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Revelation, 11 November 1831–B [D&C 107 (partial)]
Source Note
Source Note
Revelation, , OH, 11 Nov. 1831. Featured version, titled “75 A Revalation given at Hiram Portage Co Nov 11th. 1831,” copied [between 11 and 20 Nov. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 122–123; handwriting of and ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
In , Ohio, on 11 November 1831, JS dictated this revelation—addressed to the church “in the Land of ”—dealing with church administration and the responsibilities of members holding different church offices. The immediate circumstances surrounding the dictation of the revelation are unclear. A of was held in Hiram on that day to discuss ’s question of whether he should migrate to in the spring. During that meeting, read “ concerning the duties of the Elders.” It is possible the revelation was dictated at that time, but the minutes do not specifically refer to it.
Addressing the Saints in , the revelation called for additional administrative positions to be established within the church, including presiding officers for , , , and elders. More generally, it discussed the necessity of appointing additional for the church and designating someone to preside over the entire as . was appointed bishop in less than a month later, JS was designated as president of the high priesthood in January 1832, and at least two presidents were called over the elders in 1832— in Ohio and in Missouri.
This revelation was also part of a continuing unfolding of information about the . The first individuals were to the high priesthood in June 1831, and at a conference held on 25–26 October 1831 in , Cuyahoga County, Ohio, JS and spoke on the responsibilities of those holding (or desiring to hold) that office. JS, for example, explained that the high priesthood had the “power . . . to seal up the Saints unto eternal life.” He indicated that “it was the privilege of every Elder present to be ordained to the Highpriesthood.” Both JS and Rigdon emphasized the significance of the high priesthood, and Rigdon chastised some who were ordained at that meeting “because of their indifference to be ordained to that office.” This 11 November revelation also laid out a hierarchical gradation of offices in the church that began with deacon and proceeded upward to the high priesthood—“the greatest of all.”
The revelation discussed disciplinary bodies in the church as well. Prior to this time, the “Laws of the ” directed that those accused of adultery or other transgressions be brought before “two Elders of the Church or more,” with the bishop attending if possible. Conferences of elders sometimes served as disciplinary bodies, though not always with the bishop in attendance. The bishop, however, was designated as “a Judge in Israel” who would “Judge his people by the testimony of the Just.” The 11 November revelation added another level to the disciplinary structure of the church: the president of the high priesthood and his court, or council. Referring to the president of the high priesthood as “like unto Moses,” the revelation declared that he was to officiate in the most important matters of the church. Just as Moses appointed judges to deal with “small matter[s]” and addressed the “great matter[s]” himself, bishops were to act as common judges while the president of the high priesthood and his court would deal with “the most difficult cases of the church.” In addition, the revelation designated the president of the high priesthood as the head of the church and specifically noted that the office of bishop was subordinate to him.
The original manuscript of the revelation is not extant. and copied the revelation into Revelation Book 1, likely before their departure to on 20 November 1831. A Missouri council discussed this revelation in July 1832, indicating a copy had made it to Missouri and had come to the attention of church leaders at least by that time.
Footnotes
- [1]
- [2]
Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:8]; “History of Orson Pratt,” 11, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL; Minute Book 2, 26–27 Apr. 1832; 15 and 27 Sept. 1832.
Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.
- [3]
- [4]
Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:80].
- [5]
See, for example, Minutes, 1 Sept. 1831; Minutes, 6 Sept. 1831; and Minutes, 21 Oct. 1831.
- [6]
Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:17–18].
- [7]
Exodus 18:21–22.
- [8]
See Historical Introduction to Revelation Book 1; and Whitmer, History, 38. When this revelation was published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, material was added, creating a more complete “Instruction on Priesthood.” (Doctrine and Covenants 3, 1835 ed.)
- [9]
Minute Book 2, 3 July 1832.
upon transgressors upon testimony it shall be laid before them according to the by the assistance of his whom he hath chosen or will choose among the of the thus shall he be a judge even a common judge among the inhabitants of until the borders are enlarged & it becomes necessary to have other or judges & inasmuch as there are other Bishops appointed they shall act in the same office & again verily I say unto you the most important business of the church & the most difficult cases of the church inasmuch as there is not sufficient satisfaction upon the decision of the judge it shall be handed over & carried up unto the court of the church before the & the president of the Court of the shall have power to call other even twelve to assist as counsellors & thus the president of the high priesthood & his councellors shall have power to decide upon testimony according to the laws of the church & after this desision it shall be had in remembrance no more before the Lord for this is the highest court of the church of God & a final desision upon controvers[i]es all persons belonging to the church are not exempt from this court of the church & inasmuch as the president of the high priesthood shall transgress he shall be had in remembrance before the common court of the church who shall be assisted by twelve counsellors of the high Priesthood & their desicision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him thus none shall be exempt from the justice of the Laws of God that all things may be done in order & in solemnity before me in according to truth & righteousness Amen A few more words in addition to the Laws of the church And again verily I say unto you the duty of a president over the office of a is to preside over twelve Deacons to set in council with them & to teach them their duty edifying one another as it is given according to the covenants And also the duty of the president over the office of the is to preside over twenty four of the Teachers & to set in council with them teaching them the duties of their office as given in the covenants Also the duty of the president over the priesthood is to preside over forty eight & to set in council with them & to teach them the duties of their office as given in the covenants And again the duty of the president over the office of the Elders is to preside over ninety six Elders & to set in council with them & to <teach> them according to the covenants And again the duty of the president of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church & to be like unto Moses behold here is wisdom yea to be a a revelator a & a prophet having all the gifts of God which he bestoweth upon the head of the chuch Wherefore now let every man learn his duly duty & to act in the office in which he is appointed in all diligence he that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand & he that learneth not his duty & sheweth himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand even so Amen [p. 123]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
John Whitmer handwriting ends; Oliver Cowdery begins.
- [6]
At a June 1831 conference in Ohio, John Corrill and Isaac Morley “were ordained assistants to the Bishop.” (Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.)
- [7]
A 1 November 1831 revelation explained that “there rema[i]neth hereafter in the due time of the Lord other Bishops to be set apart unto the church to minister even according to the first.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:15].)
- [8]
That is, the bishop’s court, since the bishop was the “common judge.”
- [9]
The Articles and Covenants outlined the duties of elders, priests, teachers, and deacons. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:38–59].)
- [10]
- [11]
This is the first time groups of church officers were assigned a numerical capacity. Although it is unclear why each group had a different numerical capacity assigned to it, minutes of some conferences around this time suggest that there were many more elders than lesser officers in the church. (See, for example, Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.)
- [12]
A September 1830 revelation declared that “no one shall be appointed to Receive commandments & Revelations in this Church excepting my Servent Joseph for he Receiveth them even as Moses.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:2].)
- [13]
See Revelation, ca. 8 Mar. 1831–A [D&C 46:29].