The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

Revelation, 7 December 1830 [D&C 35]

Source Note

Revelation, [
Fayette Township

Located in northern part of county between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Area settled, by 1790. Officially organized as Washington Township, 14 Mar. 1800. Name changed to Fayette, 6 Apr. 1808. Population in 1830 about 3,200. Population in 1840 about 3,700. Significant...

More Info
, Seneca Co., NY], to
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
, 7 Dec. 1830. Featured version, titled “38th Commandment AD 1830. Dec.m. 7th,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 46–48; handwriting of
John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

View Full Bio
; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
A portion of another early copy of this revelation in the handwriting of
David Whitmer

7 Jan. 1805–25 Jan. 1888. Farmer, livery keeper. Born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Raised Presbyterian. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, shortly after birth. Attended German Reformed Church. Arranged...

View Full Bio
survived through the
Symonds Rider

20 Nov. 1792–1 Aug. 1870. Farmer, teacher, minister. Born in Hartford, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joshua Ryder and Marilla Loomis. Moved to Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, 6 Jan. 1814. Married Mahitable Loomis, 12 Nov. 1818, in Portage Co. Served as captain in...

View Full Bio
family, coming into the Church Historian’s Office in the 1960s.
1

Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830, in Revelations Collection, CHL [D&C 35:13–18]. The opposite side of this revelation fragment contains a few verses of Revelation, 9 Dec. 1830 [D&C 36].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.

Symonds Rider supplied the text to the editor of the Ohio Star (Ravenna), which published it in the 5 January 1832 issue. Rider claimed that he received his version from David Whitmer.
2

“Mormonism,” Ohio Star (Ravenna), 5 Jan. 1832, [3]; Symonds Rider, Letter to the Editor, Ohio Star (Ravenna), 29 Dec. 1831, [3].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

The text featured here, the Star version, and the existing portion of the Whitmer version from the Rider family are all similar, with no significant variants.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830, in Revelations Collection, CHL [D&C 35:13–18]. The opposite side of this revelation fragment contains a few verses of Revelation, 9 Dec. 1830 [D&C 36].

    Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.

  2. [2]

    “Mormonism,” Ohio Star (Ravenna), 5 Jan. 1832, [3]; Symonds Rider, Letter to the Editor, Ohio Star (Ravenna), 29 Dec. 1831, [3].

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

Historical Introduction

The conversion of
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
and others in northeastern
Ohio

French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...

More Info
in fall 1830 transformed the new
Church of Christ

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
geographically and demographically. Within a few weeks after missionaries arrived in Ohio, more than one hundred individuals were
baptized

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

View Glossary
,
1

Pratt, Autobiography, 50; Anderson, “Impact of the First Preaching in Ohio,” 478.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.

Anderson, Richard Lloyd. “The Impact of the First Preaching in Ohio.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 474–496.

and by the end of December church members in
New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

More Info
were commanded to move to Ohio.
2

See Revelation, 30 Dec. 1830 [D&C 37:2–3]; and Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:32].


Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, where the first baptisms in Ohio took place, became an important gathering place for church members for the next seven years. The visit of Sidney Rigdon and
Edward Partridge

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

View Full Bio
to
New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

More Info
only a few weeks after Rigdon’s baptism helped bring about this transition.
3

See [Matthew S. Clapp], “Mormonism,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 15 Feb. 1831, [1] –[2]; Knight, Reminiscences, 8; and Walter Scott, “Mormon Bible.—No. V,” Evangelist, 1 June 1841, 132–136.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

Knight, Joseph, Sr. Reminiscences, no date. CHL. MS 3470.

Evangelist. Carthage, OH. 1832–1844.

According to
John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

View Full Bio
’s history, Rigdon made the trip because he had “much anxiety to see Joseph Smith Jr. the Seer whom the Lord had raised up in these last days.”
4

Whitmer, History, 1.


