Revelation, 10 March 1831 [D&C 48]

  • 49 Commandment March 10th. 1831

    A Revelation Received at Kirtland Geauga  County Ohio concerning the Bretheren in New York  how to Manage ther with their property &c

    It is nessessary that ye should remain for the present  time in your places of abode as it shall be suitable  to your circumstances & inasmuch as ye [have] lands ye shall imp art to the Eastern Brethren & in as much as ye have not  lands let them buy for the present time in those regi ons round about as seemeth them good for it must  needs be nessessary that they have places to live for  the present time it must needs be nessessary that  ye save all the money that ye can (& that ye obtain all  that ye can) that in time ye may be enabled to purch ase lands for an inheritance (even the City) the place  is not yet to be revealed but after your Brethren come  from the East there are to be certain men to be app ointed & to them it shall be given to know the place  as to them it shall be revealed & they shall be appoin ted to purchase the lands & to lay the foundation  make a commencement to lay the foundation of the  City & then ye shall begin to be gethered with your  families evry man according to his family according  to his circumstances & as is appointed to them by the  Bishop & Elders of the Church according to the laws  & commandments which ye have received & which ye shall  hereafter receive [p. 79]

A revelation on 30 December 1830 and another on 2 January 1831 directed New York church members to gather to Ohio, spoke of a future land of promise, and foreshadowed the appointment of officers to care for the poor and manage church assets. This revelation addressesd both the need for lands for new arrivals in Ohio and the future city to be established in the yet-to-be-identified promised land. This revelation also made it clear that Ohio was not the site of the New Jerusalem, as some emigrating New York members supposed.

John Whitmer copied this text into Revelation Book 1, where it is designated “49th Commandment March 10th 1831,” sometime between March and June 1831. The 1833 Book of Commandments describes this text as a “Revelation to the bishop” and dates it to March 1831 at Kirtland, Ohio. The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants gives the same date but no location.

Facts

Editorial Title
Revelation, 10 March 1831 [D&C 48]
ID #
6507