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Revelation, 22–23 September 1832 [D&C 84]

Source Note

Revelation, , OH, 22–23 Sept. 1832; Featured version copied [ca. 23 Sept. 1832]; handwriting of ; six pages; Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU. Includes redactions, docket, and archival marking.
Three leaves, measuring 9⅞ × 8¼ inches (25 × 21 cm). Inscribed in a homemade manuscript book. Along the left margin are ten holes from an unevenly sewn binding; the threads are not extant. Each of the leaves has a vertical compression mark at the edge of its former binding. The revelation was subsequently removed from its binding, folded in half, and then tri-folded. The verso of the last page contains a graphite docket in the handwriting of : “A Revelation | relative to order of P.H | to N.K.W going to | Sept 23. 1832”. Several textual redactions in ink are in an unidentified handwriting. The pages are brittle and have marked moisture damage.
This and several other revelations, along with many other personal and institutional documents kept by , 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.

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

After JS relocated from to , Ohio, on 12 September 1832, who had returned from preaching in the eastern came to JS to report on their proselytizing. While JS and these elders were “together in these seasons of joy,” a later history recounts, JS “inquired of the Lord and received” a revelation dated 22 and 23 September 1832. The beginning of the revelation identified its audience as JS and six elders, but partway through the revelation, the audience shifted to “Eleven save one.” Because JS was living in ’s , the revelation was probably dictated in either the store’s upstairs “translating room” or the upstairs “council room,” places where JS frequently worked.
The revelation was dictated over the course of two days, most likely beginning the evening of 22 September and continuing into the early morning hours of 23 September. Textual evidence indicates a pause in the dictation at some point on 23 September. The three existing manuscript copies of the revelation (one in the handwriting of , another by Williams and JS, and one by ) all contain a clear break between the phrase “for he is full of mercy Justice grace and truth and peace for ever and ever Amen” and the phrase “And again verily verily I say unto you it is expedient . . . ,” marking an interruption in the dictation. Whitmer’s copy even adds “Received on the 23 day of September 1832” between those two lines. However, the three manuscripts also include “viz 23d. day of September AD 1832” as a notation several pages before this break, indicating that material presented before the interruption was also dictated on 23 September. It may be that the dictation went into the early morning hours of 23 September, halted for a period of time, and then recommenced later that day.
The index of Revelation Book 2, one of the volumes in which this revelation was recorded, designated the revelation as one “explaining the two and commissioning the to preach the gospel.” An understanding of priesthood was still developing among followers of JS, especially in terms of its connection to different offices in the church. The Book of Mormon indicated that authority from God was necessary to perform certain ordinances, such as and conferring the , which led JS and to petition God for such authority as they worked together in that record. Later accounts indicate that in May 1829 and sometime thereafter, they received angelic visitations that provided them first with the authority to baptize and later with the authority to officiate in other . However, extant records up to June 1831 did not call such authority “priesthood”; that term—while appearing in both the Book of Mormon and in JS’s Bible revision—did not appear in any other contemporary documents until the minutes of a June 1831 , which noted that several individuals “were ordained to the .” Moreover, the “Articles and Covenants” of the church explained the different duties of apostles, elders, , , and but did not explicitly associate these offices with the priesthood.
By late 1831, the high priesthood was understood to refer to both the office of high priest and to a broader authority. The office, according to an 11 November 1831 revelation, was superior to other offices in the church, just as the authority seemed to be the highest authority. This revelation stated that after the offices of deacon, teacher, priest, and elder came “the high Priest hood which is the greatest of all.” A history JS began writing around summer 1832 suggests that he had received two separate powers with different responsibilities. In that history, JS noted that “the ministring of—” gave him an authority that allowed him “to adminster the letter of the Gospel.” He also recorded receiving “the high Priesthood after the holy order of the son of the living God,” which gave him “power and ordinence from on high to preach the Gospel in the administration and demonstration of the spirit.”
