[19] am willing to make these things known unto all flesh; 35 for I am no respecter of persons, and will[20] that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh—the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand—when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion; 36 and also, the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world.[21]
[7] 37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
[8] 38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the same; 39 for behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever.
Amen.
Section 1 notes:
[1] Patrick Q. Mason, Restoration: God’s Call to the 21-Century World (Meridian, ID: Faith Matters, 2020), 77; Dale E. Luffman, Commentary on the Community of Christ Doctrine and Covenants, Volume 1: The Joseph Smith Jr. Era (Independence, Missouri: Herald House, 2019), 27.
[2] The original compilation of revelations was entitled The Book of Commandments which is what this is referencing. In the earliest extant version of the revelation, this was capitalized as “the Book of my Commandments,” though this was changed for the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.
[3] Matt. 16:19.
[4] See Revelation 16:1 and 1 Nephi 22:16.
[5] Matt. 16:27.
[6] Matt. 7:2.
[7] This is a reference to Isaiah 34:5 that will resurface in verse 36 of section 1.
[8] Isaiah 53:1.
[9] Compare with Deuteronomy 18:18–19; Acts 3:22–23.
[10] See Isaiah 24:5.
[11] BoC lacks “Smith, Jun.”
[12] RB1, “my Servent Joseph & spake.”
[13] See 1 Corinthians 1:26–29
[14] The discussion of revelations being “given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language,” along with the later statement that “whether by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” are directly connected to sections 67 and 68, which were recorded at the same conference. There was opposition to the idea of publishing the revelations due to Joseph’s weakness in writing, and some people worried that publishing the revelations might cause more problems for the Saints. The concerns about the language that Joseph Smith used to capture revelation were addressed by these three revelations (see Saints, 1:140–43).
[15] Rather than reading “from time to time. And after having”, the BoC reads “from time to time: after they, having”. The change to the current version happened in D&C1835.
[16] BoC lacks “Smith, Jun.”
[17] In the early sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, there are references to two churches of the Lord. One is the institution that we’re most likely to think of when we hear the term—the one we call The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. The second is what has been loosely termed the “church without walls” or the “invisible church”—the collective group of people who are in tune with the Holy Spirit and do God’s work in the world, who also serve as the “church in the wilderness” during times when all existing institutional churches become corrupt (see D&C 5:14; D&C 10:53–56, 67–69). Bringing the church “forth out of obscurity and out of darkness” may be a way of stating that the institutional Church of Christ founded by Joseph Smith and his followers was bringing the “church in the wilderness” into the open as an institutional church.
[18] Matt. 13:12.
[19] BoC reads “of the earth, for I the Lord”.
[20] 1835: “Willeth.” Throughout this section, earlier texts such as the BoC and 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants used similar archaic tenses while later editions modernized them, e.g., “hath” to “has”, “repenteth” to “repents”, etc.
[21] Isaiah 34:5, continuing the reference from D&C 1:13. “Idumea” is a Greek variant spelling of “Edom,” the land southeast of Judah, where Esau and his descendants lived and whose people became an enemy of Israel.
SECTION 2
“Predicted Advent of Elijah the Prophet.” This section is an excerpt from the history of the Church that Joseph Smith worked on preparing in 1838. It is the Prophet’s recollection of some of the words spoken by Moroni when he visited Joseph Smith as an angel in the Smith household at Manchester, New York, on the evening of September 21, 1823. It was added to the Doctrine and Covenants in 1876 and has been section 2 in all editions of the Doctrine and Covenants published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since then. See History, vol. A-1, pp. 5–6, circa May 1838; Joseph Smith—History 1:38–39. This section was included in its entirety in Latter-day Revelation. See also Saints 1:20–30.
1 Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;[1] 2 and he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. 3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his[2] coming.[3]
Section 2 notes:
[1] Original manuscript contains “He also quoted the next verse differently,” before continuing with the text given in D&C 2:2.
[2] D&C1876 reads “its” instead of “his”. That is the only edition to do so.
