Revelation, , Geauga Co., OH, 4 June 1833. Featured version copied [likely between 6 June and 30 July 1833] in Revelation Book 2, pp. 60–61; handwriting of ; Revelations Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 2.
Coltrin, Zebedee. Diary and Notebook, 1832–1833. Zebedee Coltrin, Diaries, 1832–1834. CHL. MS 1443, fd. 2.
Historical Introduction
On 4 June 1833, a meeting of assembled in the translating room at ’s in , Ohio, to discuss the use and management of the recently acquired . Unable to arrive at a consensus as to who should manage the French property, the high priests agreed to “enquire of the lord” about the issue. JS subsequently dictated the following revelation during the meeting. The minutes of the 4 June indicate that church leaders took immediate action on the instructions given in the revelation; that same day they formally assigned Newel K. Whitney to manage the French farm and admitted to the .
benefit of those who seek as it shall be determined in among you. Therefore take heed that ye see to this matter, and that portion that is necessary to benefit the for the purpose of bringing forth my word to the children of men, for Behold verily I say unto you, this is the most expedient in me that my word should go forth unto the children of men for the purpose of subdueing the hearts of the children of men for your good even so Amen— and again verily I say unto you it is wisdom and expedient in me that my servant whose offering I have accepted and whose prayers I have heared, unto whom I give a promise of Eternal life inasmuch as he keepeth my from hence forth, for he is a descendant of Joseph and a partaker of the blessings of the promise made unto his fathers. Verily I say unto you it is expedient in me that he should become a member of the that he may assist in bringing forth my word unto the children of men. Therefore ye shall him unto this blessing, and he shall seek dilligently to take away incumberances that are upon the house named among you that he may dwell there<in> even so Amen—— [p. 61]
The house mentioned here refers to the two-story brick tavern on the former Frenchfarm that later became known as the John Johnsoninn. One “incumberance” on the house was a preexisting contract between Thomas Knight and Peter French that allowed Knight to use the main floor as a store. This arrangement would have prevented Johnson from fully using the building as a dwelling for him and his family or, later, as an inn. Presumably, the problem was resolved by the fall of 1833 when Knight liquidated his Kirtland holdings and moved away. (Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 17, pp. 38–39, 359–360, 10 Apr. 1833, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 414–415.)
U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.
Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.