This 22–23 September revelation similarly delineated the existence of two priesthoods: a greater priesthood that contains to the mysteries of the kingdom and to the knowledge of God, and a holding the keys of the ministering of angels and of the gospel of repentance and baptism. The revelation traced the lineage of the two priesthoods, noting that the greater priesthood was held by Moses, who received it from a line of individuals (including Melchizedek) who had ultimately received it from God. Aaron, meanwhile, held the lesser priesthood, which was passed to his descendants until it reached John the Baptist. Both priesthoods, the revelation posited, are eternal, and men in the could become the “sons of Moses” and the “sons of Aaron” by receiving these priesthoods and “magnifying there calling.” Doing so would enable these “sons” to enter the that the Saints would construct in , allowing them to receive God’s glory that would fill the temple. Some of this information seems a culmination of ideas first expressed in JS’s revisions to passages in Hebrews, Genesis, and Exodus, which were completed in the six months leading up to September. The revelation also explained how the different offices in the church are connected to the two priesthoods. The offices of elder and , it states, are “appendages” to the high priesthood, or to the office of high priest; the offices of teacher and deacon, meanwhile, are appendages to the lesser priesthood, or to the office of priest. High priests, elders, and priests, the revelation continued, have an obligation to travel to proclaim the gospel, while teachers and deacons are responsible for watching over the church in local congregations.
After providing a detailed explanation of the greater and lesser priesthoods, their offices, and their duties, the revelation emphasized the necessity of preaching to the world and provided an extensive discussion of many aspects of missionary work. Revelations from 1830, 1831, and 1832 called specific individuals on missions, but few revelations gave general procedural instructions about missionary work. This 22–23 September revelation, however, provided direction on who should serve missions, how they should serve, how they should receive sustenance while serving, what they should proclaim, and what would happen to those who did not accept their message. These instructions parallel New Testament accounts of the resurrected Jesus Christ’s directions to the eleven apostles before his ascension into heaven. As in those accounts, Christ tells the high priests in this revelation that they have a responsibility to preach to all nations and to baptize those who believe. Signs will follow the believers, the revelation continues, and the Lord will go before them, just as Christ promised the ancient apostles that he would be with them always, “even unto the end of the world.” The revelation specifically refers to “Eleven high Priests save one” (perhaps a reference to the eleven apostles to whom Christ spoke in the New Testament) and calls these high priests “apostles” and “friends” of Jesus Christ. Although many had preached the gospel before this time, this revelation seemed to launch a more urgent and comprehensive missionary campaign, even including in its preaching assignments individuals such as Bishop , who generally oversaw temporal, not spiritual, concerns.
, who was serving as JS’s scribe, probably recorded the revelation as JS dictated it. Williams also inscribed a copy of this revelation that was given to , stating that he was transcribing it “for N K, Whitney and Joseph the Seer.” Whitney and JS traveled together in and other states in October 1832, and the copy was likely made for the two men to carry with them on that trip. Williams and JS also made a copy of the revelation in Revelation Book 2, probably soon after the revelation was dictated. Parts of the revelation—including a “new song” on millennial themes, a condemnation of the church for neglecting the Book of Mormon, and the explanation of appendages to the greater and lesser priesthoods—were discussed in early 1833 issues of the church’s periodical The Evening and the Morning Star. A conference of high priests also wrote a letter in January 1833 calling church members in to repentance in conformance with instructions given in the revelation. Since at least six elders and ten high priests heard portions of the revelation while it was dictated, it is probable that information in it was also spread through word of mouth.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 229.