[3] Compare with 3 Nephi 25:6; D&C 128:17; 138:46–48; and Malachi 4:6. Notably, although this narrative relates events from 1823, JS recorded them in 1838. Thus, the record was made two years after the vision in the Kirtland Temple that is now D&C 110. It is not clear the extent to which the alterations to the quotation from Malachi 4 were shaped by the Kirtland visionary experience. The earliest mention of Moroni quoting from Malachi is the 1835 journal entry where JS recounted the stories of the First Vision and Book of Mormon translation, but that does not include an indication that the text was altered by Moroni, just as the text was not changed in either the Book of Mormon or the New Translation of the Bible. It was in 1835 that JS expanded a revelation from 1830 in preparing it for publication in the Doctrine and Covenants to include a reference to the role of Elijah in the Restoration (D&C 27:9). Later sermons by JS gave greater importance to the role of Elijah, explaining how the priesthood keys he restored tied into temple rituals and salvation for the dead. Thus, the 1838 history marks one step along a trajectory of JS’s views about Elijah, which in turn may have shaped his memory of the words Moroni had spoken to him 15 years earlier.
SECTION 3
“On Priesthood and Calling.” Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Harmony Township, Pennsylvania, July, 1828, relating to the loss of certain manuscripts of the first part of the Book of Mormon, which Joseph had reluctantly allowed to pass from his custody to that of Martin Harris. Harris had served for a brief period as scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon and—under pressure from his wife and other family members, due to his investment of time and capital—insisted on taking the first 116 pages of the manuscript home to convince people that it was the work of the Lord. Lucy Mack Smith noted that “Joseph was very partial to Mr Harris on account of the friendship which he had manifested, in an hour when there seemed to be no earthly friend to succor or to sympathize. Under these circumstances, Joseph felt a great desire to gratify the man’s feelings as far as it was justifiable to do so.” Despite being told by the Lord to not allow Haris to take the pages two times, Joseph Smith persisted and the Lord relented. Martin Harris took the manuscript back to New York and subsequently lost it. This revelation was given through the Urim and Thummim and is the earliest revelation for which a text has survived. See Revelation, July 1828, RB1, 1–2; BoC, Chapter II; D&C1835, XXX; CoC D&C 2. See also Saints 1:43–55.
[1] 1 The works, and the[1] designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught,[2] 2 for God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he[3] turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.[4]
[2] 3 Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work[5] of men; 4 for although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall[6] and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.
[3] 5 Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but how strict were your commandments;[7] and remember also the promises which were made to you, if you did not transgress them.[8] 6 And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God,[9] and have gone on in the persuasions of men. 7 For, behold, you should not have feared man[10] more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words, 8 yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.
[4] 9 Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall.[11] 10 But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;[12] 11 except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men, and have no more gift.
[5] 12 And when thou deliveredst up that which God had given thee sight and power[13] to translate, thou deliveredst up that which was sacred into the hands of a wicked man, 13 who has set at naught the counsels of God, and has broken the most sacred promises which were made before God,[14] and has depended upon his own judgment and boasted in his own wisdom. 14 And this is the reason that thou hast lost thy privileges for a season, 15 for thou hast suffered the counsel of thy director[15] to be trampled upon from the beginning.
[6] 16 Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people — 17 And to the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Zoramites, through the testimony of their fathers — 18 and this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the Lamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, who dwindled in unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord has suffered to destroy their brethren the Nephites, because of their iniquities and their abominations. 19 And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records — that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people; 20 and that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ,[16] and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved.[17]
Amen.
Section 3 notes:
[1] RB1 lacks “the”. It was included in D&C1835 onwards.
[2] RB1 crosses out “naught” and replaces it with “ground,” meaning “to be overcome” or “to perish.” It reverted to “nought” or “naught” in D&C1835 onwards.
[3] RB1 lacks “he”. It was included in D&C1835 onwards.
