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Revelation, September 1830–A [D&C 29]

Source Note

Revelation,
Fayette Township

Located in northern part of county between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Area settled, by 1790. Officially organized as Washington Township, 14 Mar. 1800. Name changed to Fayette, 6 Apr. 1808. Population in 1830 about 3,200. Population in 1840 about 3,700. Significant...

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, Seneca Co., NY, Sept. 1830. Featured version, titled “29th Commandment AD September 1830,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 36–40; handwriting of
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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; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.

Historical Introduction

This revelation addressed the interest of some early church members in a Book of Mormon prophecy that described the physical gathering of God’s chosen people in America. The Book of Mormon explained that during Christ’s ministry in the Americas he prophesied that his chosen people would establish a sacred city, the
New Jerusalem

The Book of Mormon indicated that, in preparation for Jesus Christ’s second coming, a city should be built on the American continent and called the New Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon further explained that the remnant of the seed of Joseph (understood to be...

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. According to the prophecies, “the remnant of Jacob,” which early church members identified as the American Indians, “and also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come” were to build this sacred city and gather to it, assisted by Gentiles who embraced the book’s message. Christ further prophesied that when the progeny of the people described in the Book of Mormon were taught “this Gospel” again,
Zion

A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...

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would be established among them.
1

Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 501, 566 [3 Nephi 21:23–26]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 496–502 [3 Nephi 20:10–22:17].


According to the heading
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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gave this text in Revelation Book 1, the setting for this revelation was a gathering of “Six
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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of the Church & three members” who “understood from Holy Writ that the time had come that the People of God should see eye to eye.” The book of Isaiah declared that God’s people would “see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion”; the Book of Mormon expressed the same sentiment and located Zion in the Americas.
2

Isaiah 52:8; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 488, 498, 501 [3 Nephi 16:18; 20:32; 21:22–24].


The heading seems to indicate, then, that this small group, believing that the Book of Mormon prophecy about Zion would soon be fulfilled, therefore “enquired of the Lord & thus came the word of the Lord through Joseph the seer.”
The revelation affirmed the imminent advent of the Millennium and declared that members of 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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were called to help gather God’s people before the great event. It then turned to the creation of the world and the nature of Adam’s fall, subjects JS had recently taken up in his Bible revision.
3

See Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 63.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Faulring, Scott H., Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds. Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004.

According to the heading, the small group had differing views about “the death of Adam (that is his transgression).” Near the end of the text, the revelation addressed the question of whether God’s commandment to Adam to not partake of the forbidden fruit was spiritual or temporal by declaring, “All things unto me are Spiritual & not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal neither any man nor the childern of men Neither Adam your father whom I created.” Thus Adam’s “temporal” act of eating the forbidden fruit rendered him “spiritually dead.”
This revelation called for the gathering of God’s people at the same time that a significant controversy had emerged among the membership of the Church of Christ. In September 1830, JS was attempting to address the problems arising from
Hiram Page

1800–12 Aug. 1852. Physician, farmer. Born in Vermont. Married Catherine Whitmer, 10 Nov. 1825, in Seneca Co., New York. One of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, June 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Oliver Cowdery...

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announcing his own revelations, the authenticity of which was accepted by a number of prominent church members, including
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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and the Whitmer family.
4

Newel Knight wrote that Page “had quite a roll of papers full of these revelations.” (Knight, History, 146; see Historical Introduction to Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28] for more information on Page’s revelations.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Knight, Newel. History. Private possession. Copy in CHL. MS 19156.

Page’s revelations, which concerned “the upbuilding of Zion, the order of the Church &c &c,”
5

JS History, vol. A-1, 54.


and this revelation’s call to gather God’s chosen people prompted another September revelation that clarified JS’s prophetic role as the sole revelator for the church, required Cowdery to correct Hiram Page, and called Cowdery to preach to American Indians in the West.
6

Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:2, 8–9, 11]. JS’s history suggests that both revelations were received before the 26 September 1830 conference of the church. (See JS History, vol. A-1, 54–58.)


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 501, 566 [3 Nephi 21:23–26]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 496–502 [3 Nephi 20:10–22:17].

  2. [2]

    Isaiah 52:8; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 488, 498, 501 [3 Nephi 16:18; 20:32; 21:22–24].

  3. [3]

    See Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 63.

    Faulring, Scott H., Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds. Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004.

  4. [4]

    Newel Knight wrote that Page “had quite a roll of papers full of these revelations.” (Knight, History, 146; see Historical Introduction to Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28] for more information on Page’s revelations.)

    Knight, Newel. History. Private possession. Copy in CHL. MS 19156.

  5. [5]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 54.

  6. [6]

    Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:2, 8–9, 11]. JS’s history suggests that both revelations were received before the 26 September 1830 conference of the church. (See JS History, vol. A-1, 54–58.)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, September 1830–A [D&C 29] Revelation Book 1 Revelation, September 1830–A, as Recorded in Hyde and Smith, Notebook [D&C 29] Revelations printed in The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1832–June 1833 Book of Commandments, 1833 Revelations printed in Evening and Morning Star, January 1835–June 1836 Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] History, circa 1841, draft [Draft 3] History, circa 1841, fair copy “History of Joseph Smith” Doctrine and Covenants, 1844

Page 37

Hearts & be prepared in all things against the day of tribulation & desolation is sent forth upon the wicked
4

JS and his associates faced opposition as they preached in Colesville, New York, during the summer of 1830. In late August, JS wrote a letter from Harmony, Pennsylvania, to Newel Knight, in Colesville, in which he drew heavily on biblical passages in describing the apocalyptic justice that would come upon the wicked. (Letter to Newel Knight and the Church in Colesville, 28 Aug. 1830.)


for the hour is nigh & the day soon at hand when the Earth is ripe & all the proud & they that do wickedly shall be as stuble
5

This phrase, beginning at “& all the proud,” is not found in Orson Hyde’s early copy of this revelation. (Hyde and Smith, Notebook, [31] [D&C 29:9].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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.

