Revelation, , OH, 4 Dec. 1831. Featured version copied [ca. 4 Dec. 1831]; handwriting of ; two pages; , Papers, BYU.
This text was inscribed between JS’s two other revelations dictated 4 December 1831, on the front and back of the first leaf of a bifolium measuring 12¾ × 8 inches (32 × 20 cm). For complete physical description, see Source Note for Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:1–8].
This document 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.
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 at the same 4 December 1831 in , Ohio, at which he dictated two other revelations, including one calling for the appointment of as a in . A November 1831 revelation explained that when other bishops were appointed, they would “act in the same office” as , bishop in . The revelation designating Whitney as bishop stated that his responsibilities would be “made known” both by revelation and “by the voice of the conference,” indicating that some of these duties may have been discussed at the conference at which the revelation was dictated. This 4 December revelation specified Whitney’s duties, in coordination with Partridge’s, and emphasized that Whitney and Partridge should maintain close ties. Whitney was to operate the in Ohio to provide for the needs of the preaching the gospel and of the over the revelations. Any debts these individuals incurred for obtaining goods from the storehouse but could not repay would be covered by funds or assets held by Partridge in . Whitney was also to receive accounts—apparently both temporal and spiritual—from the elders of their stewardships. He was then to recommend the faithful to Partridge as worthy to receive an in Zion. Since other revelations declared that JS and conferences of elders would decide who should relocate to Missouri, Whitney likely was not tasked with actually sending individuals to Zion—only with providing recommends when such individuals were designated to go.
Although early manuscript versions indicate that this was a separate revelation from the one appointing a bishop, the two revelations were combined with a third and presented as a single revelation when published.
Joseph Coe, for example, sent Whitney a letter detailing the missionary activities he undertook in fall 1831. Orson Hyde did the same in 1833. (Joseph Coe, Report, 7 Mar. 1832, Missionary Reports, 1831–1900, CHL; Hyde, Journal, 13 Mar. 1833.)
administering the gospel and the things of the kingdom unto the and unto the world shall answer the debt unto the in thus it cometh out of the church for according to the law every man who cometh up to must lay all things before the in . And now verily I say unto you that as every in this part of the vinyard must give an account of his unto the in this part of the vinyard a certificate from the judge or in this part of the vinyard unto the in rendereth every man acceptable and answereth all things for an and to be received as a wise steward and as a faithfull labourer otherwise shall not be accepted of the in . And now verily I say unto you let every Elder who shall give an account unto the of the church in this part of the vinyard be recommended by the church or churches in which he labours that he may render himself and his accounts approved in all things
And again let my servents who are appointed as over the litterary concerns of my church have claim for assistence in all things upon the or Bishops in all things that the revelations may be published and go forth unto the ends of the earth that they also may obtain funds which shall benefit the church in all things that they also may render themselves approved in all things and be accounted as wise stewards. And behold this shall be an ensample for all the extensive of my church in whatsoever land they shall be established and now I make an end of my sayings Amen [p. [2]]