[4] “His course is one eternal round” is a non-Biblical phrase that appears in eighteenth century English poetry, such as the hymns of Isaac Watts, where “one eternal round” refers to a perpetual music canon. In Latter-day Saint scriptures, it refers to the continuity of God’s ways. See also 1 Nephi 10:19; Alma 7:20; 37:12.
[5] RB1 reads “works”. It was “work” in D&C1835 onwards.
[6] RB1: “he must fall to the Earth & incur the vengeance of a Just God upon him.”
[7] RB reads “but strict was your commandment”.
[8] RB1 reads, “the Promises which were made to you if you transgressed them”.
[9] RB1: “how oft you have transgressed the Laws of God”.
[10] RB1: “men”
[11] RB1, “because of transgression thou mayest fall.”
[12] RB1, “repent of that which thou hast done & he will only cause thee to be afflicted for a season & thou art still chosen & will again be called to the work.” BoC is similar.
[13] RB1 reads “right” instead of ” sight and power.”
[14] Lucy Mack Smith wrote in 1845 that Martin Harris “bound himself in a written covenant of the most solemn nature, that he would strictly comply with the injunctions which he had received.”
[15] RB1 reads “that the council of thy directors.”
[16] The term “merits of Jesus Christ” does not occur in the New Testament, but was unique to the time period in which JS lived. The phrase was usually meant to be a call to belief that yields the fruit of repentance.
[17] Earlier editions of this final paragraph used different wording in some places. For example, the BoC reads as follows: “Nevertheless, my work shall go forth and accomplish my purposes, for as the knowledge of a Savior has come into the world, even so shall the knowledge of my people, the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Zoramites, come to the knowledge of the Lamanites, and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, which dwindled in unbelief, because of the iniquities of their fathers, who have been suffered to destroy their brethren, because of their iniquities, and their abominations: and for this very purpose are these plates preserved which contain these records, that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people; and that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name; and that through their repentance they might be saved: Amen.”
SECTION 4
“Qualifications for the Ministry.” Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, to his father, Joseph Smith, Sr., at Harmony, Pennsylvania, February 1829. At that time, Joseph Knight Sr. accompanied Joseph Sr. and Samuel Smith to visit Joseph Smith, Jr. in Harmony and delivered paper and other supplies that enabled Joseph Jr. to resume translation of the Book of Mormon with the help of Emma Smith, Samuel Smith, and Martin Harris acting as scribes. During that visit, Joseph Smith, Sr. “desired to know what the Lord had for him to do.” This revelation may have prompted Joseph Sr. to share information about the Gold Plates and the Book of Mormon with Oliver Cowdery, who was boarding at the Smith household in Palmyra while teaching school and who had expressed interest in learning about the Gold Plates. See Revelation, February 1892 Edward Partridge, Copies of Revelations, ca. Dec. 1830–spring 1831; BoC, Chapter III; D&C1835, Section XXXI; CoC D&C 4. This section was included in its entirety in Latter-day Revelation. See also Saints 1:58–59.
[1] 1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. 2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day: 3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work; 4 for behold the field is white already to harvest;[1] and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; 5 and faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.[2]
[2] 6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.[3] 7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.[4]
Amen.
Section 4 notes:
[1] John 4:34.
[2] Edward Partridge copy: “constitutes him for the work.” BoC: “qualifies him for the work.”
[3] Edward Partridge copy: “remember temperance patience humility diligence &C.” The Book of Commandments is similar. The “etc.” was likely an indication that it was a reference to 2 Peter 1:5–7, which editors for the Doctrine and Covenants used to include the full list of virtues in D&C1835.
[4] Matt. 7:7–8; D&C 6:5.
SECTION 5
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, March, 1829. Martin Harris was promised to see the gold plates if he humbled himself. Harris was visiting Joseph Smith for the first time since Joseph Smith had found out Harris had lost the first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. By March 1829, Harris was under intense pressure from his wife (Lucy) and neighbors to sue Joseph Smith because they believed that Smith had fabricated the story of the plates to defraud Martin Harris. As a result, Harris was anxious to receive a greater witness of the plates. Compare Revelation, March 1829 (Oliver Cowdery handwriting, in Newel K. Whitney Papers, BYU); BoC, Chapter IV; D&C1835, section XXXII; CoC D&C 5. See also Saints 1:56–58.