& I will burn them up that wickedness shall not be upon the Earth
6

See, for example, Malachi 4:1; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 505 [3 Nephi 25:1].


for the hour is nigh & the day soon at hand which was spoken by mine Apostles must be fulfilled for as they spoke so shall it come to pass for I will reveal myself from Heaven with Power & great glory with all the hosts thereof & dwell in righteousness with men on Earth a thousand Years & the wicked shall not stand
7

Among the various contemporaneous ideas about the Millennium, JS’s early views paralleled the position known as “premillennialism” in that he affirmed an imminent, physical return of Christ to inaugurate a glorious earthly millennium. Though the second coming of Christ is proclaimed in a number of New Testament passages, the thousand years are specifically mentioned only in Revelation 20:2–7. (Underwood, Millenarian World of Early Mormonism, 3–9, 24–41.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Underwood, Grant. The Millenarian World of Early Mormonism. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1993.

& again Verily Verily I say unto you & it hath gone forth in a firm decree by the will of the father that mine Apostles the twelve which were with me in my ministery at Jerusalem shall stand at my right hand at the day of my comeing in a piller of fire being clothed with robes of righteousness with crowns upon their heads in glory even as I am to Judge the whole House of Israel
8

See Matthew 19:28.


even as many as have loved me & kept my commandments & none else for a Trump Shall sound both long & loud even as upon mount Sinia [Sinai] & all the Earth shall quake & they shall come forth yea even the dead which died in me to receive a Crown of righteousness & to be Clothed upon even as I am to be with me that we may be one,
9

See 1 Corinthians 15:22–23; and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17.


but, Behold I say unto you that before this great day shall come the Sun shall be darkened & the moon shall be turned into blood & some stars shall fall from Heaven
10

See Joel 2:31. The angel Moroni quoted the prophecy of Joel in his first visit to JS. This prophecy was recapitulated in the New Testament and it reappears in JS’s revelations. (See JS History, vol. A-1, 6; Acts 2:20; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12–13; Revelation, 4 Nov. 1830 [D&C 34:9]; and Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:42].)


& there shall be greater signs in the Heaven above & in the Earth beneath & there shall be weeping & waileing among the host of men
11

This phrase, beginning at “& there shall be weeping,” is not found in Orson Hyde’s early copy of this revelation. The omission is likely a scribal error. (Hyde and Smith, Notebook, [32] [D&C 29:15].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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.

& there shall be be a great hailstorm sent forth to destroy the Crops of the Earth & it shall come to pass because of the wickedness of the World that I will take vengeance upon the Wicked for they will not Repent for the cup of mine indignation is full for Behold my blood shall not cleanse them if they repent not
12

More than a year earlier, a revelation included a related declaration: “For behold, I God have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer, if they would repent, but if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I: Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, both body and spirit.” (Revelation, ca. Summer 1829 [D&C 19:17–18].)


Wherefore I will send <​forth​> flies upon the face of the Earth which shall take hold of the inhabitants thereof & shall eat their flesh & shall cause magots to come in upon them & their tongues shall be stayed that they shall not utter against me & their flesh shall [p. 37]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, September 1830–A [D&C 29]
ID #
6484
Total Pages
5
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:177–182
Handwriting on This Page
  • John Whitmer

Footnotes

  1. [4]

    JS and his associates faced opposition as they preached in Colesville, New York, during the summer of 1830. In late August, JS wrote a letter from Harmony, Pennsylvania, to Newel Knight, in Colesville, in which he drew heavily on biblical passages in describing the apocalyptic justice that would come upon the wicked. (Letter to Newel Knight and the Church in Colesville, 28 Aug. 1830.)

  2. [5]

    This phrase, beginning at “& all the proud,” is not found in Orson Hyde’s early copy of this revelation. (Hyde and Smith, Notebook, [31] [D&C 29:9].)

    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.

  3. [6]

    See, for example, Malachi 4:1; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 505 [3 Nephi 25:1].

  4. [7]

    Among the various contemporaneous ideas about the Millennium, JS’s early views paralleled the position known as “premillennialism” in that he affirmed an imminent, physical return of Christ to inaugurate a glorious earthly millennium. Though the second coming of Christ is proclaimed in a number of New Testament passages, the thousand years are specifically mentioned only in Revelation 20:2–7. (Underwood, Millenarian World of Early Mormonism, 3–9, 24–41.)

    Underwood, Grant. The Millenarian World of Early Mormonism. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1993.

  5. [8]

    See Matthew 19:28.

  6. [9]

    See 1 Corinthians 15:22–23; and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17.

  7. [10]

    See Joel 2:31. The angel Moroni quoted the prophecy of Joel in his first visit to JS. This prophecy was recapitulated in the New Testament and it reappears in JS’s revelations. (See JS History, vol. A-1, 6; Acts 2:20; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12–13; Revelation, 4 Nov. 1830 [D&C 34:9]; and Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:42].)

  8. [11]

    This phrase, beginning at “& there shall be weeping,” is not found in Orson Hyde’s early copy of this revelation. The omission is likely a scribal error. (Hyde and Smith, Notebook, [32] [D&C 29:15].)

    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.

  9. [12]

    More than a year earlier, a revelation included a related declaration: “For behold, I God have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer, if they would repent, but if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I: Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, both body and spirit.” (Revelation, ca. Summer 1829 [D&C 19:17–18].)

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