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Revelation, 25 January 1832–A [D&C 75:1–22]

Source Note

Revelation,
Amherst Township

Located in northeastern Ohio on southern shore of Lake Erie. Area settled, ca. 1810. County organized, 1824. Formed from Black River Township, Dec. 1829. Population in 1830 about 600. Population in 1840 about 1,200. Parley P. Pratt settled in township, Dec...

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, OH, [25] Jan. 1832. Featured version copied [ca. 25 Jan. 1832]; handwriting of
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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; two pages; Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU. Includes dockets and archival marking.
One leaf, measuring 12¾ × 7½ inches (32 × 19 cm). The top and bottom of the leaf, as well as the left side of the recto, have the square cut of manufactured paper. The right side, however, has been unevenly cut. It appears to have been excised from a bifolium—perhaps from a blank book—because part of the excised edge bears a straight fold line. After being folded for filing, the document was docketed by
Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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: “A Command Given to 10 |
Elders

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
at
Amherst

Located in northeastern Ohio on southern shore of Lake Erie. Area settled, ca. 1810. County organized, 1824. Formed from Black River Township, Dec. 1829. Population in 1830 about 600. Population in 1840 about 1,200. Parley P. Pratt settled in township, Dec...

More Info
Conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

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| Jan.y [blank] 1832”. This docket is written over an earlier docket: “A Command Given to ten | [illegible] | Conference at Amherst | Mar [blank] 1832 | 25 Jan.y—”. The folds are partially broken.
This document and several other revelations, along with many other personal and institutional documents kept by
Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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, were inherited by his daughter Mary Jane Whitney, who married Isaac Groo. This collection was passed down in the Groo family and donated by members of the family to the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University during the period 1969–1974.
1

Andrus et al., “Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 1825–1906,” 5–6.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Andrus, Hyrum L., Chris Fuller, and Elizabeth E. McKenzie. “Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 1825–1906,” Sept. 1998. BYU.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Andrus et al., “Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 1825–1906,” 5–6.

    Andrus, Hyrum L., Chris Fuller, and Elizabeth E. McKenzie. “Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 1825–1906,” Sept. 1998. BYU.

Historical Introduction

JS dictated this revelation and the one that follows at a general
conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

View Glossary
in
Amherst

Located in northeastern Ohio on southern shore of Lake Erie. Area settled, ca. 1810. County organized, 1824. Formed from Black River Township, Dec. 1829. Population in 1830 about 600. Population in 1840 about 1,200. Parley P. Pratt settled in township, Dec...

More Info
, Ohio, fifty miles west of
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

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, Ohio, on 25 January 1832.
1

Although there are no surviving minutes from the 25 January 1832 conference, it is clear that it was a general conference because the minutes of a 25–26 October 1831 general conference note that “another General Conference” was to be held in Amherst on 25 January 1832. (Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.)


On 10 January 1832, a revelation stated that at the next conference, the “severall missions” the
elders

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

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were to fulfill would be “made known unto them.”
2

Revelation, 10 Jan. 1832 [D&C 73:2].


William E. McLellin

18 Jan. 1806–14 Mar. 1883. Schoolteacher, physician, publisher. Born at Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of Charles McLellin and Sarah (a Cherokee Indian). Married first Cynthia Ann, 30 July 1829. Wife died, by summer 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

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later wrote that the 25 January conference was attended by “between 70 and 80 official characters”—apparently men who held church offices—from various locations.
3

William E. McLellin, Independence, MO, to “Beloved Relatives,” Carthage, TN, 4 Aug. 1832, photocopy, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

McLellin, William E. Letter, Independence, MO, to “Beloved Relatives,” Carthage, TN, 4 Aug. 1832. Photocopy. CHL. MS 617.

Minutes of the conference, if kept, are not extant, but a later JS history recounts that “considerable business was done to advance the kingdom.”
4

JS History, vol. A-1, 180. Given the importance of the conference, it seems likely that minutes would have been kept. If so, Frederick G. Williams, who served as clerk of the conference, likely kept them. (See Elder’s License for Reynolds Cahoon, 25 Jan. 1832, Reynolds Cahoon, Papers, private possession.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Cahoon, Reynolds. Papers, 1831–1865. Private possession.

This included the licensing of one or more elders,
5

Elder’s License for Reynolds Cahoon, 25 Jan. 1832, Reynolds Cahoon, Papers, private possession.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Cahoon, Reynolds. Papers, 1831–1865. Private possession.

the appointment of
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

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as president of the elders, and the
ordaining

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

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of JS as the “
President of the High Priesthood

Both the office of the president of the high priesthood and the body comprising the president and his counselors; the presiding body of the church. In November 1831, a revelation directed the appointment of a president of the high priesthood. The individual...

