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Revelation, circa August 1835 [D&C 27]

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Revelation, circa August 1835 [D&C 27]

Source Note

Revelation, , Susquehanna Co., PA, Sept. 1830; substantial revisions, , Geauga Co., OH, ca. Aug. 1835. Featured version typeset ca. Aug. 1835; in Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., 179–181. For more complete source information, see the source note for Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 edition.

Historical Introduction

In August and September 1830, JS dictated a revelation providing guidelines about the food and drink that were to be used in the administration of the . The revelation was recorded in Revelation Book 1, likely in 1831, and published, with minor edits, in the March 1833 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star and the 1833 Book of Commandments. The revelation was published again in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. The 1835 version, featured here, contains information not present in the earlier versions; in fact, less than one third of the 1835 text appears in the 1831 or 1833 texts. The additional information contains considerable detail about Jesus Christ one day partaking of sacramental wine with JS and various prophets and apostles from the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Also included is material emphasizing the transmission of priesthood —or the authority to govern and lead the church—to JS by biblical prophets, apostles, and patriarchs. In particular, the revelation outlines specific keys held by Elias and Elijah and references a visit by Peter, James, and John to JS and as . This is the first clear documentary reference to angelic visitations by Peter, James, and John and the first clear reference to their conferral of priesthood keys.
The historical record is silent as to when or how the additional information in the 1835 version was originally recorded, though JS was undoubtedly involved. The absence of the content in the extant 1831 or 1833 versions suggests the extra information may have originated sometime thereafter. In addition, the 1835 version of the revelation identifies the archangel Michael as Adam and equates Adam with the ancient of days referred to in the Book of Daniel. Not until at least 1833 did church members appear to have identified Adam with Michael and the ancient of days. However, it is possible that JS dictated all of this information in 1830. JS’s history indicates that the “first paragraph” of the revelation, which represents most of the original revelation, was written down immediately in early August 1830 and the “remainder in the September following.” But if all of what appears in the 1835 version was originally dictated in 1830, it is unclear why the additional material was not included in the extant 1831 and 1833 versions.
As published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, the revelation contains much information about the conferral of keys, or authority, upon JS. Although some 1829 and 1830 revelations spoke of JS holding keys, they referred specifically to the keys to bring forth the Book of Mormon and other ancient records. In 1831 and 1832, revelations referred frequently to JS and others holding keys that allowed them to administer the church. For example, revelations indicated that JS held “the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom” and “the keys of the kingdom of God,” similar to “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” held by Peter in the New Testament. This 1835 version of the revelation expands on these concepts, specifying what keys had been given to JS and others, who had provided those keys, and, by inference, why the keys were necessary.
The additions published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants consist of three intertextual insertions to the second paragraph of the original text. The locations of the insertions are indicated herein.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Historical Introduction to Revelation, ca. Aug. 1830 [D&C 27].

  2. [2]

    Although the original revelation was dictated by JS in 1830, the earliest extant version is the 1831 copy in Revelation Book 1. For additional information concerning this version, see Source Note and Historical Introduction to Revelation, ca. Aug. 1830 [D&C 27].

  3. [3]

    The minor edits included spelling, grammatical, and case changes. The most significant deviation between the 1831 manuscript version and the 1833 published version is the elimination of the contextual introduction from the latter. The preamble in the manuscript version, likely added by John Whitmer when copying the text into Revelation Book 1, reads, “A Revelation to the Church given at Harmony susquehann[a]h County State of Pennsylvania given to Joseph the Seer at a time that he went to purchase wine for Sacrament & he was stop[p]ed by an Angel & he spok[e] to him as follows Saying.” Two other versions were produced in 1831 but contain no significant changes from the version in Revelation Book 1. (Revelation, ca. Aug. 1830, in Revelation Book 1, p. 35 [D&C 27]; “A Commandment Given, September 4, 1830,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Mar. 1833, [6]; Revelation, ca. Aug. 1830, in Book of Commandments 28 [D&C 27:1–5]; Revelation, ca. Aug. 1830, in Partridge, Copies of Revelations; “The Mormon Creed,” Painesville [OH] Telegraph, 19 Apr. 1831, [4].)

