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Revelation, July 1830–C [D&C 25]

Source Note

Revelation, , Susquehanna Co., PA, to , [July] 1830. Featured version, titled “27th. Commandment AD 1830,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 34–35; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.

Historical Introduction

JS dictated this revelation for , his wife, in July 1830. As with the other two July 1830 revelations, the precise date of the revelation is unknown. The earliest manuscript copy noted only the year, but its first printing in 1833 included the July 1830 date that has been carried forward in all subsequent editions. That the revelation discusses much of the same subject matter found in the other two July 1830 revelations strengthens this July 1830 identification. The period from April to mid-July 1830 involved a flurry of activity that included the organization of the , meetings in three different locations, and many convert baptisms. Emma was one of those baptized on 28 June at , New York, but the confirmations were delayed because of opposition.
The 1833 Book of Commandments placed the revelation directed to between the other two July 1830 texts, but when , who was in in July and was the recipient of one of these revelations, originally copied all three into Revelation Book 1, he placed this one last, the order accepted here. In addition to the Revelation Book 1 copy, private copies also were made, such as ’s. This was also one of the few revelations reproduced in ’s Mormonism Unvailed in 1834.
By July 1830, JS had dictated almost thirty revelations for individuals or small groups, but no women are known to have been included among the recipients. This revelation reflected the vital role that played in JS’s life and also foreshadowed a larger role for her in his work. The revelation called her “an Elect Lady” and charged her to comfort JS in his afflictions, select hymns for the church, preach to church members, and write for JS so that could serve elsewhere.
When copied this text into Revelation Book 1, he described it as a to “to select Hymns.” In 1835, she, along with , compiled the church’s first hymnal, A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints, one of the few church publications at the time and a book that played an important part in the church’s worship practices. The revelation also explained to Emma, “Thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound & exhort the Church.” When the was founded in 1842 and the members selected Emma as the president, JS read this revelation to those who were present and explained that Emma had been “ at the time, the Revelation was given, to expound the scriptures to all; and to teach the female part of community.”

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Book of Commandments 26.

  2. [2]

    See Historical Introduction to Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24].

  3. [3]

    See Revelations, July 1830–A through C, in Book of Commandments 25–27 [D&C 24–26]. Oliver Cowdery, a recipient of the other two July revelations, left for Fayette, New York, around the middle of July and apparently did not return until the end of August to help JS and Emma move to New York. Therefore, if the order in the Book of Commandments is correct, the featured text was likely dictated before Cowdery’s departure. However, if the order in Revelation Book 1 is correct, this revelation could have been dictated later in the month.

  4. [4]

    Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—No. II,” Ohio Star (Ravenna), 20 Oct. 1831, [3]; Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, 101–102.

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

    Howe, Eber D. Mormonism Unvailed: Or, A Faithful Account of That Singular Imposition and Delusion, from Its Rise to the Present Time. With Sketches of the Characters of Its Propagators, and a Full Detail of the Manner in Which the Famous Golden Bible Was Brought before the World. To Which Are Added, Inquiries into the Probability That the Historical Part of the Said Bible Was Written by One Solomon Spalding, More Than Twenty Years Ago, and by Him Intended to Have Been Published as a Romance. Painesville, OH: By the author, 1834.

  5. [5]

    Hicks, Mormonism and Music, 10–22; Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:57–59.

    Hicks, Michael. Mormonism and Music: A History. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1989.

    Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

  6. [6]

    Relief Society Minute Book, 17 Mar. 1842. At the founding of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, John Taylor recognized Emma Smith’s former ordination when he “laid his hands on the head of Mrs. Smith and blessed her, and confirm’d upon her all the blessings which have been confer’d on her, that she might be a mother in Israel and look to the wants of the needy, and be a pattern of virtue.” The minutes of the meeting state that Taylor then ordained Emma Smith’s two counselors. (Relief Society Minute Book, 17 Mar. 1842.)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, July 1830–C [D&C 25] Revelation Book 1 Book of Commandments, 1833 Revelation, July 1830–C, as Published in Howe, Mormonism Unvailed [D&C 25] 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 35

Given to writings & to Learning & thou needest not fear for thy husband shall support thee from the for unto them is thy his calling that all things might be revealed unto them whatsoever I will according to their faith & verily I say unto you thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world & seek for the things of a better & it shall be given thee also to make a selection of Sacred Hymns as it shall be given thee which is pleasing unto me to be had in my Church for my Soul delighteth in the song of the heart yea the song of the heart righteous is a prayer unto me & it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads wherefore lift up thy heart & rejoice & cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made continue in the spirit of meekness & beware of Pride let thy soul delight in thy husband & the glory which shall come upon him keep my continually & a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive & except thou do this where I am thou ye cannot come & verily I say unto you that this is my voice unto all even so amen [p. 35]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, July 1830–C [D&C 25]
ID #
6478
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:161–164
Handwriting on This Page
  • John Whitmer

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