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,” following instruction in a November 1831 revelation that “one be appointed” to that office.
6

“History of Orson Pratt,” 12, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL; Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832; Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:65].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

Some of the conference participants apparently also petitioned JS for guidance.
7

Pratt recounted that, at “the request of the priesthood,” JS “inquired of the Lord, and a revelation was given.” A later JS history explains that the elders “seemed anxious for me to enquire of the Lord, that they might know his will.” (“History of Orson Pratt,” 12, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL; JS History, vol. A-1, 180.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

In response, this 25 January 1832 revelation and the revelation that follows assigned various individuals to preach the gospel in specific locations. The 25 January revelations indicate that the men appointed to missions were ones who volunteered to preach, but earlier instructions suggest that proselytizing was a duty rather than a choice for faithful elders.
8

Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831; Minutes, 1 Oct. 1831.


The minutes of an October 1831 conference noted that “the Spirit” declared that proclaiming the gospel and “warn[ing] the inhabitants of the earth of the things known in the
Church of Christ

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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in these last days” was one of the elders’ duties.
9

Minutes, 1 Oct. 1831.


A November 1831 revelation reiterated that
commandment

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

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, instructing “all the faithful Elders” to go “unto all the world” and “preach the gospel to every creature acting in the authority which I have given you baptising in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Ghost.”
10

Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:7–8].


However, it seems the practice was that the men who made known their desire or willingness to preach were then assigned. Most of the individuals mentioned in this 25 January revelation attended an October 1831 conference; at that conference, “several brethren were then called by the Clerk who were desirous to preach the gospel,” and JS examined them for fitness to be ordained.
11

Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.


These men were likely the ones assigned in this revelation to preach.
Perhaps because the two 25 January revelations were later printed together, reminiscences describe JS dictating a revelation on that day but do not specifically describe two separate texts. A reminiscence written by
Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

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, for example, states that a revelation was “written in the presence of the whole assembly” on 25 January.
12

“History of Orson Pratt,” 12, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

Edson Barney

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, who was also present, recalled that
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
inscribed the revelation text as JS pronounced it on that day.
13

“Prophet Joseph’s Birthday,” Saint George Utah Stake, General Minutes, 23 Dec. 1880. It is possible that Barney’s memory was faulty and that Frederick G. Williams initially inscribed the revelation. A license for Reynolds Cahoon created at the same conference is in the handwriting of Williams, clerk of the conference. (Elder’s License for Reynolds Cahoon, 25 Jan. 1832, Reynolds Cahoon, Papers, private possession.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

St. George Utah Stake. General Minutes, 1864–1977. CHL. LR 7836 11.

Cahoon, Reynolds. Papers, 1831–1865. Private possession.

In both of these accounts, it is unclear whether the author is referring to just one or to both of the 25 January revelations. Yet it appears that these were indeed two distinct revelations.
Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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’s copies of the 25 January 1832 revelations, which are in the handwriting of Rigdon, are inscribed on two separate leaves differing in both size and thickness. Whitney also added separate dockets to the two revelations, noting that the first was given to “10 Elders” while the second was given to “the Elders.” The collection of revelations kept by
Samuel Smith

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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and
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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—who were appointed as companion missionaries in the first revelation—includes the first revelation but not the second.
14

Revelation, 25 Jan. 1832–A, Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU [D&C 75]; Hyde and Smith, Notebook, [28]–[30].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Whitney, Newel K. Papers, 1825–1906. BYU.

Hyde, Orson, and Samuel Smith. Notebook of Revelations and Missionary Memoranda, ca. Oct. 1831–ca. Jan. 1832. Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583, box 1, fd. 2.

When
John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

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copied both revelations into Revelation Book 1, he introduced the second as “Another Revelation Received at the same time & place.”
15

Revelation Book 1, p. 131.


Upon their publication in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, however, the revelations were combined into a single text, a pattern followed in subsequent publications.
16

Doctrine and Covenants 87, 1835 ed.; Doctrine and Covenants 88, 1844 ed.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Although there are no surviving minutes from the 25 January 1832 conference, it is clear that it was a general conference because the minutes of a 25–26 October 1831 general conference note that “another General Conference” was to be held in Amherst on 25 January 1832. (Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.)

  2. [2]

    Revelation, 10 Jan. 1832 [D&C 73:2].

  3. [3]

    William E. McLellin, Independence, MO, to “Beloved Relatives,” Carthage, TN, 4 Aug. 1832, photocopy, CHL.

    McLellin, William E. Letter, Independence, MO, to “Beloved Relatives,” Carthage, TN, 4 Aug. 1832. Photocopy. CHL. MS 617.

  4. [4]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 180. Given the importance of the conference, it seems likely that minutes would have been kept. If so, Frederick G. Williams, who served as clerk of the conference, likely kept them. (See Elder’s License for Reynolds Cahoon, 25 Jan. 1832, Reynolds Cahoon, Papers, private possession.)

    Cahoon, Reynolds. Papers, 1831–1865. Private possession.

