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Instruction on Priesthood, between circa 1 March and circa 4 May 1835 [D&C 107]

Source Note

Instruction on Priesthood, , Geauga Co., OH, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835. Featured version titled “On Priesthood”; typeset ca. mid-May 1835; in Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., pp. 82–89. For more complete source information, see the source note for Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 edition.

Historical Introduction

In early 1835, twelve men were called to serve as in the , and numerous were appointed as members of the . In March 1835, JS and the decided that because of “the many pressing requests from the eastern churches,” the apostles would conduct a series of in the eastern . These conferences were held “for the purpose of regulateing all things necessary” for the welfare of the of the church in those areas. It appears that sometime before the Twelve departed on 4 May 1835 to begin holding these conferences, JS presented them with this instruction, which outlined information about and church governance. The document indicated that there were two major divisions of priesthood in the church—the and the —and explained the responsibilities of the Twelve Apostles, the Seventy, , and other officers in the church. This instruction was apparently meant to aid the Twelve in their regulation of the eastern branches, while also providing detailed information about the responsibilities of priesthood officers. Like the earlier “Articles and Covenants” of the church, the instruction became an important document establishing significant doctrines on the governing bodies of the church and on the priesthood itself.
The Instruction on Priesthood compiled information from previous JS revelations. Much of the instruction came from a revelation JS had dictated in November 1831. According to some observers, JS dictated other parts of the instruction as an 1835 revelation. Some of the instruction also elaborated on ideas first presented in a September 1832 revelation, indicating that JS was gaining new understanding into concepts of priesthood and leadership. , who assisted in calling the Twelve and giving them their “charge” as apostles, was probably involved in the instruction’s preparation; later remembered JS spending “two hours laboring with Elder Cowdery to get him to write” what Young called a “Revelation on Priesthood”—probably this instruction. Indeed, when the instruction was published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, it was designated as an instruction “On Priesthood.” Church members saw the instruction as coming from God. , for example, referred to the instruction as something “the Lord” had “bestow[ed] upon” the Saints through “Brother Joseph” and explained that the Twelve Apostles “praised the Lord” for its contents.
Exactly when in 1835 the instruction appeared in its complete form is unclear. Although it may have been prepared directly after the Twelve’s calling on 14 February 1835, it was probably presented in written form no earlier than 1 March. At a meeting of the Twelve on 27 February 1835, JS asked the apostles to discuss the question, “What importance is attached to the callings of these twelve apostles differrent from the other callings and offices of the chu[r]ch,” suggesting that he had not at that point instructed them on this matter. JS explained during this meeting that it was “all important that the twelve should understand the power and authority of the priesthoods, for without this knowledge they can do nothing to profit.” JS also proclaimed that the Twelve were “called to a travelling to preside over all the churches of the saints among the gentiles when there is no presidency established.” The Twelve were “to travel and preach among the until the Lord shall command them to go to the Jews.” They were also to hold “the keys of this ministry— to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven unto all nations and preach the Gospel unto every creation.” Similar explanations appear in the featured instruction. In addition, the instruction contains detailed information about the office of Seventy, which was first instituted in the church at meetings held on 28 February and 1 March 1835. It is unlikely that the instruction was completed before this office was formally introduced into the church.
remembered that JS dictated the instruction on priesthood at a meeting of the Twelve one evening after the apostles had been called and most of them had been ordained. Kimball’s account places the meeting sometime before the first week of April 1835. A later JS history placed this dictation on 28 March 1835 and referenced a document recounting a meeting of the Twelve where, after a period of “general confession,” they made a written request that JS obtain for them a revelation of God’s “mind and will concerning our duty the coming season.” The history states that JS then dictated this instruction. However, this appears to be based on a misdating by the history’s compilers since the request to JS, which was copied into Minute Book 1, is dated 28 March 1836, not 1835. In fact, JS was not in , Ohio, on 28 March 1835. On that day, five members of the Twelve—, or , , , and —were with JS in Huntsburgh, Ohio, preaching and . Another five apostles were presumably in Kirtland. Huntsburgh is about seventeen miles from Kirtland, and according to McLellin’s diary, JS, and presumably the apostles with him, did not leave Huntsburgh until 30 March.
It is possible that JS formally presented the instruction to the Twelve on 26 April 1835. The minutes of a meeting held on that date state, “This day, pursuant to previous appointment, the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy (a part of whom had already been chosen,) assembled in the (altho’ unfinished.) with a numerous concourse of people in order to receive our charge and instructions from President Joseph Smith Jun relative to our mission and duties.” The minutes, however, do not provide more detail on the instruction JS gave. Another possibility is that the featured instruction was presented in a 28 April 1835 meeting of the Twelve. At that meeting, a motion was carried that each apostle “forgive one another every wrong that has existed among us,” which may have been the “general confession” mentioned in the later JS history. In any case, this instruction was likely given to the Twelve before they left on 4 May 1835, and it was certainly prepared by 26 May 1835, when sent his wife, , printed copies of “the Six first forms of the Doctrine and Covenants,” which included the instruction.
Although not covering all operations of church administration, the instruction captures information about the coordination of church governance between bishops, the , and newer offices such as the high council, the Twelve Apostles, and the Seventy. It also gives specific names for the two priesthoods in the church—Melchizedek for the higher priesthood and Aaronic for the lower—and explains why those two names were applied to these priesthoods. The instruction explains that the presidency of the high priesthood has the right to officiate in all offices of the church and further illuminates the role of the bishop in the church, explaining that the bishopric is the presidency of the Aaronic priesthood. Essentially, this document updated the Articles and Covenants and other revelations on church administration and codified the roles of the new offices.
No manuscript copies of the complete instruction are extant. The featured version was published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, which was issued in September of that year. The volume includes two sections: one containing lectures on the doctrine of the church; and the other containing the church’s “Covenants and Commandments,” or JS’s revelations. This instruction is the third document in the “Covenants and Commandments” portion, directly following a revelatory preface and the foundational Articles and Covenants of the church. It is likely that at least some members of the Twelve took copies of the instruction with them to the eastern to use in their conferences. Minutes of a conference held in , New York, in May, for example, mention the Twelve providing “much explanation” about “the nature and principles of church government,” items that the instruction addresses. An August 1835 letter from church leaders to the Twelve also contains a reference that suggests the Twelve had an advanced copy of the published version of the instruction at that time.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835; Minutes and Blessings, 28 Feb.–1 Mar. 1835.

