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Revelation, 6 December 1832 [D&C 86]

to reap down the fields. but the Lord saith unto them pluck not up the tears while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak) least you distroy the wheat also, therefore let the wheat and the tears grow together untill the harvest is fully ripe then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tears and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo the tears are bound in bund[l]es, and the field remaineth to be burned therefore thus saith the Lord unto you with whom the priesthood

In the early 1830s, often referred to an “order of men set apart for sacred offices”; also referred more generally to power or authority from God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands to adult male members of the church in good standing...

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hath continued through the lineage of your fathers, for ye are lawful heirs according to the flesh and have been hid from the world with christ in God therefore your life, and the Priesthood hath remained and must needs remain through you and your lineage untill the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy Prophets since the world began, therefore blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles

Those who were not members of the House of Israel. More specifically, members of the church identified gentiles as those whose lineage was not of the Jews or Lamanites (understood to be the American Indians in JS’s day). Certain prophecies indicated that ...

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and th[r]ough this Priesthood a saviour unto my people Israel the Lord hath said it

Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

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December 6th. A[D] 1832 given by Joseph the seer

The Book of Mormon identified a seer as a “revelator, and a prophet also,” specifying, however, that a seer was “greater than a prophet.” A seer could “know of things which has past, and also of things which is to come.” The work of a seer included translation...

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and writen by Sidney [Rigdon]

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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the scribe an[d] Councellor

The presiding body of the church. From the day of the church’s organization on 6 April 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery led the church in their capacity as elders. An 11 November 1831 revelation directed that “the duty of the president of the office of the high...

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, & Transcribed by Frederick [G. Williams]

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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assistent scribe and counceller—— [p. 32]

While working on a revision of the Bible, JS dictated a revelation that recast the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matt. 13:24-30) as a history from the days of the apostles to the world’s end. The description of a second sowing in the last days clearly referred to the rise of Mormonism.

The last two paragraphs in the revelation focused on a separate matter altogether—the connection between historic Israel and newly gathered disciples, suggesting that those disciples were not only fulfillers of biblical prophecy but also descendants of the ancient covenant people and heirs to the promised blessings.

Frederick G. Williams

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recorded this text in Revelation Book 2 between December 1832 and January 1833, identifying it as “A Revelation explaining the parable of the wheat & the Tears.” A notation at the close of the text further elaborates, “Kirtland

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December 6th. A[D] 1832 given by Joseph the seer and written by Sidney

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the scribe an[d] Councellor, & Transcribed by Frederick

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assistent scribe an[d] counceller.” Sidney Gilbert

28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio; ...

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included a copy of the text in his revelation notebook in June 1833. John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

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later recorded it in Revelation Book 1, where it is identified as “Revelation given December 6, 1832 Kirtland Ohio explaining the parable of the Wheat & Tears.” The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants included this revelation with a date of 6 December 1832 but no location.

Facts

Editorial Title: Revelation, 6 December 1832 [D&C 86]
ID #: 2959