  2. [2]

    A life sketch of Evan Greene (who was presumably present) gives the revelation’s date as “the night of the 22nd and 23rd of September, 1832.” (Richards, “Brief Life Sketch of Evan Melbourne Greene,” 2.)

    Richards, Lula Greene. “Brief Sketch of the Life of Evan M. Greene.” Typescript. Private Possession.

  3. [3]

    The Williams copy is featured herein. For the Williams and JS copy and the Whitmer copy, see Revelation Book 2, pp. 20–31; and Revelation Book 1, pp. 149–156.

  4. [4]

    Revelation Book 2, Index, [1].

  5. [5]

    See, for example, Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 477–478, 493 [3 Nephi 11:21–22; 18:36–37].

  6. [6]

    Oliver Cowdery, Norton, OH, to William W. Phelps, 7 Sept. 1834, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:15–16; JS History, vol. A-1, 17–18.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  7. [7]

    Minute Book 2, 3 June 1831. For more information on the meaning of “high Priesthood” in 1831, see Historical Introduction to Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.

  8. [8]

    Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20].

  9. [9]

    Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:64].

  10. [10]

    JS History, ca. Summer 1832.

  11. [11]

    Positing the existence of multiple priesthoods was not unique. In 1827, Alexander Crawford, a Scottish minister living in Canada, discussed three distinct priesthoods: a patriarchal priesthood (which he also called a priesthood after the “order of Melchizedec”), an Aaronical priesthood (originally held by Aaron), and a priesthood held by Jesus Christ. Alexander Campbell and the Disciples of Christ were influenced by Crawford’s ideas, though Campbell differed somewhat in his conception of the priesthood, arguing that God had given a “priesthood” to the tribe of Levi and a “high priesthood” to Aaron and his sons. As a former associate of Campbell, Sidney Rigdon was probably familiar with these ideas. (Campbell, Delusions, 11; Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 148–151.)

    Campbell, Alexander. Delusions. An Analysis of the Book of Mormon; with an Examination of Its Internal and External Evidences, and a Refutation of Its Pretences to Divine Authority. Boston: Benjamin H. Greene, 1832.

    Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.

  12. [12]

    Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 69–71. See also, for example, New Testament Revision 2, pp. 139–140 (second numbering) [Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 7:3, 19–21, 25–26]; Old Testament Revision 1, p. 34 [Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:27–40]; and Old Testament Revision 2, p. 70 [Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 34:1–2]; see also Godfrey, “Culmination of Learning,” 175.

    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.

    Old Testament Revision 2 / Old Testament Revision Manuscript 2, 1831–1833. CHL. Also available in Scott H. Faulring, 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), 591–851.

    Godfrey, Matthew C. “A Culmination of Learning: D&C 84 and the Doctrine of the Priesthood.” In You Shall Have My Word: Exploring the Text of the Doctrine and Covenants, edited by Scott C. Esplin, Richard O. Cowan, and Rachel Cope, 167–181. Provo, UT : Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2012.

  13. [13]

    For use of the term “high priesthood” to refer to the office of high priest, see, for example, Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107 (partial)]. For use of the term “lesser priesthood” to refer to the office of priest, see McLellin, Journal, 25 Oct. 1831.

    McLellin, William E. Journal, Apr.–June 1836. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 6. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

  14. [14]

    See, for example, Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24]; Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]; and Revelation, 7 Mar. 1832 [D&C 80].

  15. [15]

    A 1 November 1831 revelation provided instructions on missionary work to Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, William Smith, and “all the faithful Elders of my church,” and a 1 December 1831 revelation to JS and Sidney Rigdon regarding preaching contained the universalizing instruction “whoso readeth let him understand and receive also.” A 10 January 1832 revelation likewise instructed “the Elders of the church of the Living God” to “continue preaching the gospel.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:7]; Revelation, 1 Dec. 1831 [D&C 71]; Revelation, 10 Jan. 1832 [D&C 73].)

  16. [16]

    Matthew 28:20.

  17. [17]

    A version of the life sketch of Evan Greene in the possession of Greene’s descendants states that Oliver Cowdery came into the room as JS was dictating the revelation and then, after discovering that no one was writing it down, served as scribe. This account is suspect, however, because minutes from Missouri meetings place Cowdery in Missouri at both the end of August and the first of October, making it highly unlikely that he was in Kirtland in late September. (Richards, “Brief Life Sketch of Evan Melbourne Greene,” 1; Minute Book 2, 24 Aug. and 2 Oct. 1832.)

    Richards, Lula Greene. “Brief Sketch of the Life of Evan M. Greene.” Typescript. Private Possession.

  18. [18]

    Letter to Emma Smith, 13 Oct. 1832; JS History, vol. A-1, 240.

  19. [19]

    Historical Introduction to Revelation Book 2.

  20. [20]

    “The Book of Mormon,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1833, [3]; “Some of Mormon’s Teaching,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1833, [4]; “The Church of Christ,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Mar. 1833, [1]–[2]; Letter to Edward Partridge and Others, 14 Jan. 1833.

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Revelation, 22–23 September 1832 [D&C 84]
Revelation Book 2 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 [1]