  2. [2]

    Orson Hyde and William E. McLellin, Kirtland, OH, 8 Mar. 1835, Letter to the Editor, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Mar. 1835, 1:90.

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

  3. [3]

    Minutes, 12 Mar. 1835.

  4. [4]

    Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835.

  5. [5]

    See Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107 (partial)].

  6. [6]

    See, for example, Kimball, “Journal and Record,” 54.

    Kimball, Heber C. “The Journal and Record of Heber Chase Kimball an Apostle of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” ca. 1842–1858. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box 1.

  7. [7]

    Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84].

  8. [8]

    Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835; Minutes and Blessings, 21 Feb. 1835.

  9. [9]

    School of the Prophets Provo Records, 15 Apr. 1868, 5–6.

    School of the Prophets Provo Records, 1868–1872. CHL.

  10. [10]

    Kimball, “Journal and Record,” 54.

    Kimball, Heber C. “The Journal and Record of Heber Chase Kimball an Apostle of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” ca. 1842–1858. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box 1.

  11. [11]

    See Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835.

  12. [12]

    Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835.

  13. [13]

    Kimball, “Journal and Record,” 54.

    Kimball, Heber C. “The Journal and Record of Heber Chase Kimball an Apostle of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” ca. 1842–1858. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box 1.

  14. [14]

    JS History, vol. B-1, 581–582.

    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.

  15. [15]

    McLellin, Journal, 28–30 Mar. 1835; William E. McLellin, Huntsburgh, OH, to Oliver Cowdery, 16 Apr. 1835, in LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:102–103.

