Revelation, 10 January 1832 [D&C 73]
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Source Note
Revelation, , OH, 10 Jan. 1832. Featured version copied [ca. 10 Jan. 1832]; handwriting of ; one page; Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU. Includes docket and archival marking.The revelation is inscribed on one sheet, with dockets on the verso. The left side of the recto was unevenly cut, suggesting that it was excised from a book. The resulting sheet measures 12¾ × 7¾ inches (32 × 19 cm). The paper bears the watermark “P & C”. The notations appearing on the back of the unfolded document correspond with two different folding patterns. In the first folding, the document was folded in half three times, making a pocket-size square. This folding pattern corresponds with ’s ink notation designating as the intended recipient of this copy of the revelation. The second folding, Whitney’s typical tri-fold pattern for filing, corresponds with his graphite docket: “Command to Elders | what to do till Conference | Rivtn [Revelation] of— 1831 & 2”.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.
Footnotes
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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.
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Historical Introduction
This revelation instructed JS, , and the other of the to continue preaching “in the reagions round about” until the convening of another church . In accordance with direction given in a December 1831 revelation, JS and Rigdon had set aside their Bible revision work so they could preach to church members and others in the general vicinity around and , Ohio. Their preaching, as well as that of other elders sent from Kirtland, was intended in part to combat misinformation and criticism published by former church member in the Ohio Star. Following instructions in the December revelation to “call upon” the church’s critics “to meet you both in publick and in private,” Rigdon challenged Booth and , a former member in Hiram, to defend their claims against the church in public, but neither man accepted. According to a later JS history, these efforts “did much towards allaying the excited feelings” that stemmed from Booth’s influence.JS and returned to , Ohio, around 8 January 1832, and on 10 January JS dictated this revelation, “making known the will of the Lord” regarding what they and the elders should do until the next conference, which was held two weeks later. In addition to instructing JS, Rigdon, and the other elders to continue preaching, the revelation directed JS and Rigdon to renew their work on the Bible revision after the conclusion of the upcoming conference.JS probably dictated this revelation to in an upstairs bedroom of the and Alice (Elsa) Jacobs Johnson home where they worked on the Bible revision. A copy of the revelation inscribed by Rigdon was provided to , the newly appointed in , perhaps shortly thereafter. The revelation’s instructions to the elders preaching in the area were probably spread through other copies or by word of mouth.
Footnotes
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1
Revelation, 1 Dec. 1831 [D&C 71:2].
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2
JS History, vol. A-1, 179.
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3
Revelation, 1 Dec. 1831 [D&C 71:7]; Sidney Rigdon, “To the Public,” Ohio Star (Ravenna), 15 Dec. 1831, [3]; “To the Public,” Ohio Star, 12 Jan. 1832, [3].
Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.
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4
JS History, vol. A-1, 179.
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5
JS History, vol. A-1, 179–180. A conference held in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on 25–26 October 1831 appointed 25 January 1832 as the date of the next “General Conference.” (Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.)
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6
Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 314.
Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.
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7
The document appears to be a copy for several reasons. After a revelation was taken down from oral dictation, one or more fair copies were generally made and the copies were kept or distributed. Rigdon wrote “N K. Whitney Kirtland ohio” on the back of this revelation. That this document was marked as being intended for Whitney suggests that it was a copy, not the original. The replacement in the body of the initial inscription of “it is expedient” (a later phrase in the revelation) with “it is practicable” is apparently the correction of a copying error, which also suggests that this document is a copy. Whitney may have received a copy because a December 1831 revelation instructed “the Elders of the church” in Ohio to “render an account of their stewardship unto the Bishop” in Ohio. “Stewardship” in this instance may have encompassed responsibilities to preach. Whatever the reason, elders sent accounts of their missions to Whitney in 1831 and 1832. As is evident from analysis of the Newel K. Whitney Papers at Brigham Young University, Whitney received copies of revelations and other documents as well, perhaps in his role as overseer of church property and resources in Ohio. (See, for example, revelations in Newel K. Whitney Papers, BYU; and Joseph Coe, Report, 7 Mar. 1832, Missionary Reports, 1831–1900, CHL; see also Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:5].)
Whitney, Newel K. Papers, 1825–1906. BYU.
Missionary Reports, 1831–1900. CHL. MS 6104.
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