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

    Partridge, Edward. Copies of Revelations, ca. Dec. 1830–Spring 1831. CHL. MS 1133.

    Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

  4. [4]

    The date of Peter, James, and John’s visit is unknown, but sources indicate it occurred sometime after John the Baptist’s May 1829 visit to confer the lesser priesthood on JS and Oliver Cowdery. A later JS history indicates that John the Baptist acted under the direction of Peter, James, and John and promised they would later provide a higher, or additional, authority. In the preface to his 1832 history, JS indicated his intention to record his “reception” of both “the holy Priesthood” and “the high Priesthood,” neither of which the unfinished 1832 history addressed. Cowdery also noted receiving the Melchizedek, or “high and holy,” Priesthood in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, but the featured text predates that entry by a month. (JS History, vol. A-1, 18, 27; JS History, ca. Summer 1832, 1; Patriarchal Blessings, 1:9; see also “Joseph Smith Documents Dating through June 1831.”)

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

    Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.

  5. [5]

    In January 1834, Cowdery wrote a letter to John Whitmer in which he said that since coming to Kirtland, Ohio, in summer 1833, he had learned “that the Angel Michael is no less than our father Adam.” Sometime around spring 1835, JS prepared an Instruction on Priesthood that also contained information about Adam being “Michael, the Prince, the Archangel.” Similarly, in June 1835, William W. Phelps wrote in a letter to Cowdery that he understood that “Michael, the prince” was “our great father Adam,” something that he considered to be “new light.” Around September 1835, Cowdery recorded a December 1833 blessing that JS gave to Joseph Smith Sr. and also referred to Adam as “Michael, the Prince, the Arch angel,” and “the Ancient of Days,” language that was not used in the original version of the blessing as recorded in JS’s journal in 1833. (Oliver Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, to John Whitmer, 1 Jan. 1834, in Cowdery, Letterbook, 15; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:54]; “Letter No. 8,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, June 1835, 1:130; Blessing for Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835.)

    Cowdery, Oliver. Letterbook, 1833–1838. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  6. [6]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 51.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  7. [7]

    For additional treatments of the 1831 and 1833 versions, see Revelation, ca. Aug. 1830 [D&C 27]; and Revelation, ca. Aug. 1830, in Book of Commandments 28 [D&C 27:1–5].

  8. [8]

    Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:28]; Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:7]; Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830 [D&C 35:17–18].

  9. [9]

    Revelation, 11 Sept. 1831 [D&C 64:5].

  10. [10]

    Revelation, 30 Oct. 1831 [D&C 65:2–6]; Revelation, 15 Mar. 1832 [D&C 81:1–2]; Matthew 16:19. In March 1833, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, JS’s counselors in the presidency of the high priesthood, were made “equal in holding the keys of the Kingdom” with JS. (Minutes, 18 Mar. 1833; see also Revelation, 8 Mar. 1833 [D&C 90:1–6].)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, circa August 1835 [D&C 27] Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 Revelations printed in Evening and Morning Star, January 1835–June 1836 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
behold I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, when ye partake of the , if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory; remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins: wherefore a I give unto you, that you shall not purchase wine, neither strong drink of your enemies: wherefore you shall partake of none, except it is made new among you, yea, in this my Father’s kingdom which shall be built up on the earth.
2 Behold this is wisdom in me: wherefore marvel not for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel; to whom I have committed the of the record of the stick of Ephraim; and also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things, or the restorer of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days: and also John the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias; which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, jr. and , to you unto this which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron: and also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse: and also, with Joseph, and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham your fathers; by whom the promises remain; and also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days:
3 And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry: and of the same things which I revealed unto them: unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will together in one all things both which are in heaven and which are on earth: and also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world: wherefore lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all ye may be able to stand. Stand, therefore, having [p. 180]
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Editorial Title
Revelation, circa August 1835 [D&C 27]
ID #
5128
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:408–412
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Footnotes

  1. [2]

    See Matthew 26:26–28.