[1] 1 Behold, I say unto you, that as my servant Martin Harris has desired a witness at my hand, that you, my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., have got the plates of which you have testified and borne record that you have received of me;[1] 2 and now, behold, this shall you say unto him, He who spake unto you, said unto you:
I, the Lord, am God, and have given these things unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and have commanded you that you should stand as a witness of these things;[2] 3 and I have caused you that you should enter into a covenant with me, that you should not show them except to those persons to whom I commanded you; and you have no power over them except I grant it unto you. 4 And you have a gift to translate the plates;[3] and this is the first gift that I bestowed upon you;[4] and I have commanded that you should pretend to no other gift until my purpose is fulfilled in this; for I will grant unto you no other gift until it is finished.[5]
[2] 6 Verily, I say unto you, that woe shall come unto the inhabitants of the earth if they will not hearken unto my words; 6 for hereafter you shall be ordained and go forth and deliver my words unto the children of men.[6] 7 Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe you, my servant Joseph,[7] if it were possible that you should show them all these things which I have committed unto you.[8] 8 Oh, this unbelieving and stiffnecked generation — mine anger is kindled against them.
[3] 9 Behold, verily I say unto you,[9] I have reserved those things which I have entrusted unto you, my servant Joseph, for a wise purpose in me, and it shall be made known unto future generations; 10 but this generation shall have my word through you; 11 and in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things, and they shall go forth with my words that are given through you. 12 Yea, they shall know of a surety that these things are true, for from heaven will I declare it unto them. 13 I will give them power that they may behold and view these things as they are; 14 and to none else will I grant this power, to receive this same testimony among this generation, in this the beginning of the rising up and the coming forth of my church out of the wilderness — “clear as the moon, and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.”[10]
15 And the testimony of three witnesses will I send forth of[11] my word. 16 And behold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit — 17 and you must wait yet a little while, for ye are not yet ordained —[12] 18 and their testimony shall also go forth unto the condemnation of this generation if they harden their hearts against them; 19 for a desolating scourge shall go forth among the inhabitants of the earth, and shall continue to be poured out from time to time, if they repent not, until the earth is empty, and the inhabitants thereof are consumed away and utterly destroyed by the brightness of my coming.[13] 20 Behold, I tell you these things, even as I also told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem; and my word shall be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified.[14]
[4] 21 And now I command you, my servant Joseph, to repent and walk more uprightly before me, and to yield to the persuasions of men no more; 22 and that you be firm in keeping the commandments wherewith I have commanded you;[15] and if you do this, behold I grant unto you eternal life, even if you should be slain.[16]
[5] 23 And now, again, I speak unto you, my servant Joseph, concerning the man that desires the witness — 24 Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me, I will grant unto him no such views; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see. 25 And then he shall say unto the people of this generation: “Behold, I have seen the things which the Lord hath shown unto Joseph Smith, Jun., and I know of a surety that they are true, for I have seen them, for they have been shown unto me by the power of God and not of man.”[17]
26 And I the Lord command him, my servant Martin Harris, that he shall say no more unto them concerning these things, except he shall say: “I have seen them, and they have been shown unto me by the power of God;” and these are the words which he shall say.[18] 27 But if he deny this he will break the covenant which he has before covenanted with me, and behold, he is condemned. 28 And now, except he humble himself and acknowledge unto me the things that he has done which are wrong, and covenant with me that he will keep my commandments, and exercise faith in me, behold, I say unto him, he shall have no such views, for I will grant unto him no views of the things of which I have spoken.
[6] 29 And if this be the case, I command you, my servant Joseph, that you shall say unto him, that he shall do no more, nor trouble me any more concerning this matter.