A revelation given in the 22d & 23d. day of Sept AD 1832
A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his saints servant Joseph and six as they united there hearts in lifting there voice on high, yea the word of the Lord, concerning his established in the last days. for the restoration of his people as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets and for the gathering, of his saints to stand upon mount Zion which shall be called the city , which city shall be built begining at the which is appointed by the finger of God the Lord in the western boundaries of the State of and dedicated by the hand of Joseph and others with whom the Lord was will pleased, verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the of the saints begining at this place, even the place of the , which Temple shall be built <​reared​> in this generation for verely this generation shall not all pass away untill an house shalt be built unto the Lord and a cloud shall rest upon it which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord which shall fill the house, and the sons of Moses according to the which he received under the father in Law Jethro, and Jethro received it u[n]der the ha[n]d of Caleb. and Caleb received it under the hand of Elihu and Elihu under the hand of Jeremy and Jeremy under the hand of Gad and Gad under the hand of Esaius and Esaius received it under the hand of God, Esaius lived also lived in the days of Abraham and was blessed of him which Abraham received the Priesthood from Melchesedec who received it through the linage of his fathers even till Noah, and from Noah till Enoch, through the linage of thare fathers and from Enoch to abel who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother who received the Priesthood by the commandment of God by the hand of his father Adam who was the first man, which Priesthood continueth in the church of God in all generations and is without begining of days or end of years and the Lord confirmed a and his seed throughout all the generations of the Jews. which priesthood also continueth and abideth for ever with the Priesthood which is after the holiest order of God, and this greater Priesthood adminestereth the gospel and holdeth the of the misteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God therefore in the thereof the power of Godliness is manifest and without the ordinences thereof, and the authority of the Priesthood, the power of Godliness is not manifest unto man in the flesh, for without this no man can see the face of God even the father and live, now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and saught diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God, but they hardened ther hearts and could not endure his presence therefore the Lord in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against them) swore that they should not enter into his rest, which rest is the fulness of his glory while in the wilderness, therefore he took Moses out of there midst and the holy Priesthood also, and the lesser Priesthood continued, which Priesthood holdeth the keys of the ministring of Angels and the preparitory gospel, which gospel is the gospel of repentence and of , and the remission of sins, and the Law of carnal commandments— which the lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John whom God raised up being fillid with the holy ghost from his Mothers womb, for he was baptised while he was yet in his the mothers womb and was by the Angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews and to make straight the way of the Lord [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, 22–23 September 1832 [D&C 84]
ID #
1542
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
JSP, D2:289–304
Handwriting on This Page
  • Frederick G. Williams

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    This heading, or one similar to it, may have been in the original inscription. The copy of the revelation in Revelation Book 2 has “A Revelation given the 22 and 23d. of Sept. 1832,” while the copy in Revelation Book 1 says, “A Revelation given at Kirtland September 22 & 23, 1832.” (Revelation Book 2, p. 20; Revelation Book 1, p. 149.)

  2. [2]

    The temple site was on a lot approximately one-half mile west of the courthouse in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. On 3 August 1831, JS, in company with Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, William W. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and Joseph Coe, laid a cornerstone for the temple, and Rigdon then “pronounced this Spot of ground wholy dedicated unto the Lord forever.” Partridge purchased sixty-three acres in this area, including the temple site, on 19 December 1831. (JS History, vol. A-1, 139; Whitmer, History, 32; Jones H. Flournoy and Clara Hickman Flournoy to Edward Partridge, Deed, Jackson Co., MO, 19 Dec. 1831, CHL.)

    Flournoy, Jones H., and Clara Hickman Flournoy. Deed to Edward Partridge, Jackson Co., MO, 19 Dec. 1831. CHL. MS 14294.

  3. [3]

    See Exodus 40:34.

  4. [4]

    The term “holy” had previously been used in connection with both the high priesthood and the offices of elder, priest, and teacher. In this revelation, “holy Priesthood” is used exclusively in reference to the higher priesthood. (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 258–260 [Alma 13:1–19]; License for John Whitmer, 9 June 1830; License for Joseph Smith Sr., 9 June 1830; License for Christian Whitmer, 9 June 1830.)

  5. [5]

    TEXT: A later redaction in unidentified handwriting inserts “hand of his” at this point.

  6. [6]

    The Bible says Jethro was a priest but does not say Moses received priesthood from him. (See Exodus 3:1.)

  7. [7]

    TEXT: “ha[hole in paper]d”.

  8. [8]

    This delineation of the priesthood line is not found in the Bible, nor are these individuals (except for Jethro) identified in the Bible. “Jeremy” is used in the New Testament to refer to the prophet Jeremiah, but the Jeremy in this revelation appears to be a different person. (See Matthew 27:9.)

