Revelation, 11 November 1831–B [D&C 107 (partial)]
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Source Note
Revelation, , OH, 11 Nov. 1831. Featured version, titled “75 A Revalation given at Hiram Portage Co Nov 11th. 1831,” copied [between 11 and 20 Nov. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 122–123; handwriting of and ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
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Historical Introduction
In , Ohio, on 11 November 1831, JS dictated this revelation—addressed to the church “in the Land of ”—dealing with church administration and the responsibilities of members holding different church offices. The immediate circumstances surrounding the dictation of the revelation are unclear. A of was held in Hiram on that day to discuss ’s question of whether he should migrate to in the spring. During that meeting, read “ concerning the duties of the Elders.” It is possible the revelation was dictated at that time, but the minutes do not specifically refer to it.Addressing the Saints in , the revelation called for additional administrative positions to be established within the church, including presiding officers for , , , and elders. More generally, it discussed the necessity of appointing additional for the church and designating someone to preside over the entire as . was appointed bishop in less than a month later, JS was designated as president of the high priesthood in January 1832, and at least two presidents were called over the elders in 1832— in Ohio and in Missouri.This revelation was also part of a continuing unfolding of information about the . The first individuals were to the high priesthood in June 1831, and at a conference held on 25–26 October 1831 in , Cuyahoga County, Ohio, JS and spoke on the responsibilities of those holding (or desiring to hold) that office. JS, for example, explained that the high priesthood had the “power . . . to seal up the Saints unto eternal life.” He indicated that “it was the privilege of every Elder present to be ordained to the Highpriesthood.” Both JS and Rigdon emphasized the significance of the high priesthood, and Rigdon chastised some who were ordained at that meeting “because of their indifference to be ordained to that office.” This 11 November revelation also laid out a hierarchical gradation of offices in the church that began with deacon and proceeded upward to the high priesthood—“the greatest of all.”The revelation discussed disciplinary bodies in the church as well. Prior to this time, the “Laws of the ” directed that those accused of adultery or other transgressions be brought before “two Elders of the Church or more,” with the bishop attending if possible. Conferences of elders sometimes served as disciplinary bodies, though not always with the bishop in attendance. The bishop, however, was designated as “a Judge in Israel” who would “Judge his people by the testimony of the Just.” The 11 November revelation added another level to the disciplinary structure of the church: the president of the high priesthood and his court, or council. Referring to the president of the high priesthood as “like unto Moses,” the revelation declared that he was to officiate in the most important matters of the church. Just as Moses appointed judges to deal with “small matter[s]” and addressed the “great matter[s]” himself, bishops were to act as common judges while the president of the high priesthood and his court would deal with “the most difficult cases of the church.” In addition, the revelation designated the president of the high priesthood as the head of the church and specifically noted that the office of bishop was subordinate to him.The original manuscript of the revelation is not extant. and copied the revelation into Revelation Book 1, likely before their departure to on 20 November 1831. A Missouri council discussed this revelation in July 1832, indicating a copy had made it to Missouri and had come to the attention of church leaders at least by that time.
Footnotes
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2
Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:8]; “History of Orson Pratt,” 11, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL; Minute Book 2, 26–27 Apr. 1832; 15 and 27 Sept. 1832.
Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.
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4
Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:80].
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5
See, for example, Minutes, 1 Sept. 1831; Minutes, 6 Sept. 1831; and Minutes, 21 Oct. 1831.
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6
Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:17–18].
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7
Exodus 18:21–22.
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8
See Historical Introduction to Revelation Book 1; and Whitmer, History, 38. When this revelation was published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, material was added, creating a more complete “Instruction on Priesthood.” (Doctrine and Covenants 3, 1835 ed.)
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9
Minute Book 2, 3 July 1832.
Cite this page
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Document Information
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Footnotes
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John Whitmer handwriting begins.
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1
TEXT: John Whitmer assigned this number to the revelation after recording it in Revelation Book 1.
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2
TEXT: This heading likely did not appear in the original manuscript; John Whitmer likely added it when he copied the revelation into Revelation Book 1.
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3
These laws probably included the two February 1831 revelations known as the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” as well as the “Articles and Covenants” of the church. A 1 November 1831 revelation also offered “certain items as made known in addition to the Laws & commandments which have been given to the church.” (Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72]; Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93]; Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20]; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:13].)
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4
According to the “Articles and Covenants,” “Every elder, priest, teacher, or deacon, is to be ordained according to the gifts and calling of God unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in the one who ordains them.” (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:60].)
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5
According to a 1 November revelation, a bishop was to be “an high priest who is worthy & he shall be appointed by a confrenc of high priests.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:15].)
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