30 And if this be the case, behold, I say unto thee Joseph, when thou hast translated a few more pages thou shalt stop for a season, even until I command thee again; then thou mayest translate again. 31 And except thou do this, behold, thou shalt have no more gift, and I will take away the things which I have entrusted with thee.
32 And now, because I foresee the lying in wait to destroy thee, yea, I foresee that if my servant Martin Harris[19] humbleth not himself and receive a witness from my hand, that he will fall into transgression; 33 and there are many that lie in wait to destroy thee from off the face of the earth; and for this cause, that thy days may be prolonged, I have given unto thee these commandments. 34 Yea, for this cause I have said: Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee.[20] 35 And if thou art faithful in keeping my commandments, thou shalt be lifted up at the last day.
Amen.
Section 5 notes:
[1] The first verse read as follows in D&C: “Behold I say unto you that my servant hath desired A witness that my Servant Joseph hath got the things which he hath testified that he hath got.”
[2] Rather than being phrased as the Lord addressing Joseph Smith, the oldest extant manuscript has it phrased as the Lord talking to Martin Harris about Joseph Smith. E.g., “I the Lord am God I have given these things unto him & I have commanded him that he should stand as A witness of these things”.
[3] The oldest manuscript reads “the Book” instead of “the plates.”
[4] The phrase “and this is the first gift that I bestowed upon you” is absent in the earliest manuscript.
[5] The earliest manuscript reads: “I have commanded him that he shall pretend to no other gift for I will grant unto him no other gift.”
[6] The text of verse 6 is absent in the earliest manuscript.
[7] The earliest manuscript states “my servents” rather than “my servant Joseph.”
[8] The earliest manuscript states “all things” instead of “all these things which I have committed unto you.”
[9] The earliest manuscript lacks the phrases “mine anger is kindled against them” and “verily I say unto you.”
[10] See Song of Solomon 6:10. Earliest manuscript reads “but for this Generation they shall have my word yea & the testimony of three of my Servants shall go forth with my word unto this Generation yea three shall Know of A surety that those things are true for I will give them power that they may Behold & vew these things as they are & to none else will I grant this power among this Generation.”
[11] The earliest manuscript read “and” instead of “of”.
[12] The earliest manuscript lacked “even of water and of the Spirit — and you must wait yet a little while, for ye are not yet ordained.”
[13] The earliest manuscript has a more extensive version of the text in verses 18 and 19: “their testimony shall also go forth & thus if the People of this Generation harden not their hearts I will work a reformation among them & I will put down all lieings & deceivings & Priest Craft & envyings & strifes & Idolatries and sorceries & all maner of Iniquities & I will establish my Church yea even the church which was taught by my Desiples & now if this Generation do hardon their hearts against my words Behold I deliver them up unto Satan for he reigneth & hath much Power at this time for he that hath hath got great hold upon the hearts of the People of this Generation & how far from the iniquities of Sodom and Gomorrah do they come at this time & Behold the Swoard of Justice doth hang above their heads & if they persist in the hardness of ther hearts the time cometh that it must fall upon them”.
[14] See Matthew 24:1–2; and Luke 21:20–24.
[15] See D&C 3:5–9.
[16] The earliest manuscript refers to Joseph in the third person (e.g., “I command my Servant Joseph that he repenteth & walketh more uprightly before me”) rather than in the second person.
[17] The earliest manuscript lacks the phrases, “which the Lord hath shown unto Joseph Smith, Jun.,” and “and not of man”.
[18] The equivalent text to verse 26 in the earliest manuscript is somewhat different: “& I command him that he say no more except I have seen them & they have been shone unto me by the Power of God.”
[19] The earliest manuscript lacks “Martin Harris.”
[20] This may be a reference to the future arrival of a scribe for the project (Oliver Cowdery).
