Revelation, May 1829–B [D&C 12]

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Revelation, May 1829–B [D&C 12]
Source Note

Revelation,
Harmony Township
Located in northeastern Pennsylvania. Area settled, by 1787. Organized 1809. Population in 1830 about 340. Population in 1840 about 520. Contained Harmony village (no longer in existence). Josiah Stowell hired JS to help look for treasure in area, Oct. 1825...
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, Susquehanna Co., PA, to
Joseph Knight Sr.
3 Nov. 1772–2 Feb. 1847. Farmer, miller. Born at Oakham, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Son of Benjamin Knight and Sarah Crouch. Lived at Marlboro, Windham Co., Vermont, by 1780. Married first Polly Peck, 1795, in Windham Co. Moved to Jericho (later Bainbridge...
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, May 1829. Featured version, titled “Chapter XI,” typeset [between 1 Nov. and 31 Dec. 1832] for Book of Commandments, 31. This revelation is not extant in Revelation Book 1, nor is it listed in the index to that volume. The version found in the Book of Commandments and featured below is the earliest extant version. For more complete source information, see the source note for the Book of Commandments.
Historical Introduction
This revelation addressed
Joseph Knight Sr.
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, a
Colesville
Area settled, beginning 1785. Formed from Windsor Township, Apr. 1821. Population in 1830 about 2,400. Villages within township included Harpursville, Nineveh, and Colesville. Susquehanna River ran through eastern portion of township. JS worked for Joseph...
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, New York, resident and early supporter of JS. In late 1826, Knight began employing JS as a day laborer, and JS soon gained enough favor with Knight that he loaned JS his “horse and Cutter to go and see his girl,”
Emma Hale
10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...
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, whom JS soon married. In September 1827, Knight was at the
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...
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home the night JS obtained the
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...
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, and he later reported that JS gave him a detailed description of the plates and the
Urim and Thummim
A device used to translate and receive revelation. In the Old Testament, the high priest of Israel used a device by this name to discern God’s will for Israel. The Book of Mormon gives an account of an ancient prophet, Mosiah, who translated records into ...
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. That winter JS and Emma, who had returned to
Harmony
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, Pennsylvania, fell on hard times and asked Knight for assistance. “I let him have some little provisions and some few things out of the store a pair of shoes and three Dollars in money to help him a little,” wrote Knight.
1
Knight, Reminiscences, 2, 5. Knight thought JS and Emma may have been married in February, but the actual date was 18 January 1827.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Knight, Joseph, Sr. Reminiscences, no date. CHL. MS 3470.

Knight
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provided support that helped JS recommence the
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...
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after
Martin Harris
18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris, 27 Mar...
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lost the initial manuscript in July 1828. In January 1829,
Joseph Smith Sr.
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and
Samuel Smith
13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...
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stopped at Knight’s home on their way from
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...
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, New York, to visit JS in
Harmony
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. Knight took them the rest of the way in his sleigh, and once they arrived in Harmony he gave Joseph Sr. a half-dollar and also gave JS money to buy paper for the translation.
2
JS History, vol. A-1, 11; Knight, Reminiscences, 5.
Knight may have also returned to Harmony to aid JS at other times between January and May 1829:
Joseph Knight Jr.
21 June 1808–4 Nov. 1866. Miller, carder, millwright. Born at Halifax, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Knight Sr. and Polly Peck. Moved to Jericho (later Bainbridge), Chenango Co., New York, 1808. Moved to Windsor (later in Colesville), Broome Co., New...
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wrote, “Father and I often went to see him [JS] and carry him something to live upon.”
3
Knight, Autobiographical Sketch, 1.
Knight, Joseph, Jr. Autobiographical Sketch, 1862. CHL. MS 286.
In April 1829, the Knight family may have supplied all or part of the fifty-dollar payment that JS made on a thirteen-and-a-half-acre lot and small house purchased from his father-in-law,
Isaac Hale
21 Mar. 1763–11 Jan. 1839. Farmer, hunter, innkeeper. Born in Waterbury, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Reuben Hale and Diantha Ward. Member of Methodist church. Moved to Wells, Albany Co., New York (later in Rutland Co., Vermont), ca. 1771, to live with...
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.
4
This payment, made on 27 April 1829, was the second payment JS made on the property. Oliver Cowdery may have assisted with a sixty-four-dollar payment made on 6 April. Joseph Knight Jr. wrote that at some point during the translation JS requested fifty dollars of his father. Joseph Knight Sr. did not have that much available, but he went to Joseph Knight Jr., who sold a lot and sent JS a wagon, apparently in an effort to help JS raise the fifty dollars. (Agreement with Isaac Hale, 6 Apr. 1829; Knight, Autobiographical Sketch, 1.)