  9. [9]

    By this time, Melchizedek was already associated with the high priesthood in the theology articulated by JS. The Book of Mormon referenced Melchizedek when speaking about the high priesthood.a When JS revised Genesis 14 as part of his translation of the Bible, he explained that Melchizedek was “a high Preist after the order of the covenent which God made with Enoch it being after the order of the Son of God.”b His revision of Hebrews 7:3 clarified that “Melchisedec was ordained a priest after the order of the son of God.”c Likewise, JS and Sidney Rigdon stated in a description of their 16 February 1832 vision of the afterlife that individuals who inherited the celestial kingdom (the highest degree of heavenly glory) were “priests of the most high after the order of Melchesadeck which was after the order of Enoch which was after the order of . . . the only begotten son.”d Ezra Booth, a former member of the Church of Christ who wrote a series of letters critical of JS and his followers in late 1831, also indicated that a connection existed between the high priesthood and Melchizedek. Speaking about JS’s followers, he said, “Many of them have been ordained to the High Priesthood, or the order of Melchisedec; and profess to be endowed with the same power as the ancient apostles were.”e

    (aBook of Mormon, 1830 ed., 259–260 [Alma 13:9–19]. bOld Testament Revision 1, p. 34 [Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:24]. cNew Testament Revision 2, p. 139 (second numbering) [Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 7:3]. dVision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:57]. eEzra Booth, “Mormonism—No. II,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 20 Oct. 1831, [3].)

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

  10. [10]

    JS’s revision of the book of Genesis, part of which became known as the Book of Moses, referenced a “genealogy of the sons of Adam,” concluding with the declaration that Adam “was the son of God with whom God himself conversed.” (Old Testament Revision 2, p. 15 [Moses 6:22].)

    Old Testament Revision 2 / Old Testament Revision Manuscript 2, 1831–1833. CHL. Also available in Scott H. Faulring, 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), 591–851.

  11. [11]

    JS’s revision of Hebrews 7:3, completed sometime in February or March 1832, stated that “Melchisedec was ordained a priest after the order of the son of God, which order was without father, without mother, without descent, having neither begining of days, nor end of life.” Likewise, the Book of Mormon stated that “the high priesthood of the holy order of God” was “without beginning of days or end of years.” (New Testament Revision 2, p. 139 [second numbering] [Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 7:3]; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 259 [Alma 13:6–7].)

  12. [12]

    See Exodus 28:1; and Leviticus 8:6–12.

  13. [13]

    In Exodus 33:20, the Lord tells Moses, “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” JS’s revision of this verse, completed sometime between 20 and 31 July 1832, states that “no sinful man hath at any time, neither shall there be any sinful man at any time that shall see my face and live.” (Old Testament Revision 2, p. 70 [Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 33:20]; see also Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 71.)

    Old Testament Revision 2 / Old Testament Revision Manuscript 2, 1831–1833. CHL. Also available in Scott H. Faulring, 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), 591–851.

    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.

  14. [14]

    In JS’s revision of Exodus 34:1–2, completed sometime between 20 and 31 July 1832, the Lord tells Moses, “I will take away the priest-hood out of there midst; therefore my holy order; and the ordinences thereof, shall not go before them; for my presence shall not go up in there midst Least I distry [destroy] them. But I will give unto them the law as at the fi[r]st, but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment; for I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my presence, into my rest, in the days of there pilgrimage.” Likewise, his revision of Hebrews 4:3 says, “For we who have beleived, do enter into rest, as he said, as I have sworn in my wrath; If they will not harden their hearts they shall not enter unto my rest.” (Old Testament Revision 2, p. 70 [Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 34: 1–2]; New Testament Revision 2, p. 139 [second numbering] [Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 4:3]; see also Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 71).

    Old Testament Revision 2 / Old Testament Revision Manuscript 2, 1831–1833. CHL. Also available in Scott H. Faulring, 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), 591–851.

    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.

  15. [15]

    See Hebrews 7:16. The office of priest was referred to as the “lesser priesthood” as early as October 1831. When writing in his journal about his ordination to the high priesthood on 25 October 1831, William E. McLellin noted that a “number of others present were ordained to the lesser Priest-Hood.” (McLellin, Journal, 25 Oct. 1831.)

    McLellin, William E. Journal, Apr.–June 1836. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 6. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

  16. [16]

    See Luke 1:15.

  17. [17]

    In preparation for the publication of this revelation in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, JS crossed out “the womb” in the Revelation Book 2 manuscript and inserted “his Childhood.” All published versions read “baptized while he was yet in his childhood.” (Revelation Book 2, p. 23; Doctrine and Covenants 4:4, 1835 ed.)

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