SECTION 6
A Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April, 1829. Oliver Cowdery began his labors as scribe, in the translation of the Book of Mormon, April 7, 1829. Before that, Cowdery had boarded in Joseph Smith’s parents’ household as a schoolteacher and learned about Joseph Smith, Jr. through Joseph’s family. As Lucy Mack Smith recalled, “one day, Oliver came home from school in quite a lively mood; as soon as he had an opportunity of conversing with Mr Smith [Joseph Smith Sr.] he told him that he (Oliver) had been in a deep study all day and it had been put into his heart that he would have the privilege of writing for Joseph when the term of school which he was then teaching was closed … ‘As I understand that Samuel [Smith] is going to stay with Joseph through the spring, I will endeavor to be ready to start by the time he recovers his health again. I have made it a subject of prayer and I firmly believe that it is the will of the Lord that I should go, and that there is a work for me to do in this thing.’”
With Cowdery’s arrival in Harmony, the translation of the Book of Mormon accelerated dramatically—while working with Martin Harris, Emma Hale Smith, Reuben Hale, and Samuel Harrison as scribes, the pace was about two pages a day, on average. In addition, in late 1828 and early 1829, Joseph Smith focused his efforts primarily on working on the Hale farm rather than the translation (as Lucy Mack Smith recalled, “Joseph … had been so hurried with business and writing, etc., that he could not proceed with the work as fast as it was necessary for him to do and … Emma had so much of her time taken up with her work that she could write but little for him”). With Oliver Cowdery’s arrival, the pace increased to approximately six to eight pages per day. At the time of this revelation, Cowdery had already received a divine manifestation attesting the truth of Joseph’s testimony respecting the gold plates. At some point after Cowdery’s arrival in Harmony, Joseph inquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim and received this response. Compare BoC, Chapter V; D&C1835, section VIII; and CoC D&C 6. See also Saints, 1:58–62.
[1] 1 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men. 2 Behold, I am God; give heed[1] unto my word, which is quick[2] and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow;[3] therefore give heed unto my words.
[2] 3 Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God. 4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God; 5 therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.[4]
[3] 6 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion; 7 seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you,[5] and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
[4] 8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me, so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. 9 Say nothing but repentance unto this generation; keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed.[6]
[5] 10 Behold thou hast a gift, and blessed art thou because of thy gift. Remember it is sacred and cometh from above; 11 and if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysteries which are great and marvelous; therefore thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, convince them of the error of their ways. 12 Make not thy gift known unto any save it be those who are of thy faith–Trifle not with sacred things.[7] 13 If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation.
[6] 14 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time. [7] 15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth; 16 yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.
17 I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee — that the words or the work which thou hast been writing are true. [8] 18 Therefore be diligent; stand by my servant Joseph faithfully in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the word’s sake. 19 Admonish him in his faults, and also receive admonition of him. Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity.
[9] 20 Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love. [10] 21 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not.[8] I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.[9]
[11] 22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things. 23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God? 24 And now, behold, you have received a witness; for if I have told you things which no man knoweth have you not received a witness?
25 And, behold, I grant unto you a gift, if you desire of me, to translate, even as my servant Joseph. [12] 26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that there are records which contain much of my gospel, which have been kept back because of the wickedness of the people; 27 and now I command you, that if you have good desires — a desire to lay up treasures for yourself in heaven[10] — then shall you assist in bringing to light, with your gift, those parts of my scriptures which have been hidden because of iniquity.
[13] 28 And now, behold, I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry;[11] and in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.[12] [14] 29 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if they reject my words, and this part of my gospel and ministry, blessed are ye, for they can do no more unto you than unto me. 30 And even if they do unto you even as they have done unto me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory. 31 But if they reject not my words, which shall be established by the testimony which shall be given, blessed are they, and then shall ye have joy in the fruit of your labors.
[15] 32 Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them”[13] — even so am I in the midst of you. 33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. [16] 34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. 35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. 36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. 37 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet;[14] be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.
Section 6 notes:
[1] BoC reads “I am God, and give heed”
[2] “Quick” means “alive; living.”