When JS and
Oliver Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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were running low on provisions in May 1829, they temporarily stopped translating and journeyed to
Colesville
Area settled, beginning 1785. Formed from Windsor Township, Apr. 1821. Population in 1830 about 2,400. Villages within township included Harpursville, Nineveh, and Colesville. Susquehanna River ran through eastern portion of township. JS worked for Joseph...
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to see
Knight
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. Although absent at the time, Knight soon traveled to
Harmony
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with more paper and with “provisions enough to Last till the translation was Done.”
5
Knight, Reminiscences, 6.
JS may have dictated this revelation during that visit. Introducing the revelation, JS’s history stated that Knight was “very anxious to know his duty as to this work. I enquired of the Lord for him, and obtained as follows.”
6
JS History, vol. A-1, 21.

This text addresses the same themes, largely in the same wording, as earlier revelations directed to
Joseph Smith Sr.
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and
Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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, alerting them to the emerging “great and marvelous work” and commanding them to “bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.” The revelation for
Knight
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also broadened its potential audience by stating that it applied to “all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work.”
7
Compare Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:6]; and Revelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4:3].
That the text itself does not specify Knight as its recipient also suggests that the call to work could have been to all who were willing to accept the responsibility.

The Book of Commandments contains the earliest copy of this revelation.
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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did not include a copy in Revelation Book 1, indicating that JS may not have kept a copy or may have lost his copy. The editors of the Book of Commandments included the revelation, however, perhaps relying on a personal copy of the text kept by an early believer.
8
Early revelations were often personal enough that recipients or people close to them retained copies. Several Knight family members as well as Oliver Cowdery were living in Jackson County, Missouri, in late 1832 when this revelation was typeset. It is reasonable to assume that one of them provided a copy of the revelation to the compilers of the Book of Commandments, though no such copy has survived.
When in May 1829 this revelation was dictated is unknown, in part because it is unclear how many times and when
Knight
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traveled to
Harmony
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to assist JS. The revelation dates from the same general period as the revelation for
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
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and may have preceded it.
9
See Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11].
It is possible that Knight gave Hyrum a ride to Harmony, as he had done for Joseph Sr. and
Samuel
13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...
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a few months earlier, and that the two revelations came during this trip.
10
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4].
Neither Knight’s history nor other accounts give exact dates as to when Knight arrived.
Footnotes
[1]
Knight, Reminiscences, 2, 5. Knight thought JS and Emma may have been married in February, but the actual date was 18 January 1827.
[2]
JS History, vol. A-1, 11; Knight, Reminiscences, 5.
[3]
Knight, Autobiographical Sketch, 1.
[4]
This payment, made on 27 April 1829, was the second payment JS made on the property. Oliver Cowdery may have assisted with a sixty-four-dollar payment made on 6 April. Joseph Knight Jr. wrote that at some point during the translation JS requested fifty dollars of his father. Joseph Knight Sr. did not have that much available, but he went to Joseph Knight Jr., who sold a lot and sent JS a wagon, apparently in an effort to help JS raise the fifty dollars. (Agreement with Isaac Hale, 6 Apr. 1829; Knight, Autobiographical Sketch, 1.)
[5]
Knight, Reminiscences, 6.
[6]
JS History, vol. A-1, 21.
[7]
Compare Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:6]; and Revelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4:3].
[8]
Early revelations were often personal enough that recipients or people close to them retained copies. Several Knight family members as well as Oliver Cowdery were living in Jackson County, Missouri, in late 1832 when this revelation was typeset. It is reasonable to assume that one of them provided a copy of the revelation to the compilers of the Book of Commandments, though no such copy has survived.
[9]
See Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11].
[10]
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4].
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, May 1829–B [D&C 12] 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 31
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CHAPTER XI.

1 A Revelation given to
Joseph (K.,) [Joseph Knight Sr.]
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in
Harmony
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, Pennsylvania, May, 1829, informing him how he must do, to be worthy to assist in the work of the Lord.
1
The editors of the Book of Commandments may have created this heading.

A GREAT and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men: behold I am God, and give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow: therefore, give heed unto my word.
2 Behold the field is white already to harvest, therefore whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God: Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God: therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.

3 Now as you have asked, behold I say unto you, keep my
commandments
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...
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, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of
Zion
A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...
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.
2
These first three paragraphs repeat declarations and directives given in Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:1–6]; Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11:1–6]; and Revelation, June 1829–A [D&C 14:1–6].
4 Behold I speak unto you, and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work, and no one can assist in this work, except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be intrusted to his care.
3
Compare Revelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4:5–6].

5 Behold I am the light and life of the world,
4
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 477 [3 Nephi 11:11]; and John 8:12.
that speaketh these words: therefore, give heed with your might, and then you are called: Amen. [p. 31]
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Page 31
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Footnotes
[1]
The editors of the Book of Commandments may have created this heading.
[2]
These first three paragraphs repeat declarations and directives given in Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:1–6]; Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11:1–6]; and Revelation, June 1829–A [D&C 14:1–6].
[3]
Compare Revelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4:5–6].
[4]
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 477 [3 Nephi 11:11]; and John 8:12.