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Revelation, circa 22 December 1841–B

Source Note

Revelation, [, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 22 Dec. 1841]; handwriting of ; one page; Revelations Collection, CHL.
Single leaf measuring 10¾ × 7½ inches (27 × 19 cm). The original size of the leaf is unknown, as the top and left edges are torn all along. The leaf contains various notes, mostly in the handwriting of but also in graphite in the handwriting of at least one other scribe. The leaf was folded in half twice horizontally. The folds separated, leading to the loss of one character. The folds were later mended.
The document has presumably been in continuous institutional custody since its creation. By 1984 the document had been included in the Revelations Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See the full bibliographic entry for Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

Circa 22 December 1841, JS dictated a revelation instructing trustee to serve a mission across the Atlantic to solicit donations of money and physical materials for the construction of two large structures in , Illinois. A January 1841 revelation had commanded the to build a and a hotel or boardinghouse called the , which would also serve as a residence for JS and his family. In addition, the revelation directed that a proclamation be written to the “Kings of the world” inviting them to come to Nauvoo with their “gold and silver, to the help of my people,” and to bring the “box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree,” echoing language in the book of Isaiah. Repeating the injunction of the January revelation, this December revelation instructed Snider to carry a “package of Epistles”—probably meaning multiple copies of one letter—from the requesting donations.
delayed his departure for three months, hesitating to leave unless the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles financed his journey. Snider’s mission became a frequent topic of discussion among JS and the Twelve. On 28 January 1842 JS told the Quorum of the Twelve that Snider should go, “and if necessary some one go with him. and raise up a Church. and get means to go to . & carry the Epistles required in the Revelation . . . & if he will not do these things he shall be cut off from the Church. & be damned.” On 20 March the Twelve wrote the letter that the revelation commanded Snider to carry with him, and on 26 March he left for England.
JS may have dictated this revelation to , who inscribed the featured version on one side of a loose leaf of unlined paper. On that same page Richards had previously inscribed another short revelation appointing to a proselytizing mission, as well as a brief note dated December 1841 introducing that revelation. The other side of the leaf includes a note, inscribed by Richards, of three donations to the church dated 22 December 1841. This suggests that Richards recorded this revelation on the loose leaf that same day. Richards then copied the Fuller revelation, the note preceding it, and the revelation into the new JS journal that he was keeping in a large book titled “The Book of the Law of the Lord.” In the journal, Richards dated the Fuller and Snider revelations 22 December 1841, providing further evidence JS dictated them on or near that date.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:3, 11, 26, 31, 56, 60]; Isaiah 60:13.

  2. [2]

    See JS History, vol. C-1, 1273; and Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 28 Jan. 1842, 2.

  3. [3]

    JS, Journal, 27 Dec. 1841; 28 and 31 Jan. 1842; 26 Mar. 1842.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 28 Jan. 1842.

  5. [5]

    Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:735–738; JS, Journal, 26 Mar. 1842.

  6. [6]

    Revelation, ca. 22 Dec. 1841–A.

  7. [7]

    JS, Journal, Dec. 1841 and 22 Dec. 1841.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Revelation, circa 22 December 1841–B
Journal, December 1841–December 1842 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith” “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [1]

And the word of the Lord came say verily thus Saith the Lord. Let my Serv[a]nt take a mission. To the Eastern Continent. unto all the that are now sitting in that region & let him carry a package of Epistles, that shall be writtn by my Servants the , making known unto them th[e]ir duties concer[n]ing the buidig [building] of my houses which I have appoi[n]ted unto you saith the Lord. that they may bri[n]g their Go[ld] & their Si[lver] & their precious Stones. & the box tree & th[e] Fir tree. & all fine wood. & beautify the place of [m]y sanctuary saith the Lord. & let him return with all means speedily which shall be put into his hands even so Amen. [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, circa 22 December 1841–B
ID #
2981
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:44–45
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The Quorum of the Twelve’s lengthy letter, directed to the church’s “various Branches and Conferences in Europe,” introduced Snider as an agent for the church, citing for authority the 22 December revelation as recorded in the Book of the Law of the Lord and quoting it in full. The letter was also published in the 1 April 1842 issue of the church’s Nauvoo newspaper, Times and Seasons. (Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:735–738.)

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “[page torn]y”. Missing character supplied from context.

  3. [3]

    See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:26]; and Isaiah 60:9, 13.

  4. [4]

    The Quorum of the Twelve’s letter recommended a program for helping Saints emigrate from Europe. Church members would submit donations of cotton, linen, hardware, cutlery—“even all the varieties of Goods which might be useful in this country”—to the church, via Snider, in exchange for property and goods in and around Nauvoo. (Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:737.)

  5. [5]

    On 23 January 1843 Snider returned to Nauvoo from his ten-month mission. He brought donations for the temple from church members in England, Ireland, and Scotland totaling £201 14s. 1½d., which temple recorder William Clayton calculated to be equivalent to $976.25. (JS, Journal, 23 Jan. 1843; Book of the Law of the Lord, 319–325.)

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