Revelation, September 1830–D [D&C 30:5–8]

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Revelation, September 1830–D [D&C 30:5–8]
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...
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, Seneca Co., NY, to
Peter Whitmer Jr.
27 Sept. 1809–22 Sept. 1836. Tailor. Born at Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, in Seneca Lake, Seneca Co. One of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, June 1829. Among six...
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, [Sept.] 1830. Featured version, titled “32nd Commandment AD 1830,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, p. 42; 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
In June 1829,
Peter Whitmer Jr.
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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...
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and told in a revelation that “the thing which will be of the most worth unto you, will be to declare repentance unto this people.”
1
JS History, vol. A-1, 23; Revelation, June 1829–D [D&C 16:6].
Just weeks later, Whitmer became one of the formal witnesses of the Book of Mormon when he saw and handled 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...
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,
2
Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Late June 1829.
and by June 1830 he became one of the first elders of the church.
3
See Minutes, 9 June 1830.
The revelation featured here (like those that precede and follow it) originated at the second
conference
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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of the church, which was held in
Fayette
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, New York, in late September 1830.
4
JS History, vol. A-1, 58–59.
It commanded Whitmer to accompany and support
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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, who had been called “to build my Church among thy Brethren the Lamanites.” According to the conference minutes, those present sang and prayed “in behalf of Br. Oliver Cowdery & Peter Whitmer jr.”
5
Minutes, 26 Sept. 1830. Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson were a short time later called as missionaries to the Lamanites, and they, Cowdery, and Whitmer each covenanted “before God, that we will assist him faithfully in this thing, by giving heed unto all his words and advice, which is, or shall be given him by the spirit of truth.” (Revelation, Oct. 1830–A [D&C 32:2–3]; Covenant of Oliver Cowdery and Others, 17 Oct. 1830.)
Footnotes
[1]
JS History, vol. A-1, 23; Revelation, June 1829–D [D&C 16:6].
[2]
Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Late June 1829.
[3]
See Minutes, 9 June 1830.
[4]
JS History, vol. A-1, 58–59.
[5]
Minutes, 26 Sept. 1830. Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson were a short time later called as missionaries to the Lamanites, and they, Cowdery, and Whitmer each covenanted “before God, that we will assist him faithfully in this thing, by giving heed unto all his words and advice, which is, or shall be given him by the spirit of truth.” (Revelation, Oct. 1830–A [D&C 32:2–3]; Covenant of Oliver Cowdery and Others, 17 Oct. 1830.)
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, September 1830–D [D&C 30:5–8] Revelation Book 1 Revelation, September 1830–D, Extract, as Recorded in Whitmer, Journal [D&C 30:5–6] 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 42
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32nd
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...
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AD 1830
A Revelation to
Peter [Whitmer Jr.]
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his calling to the
Lamanites
A term used in the Book of Mormon to refer to the descendants or followers of Laman, as well as those who later identified themselves as Lamanites because they did not believe in the religious traditions of their ancestors. According to JS and the Book of...
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&c given at
Fayette
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Seneca County state of New York
1
John Whitmer likely created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1.
Behold I say unto you
Peter
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that thou shalt take thy Journey with thy Brother
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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for the time has come that it is expedient in me that thou shalt open thy mouth to declare my Gospel Therefore fear not but give heed unto the words & advice of thy Brother which he shall give thee & be thou afflicted in all his afflictions ever lifting thy heart up unto me in prayer & faith for thine & his deliverance for I have given unto him to build my
Church
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...
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among thy Brethren the Lamanites
2
See Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:8].
& none have I appointed to be over him in the Church except it is his Brother Joseph
3
This reiterates Oliver Cowdery’s position as the church’s “second elder.” (See Revelation, 6 Apr. 1830 [D&C 21:11]; License for John Whitmer, License for Joseph Smith Sr., and License for Christian Whitmer, 9 June 1830.)
wherefore give heed unto those <these>
Insertion possibly by Sidney Rigdon.
things & be dilligent in keeping my commandments & thou shalt be blessed unto eternal life & thus it is amen— [p. 42]
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Page 42
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Footnotes
[1]
John Whitmer likely created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1.
[2]
See Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:8].
[3]
This reiterates Oliver Cowdery’s position as the church’s “second elder.” (See Revelation, 6 Apr. 1830 [D&C 21:11]; License for John Whitmer, License for Joseph Smith Sr., and License for Christian Whitmer, 9 June 1830.)
Insertion possibly by Sidney Rigdon.