Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53]

Source Note

Revelation, [
Kirtland Township
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...
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, OH], to
Sidney Gilbert
28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...
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, 8 June 1831. Featured version, titled “56th Commandment June 8th. 1831,” copied [ca. June 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 89–90; 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...
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; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
Historical Introduction
Sidney Gilbert
28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...
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, the recipient of this revelation, was
Newel K. Whitney
3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...
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’s business partner and an early convert to the church. He may have been present at a 5 June 1831 meeting at which JS taught that “the
Elders
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
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would have large congregations to speak to and they must soon take there departure into the Reagions west.”
1
Hancock, Autobiography, 92. According to Levi Hancock, following the 5 June meeting a group of participants “went to Gilberts” where they talked “with brother Whitnies [Newel K. Whitney] and told him what hapend at the conferance.”
Comprehensive Works Cited
Hancock, Levi. Autobiography, ca. 1854. Photocopy. CHL. MS 8174.
The next evening, JS dictated a revelation that commissioned a number of elders to accompany him to
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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, which the text called “the land which I will
consecrate
The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...
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unto my People which are a remnant of Jacob & those who are heirs according to the
covenant
A binding agreement between two parties, particularly between God and man. The term covenant was often associated with “commandments,” referring to revelation texts. The gospel as preached by JS—including the need for faith, repentance, baptism, and reception...
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.”
2
Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:2].
The 6 June revelation did not name Gilbert among those who should travel to Missouri. JS’s history records that shortly after the reception of that revelation, Gilbert approached JS and requested direction for himself.
3
JS History, vol. A-1, 121.
In response, JS dictated this revelation that gave Gilbert assignments in the church, including the instruction to travel to Missouri with JS and
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...
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. Gilbert left for Missouri on 18 June with JS and Rigdon.
4
William W. Phelps, “Letter No. 6,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:97.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Footnotes
1. 1
  Hancock, Autobiography, 92. According to Levi Hancock, following the 5 June meeting a group of participants “went to Gilberts” where they talked “with brother Whitnies [Newel K. Whitney] and told him what hapend at the conferance.”
  
  Hancock, Levi. Autobiography, ca. 1854. Photocopy. CHL. MS 8174.
2. 2
  Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:2].
3. 3
  JS History, vol. A-1, 121.
4. 4
  William W. Phelps, “Letter No. 6,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:97.
  
  Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

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Behold I my the Lord who was crusified for the sins of the world giveth unto you a that you shall forsake the world take upon you mine even that of an to Preach faith & repentance & remission of sins according to my word & the reception of the Holy spirit by the & also to be an agent unto this in the Place which shall be appointed by the according to commandments which shall be given hereafter & again verily I say unto you you shall take your Journey with my servent Joseph & Behold these are the <firist> ordinances which you shall receive & the residue shall be made known unto you in a time to come according to your labour in my vinyard & again I would that ye should learn that it is hi◊ only who is saved that endureth unto the end even so amen [p. 90]

Behold I the Lord who was crusified for the sins of the world giveth unto you a that you shall forsake the world take upon you mine even that of an to Preach faith & repentance & remission of sins according to my word & the reception of the Holy spirit by the & also to be an agent unto this in the Place which shall be appointed by the according to commandments which shall be given hereafter & again verily I say unto you you shall take your Journey with my servent Joseph & Behold these are the firist ordinances which you shall receive & the residue shall be made known unto you in a time to come according to your labour in my vinyard & again I would that ye should learn that it is hi only who is saved that endureth unto the end even so amen [p. 90]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53]
ID #
6514
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:332–334
Handwriting on This Page
- John Whitmer
Footnotes
1. 2
  See New Testament Revision 1, p. 41 [Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 16:29].
  
  New Testament Revision 1 / “A Translation of the New Testament Translated by the Power of God,” 1831. CCLA. Also available in Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 153–228.
2. 3
  Gilbert’s name is included on a June 1831 list of elders ordained by JS. His ordination likely occurred between 8 and 18 June 1831. (Note on Ordinations, ca. 16 June 1831.)
3. 4
  Gilbert was the first person to be appointed “an agent unto this Church.” A previous revelation outlined the duties of Bishop Edward Partridge and called for the appointment of an agent: “Let there be an agent appointed unto this people to take the money to provide food & raiment according to the wants of this people.” (Revelation, 20 May 1831 [D&C 51:8].)
4. 5
  Once the elders arrived in Missouri, Gilbert was commanded by revelation to settle there and assist Edward Partridge with the church’s temporal affairs. Specifically, the revelation directed Gilbert to keep a store and act as land agent. (Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:6–8].)

Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53]

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