Revelation, 12 August 1831 [D&C 61]

  • 64 Commandment given Aug 12th. 1831

    on the Bank of the River Distruction (or Missorie) unfolding  some mysteries &c &c

    Behold & hearken unto him the voice of him who hath all power who is  from everlasting to everlasting even alpha & omega the begining & the  end Behold verily thuss saith the lord unto you O ye Elders of my  Church who are assembled upon this spot whose sins are now forgiven  you for I the Lord forgiveth sins & am mercyfull unto those who confess  their sins with humble hearts but verily I say unto you that it is not  needfull for this whole company of mine Elders to be moveing swiftly  upon the waters whilst the Inhabitants on either sides are perishing  in unbelief nevertheless I suffered it that ye might bear record Behold  there are many dangers upon the waters & more especially hereafte r for I the Lord have decreed in mine anger many distructions  upon the waters yea & especially upon these waters nevertheless  all flesh is in mine hand he that is faithfull among you shall  not perish by the waters wherefore it is expedient that my servent  Sidney Gilbert & <my servent> William [W.] Phelps be in haste upon their errand  & mission nevertheless I would not suffer that ye should part  untill ye you are chastened for all your sins that you might be one  that you might not perish in wickedness but now verily I say it [p. 101]

In summer 1831, JS traveled to western Missouri and spent nearly a month there. After consecrating land for Zion, the New Jerusalem, and its temple, JS and others prepared to return to Kirtland, Ohio. They were three days into the journey, the first leg of which was to be via the Missouri River to St. Louis, Missouri, when their canoe nearly capsized. This revelation warned of the hazards of river travel and provided instruction on JS’s potential encounters with nonbelievers en route to Ohio.

John Whitmer copied the text into Revelation Book 1, where it is designated “64 Commandment given Aug. 12th 1831,” sometime in September 1831. Sidney Gilbert also recorded a copy in his revelation notebook in September 1831. The 1833 Book of Commandments dates the revelation to August 1831 on the bank of the Missouri River. The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants gives the same date but no location.

Facts

Editorial Title
Revelation, 12 August 1831 [D&C 61]
ID #
6521