    McLellin, William E. Journal, July 1834–Apr. 1835. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 4. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

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

  16. [16]

    Orson Pratt and Thomas B. Marsh had not yet arrived in Kirtland, but Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Luke or Lyman Johnson, and William Smith were likely all there. (Partridge, Diary, 24 Apr. 1835; Pratt, Diary, 26 Apr. 1835; Minutes, 26 Apr. 1835.)

    Partridge, Edward. Diaries, 1818 and 1835–1836. Edward Partridge, Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892, box 1, fds. 1–2.

    Pratt, Orson. Journal, 1833–1837. Orson Pratt, Autobiography and Journals, 1833–1847. CHL. MS 587, fds. 2–4.

  17. [17]

    McLellin, Journal, 30 Mar. 1835.

    McLellin, William E. Journal, July 1834–Apr. 1835. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 4. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

  18. [18]

    Minutes, 26 Apr. 1835.

  19. [19]

    Record of the Twelve, 28 Apr. 1835; JS History, vol. B-1, 581.

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Record / Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “A Record of the Transactions of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of the Latter Day Saints from the Time of Their Call to the Apostleship Which Was on the 14th Day of Feby. AD 1835,” Feb.–Aug. 1835. In Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–, vol. 2. CHL. CR 500 2.

    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.

  20. [20]

    William W. Phelps, Kirtland, OH, to Sally Waterman Phelps, Liberty, MO, 26 May 1835, William W. Phelps, Papers, BYU.

    Phelps, William W. Papers, 1835–1865. BYU.

  21. [21]

    For example, the instruction does not say anything about the role of standing high councils in disciplinary proceedings, something outlined in the constitution of the Kirtland high council. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:2].)

  22. [22]

    Earlier revelations had associated Melchizedek with the higher priesthood and Aaron with the lesser priesthood. The Book of Mormon noted that Melchizedek was a high priest, and JS’s Bible revision explained that “Melchisedec was ordained a priest after the order of the Son of God.” JS and Sidney Rigdon’s account of a February 1832 vision of the afterlife explained that those in the highest kingdom of glory were “priests of the most high after the order of Melchesadeck which was after the order of Enoch which was after the order of the only begotten son.” A September 1832 revelation stated that Abraham received the higher priesthood from Melchizedek, whereas the lesser priesthood was given to Aaron and his seed. While at an April 1834 meeting, JS referred to the “priesthood of Aaron” as something distinct from the higher priesthood. When JS ordained Oliver Cowdery an assistant president in the presidency of the high priesthood, JS referred to the priesthood as being “after the order of Melchizedek.” (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 260 [Alma 13:14]; New Testament Revision 2, p. 139 [second numbering] [Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 7:3]; Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:56–57]; Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:14, 18]; Minutes and Discourse, 21 Apr. 1834; Account of Meetings, Revelation, and Blessing, 5–6 Dec. 1834; see also Old Testament Revision 1, pp. 33–34 [Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:26–33].)

  23. [23]

    Manuscript copies of the portion of the instruction dictated in November 1831 do exist. (See, for example, Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B, in Revelation Book 1, pp. 122–123 [D&C 107:59–72]; and Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B, in Revelation Book 2, pp. 84–86 [D&C 107 (partial)].)

  24. [24]

    Historical Introduction to Doctrine and Covenants, 1835.

  25. [25]

    This consisted of seven theological lectures on faith given at the Elders School. (See Historical Introduction to First Theological Lecture on Faith, ca. Jan.–May 1835.)

  26. [26]

    Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830, in Doctrine and Covenants 2, 1835 ed. [D&C 20].

  27. [27]

    Record of the Twelve, 4–9 May 1835.

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Record / Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “A Record of the Transactions of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of the Latter Day Saints from the Time of Their Call to the Apostleship Which Was on the 14th Day of Feby. AD 1835,” Feb.–Aug. 1835. In Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–, vol. 2. CHL. CR 500 2.

