Revelation, , OH, 3 Jan. 1833. Featured version copied [between 22 Jan. and ca. 27 Feb. 1833] in Revelation Book 2, pp. 47–48; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 2.
Historical Introduction
According to the index in Revelation Book 2, the subject of this 3 January 1833 revelation is “instructions how to regulate the .” On 27–28 December 1832, JS dictated a revelation directing the of the church to establish a school so that they could be taught in both “the doctrines, of the kingdom” and in temporal matters before proclaiming the gospel to the world “for the last time.” It also instructed the Saints in , Ohio, to build a “” that, among other things, would serve as a “house of Learning.” This 3 January revelation provided information on how the school was to be conducted in the House of the Lord, including how members of the school were to act when entering it. Little is known about the circumstances of the 3 January revelation, other than that it was dictated in Kirtland, probably in ’s , where JS and his family were staying.
wrote the revelation as JS dictated it, but the original manuscript is not extant. Williams later copied the revelation into Revelation Book 2, probably between late January and late February 1833. On 11 January 1833, JS sent a copy of the 27–28 December 1832 revelation to and other leaders in , Missouri. It is unclear whether JS also included this revelation in that transmission, but Phelps published the revelation in the March 1833 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star, titling it “Revelation Given Kirtland, Ohio, January 3, 1833.” Though it was presented in early manuscript sources and in The Evening and the Morning Star as separate from the 27–28 December 1832 revelation, the 3 January 1833 revelation was combined with that earlier revelation into one text in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, probably because the 3 January revelation included instructions for implementing the school required by the 27–28 December revelation. The two became so closely associated that when the 3 January revelation was reprinted in Evening and Morning Star (an 1835–1836 reprint of The Evening and the Morning Star), it was dated 27 December 1832. Likewise, the heading for the combined revelations in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants listed the date as 27 December 1832.
In either late 1833 or early 1834, the 27–28 December revelation was published as a broadside, but it did not include the 3 January 1833 revelation. Publications thereafter included both revelations as a single text, along with additional verses at the end of the revelation that were first added in the 1835 edition. (See Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, who have assembled yourselves together, [Kirtland, OH: ca. Jan. 1834], copy at CHL [D&C 88–89]; Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 and 3 Jan. 1833, in Doctrine and Covenants 7, 1835 ed. [D&C 88]; Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 and 3 Jan. 1833, in Doctrine and Covenants 7, 1844 ed. [D&C 88]; “History of Joseph Smith,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1844, 5:688–691; and “History of Joseph Smith,” Times and Seasons, 15 Nov. 1844, 5:704–705; see also Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:43–44.)
Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, who have assembled yourselves together [D&C 88–89]. [Kirtland, OH: ca. Jan. 1834]. Copy at BYU.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.
January 3d. 1833. Revelation given to organize for a patern &c
The order of the house, of God prepared for the , and instruction, in all things, that is expedient for the officers; or in other words, them who are called to the ministry in the , begining at the , even down to the , and this shall be the order of the house, he that is appointed, to be a teacher, shall be found standing in his place, which shall be appointed prepared, for him, in the , in a place that the congregation, in the house may hear his words, correctly and distinctly; not with loud speach; and he cometh into the house of God, (for he should be first in the house, behold this is beautiful, that he may be an example) let him offer himself in prayer upon his knees, before God, in token of the everlasting covenant, and when any shall, come in after him, let the teacher arise, and with uplifted hands to heaven, yea even directly, salute his brother, or brethren, with these words saying, art thou a brother, or brethren, I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in tocen [token] of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant, I receive you to fellowship, in a determination, that is fixed immovable, and unchangable, to be your friend and brother, through the grace of God, in the bonds of Love, to walk in all the , of God, blameless, in thanksgiving for ever, and ever; Amen. and he that cometh, in, and is a brother, or brethren shall salute the teacher with uplifted hands to heaven, with this same prayer, and covenant or by saying amen; in token of the same, Behold verily I say unto you, this [is?] a sample, unto you for a salutation, to one another, in the house of God, and ye are called to do this by prayer, and thanksgiving, as the spirit shall give utterance [p. 47]