[3] Hebrews 4:12.
[4] Matt. 7:7–8; D&C 4:7.
[5] Matt. 13:11; D&C 42:65; 63:23.
[6] Much of the first portion of this revelation is repeated in other early JS revelations. See D&C 11:1–9; 12:1–6; 14:1–6. Thus, in many ways, this revelation served as a template for other early revelations.
[7] To “trifle with” means “spend in vanity; to waste.”
[8] BoC reads “my own” instead of “mine own” in both instances here.
[9] See John 1:5, 11; see D&C 10:57–58.
[10] Matt. 6:20.
[11] See D&C 8:1, 11; 9:1–6.
[12] 2 Cor. 13:1; Matthew 18:16; D&C 5:11–12.
[13] See Matthew 18:19–20.
[14] There is some discussion about whether the phrase “Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet” is literal (i.e., there was an accompanying vision) or figurative. Smith and Sjodahl suggest that it is figurative, meaning to “contemplate the sacrifice of the Savior and His atonement, and receive from Him the power necessary to remain faithful, to keep the commandments, and to gain an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven” (38–39). Mason Allred interpreted it similarly: “we are to see—in our mind’s eye before we literally encounter Him—the wound in His side and the prints on His hands and feet” (Mason Kamana Allred, Seeing: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants [Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book and BYU RSC, 2024], 110).
SECTION 7
“Desire of John the Apostle Granted.” Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April, 1829. As they translated the Book of Mormon, Smith and Cowdery encountered stories about individuals like Moses and Alma who were “taken up by the spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord” (Alma 45:19). They discussed John 21:18–23 and had a difference of opinion regarding whether John the Apostle died or whether he continued on earth until the second coming of Christ. To resolve the disagreement, they inquired through the Urim and Thummim as to whether John tarried in the flesh or had died. The revelation was described as the translated version of an ancient record made on parchment by the Apostle John.
The initial version published in the Evening and Morning Star and Book of Commandments in 1833 was significantly smaller than the version published in the Doctrine and Covenants in 1835. The expansion of the text seems to have been both influenced by the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 13:12–14 and 4 Nephi 1:15 in particular) and the New Translation of the Bible. The nature of this document also blurs the lines between the dictated revelations that appear throughout the Doctrine and Covenants and translation projects like the Book of Mormon, the New Translation of the Bible, and the Book of Abraham. See RB1, 13–14; BoC, Chapter VI; D&C1835, XXXIII; CoC D&C 7. This section was included in its entirety in Latter-day Revelation.
[1] 1 And the Lord said unto me: “John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you.”[1]
2 And I said unto him: “Lord, give unto me power over death,[2] that I may live and bring souls unto thee.”
3 And the Lord said unto me: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this, thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people.”[3]
[2] 4 And for this cause the Lord said unto Peter:
“If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?[4] For he desired of me that he might bring souls unto me, but thou desiredst that thou mightest speedily[5] come unto me in my kingdom. 5 I say unto thee, Peter, this was a good desire; but my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater work yet among men than what he has before done. 6 Yea, he has undertaken a greater work; therefore I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel; he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth. 7 And I will make thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come[6]. [3] 8 Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both joy in that which ye have desired.”
Section 7 notes:
[1] RB1 version lacks the phrase, “ For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you.”
[2] RB1 version lacks the phrases, “unto him,” and “over death.”
[3] RB1 version lacks the phrase, “and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people.”
[4] See John 21:22.
[5] RB1 version lacks “speedily.”
[6] RB1 version lacks a large section here: “yet among men than what he has before done. Yea, he has undertaken a greater work; therefore I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel; he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth. And I will make thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come.”
SECTION 8
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April, 1829. In the course of the translation of the Book of Mormon, Oliver, who continued to serve as scribe, writing at the prophet’s dictation, desired to be endowed with the gift of translation. The Lord responded to his supplication by granting this revelation. See Revelation, April 1829–B; RB1, 12–13; BoC, Chapter VII; D&C1835, XXXIV; CoC D&C 8. See also Saints, 1:62–63.