Rigdon and Partridge arrived in early December 1830, and shortly thereafter JS dictated a revelation for each of them. This revelation, for Rigdon, praised his previous ministerial labors and positioned him as JS’s scribe for JS’s inspired
translation

To produce a text from one written in another language; in JS’s usage, most often through divine means. JS considered the ability to translate to be a gift of the spirit, like the gift of interpreting tongues. He recounted that he translated “reformed Egyptian...

View Glossary
of the Bible. Rigdon remained in New York with JS for the next two months until they both moved to Ohio.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Pratt, Autobiography, 50; Anderson, “Impact of the First Preaching in Ohio,” 478.

    Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.

    Anderson, Richard Lloyd. “The Impact of the First Preaching in Ohio.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 474–496.

  2. [2]

    See Revelation, 30 Dec. 1830 [D&C 37:2–3]; and Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:32].

  3. [3]

    See [Matthew S. Clapp], “Mormonism,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 15 Feb. 1831, [1] –[2]; Knight, Reminiscences, 8; and Walter Scott, “Mormon Bible.—No. V,” Evangelist, 1 June 1841, 132–136.

    Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

    Knight, Joseph, Sr. Reminiscences, no date. CHL. MS 3470.

    Evangelist. Carthage, OH. 1832–1844.

  4. [4]

    Whitmer, History, 1.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, 7 December 1830 [D&C 35] Revelation Book 1 Revelation, 7 December 1830, Extract, in handwriting of David Whitmer [D&C 35:13–18] Revelation, 7 December 1830, as Published in Ohio Star [D&C 35] Book of Commandments, 1833 Revelation, 7 December 1830, as Published in Howe, Mormonism Unvailed [D&C 35] Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 John Whitmer, History, 1831–circa 1847 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] “History of Joseph Smith” Doctrine and Covenants, 1844

Page 47

who believe on my name & whoso shall ask it in my name in faith they shall cast out Devils they shall heal the sick they shall cause the blind to receive their sight & the deaf the to hear & the dumb to speak & the lame to walk
7

See Mark 16:17–18. A similar promise was given in Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24:13].


& the time speedily cometh
8

For “the time speedily cometh,” the Ohio Star version has “this speedily cometh.” (“Mormonism,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 5 Jan. 1832, [3].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

that great things are to be shewn forth unto the Children of men but without faith not any thing shall be shewn forth except desolations upon Babylon the same which has made all Nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication
9

See Revelation 14:8.


& there are none that do good except they that are ready to receive the fulness of my Gospel which I have sent forth to this generation Wherefore I have called upon the weak things of the world they that are unlearned & dispised
10

See 1 Corinthians 1:27.


to thresh the Nations by the Power of my spirit & their arm shall be mine arm & I will be their shield & their Buckler & I will gird up their loins & they shall fight manfully for me & their enemies shall be under their feet
11

See 1 Corinthians 15:25.


& I will let fall the sword in their behalf & by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them
12

The Ohio Star version has “pursue them.” In August 1830, JS and John Whitmer wrote to the church members in Colesville, New York, “Brethren be not dis-couraged when we tell you of perilous times, for they must shortly come, for the sword, famine, and pestilence are approaching, for there shall be great destructions upon the face of this land . . . and the Lord hath said that a short work will he make of it, and the righteous shall be saved if it be as by fire.” (“Mormonism,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 5 Jan. 1832, [3]; Letter to Newel Knight and the Church in Colesville, 28 Aug. 1830.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

& the poor & the meek shall have the Gospel preached unto them
13

See Matthew 11:5.


& they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming for it is nigh at hand & they shall learn the Parible of the figg tree for even now already summer is nigh
14

See Matthew 24:32. One of JS’s contemporaries recalled that the Mormons “gained many proselytes . . . even among persons of intelligence, who had been filled with vague expectations of a speedy millennium.” (Richardson, Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, 347.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richardson, Robert. Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, Embracing a View of the Origin, Progress and Principles of the Religious Reformation Which He Advocated. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1870.

& I have sent forth the fullness of the <​my​> Gospel by the hand of my servent Joseph & in weakness have I blessed him & I have given unto him the
Keys

Authority or knowledge of God given to humankind. In the earliest records, the term keys primarily referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth...