  5. [5]

    Elder’s License for Reynolds Cahoon, 25 Jan. 1832, Reynolds Cahoon, Papers, private possession.

    Cahoon, Reynolds. Papers, 1831–1865. Private possession.

  6. [6]

    “History of Orson Pratt,” 12, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL; Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832; Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:65].

    Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

  7. [7]

    Pratt recounted that, at “the request of the priesthood,” JS “inquired of the Lord, and a revelation was given.” A later JS history explains that the elders “seemed anxious for me to enquire of the Lord, that they might know his will.” (“History of Orson Pratt,” 12, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL; JS History, vol. A-1, 180.)

    Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

  8. [8]

    Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831; Minutes, 1 Oct. 1831.

  9. [9]

    Minutes, 1 Oct. 1831.

  10. [10]

    Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:7–8].

  11. [11]

    Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.

  12. [12]

    “History of Orson Pratt,” 12, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

  13. [13]

    “Prophet Joseph’s Birthday,” Saint George Utah Stake, General Minutes, 23 Dec. 1880. It is possible that Barney’s memory was faulty and that Frederick G. Williams initially inscribed the revelation. A license for Reynolds Cahoon created at the same conference is in the handwriting of Williams, clerk of the conference. (Elder’s License for Reynolds Cahoon, 25 Jan. 1832, Reynolds Cahoon, Papers, private possession.)

    St. George Utah Stake. General Minutes, 1864–1977. CHL. LR 7836 11.

    Cahoon, Reynolds. Papers, 1831–1865. Private possession.

  14. [14]

    Revelation, 25 Jan. 1832–A, Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU [D&C 75]; Hyde and Smith, Notebook, [28]–[30].

    Whitney, Newel K. Papers, 1825–1906. BYU.

    Hyde, Orson, and Samuel Smith. Notebook of Revelations and Missionary Memoranda, ca. Oct. 1831–ca. Jan. 1832. Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583, box 1, fd. 2.

  15. [15]

    Revelation Book 1, p. 131.

  16. [16]

    Doctrine and Covenants 87, 1835 ed.; Doctrine and Covenants 88, 1844 ed.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, 25 January 1832–A [D&C 75:1–22] Revelation, 25 January 1832–A [D&C 75:1–22], as Recorded in Hyde and Smith, Notebook Revelation Book 1 Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] Doctrine and Covenants, 1844 “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [2]

their journey into the eastern countries and behold and lo I am with them also even unto the end.
And again I say unto my servent
Asa [Dodds]

?–? Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and ordained an elder, by 4 Feb. 1831. Accompanied Orson Pratt on mission from Missouri to Indiana, where he remained while Pratt went on to Ohio, 1831. Appointed to serve mission to the West with...

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and unto my servent Calvas [Calves Wilson] that they also shall take their journey unto the western countries and proclaim my gospel even as I have commended
13

TEXT: Possibly “commanded”.


them and he who is faithfull shall over come all things and shall be lifted up at the last day and again I say unto my servent
Major [N. Ashley]

3 Mar. 1798–?. Tanner, miner. Born in Sheffield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Oliver Ashley and Dorcus. Moved to Strongsville, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, by 1824. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by June 1831. Ordained a priest,...

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and my Servent
Burr [Riggs]

17 Apr. 1811–1860. Botanist, physician. Born in Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Riggs and Susan Picher. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and ordained an elder, before 3 June 1831. Ordained a high priest, 25 Oct. ...

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take their journey also unto the south countries yea let all these take their journey as I have commended them going from house to house and from village to village and from City to City and in whatsoever house ye enter and they receive you leave your blessings upon that house and in whatsoever house ye enter and they receive you not ye shall depart speedily from that house and shake off the dust of your feet as a testimoney against <​them​> and you shall be filled with joy and gladness and know this that in the day of judgement you shall be judges of that house and condemn them and it shall be <​more​> tollarable for the heathen in the day of judgement than for that house
14

See Mark 6:10–11; and Luke 10:5–12. A revelation dated July 1830 gave this same admonition, telling JS and Oliver Cowdery that when their testimony was rejected they were to “leave a cursing instead of a blessing by casting off the dust of your feet against them as a testimony.” (Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24:15].)


therefore gird up your loines and be faithfull and ye shall over come all things and be lifted up at the last day even so Amen [1/4 page blank] [p. [2]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, 25 January 1832–A [D&C 75:1–22]
ID #
1471
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D2:157–161
Handwriting on This Page
  • Sidney Rigdon

Footnotes

  1. [13]

    TEXT: Possibly “commanded”.

  2. [14]

    See Mark 6:10–11; and Luke 10:5–12. A revelation dated July 1830 gave this same admonition, telling JS and Oliver Cowdery that when their testimony was rejected they were to “leave a cursing instead of a blessing by casting off the dust of your feet against them as a testimony.” (Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24:15].)

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