  2. [3]

    It is difficult to ascertain how closely this prohibition on purchased wine was followed. Wine continued to be used for the sacrament for years, and existing records indicate the Saints both made it and purchased it. (Murdock, Autobiography, 34; JS History, vol. B-1, addenda, 4nM.)

    Murdock, John. Autobiography, ca. 1859–1867. John Murdock, Journal and Autobiography, ca. 1830–1867. CHL. MS 1194, fd. 4.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  3. [4]

    See Matthew 26:29. The first insertion begins here and continues unbroken a third of the way into the third paragraph.

  4. [5]

    Moroni is the last prophet featured in the Book of Mormon. JS stated that an angelic Moroni appeared to him in 1823 and later directed him to the location where the Book of Mormon records and artifacts were buried. For different accounts of Moroni’s visitations to JS, see JS, Journal, 9–11 Nov. 1835; JS History, 1834–1836, 121–122; JS History, vol. A-1, 4–7; JS, “Church History,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, 3:707; and JS, “Latter Day Saints,” in Rupp, He Pasa Ekklesia, 405.

    JS History, 1834–1836 / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1834–1836. In Joseph Smith et al., History, 1838–1856, vol. A-1, back of book (earliest numbering), 9–20, 46–187. Historian's Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, box 1, vol. 1.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

    Rupp, Israel Daniel, ed. He Pasa Ekklesia [The Whole Church]: An Original History of the Religious Denominations at Present Existing in the United States, Contains Authentic Accounts of Their Rise, Progress, Statistics and Doctrines. Written Expressly for the Work by Eminent Theological Professors, Ministers, and Lay-Members, of the Respective Denominations. Projected, Compiled and Arranged by I. Daniel Rupp, of Lancaster, Pa. Philadelphia: J. Y. Humphreys; Harrisburg: Clyde and Williams, 1844.

  5. [6]

    Early Saints understood a biblical prophecy concerning “the stick of Ephraim” to be a reference to the Book of Mormon. This wording comes from Ezekiel 37:16–17, which is referred to in 2 Nephi, chapter 3, in the Book of Mormon. (See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 66–68 [2 Nephi chap. 3]; and “The Book of Mormon,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1833, [1].)

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

  6. [7]

    In a later history, JS recorded that John the Baptist ordained him and Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood on 15 May 1829. (JS History, vol. A-1, 17–18.)

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  7. [8]

    See Leviticus chap. 8.

  8. [9]

    See Malachi 4:5–6.

  9. [10]

    See, for example, Genesis chap. 17; 22:15–18; chap. 24; 26:1–4; 28:14; 35:9–13; 48:34; Psalm 105:9; Galatians 3:16; and “The Book of Abraham,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, 3:705–706 [Abraham 2:6–11].

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  10. [11]

    The Instruction on Priesthood, prepared by JS and probably Oliver Cowdery in early 1835, explained that apostles were “special witnesses of the name of Christ, in all the world: thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.” (Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:23].)

  11. [12]

    See Account of John, Apr. 1829–C, in Doctrine and Covenants 33:2, 1835 ed. [D&C 7:7]. Beginning with the version of this revelation in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, a phrase was added indicating that Peter, James, and John were given the “power and the keys of this ministry until” Christ came again. The original iterations of this account, as recorded in Revelation Book 1 (1831) and the Book of Commandments (1833), do not contain the statement about keys. (Account of John, Apr. 1829–C [D&C 7]; Account of John, Apr. 1829–C, in Book of Commandments 6 [D&C 7].)

  12. [13]

    The first insertion ends here.

  13. [14]

    The second insertion begins here and continues through the phrase “as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and.”

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