  28. [28]

    Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 4 Aug. 1835.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Instruction on Priesthood, between circa 1 March and circa 4 May 1835 [D&C 107] Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, 1844 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 85

same, in all nations: first unto the and then to the Jews:—the being sent out, holding the , to open the door by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ; and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews.
14 The standing , at the of , form a equal in authority, in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the quorum of the , or to the travelling high council.
15 The high council in , forms a quorum equal in authority, in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the councils of the twelve at the stakes of Zion.
16 It is the duty of the travelling high council to call upon the , when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, in stead of any others.
17 It is the duty of the twelve in all large branches of the church, to evangelical ministers, as they shall be designated unto them by revelation.
18 The order of this was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made. This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner:
19 From Adam to Seth, who was by Adam at the age of 69 years, and was blessed by him three years previous to his (Adam’s) death, and received the promise of God by his father, that his posterity should be the chosen of the Lord, and that they should be preserved unto the end of the earth, because he -[Seth]- was a perfect man, and his likeness was the express likeness of his father’s, insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his father in all things; and could be distinguished from him only by his age.
20 Enos was ordained at the age of 134 years, and four months, by the hand of Adam.
21 God called upon Cainan in the wilderness, in the fortieth year of his age, and he met Adam in journeying to the place Shedolamak: he was eighty seven years old when he received his ordination.
22 Mahalaeel was 496 years and seven days old when he was ordained by the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.
23 Jared was 200 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.
24 Enoch, was 25 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, and he was 65 and Adam blessed him—and he saw the Lord: and he walked with him, and was before his face continually: and he walked with God 365 years: making him 430 years old when he was translated. [p. 85]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Instruction on Priesthood, between circa 1 March and circa 4 May 1835 [D&C 107]
ID #
5483
Total Pages
8
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:308–321
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Footnotes

  1. [16]

    In the charge Oliver Cowdery gave to the Twelve, he said that they were “equal in bearing the keys of the kingdom to all nations” and that they were “called to preach the gospel of the son of God to the nations of the earth.” Similarly, JS informed the Twelve on 27 February that they held “the keys of this ministry, to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven unto all nations, and to preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Minutes and Blessings, 21 Feb. 1835; Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835.)

  2. [17]

    At this point, the church at Kirtland was the only stake of Zion. The Kirtland high council was organized in February 1834. (Revelation, 26 Apr. 1832 [D&C 82:13]; Minutes, 17 Feb. 1834; Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102]; see also “Stake” in the glossary.)

  3. [18]

    JS organized a high council in Missouri in July 1834. (Minutes, 3 July 1834; Minutes and Discourse, ca. 7 July 1834.)

  4. [19]

    “Evangelical ministers” likely means the office of patriarch, which Joseph Smith Sr. held. In a blessing recorded by Oliver Cowdery in September 1835, the “patriarchal priesthood” is referred to as the “evangelical priesthood.” In addition, paragraph 28 of this instruction is included almost word for word in a recorded blessing that JS gave Joseph Smith Sr., which states that as one ordained to the “patriarchal priesthood,” Joseph Smith Sr. was to gather together his posterity just as Adam had done. There is no record of the Twelve ordaining any evangelical ministers while preaching in the eastern United States and Upper Canada. (Blessing to Hyrum Smith, between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835; Blessing to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835.)

  5. [20]

    See Genesis 4:25–26; and Old Testament Revision 1, pp. 10–11 [Moses 6:2–3].

  6. [21]

    See Genesis 5:6–11; and Old Testament Revision 1, p. 11 [Moses 6:3, 13, 17–18].

  7. [22]

    See Genesis 5:9–13; and Old Testament Revision 1, pp. 11–12 [Moses 6:17–19].

  8. [23]

    See Genesis 5:12–17; and Old Testament Revision 1, pp. 11–12 [Moses 6:19–20].

  9. [24]

    See Genesis 5:15–19; and Old Testament Revision 1, p. 12 [Moses 6:20–21].

  10. [25]

    See Genesis 5:18–24; and Old Testament Revision 1, p. 12 [Moses 6:21].

  11. [26]

    See Old Testament Revision 1, p. 13 [Moses 6:39].

  12. [27]

    See Genesis 5:24; and Old Testament Revision 1, p. 19 [Moses 7:69; 8:1].

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