View Glossary
of the mystery of those things which have been sealed even things which was from the foundation of the world & the things which shall come from this time until the time of my coming if he abide in me & if not another will I plant in his stead Wherefore watch over him that his faith fail not
15

An 1828 revelation reprimanded JS for the loss of the first part of the Book of Mormon manuscript, warning him that if he did not repent, he would “be delivered up & become as other men & have no more gift.” The command here to Rigdon to “watch over” JS acknowledges JS’s gifts but also his fallibility. Similarly, an earlier revelation admonished Oliver Cowdery to “stand by my servant Joseph faithfully in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be, for the word’s sake. Admonish him in his faults and also receive admonition of him.” (Revelation, July 1828 [D&C 3:11]; Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:18–19].)


& it shall be given by the comforter (the Holy Ghost) Which knoweth all things & a
commandment

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

View Glossary
I give unto you that thou shalt write for him & the scriptures shall be given even as they are in mine own bosom
16

This passage refers to JS’s revision of the Bible, a project he commenced earlier in 1830. By December he had reached Genesis 5. Pursuant to this revelation, Rigdon promptly commenced his scribal labors, writing JS’s dictation of a lengthy expansion of Genesis 5:22–24. (See Old Testament Revision 1, pp. 12–19 [Moses 6:26–8:4].)


to the salvation of mine own elect for th[e]y will hear my voice & shall see me & shall not be asleep & shall abide the day of my coming for they shall be purified even as I am pure
17

See Malachi 3:2–3; and 1 John 3:2–3.


& now I [p. 47]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 47

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, 7 December 1830 [D&C 35]
ID #
6494
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:219–223
Handwriting on This Page
  • John Whitmer

Footnotes

  1. [7]

    See Mark 16:17–18. A similar promise was given in Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24:13].

  2. [8]

    For “the time speedily cometh,” the Ohio Star version has “this speedily cometh.” (“Mormonism,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 5 Jan. 1832, [3].)

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

  3. [9]

    See Revelation 14:8.

  4. [10]

    See 1 Corinthians 1:27.

  5. [11]

    See 1 Corinthians 15:25.

  6. [12]

    The Ohio Star version has “pursue them.” In August 1830, JS and John Whitmer wrote to the church members in Colesville, New York, “Brethren be not dis-couraged when we tell you of perilous times, for they must shortly come, for the sword, famine, and pestilence are approaching, for there shall be great destructions upon the face of this land . . . and the Lord hath said that a short work will he make of it, and the righteous shall be saved if it be as by fire.” (“Mormonism,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 5 Jan. 1832, [3]; Letter to Newel Knight and the Church in Colesville, 28 Aug. 1830.)

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

  7. [13]

    See Matthew 11:5.

  8. [14]

    See Matthew 24:32. One of JS’s contemporaries recalled that the Mormons “gained many proselytes . . . even among persons of intelligence, who had been filled with vague expectations of a speedy millennium.” (Richardson, Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, 347.)

    Richardson, Robert. Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, Embracing a View of the Origin, Progress and Principles of the Religious Reformation Which He Advocated. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1870.

  9. [15]

    An 1828 revelation reprimanded JS for the loss of the first part of the Book of Mormon manuscript, warning him that if he did not repent, he would “be delivered up & become as other men & have no more gift.” The command here to Rigdon to “watch over” JS acknowledges JS’s gifts but also his fallibility. Similarly, an earlier revelation admonished Oliver Cowdery to “stand by my servant Joseph faithfully in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be, for the word’s sake. Admonish him in his faults and also receive admonition of him.” (Revelation, July 1828 [D&C 3:11]; Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:18–19].)

  10. [16]

    This passage refers to JS’s revision of the Bible, a project he commenced earlier in 1830. By December he had reached Genesis 5. Pursuant to this revelation, Rigdon promptly commenced his scribal labors, writing JS’s dictation of a lengthy expansion of Genesis 5:22–24. (See Old Testament Revision 1, pp. 12–19 [Moses 6:26–8:4].)

  11. [17]

    See Malachi 3:2–3; and 1 John 3:2–3.

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06