Revelation, , Seneca Co., NY, to and , Oct. 1830. Featured version, titled “35 & 36th Commandment AD Oct. 1830,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 44–45; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
Historical Introduction
JS dictated this revelation for and in early October 1830, within a month of their in the . The revelation appointed them to the ministry and provided instruction regarding their preaching. Later in his life, Thayer wrote that he was prepared for the revelation by a vision in which “a man came and brought me a roll of paper and presented it to me, and also a trumpet and told me to blow it. I told him that I never blowed any in my life. He said you can blow it, try it. I put it in my mouth and blowed on it, and it made the most beautiful sound that I ever heard. The roll of paper was the revelation on me and Northrop Sweet. was the man that brought the roll and trumpet. When he brought the revelation on me and Northrop Sweet, he said, here is a revelation from God for you.”
also recalled that, following this revelation, “soon left the church.” , JS’s cousin and later a church , explained that Sweet and five others left the church and “organized the ‘Pure Church of Christ,’ as they called it, composed of six members, and commenced having meetings, and preaching, but that was the extent of the growth of this early schism.” Thayer, on the other hand, gathered “a large congregation” to hear JS preach. According to his own account, Thayer filled his barn—“and some could not get in”—where JS, , , , , , , and preached “with great power.”
“Testimony of Brother E. Thayre,” True Latter Day Saints’ Herald, Oct. 1862, 83. Thayer apparently organized another meeting in December at the Canandaigua courthouse, where JS or Sidney Rigdon likely preached. (“Credulity,” Pennsylvania Inquirer and Morning Journal [Philadelphia], 29 Dec. 1830, [2].)
Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.
Pennsylvania Inquirer and Morning Journal. Philadelphia. 1830–1834.
Open thy mouth & it shall be filled saying Repent repent & prepare ye the way of the Lord & make his paths strait for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand yea Repent & be evry one of you for the remission of sins yea be baptized even by water & then cometh the Baptism of fire & the Holy Ghost Behold Verily Verily I say unto you this is my Gospel & Remember they shall have faith in me or they can in no wise be saved & upon this Rock I will build my yea upon this Rock ye are built & the gaits of Hell shall not prevail against you & ye shall remember the Church Articles & Covenants to keep them & whoso haveing faith ye shall in my Church by the laying on of the hands & I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them & the Book of Mormon & the Bible is are given of me for thine instructio[n] & the power of my spirit quickeneth all things Wherefore be faithful praying always having your lamps trimmed & burning & oil with you that ye may be Ready at the coming of the Bride groom for Behold Verily Verily I say unto you that I come quickly even so amen [p. 45]