Revelation, April 1830–D [D&C 23:5]

Home >
The Papers >

Revelation, April 1830–D [D&C 23:5]
Source Note

Revelation,
Manchester Township
Settled 1793. Formed as Burt Township when divided from Farmington Township, 31 Mar. 1821. Name changed to Manchester, 16 Apr. 1822. Included village of Manchester. Population in 1825 about 2,700. Population in 1830 about 2,800. JS reported first vision of...
More Info
, Ontario Co., NY, to
Joseph Smith Sr.
12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...
View Full Bio
, [Apr.] 1830. Featured version, titled “21st Commandment AD 1830,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, p. 30; 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.
Historical Introduction
Joseph Smith Sr.
View Full Bio
was one of JS’s earliest supporters and confidants. He was the first person JS told about the visitation of Moroni
1
JS History, vol. A-1, 7.
and later became one of the witnesses of the
gold plates
A record engraved on gold plates, which JS translated and published as the Book of Mormon. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an American prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni. The plates were...
View Glossary
.
2
Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Late June 1829.
As early as February 1829, Joseph Sr. asked JS what the Lord required of him and subsequently became one of the first recipients of JS’s recorded revelations.
3
Revelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4].
This, then, was the second revelation directed to Joseph Sr. It was one of five similarly worded revelations directed to individuals who desired to know the Lord’s will.
4
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Apr. 1830–A [D&C 23:1–2].

JS’s history states that
Joseph Smith Sr.
View Full Bio
“came forward shortly after” the 6 April 1830 meeting and was
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
.
5

Lucy Mack Smith
8 July 1775–14 May 1856. Oilcloth painter, nurse, fund-raiser, author. Born at Gilsum, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Daughter of Solomon Mack Sr. and Lydia Gates. Moved to Montague, Franklin Co., Massachusetts, 1779; to Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont, 1788...
View Full Bio
recalled, “Joseph stood on the shore when his father came out of the water and as he took him by the hand he cried out Oh! my God I have lived to see my father baptized into the true church of jesus christ and he covered his face in his fathers bosom and wept aloud for joy.”
6
Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 9, [12]. Although JS’s mother and some of the family had affiliated with the Presbyterians, Joseph Smith Sr. had never formally associated with any church. (JS History, vol. A-1, 2.)
Footnotes
[1]
[2]
Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Late June 1829.
[3]
Revelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4].
[4]
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Apr. 1830–A [D&C 23:1–2].
[5]
[6]
Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 9, [12]. Although JS’s mother and some of the family had affiliated with the Presbyterians, Joseph Smith Sr. had never formally associated with any church. (JS History, vol. A-1, 2.)
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, April 1830–D [D&C 23:5] Revelation Book 1 Book of Commandments, 1833 Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] History, circa 1841, draft [Draft 3] History, circa 1841, fair copy “History of Joseph Smith” Doctrine and Covenants, 1844
Page 30
Hide editing marks

21st
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
AD 1830

A Commandment to given to
Joseph [Smith Sr.]
View Full Bio
at
Manchester
Settled 1793. Formed as Burt Township when divided from Farmington Township, 31 Mar. 1821. Name changed to Manchester, 16 Apr. 1822. Included village of Manchester. Population in 1825 about 2,700. Population in 1830 about 2,800. JS reported first vision of...
More Info
Ontario County State of New York
1
John Whitmer probably created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1. At the time this revelation was dictated, Joseph Smith Sr. and JS were likely at the Hyrum Smith residence in Palmyra. If this is the case, the revelation originated in Palmyra, not in Manchester.

Behold I speak a few words unto you
Joseph
View Full Bio
f
2
TEXT: After reaching the end of the line at “speak a few words”, John Whitmer mistakenly inscribed “unto you Joseph” at the beginning of the same line, in the space created by the paragraph indention. He then canceled the three words and continued the inscription on the next line.
unto you
Joseph
View Full Bio
for thou art under no condemnation & thy calling also is to Exhortation & to strengthen the Church
3
Compare Revelations, Apr. 1830–B, C, E [D&C 23:3–4, 6–7].
& this is thy duty from henceforth & forever amen [p. 30]
View entire transcript
|
Cite this page
Source Note
Document Transcript
Page 30
Document Information
Footnotes
[1]
John Whitmer probably created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1. At the time this revelation was dictated, Joseph Smith Sr. and JS were likely at the Hyrum Smith residence in Palmyra. If this is the case, the revelation originated in Palmyra, not in Manchester.
[2]
TEXT: After reaching the end of the line at “speak a few words”, John Whitmer mistakenly inscribed “unto you Joseph” at the beginning of the same line, in the space created by the paragraph indention. He then canceled the three words and continued the inscription on the next line.
[3]
Compare Revelations, Apr. 1830–B, C, E [D&C 23:3–4, 6–7].