[1] 1 Oliver Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who[1] is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith,[2] with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive a knowledge concerning the engravings of old records, which are ancient, which contain those parts of my scripture of which has been spoken by the manifestation of my Spirit.[3] 2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
[2] 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground. 4 Therefore this is thy gift; apply unto it,[4] and blessed art thou, for it shall deliver you out of the hands of your enemies, when, if it were not so, they would slay you and bring your soul to destruction.
[4] 5 Oh, remember these words, and keep my commandments. Remember, this is your gift.
6 Now this is not all thy gift; for you have another gift, which is the gift of Aaron;[5] behold, it has told you many things; 7 behold, there is no other power, save the power of God, that can cause this gift of Aaron to be with you.[6] 8 Therefore, doubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands,[7] for it is the work of God. 9 And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it.[8]
10 Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that which you ought not. 11 Ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that you may translate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid up, that are sacred; and according to your faith shall it be done unto you.
12 Behold, it is I that have spoken it; and I am the same that spake unto you from the beginning.
Amen.
Section 8 notes:
[1] RB1 reads “which” instead of “who.”
[2] RB1 version lacks “in faith”.
[3] See D&C 6:25–27 and D&C 9:1–3.
[4] See Exodus 14:16–22.
[5] RB1 version reads, “the gift of working with the sprout.” This is believed to be a reference to divining rods or witching used by contemporaries to find water or minerals. (Y-shaped green, flexible shoots or rods cut from hazel, peach, or cherry trees were sometimes used as divining rods.) When preparing RB1 for publication, Sidney Rigdon replaced “sprout” with “rod.”
[6] RB1 reads “this thing of nature to work in your hands” instead of “this gift of Aaron to be with you.” This was replaced with “rod” in Sidney Rigdon’s pre-publication edits, but read “this rod of nature” in the Book of Commandments.
[7] RB1 lacks “Therefore, doubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands”.
[8] RB1 reads, “& therefore whatsoever ye shall ask to tell you by that means that will he grant unto you that ye shall know”.
SECTION 9
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April, 1829. This revelation is connected to the promises given to Oliver Cowdery in section 6 and section 8, explaining why he was unsuccessful in his efforts to translate. See Revelation, April 1829–D; RB1, 14 (incomplete copy); BoC, Chapter VIII; D&C1835, XXXV; CoC D&C 9. See also Saints, 1:63–64.
[1] 1 Behold, I say unto you, my son, that because you did not translate according to that which you desired of me, and did commence again to write for my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun.,[1] even so I would that ye should continue until you have finished this record,[2] which I have entrusted unto him.[3] 2 And then, behold, other records have I, that I will give unto you power that you may assist to translate.[4]
[2] 3 Be patient, my son, for it is wisdom in me, and it is not expedient that you should translate at this present time.[5] 4 Behold, the work which you are called to do is to write for my servant Joseph.[6] 5 And, behold, it is because that you did not continue as you commenced, when you began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you. 6 Do not murmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this manner.
[3] 7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. 9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.
[4] 10 Now, if you had known this you could have translated; nevertheless, it is not expedient that you should translate now. 11 Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now; 12 for, do you not behold that I have given unto my servant Joseph sufficient strength, whereby it is made up? And neither of you have I condemned. [5] 13 Do this thing which I have commanded you, and you shall prosper. Be faithful, and yield to no temptation. 14 Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall be lifted up at the last day.
Amen.
Section 9 notes:
[1] RB1 and BoC lack “Smith, Jun.”
[2] The Book of Mormon.
[3] RB1 and BoC reads “you” instead of “him”.
[4] Oliver Cowdery did seem to be involved in the Kirtland-era work with the Grammar and Alphabet of the Egyptian Language and as a scribe for parts of the New Translation of the Bible, but never seems to have produced his own translations.
[5] “Present” is absent in RB1.
[6] RB1 lacks “Joseph.”
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