Revelation, 10 June 1831 [D&C 54]

  • 57th. Commandment June 10th. 1831

    A Revelation to the Church at Thompson giving them  Directions what to do &c

    Behold thus saith the Lord even Alpha & Omega the begining & the  end even him that was crusified for the sins of the World Behold verily  verily I say unto you my Servent Newel [Knight] you shall stand fast in the  office wherewith I have appointed you & if your Brethren desire to escape  their enemies let them repent of all their sins & become truly humble  before me & contrite & as the covenant which they make unto me has  been broken even so it hath become void & of none affect & wo to him  by whom this offence cometh for it had been better for him that he had  been drownded in the depth of the sea but blessed are they who have  kept the covenant & observed the commandment for they shall obtain  mercy wherefore go to now & flee the land lest your enemies  come upon you And take your Journey & appoint whom you  will to be your leader & to pay moneyes for you & thus you shall  take your Journeys into the regions westward unto Missorie unto the  borders of the Lamanites & after you have done Journeying Behold I  say unto you seek ye a living like unto men untill I prepare  a place for you & again be patient in tribulation untill I  come & Behold I come quickly & my reward is with me [p. 90]

Shortly after church members from Colesville (now Nineveh), New York, arrived in Ohio in mid-May 1831, JS instructed Bishop Edward Partridge to have them settle in Thompson, Ohio, on land offered by Leman Copley. For unexplained reasons, Copley soon withdrew his offer and moved to evict the Colesville congregation from his property. Because of the difficulties that developed, presiding elder Newel Knight went to Kirtland, Ohio, to consult with JS. He returned with this revelation directing the group to relocate to Missouri, where it was anticipated the church would soon gather to build Zion, the New Jerusalem.

Sometime in June 1831, John Whitmer copied this text into Revelation Book 1, where it is designated “57th Commandment June 10th 1831.” The 1833 Book of Commandments indicates the revelation was directed to Newel Knight and the church at Thompson, giving the date and location as June 1831 at Kirtland. The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants gives the same date but no location.

Facts

Editorial Title
Revelation, 10 June 1831 [D&C 54]
ID #
6515